Before I chat about my wonderful family vacation, I’m going to reflect on my time in Argentina. I know that I haven’t talk about my volunteering work that much in my blog, but this post is all about it and some of the things I learned about myself.
The past three months, volunteering in Argentina, were so great and very eye opening. I’m so glad that I was exposed to the things that I saw. The kids were so amazing and so cute! Each day at work was different. Some days were better than others, but for the most part I always had a great time at work. It’s kind of funny though because almost everyday I didn’t really want to go to work (because I was too tired, it was too hot, or for whatever reason), but I always ended up having a great time with the kids.
I worked at two different institutions, Los Angelitos (I worked there on Mondays and Wednesdays) and La Union (I worked there on Tuesdays and Thursdays). I loved going to both of the places. All the kids were wonderful and so cute. The girls at La Union drew me a bunch of different pictures, and some of them were pretty good. It was really cute, one day a girl came up to me and handed me a note and then left. The note said something like I had a wonderful heart and a beautiful soul and that she loved me with all of her heart. After I read that, my heart just sank. That was honestly the sweetest note; she was so cute about it too. I will definitely be holding on to that note! During my time in Argentina, I felt like I wasn’t really having an impact on the kids’ lives. I only saw the kids twice a week for two hours, hardly any time at all, but then when she surprised me with that note it made me feel like maybe the work I have been doing so far with the kids has made some sort of an impact on their lives (even if it’s small).
Every now and then I would go and work at the “hospital” location. It was really interesting to see the differences among the kids depending on where I worked. At Los Angelitos and La Union, the kids mostly came from Bolivian families, and at the hospital location the kids came from Argentine families. The kids at the hospital were crazier. I was told, and saw first hand, that Bolivian families raise their kids to be a little quieter, more polite, and they end up not being so crazy. The kids were great everywhere, it was just interesting to see the differences.
I really miss seeing all the little kiddies. I wish I could have communicated with them a little better than I did, but I was able to get by. It really saddens me that all these great kids have a really hard life ahead of them. They have so many things going against them and so many obstacles to overcome. It’s not fair at all that I have had such an “easy” life compared to the adversities these innocent kids will have to face. Life should not be easier for me because of the family I was born into, that is nothing I earned. I know that this is a reality of the world we live in, that life isn’t fair, but it’s part of the reason why I want to help troubled youth. Troubled youth need to have positive role models in their lives to help guide them to make good decisions, and I want to be a person in their lives who can help them with that, even if it’s in a small way.
Working in Argentina with the kids really made me appreciate my life. I have always known that I’m extremely lucky to have everything that I have, and I never take my life for granted, and it was really good for me to be reminded of that. I look back at things that I have complained about and all of them seem so petty. These kids have so much less than me, and yet they are so happy. I never heard them complain about anything, not even once. I really admired that about them. I think that something I really took from volunteering in Argentina is that there is always someone in a situation worse than mine, and that I just need to be thankful for whatever I have. When I am put in a situation that I’m not too happy with, I need to try harder to look at the positives rather than focusing on the negatives. It’s human nature to always want more, whatever “it” may be. For example, I really wanted a nice watch, and I remember really focusing on it and thinking ok that is going to be the last nice thing I get because after I get that, I won't want anything else. But then as soon I got my watch I moved on to wanting some other materialistic thing. My watch can be any number of things. The point is that once I get something that I have been striving for I immediately move on to something else I really want. Rarely do I reflect on the things I already have or realize that anything that I may have can be taken away from me in a heartbeat. I’m not saying I should never strive for more or a better life or a new goal, but I can’t forget to truly appreciate the things I already have. I feel really fortunate that I put myself in a situation that allows me to truly appreciate what I have and to enjoy life as it happens, in that moment. I think that is the biggest lesson I took out of my three months in BA. It’s really important to enjoy life in the present and to stop dwelling over the past and worrying about the future (I’ve said this before, but it’s important to say it again, to be reminded).
I met some really amazing people during my three months in Argentina. It was really neat to meet everyone so far out of his/her element. We all came to BA alone to volunteer, to teach, or have an internship. Some of us could speak Spanish really well and some of us were just starting to learn Spanish. I think when anyone is put in that kind of situation (live in a foreign country where they speak a different language), you can’t help but learn a lot about yourself. Before coming to BA, I had never explored a big city by myself. I have never really done anything by myself. I think the last thing I did kind of by myself was leave the South and go to school out in Colorado (even then I knew someone from my high school). That’s not even that big of a deal though because going to college is a big step in a lot of people’s lives. But anyways, my first weekend in BA I was pretty much alone (I wasn’t going to meet any of the other people till Tuesday), so I had to explore by myself (I wasn’t going to sit inside, alone, my first weekend in BA!). That was a big moment in my life, as small as it was. It was my first time really relying on a map and exploring a city by myself. And I didn’t get lost once!
I really enjoyed my time volunteering in BA, exploring a new city and country, learning a new language, and meeting new people. I never had a dull moment while in Argentina. I’m so excited for my next chapter in my South American adventures!
Until Next Time,
Liz
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