My Service Immersion Trip to Carmen Pampa, Bolivia was an amazing experience and the perfect way to finish my first year at Neumann. Our long trip began with an overnight flight from Washington D.C. to El Alto, Boliva. Arriving very early in the morning, we drove through Bolivia’s capital, La Paz, to a small, beautiful hostel named Sol y Luna, in the town of Coroico. There, we were able to get some rest to prepare for our week of immersion at Carmen Pampa. After some rest and our first group reflection at the hostel, we left that afternoon to head to the Unidad Académica Campesina (UAC), which is a Catholic college located in Carmen Pampa, Bolivia. We stayed on campus for seven days, visiting other neighboring communities while there. Our group gained first-hand knowledge of the Bolivian culture and were immersed in a different way of life. We spent most of our time learning about Quechua, one of the largest cultures in Bolivia, and we even had an opportunity to learn some of the Quechuan language.
When we arrived on campus, we learned that a tradition at the UAC was to celebrate the anniversary ofThat evening, the campus held a cultural night where we witnessed the Saya, which is a native Bolivian dance that originated in the Yungas region, as well as many
There were two long-term Franciscan volunteers who were stationed at the school for two years whom we met with throughout the trip. We enjoyed spending time with them and learning about their experiences in Bolivia. They are able to take away so much from their time there and we were so thankful that they opened up and talked to us about what they learned and how their time there has impacted their lives. The volunteers led us in a beautiful prayer service on one of our last evenings. Seeing their
This trip inspired me to reach out to people more; people in Bolivia really care about each other. They were so friendly and they never failed to stop and talk to everyone they passed. The way the people cared not only for each other, but the land, also inspired me to see nature in a different way. I was able to appreciate God’s gift of the environment. The views were breathtaking and it helped me realize how much natural beauty there is that often goes unnoticed. About halfway through our trip, we went zip-lining in the town of Yolosa. Being so high up gave us the opportunity to appreciate things from a new perspective. This was one of my favorite memories from the trip. As I was zip lining, I enjoyed scanning the land, seeing the beautiful views, and feeling the wind blow through me.
From early morning fireworks to zip-lining to navigating conversations in Spanish and English, all of these experiences made for a unique and unforgettable trip. I was spiritually refreshed after my time at the UAC. I saw how deeply faithful many of the Bolivians were and how they lived their faith day to day. Our evening reflections gave me the opportunity to reconnect with God and see things in a new and refreshing way. I highly recommend for others to get involved with Campus Ministry’s San Damiano Program!