NOSTALGIA DRIVER IN PERU
Tacna, Peru - 2012 - Miguel Pro School
Scrappers Nostalgia driver, Jasmine, recently completed a trip to Tacna, Peru, where she worked with a group of students living in a village sponsored by the Jesuits. Here is an exerpt of a letter Jasmine wrote to her parents while on her trip:
"... The children are amazing. I have been receiving so many kisses and hugs from them. Every time we walk around the school, leave, or enter in the morning, we are bombarded by kids hugging and kissing us and calling us "professoras" and just wanting to talk to us. ...When I first landed and looked outside my window, it looked absolutely disgusting. I was immediately disappointed at how ugly it was and how there was literally nothing. But ....., I've fallen in love with Tacna. The place itself doesn't have anything special. There are no fancy shopping malls or special restaurants. There are no gardens or parks, and only 2 actual monuments in the entire city. It is complete slums with shacks everywhere, hole-in-the-wall restaurants and shops, and extremely broken down cars. But what I've fallen in love with is not the physical aspects or socio-economic aspects that the city provides, it is the people themselves. I have never been surrounded by more inspiring, loving, compassionate, and humbling people. Almost all obviously do not live in the same socio-economic lifestyles that we so fortunately live in in America, yet, they carry themselves with such pride for not only their country, but for themselves."
Jasmine made many new friends, gained another "sister" and is looking forward to returning some day.
