When I first signed up for Amigos de las Americas, I was only half sure if I was going to go through with it. After all, spending two months in a Central or South American country is more than a small commitment. However, as training progressed during the fall and spring, I knew that I had to go. I needed to discover the parts of me that had never been able to come out in our frenetic American way of life. Although Amigos is known as a service organization, I feel that sometimes the service is more to the volunteers than it is to the townspeople with whom we work. Sure, we provide them with some important things like latrines, stoves, and grain silos, but they provide us with something far greater.

I was assigned to the rural province of Intibuca, Honduras. After a one-week briefing/orientation in the country, I was paired with a host family from the provincial capital, La Esperanza. My family was solidly middle class by Honduran standards yet they lacked the myriad of material possessions common to the American middle class. They lived frugally and simply in a four-room house that could accommodate an astounding number of guests. I had a room to myself, but that privacy was scarcely needed. It was so much fun being around the people, that I rarely wanted to be alone.

Yes, the people in my Honduran community live life well under the poverty line, but somehow, they remain happier than we do. We can learn a lot from a society where a stranger can walk into a house and be given some coffee and bread just for stopping by. We can learn a lot from a culture where strangers wish each other "good journey" walking down the streets.

With all these positive experiences, an Amigos Volunteer often comes back a different person than when they left. After seeing another way of life, it is difficult to take ours for granted or to harbor any ignorant prejudices about others. I feel that the host families that we stay with give a gift much greater than just room and board for two months. It is clear that the host families care for their volunteers. My host family cried when I left. After only two months, they considered my partners and me part of their family.

Amigos de las Americas is an incredible opportunity for service and personal growth. I would encourage anybody who is interested to contact the nearest chapter and get involved.

Last Updated
2/6/02 6:43 PM