Some final reflections…
I can’t believe we are already at the end of the term! It seems like every term that I am here at Dartmouth goes by faster and faster. Anyways, I came into this term pretty nervous about this class since I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I signed up for the CCESP knowing very little about Nicaragua, but with the goal of going on a service trip with a group of people who were highly critical about what it means to do meaningful service through reciprocal relationships with our foreign hosts. Sitting here writing this final post in the final days of the fall term, I realize that I definitely got more than I bargained for – and I haven’t even gone on the trip yet. LACS 20 has honestly been one of my favorite classes that I have taken at Dartmouth so far, and I can confidently say that I have learned more in this class, with much less stress, than I have in any of my other more “structured” lecture classes. Now, saying that this class has not been particularly stressful for me does not mean that it was particularly easy or that I have not put in countless hours of work, but by this I simply imply that I have spent hours on end doing things that I actually want to do, things that feel like they truly matter. This term, I spent a ton of time reading articles, researching online, watching films, writing up reports, creating a website, and of course, reflecting, but not once have I felt like I was doing work that I was bored by just to get a grade. I believe that this class made me a more culturally aware, more thoughtful person, and for that I will be forever grateful. The best part of this experience, perhaps, is that the best is yet to come. I still have the actual trip to look forward to, a trip that I feel comfortable taking because I now have a deep understanding of the benefits and the potential pitfalls of programs like the CCESP. Because I learned so much about Nicaragua, because I was able to interview Nicaraguans firsthand, because I was pushed to think critically about the nature of international service, I am going into this experience confident in my ability to make a real difference in peoples’ lives without imposing my beliefs on anybody. Additionally, I am inspired by the guest speakers that we had come to talk to us, Dr. Turco and Dr. Saunders, and I hope to someday use my education to become a great doctor that can promote the sustainable development of health systems in developing countries around the world. This class opened my eyes to all of the possibilities that the world holds for a meaningful career, and I could not be more excited to get out there and explore them.
In the near term, I am excited to have a bit of time at home with family for Thanksgiving, and then to head out on the trip just a few days later! I am particularly looking forward to slowing down my life a bit for two weeks. I am looking forward to living more simply in Siuna, without iPhones, Internet, packed schedules, and rushed days. One thing that really stuck with me this term was when the guests from Los Hijos de Maíz came to our class and flat out told us that they did not want to live in America. I remember being really shocked when one of the dancers told us that she was absolutely blown away by the amount of technology in our classroom, but that she still would not want to live in America. She told us that even though we may have more stuff than most people in Nicaragua, she felt that some of us had empty hearts. She was proud to be Nicaraguan, and was genuinely happy with her life. It was in that moment that I realized that just because you live a simple life does not mean that you do not have a rich culture. Even though it may be uncomfortable at first, I am so ready to experience the simple, but rich Nicaraguan culture. On that note, I will leave you with one final video: one of the songs that Professor Moody showed us in class called “Casa Abierta,” or “Open Home” by Duo Guardabarranco. I think that this song pretty accurately sums up how these Nicaraguan dancers described themselves – kind people with open hearts (and homes) – and I can’t wait to meet many of them! I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for sticking with me throughout this whole blog!