User talk:Theamericancliche

New Frontiers: Relief for Orphans in Mozambique

It is summer; I have one year of high school remaining. The first week of June, I leave for a 54-hour journey to the tiny city of Pemba, Mozambique. In Pemba, there is an orphanage for kids who have become orphans—by forces out of their control, such as AIDS or family rejections. I arrived and began my work there- which entailed much more that I could have ever expected. The first day was a designated orientation period in which I began to adjust to the highly different way of life of the Mozambicans. After that, I began to work. I had no clue what I was beginning, but I soon found out that any contribution I could make would be enough. From a young age, my parents have instilled rigorous organizational skills into my life. Coincidentally, organization was something that the Arco Iris orphanage lacked. I began by organizing the donations. There were far too many items—camping gear, food, clothes, first aid—just about anything one could imagine. I even found myself organizing gummy bear vitamins at one point. This process continues for about two weeks. During the time that I was not organizing, I was able to interact with some of the parentless children—an experience that can be replaced by nothing else. Spoken in Portuguese, one of the girls I met called me irmã: sister. I know that the compound valued my organization skills most, but I found the human bonds I created to be invaluable.

Having community service hours as a required tenet for the International Baccalaureate program at first was a burden—100 hours?? I was tempted at first to approach the assignment just like that—another assignment. But as I began to plan my 100-hour project, I became enthusiastic about my idea. I could actually help better the world that is ours. I chose my specific project, organizing a Mozambican orphanage, because I wanted to provide the necessary human contact to those less fortunate that myself. I wanted not only to use my skills for community improvement, but also forge the human connection between people of different social and cultural groups. When the opportunity arose for me to travel to Pemba, I began to plot the course of my project to fit my travel schedule. As if by fate, the opportunity and the concept I had in mind aligned, allowing me to complete the plan I had designed.

Without support, I could not have completed my project as planned. There seem too many too list—every individual along the way enabled me to continue as I had planned. I guess I should begin with those from whom I sought help—my family and the organizations in Pemba. My family did not lead me along, allowing me to plan my own path and actions, but they did not leave me stranded alone. Rather, they were a support from behind the scenes, encouraging (and partially funding) my journey. My aunt, Tita Sue was also an essential contact in my plans—through her church, Harvest International Ministries, I was able to travel with an organized group. This factor alone provided some solace in my journey over new horizons. Traveling alone on the 54-hour journey was not something I felt qualified to do. Once in Mozambique, I met with the relations coordinator, Tish, to plan out the minute particulars of my plans. She allowed me to execute my plans as I needed, providing me liberty to carry out the organizations that I had planned. By the end of my work in Pemba, we were very familiar with each other and could work side-by-side to more effectively complete whatever job the vicissitudes of life rolled our way. These individuals have been central to my success in the project—by the end of my trip, I had organized the compound’s resources to facilitate use and distribution of supplies.

So who has enjoyed the results of my work? This is hard to determine; I haven’t been back to Pemba since I finishes my project. There were 198 children in the orphanage, 22 in my traveling group, about 130 in the teaching school, and 200 in the village. That’s 550 people. I think that even if my physical contribution goes unnoticed, I will have still made a large impact. Connecting to people of different ages, races, and social backgrounds caused a different kind of impact than one that can be seen in a closet or in organized tupperwares. It is an impression of the soul, one that leaves me eternally imprinted with the mark of this new kind of bond. It is the knowledge that despite all perceived barriers, there are really no walls between humans if the desire to connect is present. The contact possible when it seemed we had nothing in common has shown me and the 198 kids in Pemba the unity that can occur with cooperation and the will to join together.

I think even before I begin this section, you can see the profound mark those 3 weeks have left in me. I looked at the word limit with a gasp—this is supposed to be the smallest section?? However, the more I considered this small allotment in relation the other sections, the more its size made sense. The project I created last summer was not created for me, but for others. Though I am greatly affected, that result is only a lucky side effect, a perk. The goal is service—doing something for others. Whether I have a meaningful experience or a flat-out awful one… none of that is important. What matters is that some one else can benefit from something I can do for them. It doesn’t matter what I can eek out of the world, but what I can pour in.

Susan Ahn: Ministerio Arco Iris, Pemba:

Cristina Edwards 4th period

Extra Credit: The Motorcycle Diaries, Reflection

Ernesto "Che" Guevara's book, The Motorcycle Diaries, is among the most significant of the diaries the author kept throughout his life. The collection of diary entries narrate Guevara's first-hand experience in South America, showing the writer's changes of heart and mind as he encounters various obstacles, hardships, and social problems throughout his journey. The reader can see the small events that turn Guevara into a revolutionary. As Che and a friend, two doctors, set out, it could not be clearer that they are just two regular young guys, reckless and looking for adventure. They are clearly very arrogant, especially Guevara, always attempting to filch food or wine and often fleeing the scene "with [their] tails in between [their] legs." They are not malicious, however, only head-strong. This changes as they encounter other situations. The first significant change in Guevara's mental state seems to occur when he is first in Valparaiso. There, he first truly encounters hopelessness in the life of an asthmatic woman. The woman had been recently debilitated by not only asthma, but also a heart condition. As Che reflects on his time in her impoverished hut, he says "It is at times like this, when a doctor is conscious of his complete powerlessness, that he longs for a change: a change to prevent the injustice of the system." This seems to be the start of Che's life as a revolutionary. At the start of his journey, he does not mention any need for change. However, once he witnesses the obvious thirst for it in impoverished areas, it is as if he has no choice but to become a revolutionary.

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