Wrapping Up Our Trip

An unforgettable two weeks has come to end. Many of us are exhausted but no one will disagree that this was the trip of a lifetime. From our first group dinner in Buenos Aires, to our last hours spent relaxing by the pool and zip lining Chile, there was never a dull moment. Unknown faces became close friends and in some cases even considered family. We came into this trip with an open mind and left with an abundance of knowledge of other cultures which could only be obtained by visiting them.

One of the most eye opening experiences we had was visiting the Hogar el Alba orphanage on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. While many of us have our struggles in life such as money, family or personal matters, we all still have the privilege to be attending a private university with food, a warm place to sleep at night and a great education. When visiting the orphanage, many of us were hit with the reality that not everyone has a fair shot in life. These children did not have families that could support them and had the bare essentials to live. Something as simple as a soccer ball or spending some time with them made their days. Language barriers did not stop the smiles on the children's faces. While this was a sobering event it also gave us a better appreciation for our lives at home.

While Buenos Aires was an amazing place to be, Uruguay was a much needed vacation day. After going nonstop for almost a week, visiting Colonia del Sacramento was the break we all needed. A tranquil, quiet and beautiful place which left smiles on all of our faces. Christina Pearl was sitting outside of a restaurant overlooking the water and said "I am going to get married in this exact spot." That pretty much sums up this little beach town in Uruguay. We were all reluctant to get back on the ferry saying "Can we just stay here for the rest of the time?"

One of the best days we had was spent on the beaches of Vina del Mar, Chile. It felt more like the beaches on the California coast than South America. A fun day in the sun filled with smiles and tans but mostly sunburns. Many of us had the privilege of swimming in the chilly waters of the Pacific Ocean for the first time in our lives and we were in the perfect place to do it. The beaches were sandy and clean and if you were to get an appetite for either food or shopping there were plenty of options for that only a few yards from your beach towel. A day where much of the group was together and making memories. "This is day was exactly what we needed," said Tyler Adkins.

While these three events were highlights of the trip, every day was an unforgettable experience. It is with a heavy heart that I have to say this trip has to come to an end. However, lifelong friendships and memories have only just begun. We may be home now but our group chats and Snapchats have been busier than ever. This can be seen with the text sent this morning from Abigail Joncas. "Everyone I really miss you all and today when I actually got to sleep in, I wished I had been woken up by Srdan's phone call even if I did want to sleep in the rest of the day. Miss all our adventures, songs, pisco sours, karaoke bars, late nights, and hot tub parties! Thanks you for making this trip the best time of my life, I can't wait to see all of you at school!"
-This is Bryant SIE Latin America signing off. Adios!