Day 1
We arrived around 1:00 pm and were greeted by the families of Oratorio. We ate a welcoming lunch and got to know some of the kids and families. After lunch, we were each assigned our families who we would be staying with for the next 5 nights. Each family is different, some have farms with different animals, young kids, old kids, dogs, or all. We spent the evening with our families doing different things such as playing uno, learning about the family or property history, or getting to know everyone. We ate dinner with our families. Some girls gave gifts such as pictures and games and others bonded in other ways. Everyone was tired from a long day of travel and greetings. All of our clothes were extremely stinky from our adventures at RAC (everyone’s clothes smelled like mildew), so our welcoming host moms washed our clothes. Everyone’s experience has been different and it took some time to adjust and truly feel comfortable in our new homes.
“Megan: “I loved playing soccer with my host Abuela’s grandkids.”
Annie: “Their juice is bussin.”
Katie C.: “I loved the coffee at Avery and Ashley’s casa.”
Day 2
Everyone woke up at dawn to roosters, cows, and padres playing loud music. There were also kids playing the harmonica. This all occurred around 3:30/4 am. This town is very lively and energetic! We ate delicious breakfasts and headed on over to our worksite by 8 am. We debriefed our nights and our various experiences. We started on our service project which is building a fence around the community soccer field. We dug holes 18 inches deep for each pole and there were many poles. We had lunch brought to us by our families and we ate it by the church all together. After lunch, we worked longer and filled each hole with cement and large rocks to support each metal pole. It started to drizzle at about 2:30 pm so we washed off our shovels and ended our work. After, we all did different things such as visiting each other’s houses, playing with kids and dogs, and going on walks. We returned home around 5:30 before it got dark. Some showered and hung out with the family. We then had dinner and hung out some more. Some people even helped make tortillas. We Headed off to bed around 8:30. We were tired from our very long, hard work day. Everyone’s a lot happier and more comfortable with their families.
Nikki: “I made friends with little sausage the doggie. I love the community bc it’s so nice and helpful.”
Avery: “Sorry Mom, I’m not coming home. I love it here.”
Nora: “The roosters!”
Liv: “Culture shock! You’re welcome, Mom!”
Mary: “I can’t eat any more rice and beans.”
Ashley: “I live on 2 farms.”
Mallory: “Starting my own construction company.”
Anna: “My back hurts.”
Fiona: “I love my host family so much.”
Lyla: “My host mom made me a shirt”
Catie S: “I love my host family’s dogs”
Emelia: “Rough start… getting better”
Ani H: “The hills are preparing us for field hockey pre-season.
Riley: “It’s really cool and I’m feeling really accomplished”
Angela: “Loving the gallon pinto”
Sadie: “I love the food”
Abby: “People need to pick up the slack”
Cheridyn: “ Walking through the coffee plantation and visiting all the families was spectacular.”
Ryan: “Who’s host mom texted me good morning at 3:50 am?”
