Day 8: The hardest goodbye (Allison and Mitzari)

Hey y’all! We made it to the end of our journey with the CASFA-CRJ exchange of 2019! This week was 100% the best and most service-oriented weeks for many of the students on the trip. Below, you get a taste of the emotions and love shared between the CASFA students and Cristo Rey students from Allison Robles (12) and Mitzari Salgado (12).

Ms. Martinez: Today’s trip up to Monserrate was semi-spontaneous. Originally planned for the Wednesday of our exchange, we were able to change plans around to give us a few hours up in the mountains. We explored the church and saw the image of the Black Madonna in the church. The intention for this journey besides doing last minute souvenir shopping was for the students to travel up the mountain with gratitude in their hearts, not simply to ask for more from our God. They were able to enjoy a final morning together without worrying about doing service and truly enjoyed each other’s company. The students took pictures on pictures on pictures and found the most beautiful of ways to show their love towards one another. Thankfully, we made it up the mountain without struggle, and besides heading back down a few minutes later than expected, our drive back to Bogota gave less traffic than usual.

The CRJ students prepared for the final goodbye, picking up gifts for their partners and grabbing kleenex for all. We enjoyed lunch together, painted necklaces for each other, and spent a fun afternoon together. The actual goodbye was as difficult as the students expected. As chaperones, we tried to end the dancing and fun fifteen minutes early so that we could leave on time but the goodbyes lasted much longer. Students and staff alike were crying at this “see you later” because we are hopeful that the CASFA students are able to visit Minnesota in Spring 2020. These students This family is leaving parts of their hearts in Bogota.

With the true end of the service exchange trip coming, we have so much to be grateful for in this experience. Firstly, thank you to Pathways to Children for finding the value, joy, and uniqueness in giving the opportunity for students to do this type of exchange trip. The service projects that we did made an impact on the families that we were able to partner with and truly, truly, truly changed the lives of the students involved. Secondly, we are forever in gratitude to the generous donors that make service trips like this one possible. It’s an incredible opportunity to serve those who truly need the help and exposes students to the realities of the world beyond that which we see daily. Thank you all so much for following this journey.

Allison:

Waking up today knowing that it was our last day today with CASFA team was pretty rough. I put those feelings aside and continued with a great attitude. 7:30am was breakfast time, we were a little rushed because we had an unexpected trip planned the day before and we needed to allow enough time for travel to the site and back. What is that unexpected trip you ask?  Monserrate. It’s a hill right in the center of Bogota which rises up to 3,152 metres above sea level (yeah I know I was dying), and there is a church devoted to El Senor Caido (Jesus falling in the Stations of the Cross).

 The bus picked us up around 8 or so for a one hour bus ride. It was TOTALLY worth the wait. After playing UNO and small talk on the bus, we finally arrived at Monserrate. There are two ways to go up the hill– one is hiking  and the other is through a Funicular, a train on a rail going up or a cable car. We chose the Funicular not because we were lazy but because we didn’t have enough time to both hike up and enjoy what the area had to offer. 

Going up in the funicular in the hill was such an amazing and terrifying feeling. We got there and the first thing we saw was a wishing well, I made a wish obviously which I would tell you but then if I do it won’t come true. After we went up a couple steps, we saw this AMAZING view of Bogota. It was so breathtaking and a beautiful panoramic view of the entire city. We took pictures and moved on with the amazing things Monserrate had. The chaperones gave us an hour to buy souvenirs and look around. I ate the best arroz con carne empanadas y ajicito (rice with meat and hot sauce).

After this whole experience at Monserrate, we had to go back to PACHAS for our final goodbyes. This meant another hour long bus ride, but this one was a lot different than the rest because we were asked to answer a question and share with everyone. That question? “How did this week impact and or change your life?” It was one of the most emotional bus rides I have ever been on. Some cried ,some laughed, some laughed and cried but it was nice and good because we were all there for each other.

Once we got to Pachas School, we all knew we only had a couple hours left to laugh and dance and enjoy each other’s company one last time. We started an activity where we painted a TAU cross– the symbol of the Franciscans– and put a special touch for our partners. After we had finished we had some amazing burgers that were huge  (I think Mr. Dale loved them the most). While we were eating, we watched a video with pictures of the whole trip. Then we exchanged gifts. I got a gift from both my partner’s parents who are such amazing people and from my partner.

Afterwards, we were given the following instructions. “Take off your shoes and socks.” That was it. The CASFA students prepared a slip ‘n slide for us! We all got wet playing around and it reminded me of Carnaval, a festive day that we celebrate in Ecuador. Everyone was getting wet and having fun (yes, Mr. Dale got wet too). 

Here comes my favorite part– we danced. Dancing brings people together and it sure did bring us together tonight. We danced a little bit of everything and sang songs out loud. 

 But then the hardest part came… our hardest goodbye. 

So many tears and hugs everywhere. We didn’t want to leave. It felt like a huge part of me was being taken away. This might sound cheesy but it was one of the loveliest and funniest but most memorable weeks of my life. What made it fun and lovable and memorable was CASFA. Because of them, I was able to feel so many things and cry (happy tears) so many times. I have a family in Colombia and that makes me feel complete and happy.

This trip had brought us together. Not just CASFA and Cristo Rey students, but also within ourselves. It made us realize a couple of things. It made me realize a couple things. This trip will forever stay in my heart and affect every decision I make from now on.

Mitzari:

Today was a day of mainly tears, laughter, and joy all at once because it was our last day in bogota, Colombia. This morning, we had breakfast at 7:30am and were picked up at 8am to head over to Monserrate, part of the city center. We went up in the funicular, a train on a rail that goes up through the mountain. Our greeting as we got on the bus was full of excitement as always as we saw our Colombian friends. On our way, we played UNO and as we drove through the city, we passed by Calle 26 (Street 26). This was full of murals that showed the talent of the people and the history of bogota. We arrived to Monserrate and waited for tickets to ride up.

As the funicular makes its way up the mountain, I could see what was the entire city of Bogotá. It looks so beautiful from the top and the view was so peaceful.

We got off and walked through a trail to get a much better view which was next to a big white church surrounded of many people and tourists.

After we went around and inside the church, we got to know more about what it is there and its history. I took pictures with my partner and then went and looked around to buy things to take back home. My partner Nicoll has been a huge help and has also spent a lot of time with me throughout this entire trip and I am so grateful I got to connect with her. We both walked back and forth looking at souvenirs stands because I didn’t know what to take. I wanted to take EVERYTHING home. It reminded me of when I went to Mexico and went to shop for things in Axochiapan to take back home. After we went and bought our things, we took the Funicular and made our way down to our bus to have lunch at PACHAS, a school that is less than 4 blocks away from the convent where we’d say goodbye to our partners and all of the group members. We got dropped off a block away from the convent and quickly rushed to grab the gifts we brought to exchange with our Colombian partner. We arrived to PACHAS and ate a hamburger and fried fries for our last meal which were amazing, it made me miss home.

Then, we exchanged gifts with our partners and this is where it got emotional. Everyone started crying and hugging their partner. Nicoll, my partner began to cry after she opened what I had given her. I felt bad because she wasn’t crying because of her gift, she was crying at the fact we were leaving them. It was really our last day here and time flew by quick. I comforted her and hugged her. I told her we’d see each other soon. We all built unforgettable bonds and everyone created beautiful memories here. After an emotional day, I’m very thankful to experience this wonderful trip and meet everyone along this journey. I look forward to reuniting with all of them hopefully in June!

THANKS. See you in 2021, Colombia! 

With so much love and gratitude and joy,

Allison and Mitzari (and all of Colombia Crew)