So.. I'm going to copy and paste a lot of this from our project blog (www.udpanamaproject.blogspot.com) because I don't feel like rewriting it all. But please don't let that take away from the authenticity of my excitement about what has been happening...
On Monday, the Abriendo Horizontes students arrived. They are a group of students from the interior of Panama (smaller, generally underprivileged towns/villages outside the city) participating in a program that will send them to Missouri for two months to undergo college training. These students are as young as 15 and 17 and rarely travel, but they are so motivated to achieve what they want. There is something so mature about them and how they recognize their disadvantages, yet also so youthful and energetic and pure about how they cheer at everything and are constantly smiling and openly grateful for everything given to them. They've gone through so much, some walking hours in order to access the internet just to complete tasks necessary for participating in the program. Many of them raised their own funds in order to afford the program. Honestly, after meeting them, we all wished we could just snap our fingers and make all their dreams come true. They deserve it so much.
Over the past 2 days, we had workshops with them about the TOEFL exam (administering and going over a mini-exam that we created)...we covered American culture, what to expect, what not to do, etc... for example, we taught them what plagiarism is. Important.
They received our stuff-a-duffle winter clothing and it turns out they took everything! We were thrilled.
Last night, the program held a cena de despedida (farewell dinner) for the students, their families, and supporters of the program. It was so wonderful to be part of this ceremony and feel the excitement and nerves coming from all those involved. Their emotions were so genuine, and it became so obvious how much this program and these opportunities mean to them. It was even emotional for us, who only knew the students for two days. They each received certificates and we all exchanged e-mails to stay in touch.
To us, this experience was amazing but seems to represent something so much larger. Last night after the dinner, we and Suz all discussed what had occurred and realized what hit us really hard was the fact that these students, so bright and motivated, were just a small portion of all of the students in this country and the world who have the brains and the motivation, but simply lack the means to get to where they should be. We got to experience first-hand a group of students breaking the confines of their circumstance. It was really, really great...but I couldn't help but think about all the people I know and don't know (and me too sometimes) that take for granted our circumstances...like every time I slack off in a class and don't think about a grade or fail to acknowledge a good connection or don't think about the fact that I have the money to go to college...there are all these kids who are so smart and would be willing to try so much harder and have all the motivation in the world that just can't get to where we are because of things out of their control. It's sad.
Sorry to end on a sad note.
Actually, I'm not ending. Here are photos of these incredible students :-)
At the farewell dinner
Rina, Lisette (a director of the program, she's awesome and looks like Tina Fey shh), me, Mon, and Suz with our certificates for being supporters of the program
The students and us :-)
The students on the bus
We have started working one-on-one with students in English. We start our actual courses next week.
I'm out. I'll leave you with a quote from a piece of Dove chocolate I just ate:
"The most enjoyable experiences are often free."
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