The following post features student writing.
Hi, it’s Mely and Betsy! We are both rising sophomores and are from Manhattan and Flemington, NJ. We chose this Putney program because we both wanted to help out a community in need while having fun and making lasting friendships at the same time.
Today was our last full day at our service village, Chilcapamba. In the morning, we continued working on our project to provide water to 57 families higher up the mountain. In the afternoon, we were able to spend the rest of our last day with the locals, playing soccer and frisbee. It was national ice cream day so some of us drove into town and picked up ice cream for all of us to enjoy.
Lastly, we had a bittersweet ending to our time at the village with a despedida party. We had our last home-cooked meal with many locals from the village. They sung cultural songs to say goodbye and we even got a performance from a very young boy. We had a fun time dancing with the locals and listening to their music. Different people thanked us for what we had done and it made us all realize the impact we had on this small community and how much we take things for granted. As the natives began to go home we all became very sad at the prospect of leaving the village. Tupak and Jostine, two cousins that we all became very close with began to cry, making everything very emotional.
Our experience at Chilcapamba was very inspiring for all of us. We became so attached to people we had only known for two weeks and didn’t even share a language with. All of us realized how seemingly insignificant things can have a large impact. We tried new foods, made new friends, and saw our full potential. Even though we did not finish the water system, as the locals will have to continue working for about a month, we still did the hardest part and it will always resonate with us. We will remember Chilcapamba and the people that accommodated us as well as what we have done for them. It will hold a special place in our heart and we will never forget our time spent there.
– Mely & Betsy
