Part 1: Travel Composure

I could not sleep a wink the night before we left due to all the excitement. What a shame because I did not get enough sleep until nearly 65 hours after leaving Pitt’s campus. Things were smooth until we landed in DC. Our second flight to Colombia was delayed and the gate agents believed we would not be able to board for another two hours. I was starting to get heart palpitations. 

Kidding! I am not known to be very flexible when it comes to certain things. This stubbornness and need for control even awarded me the endearing nickname of “Family Manager” on family excursions in recent years. When I heard this news, I looked over at the rest of the team to gauge their reactions to then start scrambling for a backup plan, but everyone seemed calm, so I held it in. To our surprise, we were able to board in far less time than we were told. It was all a façade though. We started taxiing for takeoff when the pilot spoke up and said that we could neither leave because of poor flying conditions, nor deplane. Family Manager Leanne was beginning to get antsy here.

Five hours, a medical emergency, and a conversation with a multilingual businessman later, we finally took off. At this point, we knew we would miss our next two flights and would have to stay the night in Colombia. None of us had any information on how this would work. At this point, I should have been more anxious than ever because I had no plan, no control, nothing. However, the Optimistic Leanne traveling to Cochabamba emerged. I trusted that the people behind the scenes would work things out for us because we could not do anything until we landed. I even took this opportunity to have patience and rework my mindset. I can already see my parents laughing here – patience and optimism are not words I use often. 

My expectations were challenged, and I could not fix the reality, so I learned to embrace it. My team and I say that we got “Two for the Price of One.” We were able to add another South American country to our itinerary and it was exciting. When we landed in Colombia, the airline rebooked us and found us accommodations for the night with free meals and our own lavish Marriott hotel rooms. They even had delicious real sugar Coke waiting for us when we arrived at the hotel past midnight. I thought I would be overcome with homesickness, but the excitement of taking on the unknown helped me fall asleep. 

We woke up a few hours later to a wonderful Colombian hotel breakfast and specialty coffee. We then visited a cute neighborhood/ plaza in Bogotá near us. I had done no research into Colombian culture which left me very receptive and open-minded to what I was sensing. Our driver was exceptionally kind, and I was amazed at how he helped a motorcyclist find his way through the city despite having us paying customers in the back. The Colombians were generally welcoming to us for all but one block we passed. This street was known to be on the bad side, and it was interesting to see the stark contrast between that one block and the rest of town. Additionally, the accents were different than I expected. It was the same Spanish, yet much more difficult to comprehend. We were able to do a little shopping and relaxing before it was time to head back to the airport and continue to Bolivia.

After a few more hours in a daze waiting for the last two flights, we made it. I was completely sleep deprived going through immigration and watching the guards carefully inspect the crisp American dollars I had to pay with, but as soon as I saw the mountains as we walked out of the Cochabamba airport, nothing else mattered.

Part 2: Captivating Cochabamba 

My hunger was no match for the portion sizes in Bolivia. Enormous is an understatement for each Bolivian meal I feasted upon. It was interesting to see how Bolivians embrace tradition with their food. Their diets were primarily meat and carbs, and lots of it. It almost seemed made for the masses.

After breakfast, we had less than an hour to get refreshed before starting the day. We took a tour of CEOLI, and the kids and staff warmed my heart with the way they greeted us. Later, we took a walking tour of the plaza and Convento Santa Teresa. The convent was striking to me in how Bolivians embrace Christianity but still add their spin to things. Ariel, our Amizade guide, spoke of how Bolivians may not practice the faith as much as they used to, but it is no doubt still prevalent in their lives. To end the day, we had our first presentation about the current situation of Bolivia. There were stark differences between Bolivia and the US. Bolivia has deep, systematic political corruption which causes diminished trust in the government and strong dissatisfaction with democracy. It was awe-inspiring to see that despite this discontent with the government and getting things done, Bolivians remain friendly, welcoming, and open-minded. It was also impressive to see how highly they view their youth. They trust the next generation to lift them up and create success, and tradition does not constrict their perspective on this, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.

On Tuesday, we worked at CEOLI. It was a lesson in communication and critical questioning for the team, especially making sure we obtain accurate information with the language barrier. Ronald, surprisingly, was open with us. I was afraid he would be evasive with feedback like our cultural research indicated, but he was highly involved in refining our deliverables. He spoke emphatically about his negative experiences with prior service-learning groups and American companies. It reminded me of the Points of Discomfort reading about making sure a real need is addressed and the client’s objectives are prioritized. After an insightful discussion with Ronald, we were able to speak with Daniela, one of the new temporary staff. She works heavily in instruction and sensory therapy. My jaw dropped seeing the way she ran 1-on-1 lessons and facilitated group activities. I almost went into her field of specialization, so I was entranced by witnessing her skills in action.

