Six weeks later...

Holy Coww, I have made it six weeks here. There have been many times where I almost wanted to come home early, due to disorganization in the program. There have been times where I've been so hot, tired, and sick. There have been times where I've missed all of my friends and family. But mostly, there's been times of happiness. I've experienced what it's like to make a difference. I've got to see first hand what actual poverty looks like for a whole community, and not just a couple houses. I've been able to make friends and create memories from every part of the world. I've had the opportunity to travel on the weekends: Playa Blanca, Medellin, Tayrona, and tomorrow Bogota. The amount of excitement I have to go home does not cancel out the amount of sadness I have to leave the new home that it feels like I just created.
As I sit and write this, it feels like every other night in the house. Katie is watching Grey's Anatomy, Sarah is Facetimeing her new boyfriend Travis (they met on this trip, omg how cute I cannot even), Tori is in our room packing/rearranging her stuff because she is a very neat person, and Beto is on his phone playing some game. So how is it possible that tomorrow I won't be here? Yet, at the same time, I look forward to this school year. I'm social chair for my sorority, I'm moving in with my best friend, I might be going to Spain. I'm al so excited to see all the friends I made here: Caroline and Ellen in Texas, Tori and Sarah in New York, and Katie in Denver. I actually plan on seeing them. Coming here has made me realize I'm so much different than some of the people I hang out with, and although it definitely doesn't make me stop loving my friends less (obvi they are the best ever) it was nice to be with people who see a need for volunteering and just go. I've had so many people tell me I shouldn't come here because it's dangerous, or because there's poverty in the USA. And to those people I have to say you are right. Colombia was dangerous at times. There is definitely poverty in the USA. However, no matter how dangerous Colombia possibly could be, there's a community here. Like the USA, there's more good people than bad people. I will miss people saying "Buenas" in a city of one million people. I felt completely safe walking at night to the corner store for a beer. And as for the poverty: yes there is unemployed, homeless people in the street. However, from teaching English in a slum, in the poorest community of Cartagena, I can tell you that the poverty in the US is not as extreme. There are kids without shoes, kids who are unhealthy, kids with skin conditions due to lack of nutrition. There are pregnant women without access to prenatual care.  This is the type of poverty that cannot be fixed by one hefty donation, or one homeless shelter. This is their culture, their community, and their lives. And I was lucky enough to share that with them. I experienced some of their routines, and I experienced their children. Every day, these kids brought me joy and a new found excitement for teaching and helping kids. Because kids used to drive me nuts. Actually I think kids will always drive me nuts. But seeing kids with nothing who have so much happiness has changed my perception.
This week went by quickly. We taught at nelson mandela all week except Thursday. We said goodbye to three more volunteers. Saturday Nelson Mandela had a going away party for us. We had cake, we danced salsa (my favorite), and we received letters and words of thanks. I never thought I really made a difference in anyone's life until they said goodbye and told us how we helped them. The director then told us we were the only ones who ever paid any attention to them, so I realized then these kids didn't need me to be an English teacher, they needed me to be a consistent person who loved them. And I do love them. Saying goodbye was one of the hardest things I've faced here. Harder than no ac, harder than not having any previous teaching experience, and harder than getting on a plane by myself to a third world country.
I have no regrets. Next summer, I see myself doing a similar trip, maybe for a shorter period of time depending on my job and where i'm at next year. I encourage everyone to try a program like this at least once. It changes the way you see people, places, and things. I'm optimistic about the future of this world, especially after working with the most amazing group of people ever. Goodbye Colombia, hello America though!