As I come to the end of this three-week Spanish journey with these genuinely kind, precious and fun-loving kids, I feel a surge of gratitude. I have prayed every morning of this trip for their safety and wellbeing, and I am so thankful that we have been granted such. And as my dad would say, “the rest was gravy.”
This group of kids brought with them a zest for life, a love for learning and exploration, and curiosity about a once foreign culture that they have begun to make their own. I am grateful for their lightheartedness, their patience, their remarkable good-humor and, above all else, their genuine support and care for one another.
I have learned so much from this group, and I hope they have learned a thing or two from me. I strive to employ these outlooks in my own life, as they are traits that I greatly admire in each of my travelers:
Gillian has taught me that our experiences always look better when the sun shines on them – she manages to put a positive spin on absolutely any situation.
From Liv, I have learned the grace and importance of laughing at myself, and when others laugh at me with good will and love, it feels best to laugh too. Many parts of life seem too serious already – it’s much more fun to make light and laughter of any situation.
Abi has taught me that expressing my opinions confidently will earn the respect of others, and let others know where I stand. Especially when those opinions are accompanied by respect for others and a genuine smile.
Remi has given me the hope that my own sons will remember the advice I give them and put it into action, and that strong advice is best expressed when illustrated with an anecdote.
Liesel has taught me that self-love preserves and protects one’s soul and self-worth, and that being true to my morals and beliefs will allow me to sleep better at night.
Nicanor has taught me that it’s okay to decide that I dislike things after giving them a wholehearted & openminded opportunity, and also that it’s always best to keep those dislikes to myself so as not to sour the experiences of others.
From Lucas, I have learned that when the people I love annoy me, they are just being themselves – and that my love for them stands much taller than any little annoyance I might feel at the moment – the moment will pass. If I accept those annoyances, those people I love will stay with me, and that’s much, much more important than my fleeting feeling of irritation.
Maia has taught me the importance of allowing oneself a period of grief in moments of loss, but to then remember that a good life is about loving the moment I am living in.
From Fiona, I have learned that when other people make me feel bad about myself, I can sit in that feeling for a moment; realizing that if the person that made me feel bad is someone I love and who loves me too, I can move past it by acknowledging that the person’s intent was not to make me feel bad. Everyone makes mistakes and misspeaks now and then. Actions speak louder than words – even when the words make my own insecurities surface.
In true Profe Koyama style (“Lala Salama Koyama”, as she has affectionately been named by our group), she has taught me many valuable lessons throughout this journey abroad. She reminds me that adolescents are works in progress. Watching them grow and learn and experience new things is one of the greatest joys a teacher can experience. We, as teachers, have the fortune of seeing the world through our students’ eyes, and that is a gift.
This group has been so resilient, so kind, and so very much fun. It has been a sincere pleasure to spend these past three weeks with them. I return to Deerfield today with a full heart.
We have shared many adventures and will continue to share many treasured memories of Spain and of this wonderful group of people.
LALA SALAMA EVERYONEEEEE
*peer edited by Abi and Fiona