After lots of coffee, we had two more presentations. One was by two young adults who created a Cashback App which was sensational to Bolivians (they do not use credit cards like we do). Once more, it was interesting to see differences between Bolivian and American culture around the politics of credit cards. I was also fascinated by how young the two of them were. All around us, young adults were successful and thriving – these two entrepreneurs, Daniela, and one of our Amizade guides/ translators. Our second presentation was also by a young sustainable entrepreneur. His name was Goose and he studied in America with hopes that an American diploma would get him a job in Bolivia. To his dismay, it did not. In fact, he falsely believed that success meant having money, a job, a girlfriend, but he needed to start from scratch. His story was a lesson in adaptation. Education only goes so far; it is the skill of looking for opportunities that takes you far.

Wednesday started early with painting the kitchen at CEOLI. It was a very joyous morning full of laughter, witty comments, and conversations with the painters. It was remarkable how well we were able to connect with each other and learn from each other. The staff was beaming with delight once we finished the job. 

The rest of the day was filled with cultural immersion. We visited Inca ruins remade for tourists, and we were part of an Incan blessing and ritual. The ritual blessing combined the Catholic Virgin Mary with the indigenous “Pachamama” (meaning Mother Earth). I mentioned Bolivians and Christianity before, but I will always be astonished at how Bolivians stick to their indigenous roots and still adopt new traditions. Even Quechua language remains in everyday vocabulary! They do not shy away from history, but rather celebrate it and incorporate it into daily life. I believe that is something many other cultures can learn from. The second immersion was a dance presentation featuring dances from Carnival. I loved being part of the joyful dance culture. It was at this prestigious house where Catholicism was again featured (the house belonged to a line of bishops and their families). 

Thursday was a test of flexibility and teamwork. Our presentation was scheduled for Friday, but because Ronald had a conflict, we agreed to do it on Thursday. That morning, we drove to a coffee shop, became completely jittery, and knocked out the entire presentation and finished up the deliverables to show Ronald and the CEOLI staff. I was very content with the way we worked. Before the trip, we had some issues getting work done all together (because of time constraints and some communication problems), but the bonding really paid off. We quickly distributed tasks based on skills and we were proud of the finished product. CEOLI also enjoyed our conversational-style presentation. We bounced back and forth explaining the deliverable and building off their feedback. It was a huge relief and success! Not only was I able to work with feedback on the spot, but I learned to rely on my team more than ever. I was also pleased that Ronald appreciated the practicality of our deliverables which showed us both the importance of taking steps rather than being overwhelmed by big picture goals.

Once the caffeine and presentation jitters disappeared, we went shopping. If Bolivian values are based on size proportions, they must love shopping and food because La Cancha market stretched on forever. We found lots of amazing souvenirs, and the team rocked the llama sweaters we bought on the first day of class, too. One thing I loved about the market was the emphasis on stalls supporting one another. Many of them sold similar items, but they did not act competitively and enjoyed helping us find what we were looking for.

Then we had a final presentation from another sustainable start-up called Nutri Jardin. It was started by a woman who was saddened by the role she was pushed into, so she used worms as an opportunity to help the environment and fund support for other women. She was one of my favorites as I was inspired by how she fought against stereotypes. She had great advice and motivation for us for how to turn the situation around. All the presentations gave advice like this and helped me redefine success and opportunity. 

That evening stood out. The food was extraordinary, but more than that, I laughed so much. I loved sitting together with everyone and sharing our stories, and I felt much closer to the group. We had created a comfortable atmosphere and a strong team environment which brought us to a reformed Quadrant I Team. It was too bad that the trip was ending. 

With the presentation already completed, it was Fiesta Friday. We had a dance party and salteñas at CEOLI followed by a trip to the Cristo de la Concordia Statue. The day was full of good views and good vibes. The last event was Ariel’s English class at Bolivia’s Univalle University. Again, I found myself stressing about the language difference, but that quickly turned around when I saw that the Bolivian students felt the same way. None of us should have been nervous because their English-speaking capabilities blew me away. It was cool to see how emphasis on language acquisition is greater in other countries. The Bolivian university students and I connected on a wide array of topics including food, music, and crazy college habits. We even taught each other slang words in our respective languages. Seeing my peers from a different part of the world is an interaction I will never forget. It was an absolute blast to learn so much regardless of language, culture, and region. People are simply people with much to exchange. 

Then it was time for our farewell dinner. Everyone involved in the program was invited, including presenters, our Amizade guides, and CEOLI. It was a surreal moment sitting with everyone and talking about how immersive the trip was. We even took turns giving thank you speeches. Despite the tummy troubles, I was full of happiness. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip. 

Well, perfect in the sense that I learned so much about being abroad, being in a new culture, and being an improved version of myself. I found that I am not naturally “Family Manager” Leanne and can be quite flexible, patient, quick-witted, and open to the flow. The trip also helped me find joy in the little things and look for opportunities. Lastly, I completely enjoyed the difference in the sense of time where in Bolivia things happen slower. It makes it much easier to appreciate everything, including discomfort and differences. It was a very refreshing feeling that I hope sticks with me in my fast-paced life.

Thank you, Cochabamba for giving me a little something extra, Yapa.