Just Visiting

As the summer descends on the Northern Hemisphere, it means the start of cold and damp weather (not fun) and of all the different college and high school visitors (more fun) down here.

Next week, a delegation from the University of San Francisco will arrive to do different teaching through dance workshops as well as organizing the painting of a mural on the outside wall of the school. Two of the coordinators have already arrived. With them, today we are busy organizing the kids to do drawings of what service means to them and then we will also put up the primer coat of paint to have everything ready to go when the muralist arrives in town tomorrow.

Also next week, a high school group from a Jesuit school in Arizona will arrive to build a house out in the invasions on the outskirts of Habitat. They will be staying with families here in Habitat (who are very excited to recieve them) as part of their volunteer experience.

The plethora of gringo visitors is a wonderful boon and boost to us Jesuit volunteers down here. As I have mentioned before, being able to share this experience and just in general connect with people from our own cultural and with similar values helps us to step out of the every day routine in which one can sometimes become stuck. Whether it be discussing American politics, striking aspects of Peruvian society, or simply life plans, these visits definitely remind me both why I am here and to take advantage of this unique time in my life. Additionally, having some graduate school of education professors and students amongst us (the two coordinators that are currently here are professors) has offered some great new perspectives and ideas to apply to the classroom.

So, all in all, its an exciting time right now despite the coming onslaught of winter. Hope you all are enjoying your toasty days up there.