2 alums aim for kindness journey
Rachel Weber - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: Metro
UI graduates Brian Triplett and Denny Clark, both 23, are going on an expedition this summer. Beginning May 20 along the Maine coast, the pair will trek across the nation and help strangers they meet along the way.
"We're doing random acts of kindness to people who don't really need it and might have a distorted perception about it," Clark said.
He and Triplett decided late last year to go on this trip when they were sitting together discussing the plethora of negative images in the media, Clark said.
From the coast of Maine, Clark said, they will head south along the Appalachian Trail, then west to New Orleans and toward their end point - California. They aren't purposely trying to avoid the Midwest, he said, but thought that their chosen trail would allow them to learn more about the United States and its people.
"Heading south would be a little more different from what we're used to," he said.
Other than a rough sketch of their route, Clark and Triplett said, they aren't making any certain plans for the trip.
"We're going to kind of bounce around like pinballs with the people we meet," Triplett said.
Clark said they weren't sure what sorts of things they would do to help people, but he guessed they would be doing such tasks as mowing lawns, washing cars, and other physical labor.
"Just going up to a farmhouse, we could be doing things we've never done before," he said.
The pair said they want to give a better outlook on strangers and, hopefully, allow people to regain trust in their neighbors. They also said they are very interested in the responses they'll get from the people they try to help.
"We're aware some people might be really thankful, some might be really skeptical," Triplett said.
He suggested that they would be acting as field reporters in a way, recording the responses of the strangers they meet.
He and Clark will keep friends and family updated on their travels via their blog at http://www.nostrangerland.blogspot.com. Clark said they plan on updating the blog with pictures, videos, and writings two to three times each week, though admitted there might be entire weeks of silence because of accessibility.
"We're doing random acts of kindness to people who don't really need it and might have a distorted perception about it," Clark said.
He and Triplett decided late last year to go on this trip when they were sitting together discussing the plethora of negative images in the media, Clark said.
From the coast of Maine, Clark said, they will head south along the Appalachian Trail, then west to New Orleans and toward their end point - California. They aren't purposely trying to avoid the Midwest, he said, but thought that their chosen trail would allow them to learn more about the United States and its people.
"Heading south would be a little more different from what we're used to," he said.
Other than a rough sketch of their route, Clark and Triplett said, they aren't making any certain plans for the trip.
"We're going to kind of bounce around like pinballs with the people we meet," Triplett said.
Clark said they weren't sure what sorts of things they would do to help people, but he guessed they would be doing such tasks as mowing lawns, washing cars, and other physical labor.
"Just going up to a farmhouse, we could be doing things we've never done before," he said.
The pair said they want to give a better outlook on strangers and, hopefully, allow people to regain trust in their neighbors. They also said they are very interested in the responses they'll get from the people they try to help.
"We're aware some people might be really thankful, some might be really skeptical," Triplett said.
He suggested that they would be acting as field reporters in a way, recording the responses of the strangers they meet.
He and Clark will keep friends and family updated on their travels via their blog at http://www.nostrangerland.blogspot.com. Clark said they plan on updating the blog with pictures, videos, and writings two to three times each week, though admitted there might be entire weeks of silence because of accessibility.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
jenn
posted 5/08/08 @ 10:06 AM CST
wow this is amazing and i can't wait to hear about their travels. maybe this is what the world needs right now:)
Kout
posted 5/19/08 @ 11:48 PM CST
You'd think a DI story would mention the fact Triplett was a DI alum...
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