Dallas-AIDS

Dallas – HIV/AIDS
 
Day 2:
 
We started off our first full day of Dallas by getting straight to business. While a few of us went out to shop for our meals this week, the rest of the group learned how to coordinate getting ready and ration our hot water. In this Texas heat, however, a cold shower just might be what the doctor ordered.
 
By noon all of our errands were done and we all wanted to explore the west end of Dallas for some lunch before heading to the Sixth Floor Museum. Upon arriving downtown, we hit the streets in search of something both delicious and unique to Dallas. Y O Steakhouse fit the bill and had an awesome patio to sit outside and enjoy the beautiful weather! If you ever are in the west end check this place out, their food is great! We recommend the Queso dip!
 
After lunch we decided to cross the street and check out Wild Bill’s a western shop. Although the cowboy boots were way out of our price range, it was fun to check out all of the bedazzled belt buckles, cowboy hats (which Tom especially liked) and chairs made out of cowhide and longhorns.

On the way to the Sixth Floor Museum we stopped by the JFK Memorial Plaza and visited the “cenotaph,” or open tomb, that is meant to symbolize the freedom of John F. Kennedy’s spirit. Afterward we made our way to the book depository. Unfortunately, they didn't allow any photography in the museum, so the last photo we were able to take was of President Kennedy and Jackie on that fateful day.
 
Visiting the Sixth Floor Museum was definitely an emotional experience for a lot of us. We opted for the audio guide to lead us through the exhibit that painted a picture of the changing culture of America in the 1960s. It also highlighted some of JFK’s initiatives like the Peace Corps, space exploration and issues he faced such the Red Scare and growing unrest with the Civil Rights Movement. Looking down on Dealey Plaza from the window where Lee Harvey Oswald forever changed American history and seeing two white X’s on the road to show the location of the President when he was shot is an image few of us will ever forget.
 
Once we finished at the museum we walked around downtown Dallas and bought some frozen yogurt to cool off in the heat before visiting Southern Methodist University. For a school with only 7,000 students, SMU had a beautiful campus! Of course Mizzou’s campus will always be our favorite. Dallas Hall (the equivalent to our Jesse Hall) simply doesn’t measure up. (You call that a dome?)
 
Such a long day of exploring Dallas left us tired and hungry so we headed back to our little bungalow to rest before dinner. A few of us were not done exploring though and decided to walk down the strip of businesses nearby while the others prepared a delicious spaghetti dinner complete with salad and garlic bread.
 
After our late dinner we played some card games and enjoyed some carrot cake before settling into bed so that we are well rested for our first day of service.
 
SOOO EXCITED to help out The Resource Center Dallas and Abounding Prosperity!!
 
That’s it for now,
 
D-Town and Down
 
- Matt Grover and rest of the ASB Dallas volunteers