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What I’ve accomplished so far and what I still want to do

by Axelle

I can’t believe I’m already halfway through the Civic Semester. My interview still feels like yesterday, me nervously smiling through the screen, trying to imagine what this journey would be like. Yet here I am, reflecting on all that I’ve accomplished so far.

Two weeks ago, before we moved from the city to the village, I was honestly nervous. I didn’t know how to ride a bicycle, and I had already heard from our instructors that in the village, biking would be our main way to go anywhere. In my head, I had already decided that I’d just stay home whenever my peers went anywhere.

Then came the second day in the village. Our instructors lined up all the bikes, one for each of us. When they handed me mine, I couldn’t help but laugh and wonder what they were thinking since I had made it very clear in the pre-program survey that I couldn’t ride. But they stayed behind with me, patient and encouraging, and taught me little by little.

By the end of the day, I could actually ride. I mean, sure I hit two trees in my friend’s yard (sorry, trees), but I was riding! And now, guess who bikes uphill to the reservoir every morning? That’s right—me.

Learning to ride a bike might sound simple, but for me, it meant stepping out of my comfort zone and proving to myself that it’s never too late to learn something new. I learned that when I say “I can’t,” what I really mean is “I can’t YET.” My instructors’ belief in me helped me see that difference.

That’s the same mindset I bring to my Thai class every Monday and Wednesday.

As I look ahead to the second half of the semester, I want to keep saying yes to new challenges. I want to connect even more deeply with my host family, get better at speaking Thai, and keep showing up for every opportunity that scares me just a little bit because that’s where all the magic happens.

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Settling into homestays <3

by Kaliyah and Yeili

Yeili <3
Saturday:
I was so excited when we stepped foot into the community center in Huai Lan. All the mothers looked very excited. I was nervous and had already done my research (looked into last year’s Yak board) and knew who my host mother was. Settling into Mae Tim’s house was great but new to me. I have never done a homestay before, so I was definitely very nervous about the language barrier and my bad Thai. Once I got there Mae Tim showed me around and let me settle down. I am a shy person at first, so the first day was a big challenge for me. Mae Tim and I had dinner together and a lot of women showed up and began practicing a traditional northern dance called Fon Leb. They invited me to dance with them and with my two left feet I tried learning the dance.

Sunday:
I woke up early in the morning and Mae Tim and I headed to the Reservoir and met Na Noo there. We walked 4 km around the reservoir. There were no more mushrooms to pick, but we got lucky and found two. Mae Tim was very excited and let me pick them first. In the afternoon Mae Tim invited me to the Temple to see her and her friends dance Fon Leb. It was one of the most beautiful traditions I have seen. We had a “buffet” in the temple and had various foods a lot of locals brought. We spent another evening dancing, but a more upbeat song.
The first few days in Huai Lan have been heart warming. Although it’s been a couple of days with Mae Tim, I have gotten comfortable and attached to her. She really does treat me as one of her daughters. Now, being away during excursion, I miss her and Na noo. I can feel the caringness from Mae Tim and her family, which makes me feel extremely loved and comfortable. Her home cooked meals are great, and I can tell she cooks with so much love. Na noo’s patience in teaching me the same simple steps for three days has shown me how patient I need to be. Homestay is definitely a unique experience and new for me, but I’m excited to see what other adventures and experiences we will have in Huai Lan.

Kaliyah <3

Excited. Nervous. Engaged. Curious. Reflective. Hopeful. Cautious. Open. Adapting. Walking. Running out of nervousness. Walking again. Smiling. Waving–oops, bowing. Gazing.

Glancing.

Communicating with and without words.

There’s nowhere else we’d rather be at this moment.

Apart from the lovely rice fields hugged by the mountains frequently captivating me, my attention was fully on the situation at hand–we have just arrived in Huai Lan, our residing village in mountainous rural Thailand. I loved the city, but I’m looking forward to embracing the slow and neighborly motions of a region I’ll come to love. I was offbeat about the welcome tradition–tying cotton bracelets around our wrists as a sign of protection and embrace from the village, but the motives brought much comfort. A few bowls of traditional Northern Thai food and upbeat P’Bo translations, we are each matched with our mother–sounds strange to say, and yet accurate. I can’t tell all the aspects yet, but I know I couldn’t have matched with anyone other than my Mae Ausa.

