shortly after arriving in Los Angeles Intl. Airport, i boarded an airplane with 11 strangers that i had just met. our destination was South America, a continent that had previously only existed in the depths of my brain. i had no idea what to expect and the great unknown was quite overwhelming. as i sat in the concaved seat of that 747 i began to ask myself what i had gotten myself into. i was feeling very claustrophobic, trapped in that airplane with 11 people that didn’t choose me. but suddenly, like a shiver down my spine, i felt at ease. i realized that every single person i had just met was here for a reason. we were bound by a force pulling us away from everything we once knew. each one of us was on the forefront of a journey, and oh what a journey it was.
after 3 months of living with the same people, you would think we would all be sick to death of eachother. i can honestly say that if it was not for this program, i probably never would have met, talked to, or became friends with anyone in my group. we all come from extremely different environments and at first it was hard to connect with people of such obscure backgrounds. but with every passing day i learned something new about each individual in the group. every mistake, story, birthmark, tea bag, every photograph revealed a new layer of each person. the more time i spent with them, the more i respected them, and loved them for the complex human beings that they are. the more i get to know them, the harder it is for me to dislike them. these kids have become like my tribe. we all have eachother’s backs and even when we fight or disagree, we always agree to move past it and be strong together. we have sat together with dignity on your highest peaks, and cryed together in the lowest of valleys.
in some way, it seems that each person represents an aspect of my personality. Rhiannon is the parent in me. always looking out and ready with a helping hand and a warm smile. Ryan in the explorer in me. he can find the best place to watch the sunset, even if it is on the peak of a mountain. Jackie is the observer in me. she finds the beauty in even the most minute details of life, the light pattern, the plastic bag dancing in the wind. Bryan is the business man in me. he knows how to get it done, and get it done right. but he also knows how to relax after a hard days work. Joshua is the scientist in me. forever questioning his surroundings, the fluxuating thoughts never cease to exist. Cecilia is the artist in me. she lives for today, because after today comes tomorrow, and by tomorrow you have already died a little bit. Emily is the child in me. she can be loud, she can be bossy, she can be sweet, but at the end of the day she just wants to cuddle. Phil is the goofball in me. he has a heart of gold and always knows how to crack me up. Joseph is the ladys man in me. like a puma on the prowl, he never hesitates to pounce. Cheridyn is the coach in me. she always has some positive advise or a hot cup of joe on a sleepy day. and Ella is the critic in me. she enjoys the fine things in life and is not affraid to speak her mind when things are less than flawless.
thank you carpe diem and everyone in my group for taking me to the otherside and showing me how beautiful life can be from up here.
love,
austin welch