Reflections in and about Williamson. Photo by Anna Reich
What is Williamson, West Virginia?
I don’t believe it is possible to define a town, much less a town I met only 36 hours ago.
I arrived in Charleston’s Yeager Airport shortly after noon on Sunday. The hotel offered a complimentary shuttle from the airport with a most amicable driver. While chatting about various things West Virginia, such as my childhood obsession with the Sacramento Kings and specifically West Virginia’s own Jason Williams, the driver asked the purpose of my visit. I explained the Fulbright – Amizade collaboration with Sustainable Williamson, the idea of global service learning, and some additional background on the Fulbright Program. He asked me to clarify where I would be going.
“Williamson?” he said, “that town is so poor they have a layaway program at the dollar store.”