10,000 miles away from home, yet staying with her area near the village center prompts the most welcoming experience so far into the program. My family had their genuine concerns mixed with their reasonable but incomplete interpretations of homestays, suggesting their single story view of northern Thailand. But between the smile from Mae Ausa, the quick escort to get home, and the onset of us cooking dinner as the start of our tradition was more eye–opening than any words could have prepared for.

So far, I’ve been speaking conversational Thai well while practicing a bit of written letters for fun. A fun challenge for me in growing is communicating with my Mae, whose English is limited but patience is endless. She listens kindly as I stumble through tones–since “maa” could mean horse, dog, or “come here,” and I rarely know which one I’ve just said. Thankfully we’re often able to laugh it off and playfully joke about how some words, such as strawberry and sa-dtaw-buh-rîi, are not so different from each other, just as we are.

It’s been just over a week, and yet I feel connected to my Thai family more than I could have imagined at this point. There are many times where our dining room/kitchen/living room is filled with laughter and other times, more serious and heartfelt moments such as reminiscing over late, close family members. But whether in my own home or at the reservoir or community center where we met nearly everyday the first week to learn/teach Thai dance and line–dancing, I will say that I am gratefully in a place where I can step outside of my comfort zone with more eagerness each morning.

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Reflections from a Traveling Notebook

by Tammy

Before I left for Peru, my friends advised me to keep a journal, or some form of notebook, on me at all times.

“You’re going to write so much,” one friend told me. “It’ll be so important to document everything.”

A few days later, they sent me an Instagram Reel. It featured a young woman in her twenties talking about the most precious possession she owns: a notebook. But it wasn’t just any notebook- it was filled with notes, advice, doodles, and kind messages left by people she had met during her travels. Inspired, I decided to do the same during my time here in Urubamba: carry a little notebook and ask people to leave a piece of life advice or kind words I could carry with me for the rest of my life.

So, here are some of my favorite messages from the past week, written by people we’ve met from all over:

Marisabel – Pottery Teacher

Last Wednesday, we got to choose from four community activities: pottery, cooking, silversmithing, or salsa. Five of us decided pottery sounded interesting. After about twenty minutes on the local bus, we arrived at a charming outdoor studio surrounded by plants and flowers. Sitting around a long wooden table, we began painting ceramics with delicate patterns and bold colors inspired by Incan culture. Some of us even gave real pottery a try. I won’t lie- it didn’t go too well for me- but our friends Ana and Julia managed to make beautiful plates. Julia even decorated hers around the theme of Pachamama, the Earth Mother. Marisabel guided us the whole time; she felt more like a mentor than a teacher. She stood on the side, complimented our creativity, and helped us when called upon. At 70, she brought so much spunk, creativity, and fun.
“Que sus sueños se hagan realidad. Con cariño, Marisabel” (Translation: May your dreams come true. With love, Marisabel)

Jousseppe- Quecha Guest Lecturer

Jousseppe, an invited guest speaker from Dragons, joined us in the beautiful Roca Fuerte garden to give our very first Quechua lesson. That evening, we learned simple phrases and greetings, and soon the air buzzed with excitement as everyone began firing off questions: “Como se dice bano? Como se dice me gusta jugar al futbol? Wait wait no it’s my turn!”. Hands shot up one after another, and laughter was echoing through the garden. By the end of the night, I’d found my favorite Quechua word: Tupananchiskama, which means until we meet again.
“Inhala gratitud, exhala pasión” (Translation: Inhale gratitude, exhale passion)

