Trip to Buenos Aires (05/30-06/01)

 








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Reflection #4: 06/17

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Kindness I have learned that receiving acts of kindness is a kindness in itself. I’ve always loved giving aid but hated receiving it. Now I have learned to both give and receive, and have become better because of it. Every single day here, I am blown away by the kindness that is displayed by all those around me. From the students to the professors to the sisters to friends to strangers, there is a consideration and care for others that permeates every environment here. Let’s start in the school. The students are all so incredibly welcoming. They share their mate, their food, and their stories. I have more drawings and letters than I can count, and have taken more selfies and photos than ever before. One student in particular stood out. Memi, a senior here, loves to sing and play guitar. During a conversation, she mentioned that she would be performing at a concert, and I expressed interest in attending. It was more of a passing remark than anything, as I didn’t know whether I’d be allo...
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Final Reflection: 06/22

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  Final Reflection There’s a saying that goes, “If you want to hate America, watch the news. If you want to love America, drive across it.” I think this holds true for most of the world. Argentina may be known to some for its food or wine, or to others for its more negative aspects—an unstable economy, homicides, drug problems. To me, however, it is known for its kindness. The people I met in Rosario welcomed me without hesitation—with open arms and a beso on the cheek. They overwhelmed me with gifts, food, letters, and hugs, and sought to know and love me in a way that most people will never be fortunate enough to experience. From strangers at the airport and on the plane, to the sisters, the school community, and the voluntariados, my entire time here was filled with kind people. They asked me countless questions about myself, my life, and my country. As a parting gift, Mr. Pfunder gave me Arthur Brooks’ How to Know a Person . I devoured it on the plane and absolutely loved it....
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Reflection #1: 05/18

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On the Plane from Panama to Rosario: My parents raised my siblings and me to be good conversationalists: to ask questions, make eye contact, and be empathetic. It wasn’t hard with me; I was naturally curious and observant, with an extremely sensitive disposition and a boisterous love of everyone I encountered. I therefore took a genuine interest in each person I interacted with, and after every conversation, I walked away knowing something more: about the person, a topic they were passionate about, or even myself. But somewhere along the line, urgency and use replaced presence. I began to subconsciously ask, “What can I get out of this conversation?” rather than, “What are this person’s needs, and what do they long to share?” My mother also raised us to be polite and social, convenient masks which concealed the truth of my situation. I had become—like an overwhelming share of my generation—lonely, disconnected, and hurried. Every conversation was a stepping block, every piece of inform...
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