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A Co-Chaperone's Final Reflection on the Matter

Our "Atlas," holding up the sky for everyone!

You know the exhaustion that can be accompanied by a sense of joy, well-being, and gratitude? That's how I felt every day of the Argentina trip. From the moment we arrived at LAX on June 9th after graduation to the moment we hugged and shared goodbye smiles this past Wednesday afternoon, I felt part of a very special experience. Were there challenging moments along the way? Absolutely! I am grateful for the physical and emotional experiences we navigated, absorbed, and let flow through us. We grew as individuals and as a group, bouncing along and back from moments that demanded our intense presence and best selves to emerge. I write this post with profound appreciation and respect for Patricia Levin, our brilliant leader, and want to dedicate my words to her. Her elegant, humorous, decisive, and competent leadership made every student and chaperon feel safe, cared for, seen and heard, and aware that we were on a well-planned, intentional, emotional, hands-on journey. We came away with more than we could have imagined: a love for new friends and the culture, an in-your-face recognition of the fragility of democracy and how we must stand strong against fascism, and how quickly we can recover from bumpy moments when we truly care for each other and have the greater good of the team in mind. I return to Los Angeles with much respect and gratitude for our students and community. Thank you Poly, Rick, Ann, John, José, Edgar, parents, and every single one of our "chiques"!

-Renée Larios

Comments

Profe Levin said…
¡Gracias, Renée!
I’m honored and humbled by your words.
During this trip I came to really appreciate the saying: “There’s no I in team”… Nothing would have been possible without yours and Profe Arceo’s extremely professional and loving participation.
¡Hasta la próxima aventura!
June 23, 2023 at 6:15 PM
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