What is it you miss? Why?
I miss everything. I miss our group being in action down there and seeing everyone’s ‘cheesing’ smiles. I miss Roldan and his unwavering patience. I miss the people and
the community they created. I’ve never felt so welcome by people who don’t know me at all. And I miss the genuine kindness they always had. That was so refreshing and reinstalled my faith in humanity. To see something so real and pure has been one of the best things I’ve ever witnessed.
First thoughts when someone says, how was it?
I cannot come up with a short answer to the commonly asked question, “How was your trip to Peru?” I am still gathering all the thoughts, lessons, and impactful aspects that have changed me. Project term is much more than a trip. It is an experience that constantly challenges you to grow, take opportunities, and build connections. Going down to Peru made me nervous, excited, and confused about what would come. In the Amazon, when I fully immersed myself in the culture and when living in the moment, I did not
worry about anything else except when we had to leave the villages and all the hard goodbyes to the kids and members
of the communities. This experience opened my eyes, and I learned about and appreciated the culture and the people. After visiting many villages, I can say that these amazing people are living such simple lives and might not know what these next few days will bring them. They lived their lives full of happiness and joy. The community was a big part of their culture, and seeing everything these people did together was heartwarming. Some families struggled to have enough money to purchase household essentials, yet I could see that the community held them together. This experience pushed me to step out of my comfort zone constantly and continuously push myself to find happiness in simple things as well as myself. I have concluded that the challenges I have encountered on Project Term are some that we will likely all face at some point in our lives. Life is about taking in uncomfortable situations and working through them, not around them. The Amazon truly tested my abilities to work through these situations every day, pushing through the weather, bugs, and language barrier, to name a few. My short answer to the question “How was your trip?” is that it was so much more!