Party in the Park.

I wrote this column a long time ago for our school newspaper.
They liked it; they promised to publish it BUT somehow they did not post it  :(

Where Aggies and Longhorns are united.

By Cool Bohemian.

MS Arch. 2009.

Neal Park.

600 W. 22nd Street,

Bryan, Texas 77803

Come here some time having few minutes in your hand, I promise you a great evening on every Saturday at 5 PM. They cook or bring food for homeless persons. They talk to them. They become good listeners for their sad stories of life. They pray for them, all together. They make them smile. They eat together.

When my friend told me about this, being an international student, I was exited very much. I went there for first time; I cooked some Indian potatoes: spicy ones. I never expected such warm welcome even Texas A&M never welcomed me like this way. They were not only interested in my country, my culture but in my food. One balck couple who never been to any other countries, they just wanted to listen my stories and in return they promised to teach me about American Football and basketball.

"What do you know about Basketball", he asked me.

"I used to play in India. I know Michel Jordon", he blast out with laugh hearing my reply. Others smiled. Believe me, it was my insult but I never felt so happy after being insulted.

"Come over here on every Saturday. We will talk about Basketball", he kind of ordered. I liked his way of ordering.

My friend Wayne told me that Kane (the cowboy) who is a homeless guy told him the story about his wife when he was in US Air force. Most of his stories are beyond any super heroic abilities but he loved to hear him. They need someone to talk. They don’t want to be lonely.

Dan Kiniry, an Aggie, Class of 2006 Bio-science major, is the man behind this awesome thing. Jen Massman, senior aggie, Dave Massman, another senior, Melanie Class of 2007 is few of the regular members of this event. Cassie, a longhorn is also from few dedicated members of this activity. When I was there I saw some old Bryan citizen who also came there with some food, I wondered about their existence. I was amazed that they were doing this for last two year and they want to do it for ever. I am really impressed seeing such activities in a developed country like USA where time is replaced by money. People are busy; they don't have any time to think for others.

It is really amazing.

While talking to Dan whose brainchild is this 'party in the Park', I realized that sometimes they run out of food. Since this is not an organization, they don't have any money or secured fund. They only asks students to help not monetarily but by their charity of time, by cooking food from the homeless.

Neal Park was developed in 1998 from renovations to the existing Williams Park. The site is the location of Bryan's Recreation Center as well as the first in-line hockey rink in town. And his philanthropic guy could be found working in Sweet Eugene's coffee shop almost every day. He is skinny with spectacles like Gandhi, the great non-violent freedom fighter of India.

Droplets of water.

No-rule Volleyball.

Bread, Butter, and Meat.

Girly gossip.

Information source:

City of Bryan Website, retrieved on Sept. 8th 2009.

(http://www.bryantx.gov/departments/default.asp?name=pf_neal_park)

Photoes by author.