As I sat on the shore of the Pacific Ocean yesterday, I
watched the beautiful sight of hundreds of migrating birds heading north for
the summer. It occurred to me then that just before this trip, I sat watching
these same transient birds heading south for the winter. I smiled to myself,
realizing that I had officially completed the goal I’ve been dreaming of since
I was thirteen-years-old: I had successfully missed winter by spending six
months traveling in Latin America.
With only hours until our return to the United States, Alex
and I are both in the reflection stage of the trip; our thoughts on the
volunteer experience, how we have changed the lives of other people, how we,
ourselves have been changed by the people and experiences we’ve encountered,
and the valuable lessons we’ve learned from immersing ourselves in a foreign
culture. We truly realize how fortunate we are to have experienced such as
life-changing adventure as this and the doors we’ve opened for ourselves by
doing so.
Our final sunset in Xela |
A friend of ours from Holland was spending time in Guatemala
compiling research for his Masters in Psychology. He was studying the
relationships formed between volunteers and the indigenous people and both Alex
and I were able to sit down with him and have a great conversation about our
thoughts on the relationship. This was a great way to wrap up our volunteer
experience because we were urged to recall our escapades in Peru (which seems
so long ago!) and the adventures we’ve had here in Guatemala. Our friend also
asked us to reflect on incidences during our trip that made us uncomfortable or
that we weren’t completely thrilled with. And while no one likes uncomfortable
situations or being unhappy, I believe it is under these circumstances in which
we often grow and learn the most.
All in all, I believe the volunteer experience is a
fantastic way to not only see the world but to also integrate oneself in the
culture and day-to-day life of native people. However, like many things in this
world, the end result is heavily dependent on the input of effort and
enthusiasm. We volunteered through a young, non-profit organization and that
lacked organization and structure. Metaphorically speaking, the organization
built for us a sturdy, plain house but what we put into that house was
completely up to us. For example, in Guatemala I was taken to a school that was
in need of an English teacher. Yet, what I wanted to teach them, the activities
we did and how I wanted to precede in actual teaching aspect was entirely on
me. Yes, I realized I was a little in over-my-head but this only encouraged me
to swim to the top. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and challenged in ways
that helped me evolve as a person.
Doing the robot and looking like a fool - it was totally worth it. |
One of my main goals for this trip was to change the lives
of others. This has been a big pondering topic for me during these last few
weeks simply because I’m not sure I wanted to change the lives of other people so much as I wanted to make an impression on them. The vast majorities
of the people I’ve encountered on this trip have beautiful lives just the way
they are. Why would I want to change that? More than anything I realized I
wanted to make a positive impression - a positive difference. In Peru, after learning how the orphans
functioned as a family, I understood that changing
their way of life wasn’t going to accomplish anything, for, just like every
family, they have their own structure. So my motives shifted; instead of changing
their lives or their way of living, I just wanted to impress upon them love,
attention and encouragement. Despite the fact their parents abandoned them or couldn’t
take care of them, I tried to show up everyday and give them the love and
attention they so longed for. I brought arts and crafts projects everyday to
encourage their creativity and through that to build and strengthen their
individuality. Looking back on it now, I’m confident I succeeded in my goal.
I’ll never forget a girl who, upon arriving at the orphanage, had incredibly
low self-confidence and was afraid to do anything on her own. I had to help her
step-by-step with every project. By the time I left she was more creative and
independent than I ever imagined and I like to think it was partly the positive
impression I made on her. Volunteering in Guatemala faced me with few more challenges
than in Peru – not only was I forced to speak in Spanish ninety-nine percent of
the time in order for the students to learn anything in English but I also felt
responsible for their learning. To say this task was occasionally frustrating
would be a major understatement. I quickly realized I wasn’t going to
accomplish anything without patience and understanding. After issuing out the
final exam on my last day, the students threw me a surprise party where they
made tacos, fruit salad and cake and while we were all enjoying the tasty
treats, many of the students stood up and expressed how much they appreciated
me. What I cherished most was that every single student acknowledged and showed
appreciation for the patience and friendship I showed them throughout my time
at the school. To hear them say that made every sickness, every uncomfortable
situation, every over-charged bus ride – just hearing those words alone - made
the entire trip worth it.
Our house in Xela |
I like to believe that there is a strong parallel between how
I’ve influenced others and how others have influenced me. Through working with
girls at the orphanage in Peru and teaching students in Guatemala, I believe
I’ve grown incredibly grateful for the flexibility and value of patience. I
treasure how far a little bit of patience can take you. Without our host
families, we wouldn’t have had nearly the experience we did and I’ve learned so
much from them as well. Their ability to open their house, hearts and lives to
us was incredibly admirable and I only hope I can show that kind of hospitality
in my future.
The list of lessons learned and values appreciated is quite
extensive but what tops the list is how much Alex and I have gained a great
admiration and respect for the accessibility of travel. Six months ago, hopping
on and riding a chicken bus through an entire country seemed practically
impossible. Now we feel lost without those busses: they were our main form of
transportation.
With this said, I’ll end by saying how much I’ve learned to
cherish the extraordinary. All to frequently in this life, we allow the
extraordinary to become ordinary. Three months ago, I stood mouth-agape as I
watched indigenous Guatemalan women balance incredible objects atop their heads
as they climbed through the city streets – it was such an extraordinary sight
to see and I couldn’t believe my eyes. However, by the end of our time in Xela,
I would pass by a woman carrying an impressive load and hardly notice her. It
is this alone that feeds the want for travel. We so quickly become accustomed
to the extraordinary and therefore are constantly in search for new, remarkable
experiences. And while I believe I’ve caught this bug – this constant search
for the extraordinary – part of me is excited to return home to the ordinary
things I love so much and have gained much more respect for.
I’m afraid to write the words that will end this blog
because it truly indicates our adventure to South America is coming to close.
We’ve had so many absolutely monumental experiences during this trip - memories
were made that will last a lifetime. And while I feel like saying goodbye to
this country tomorrow will be like saying goodbye to a wonderful friend, I
can’t help but feel the jittery excitement of knowing I can start planning my
next trip.