by Alexis
In three days, we will end the first half of our programme together. We will transition from living together to living with host families. Over the past six weeks, we have learned to live as a community and as a family. We start to pick up on each other’s habits, knowing exactly who will show up late and who is making tea when. We know who is waking up early to do pilates and who is out getting crepes or cupcakes. These little habits that we’ve come to find so normal have made Roca Fuerte and the people around us feel like home.
To celebrate this milestone, we held a bonfire. We started by talking about what we missed from home: the sibling squabbling, our beds or meals. We took a moment to think about how grateful we were to have these elements in our life. Then, we shifted to those around us. We passed around our journals and wrote a sentence or two of gratitude to each person, filling up two pages with heartfelt appreciation we will take with us to our host families and beyond, reminding us of the enduring sense of community have nurtured together. Finally, we took a moment to write down what we were grateful for in our house, in Urubamba and in Peru. Locals’ patience with our crusty Spanish, the towering mountain views and the abundance of fruit filled the pages. After sharing out loud, we threw them into the fire, letting our gratitude be transformed into hope for the future.
About to start our next adventure, I feel a real sense of gratitude. For the people back home, the people here and the place that surrounds me. I will miss the little habits that turned into everyday actions but am looking forward to discovering the habits of a new family. The fire may have burned out, but its light will stay with us as we step into this next chapter.