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EMBRACING SOLIDARITY: FINDING WARMTH IN THE MOUNTAIN BREEZE
There’s something magical about standing on the skirt of a towering volcano, feeling the crisp mountain air wrap around you with a refreshing coolness that invigorates the soul. In these highlands, where the earth breathes and the sky stretches endlessly, solidarity finds its truest form. It’s in the shared laughter of foreigners and locals, the unspoken bond between kindred spirits, and the warmth that lingers—not from the sun, but from the hearts of those who gather here.
This entire Immersion experience has been nothing but amazing, eye-opening, and a daydream. Since I’m writing this on Thursday, I feel like I have adjusted to the climate and culture here in Cerro Punta. It was a struggle at first having to deal with the constant sound of trucks and cars driving or the strong winds that blow through this town, but the multitude of new experiences makes everything that much better. The people, food, animals, and even the colors are unlike anything I’ve ever seen.
Today’s theme for the “summer camp” was centered around arts and crafts. There were three stations: card games (which I helped run), paper airplane competitions, and origami/snowflake creations. The first thing I noticed today was the fact that every single kid knows how to play UNO. UNO is a fun card game that only uses numbers and symbols. There are no words and no need to actively converse. This makes me think of the various ways that humans can connect with each other. Even though us students come from American culture, wearing different clothes, eating different things, and believing different things, we all can connect through human interaction. A simple laugh, smile, or even nod plays into the creation of new friendships with the locals here in Cerro Punta.
I want to talk about the different things we see here. The mountains are green and luscious, the clouds are very low, and the food is very different. Culture in Cerro Punta revolves around food and community. The people here and in Guadelupe seem to be very friendly. When we walk to the school in the mornings, there are at least a couple people saying “Buenos Días” or honking their horns to greet us. The foods are very different than in the U.S. My host family serves us rice with almost every meal. Vegetables and meat are usually served at mealtimes but it’s almost as if it were a luxury here to eat meat. Small portions of meat are offered but if I finish my portion, people enthusiastically offer more. I think that it’s a selfless mentality that is constantly shown here that may not be seen as frequently at home.
Regardless of the many differences, I’m excited to bring new mentalities and experiences back home.
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Regis Jesuit High School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.