Diana – Founder, Green Heroes, Urubamba

The fourth piece of advice was written by Diana, the founder of Green Heroes, a local Non profit organization dedicated to interactive climate education in Urubamba. We visited Green Heroes last Friday with high hopes, partly because it was so close to where we lived (thank god we don’t have to commute for an entire hour again!), but also because the mission of the organization excited many of us. As we arrived at Green Heroes, we were greeted by some of the warmest, friendless staff members. We warmed up by playing an intensive (but nevertheless super fun) round of Ninja and later toured around the organization’s interactive “outdoor classroom”, even joining some of the lessons happening on the side. Green Heroes really inspired me. Back home, I was working on climate education with many schools around Taiwan through Fridays for Future, and the visit to Green Heroes really changed my perception on how education should be approached. I valued their priority of having fun and making the experience memorable for the kids. They also paid a lot of attention to the details of their outdoor classroom: there was a compost, many drawings, multiple little farms, a greenhouse and so many other facilities that gave kids the opportunities to learn about our planet. In the end, Diana left me her favorite quote:
“Do your best until you know better. When you know better, Do better <3” – Maya Angelou

Mario – Community Member, Paru Paru

During our three-day excursion to Paru Paru, we immersed ourselves in the local culture through hiking, fishing, mural painting, learning about local herbs and potatoes, and even participating in a Pachamanca ceremony. Before leaving, I asked Mario to give me some advice. After a thoughtful pause, he wrote a heartfelt note- not exactly a piece of advice, but it’s a sweet message I will carry with me moving forward Mario’s message:
“Hola hermana, estoy muy agradecido por vuestra visita es una experiencia con grupo dragones pasamos super experiencia mot alegre muchas gracias” – Mario (Translation: Hello, sister. I’m very grateful for your visit. It was a beautiful experience with the Dragons group; we had a really joyful time. Thank you very much.)

Carrying this little red Dragons notebook has already taught me far more than I expected. Through journaling, reflections, and the messages I’ve collected from the community, each footprint left in ink is a feeling I can carry long after leaving Urubamba. To me, these notes aren’t just memories; they’re tiny pieces of life that will continue to inspire me wherever I go.

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11.10.25-18.10.25: A Whirlwind Week

by Shelley

This past week here in Peru was one full of next steps, familiar routines and celebration…

Saturday marked a major milestone for everyone in the programme – moving in with our host families. After a game of icebreaker bingo which allowed parents and students to learn some fun facts about each other, the pairings were announced. There were warm embraces between the new-found families in a circle of applause. Then it was officially ‘Goodbye group-living’ and ‘Hello homestay’. Sunday was a dedicated family day, which meant different things for different homes: some families headed out for picnics, others stayed in for movie days, and others held family gatherings. No matter the activity, our new rooms, siblings and pets made for a huge change from Rocafuerte for all.

At the same time, some things last week stayed exactly the same. Work at our NGOs on Mondays and Fridays continued as normal, and spending time together as a cohort remained just as important as ever. Wednesday saw some members of the group bring out their inner supermodel for the day, and on Thursday, the cohort gathered at the new group house for a movie night. While the film itself may not have been a fan favourite, it was the perfect way for us all to come together again. And as ever, book swapping continued within the group like reading was going out of fashion (Ana currently leads the reading table with a whopping SIX BOOKS read so far).

Finally, this week was one of celebration. On Sunday, the group got together for Tammy’s 19th birthday which included a surprise party, a piñata, far too much Inka Cola and just enough cake. In addition, on Saturday we celebrated another huge milestone: reaching the halfway point of our time in Peru! We met early for a short hike, during which we reflected on our takeaways and best moments of the semester so far.

But despite having fewer days left in Peru than we have already spent here (yikes!), we are nowhere near ready to leave. With our long awaited trip to Machu Picchu coming up this weekend, the group is excited for the whirlwind to continue…

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Familia

by Shuntavi

Today we celebrated reaching the halfway point of the program! It has been a week now since we have met our host families and begun to settle into our new life. Adjustment to family living has been easier for me than I expected. I was told my parents and two younger brothers were matched with me because we all have lots of energy and there is no doubt it is a perfect fit. I did not have time to be nervous on the first day as my brothers, Santiago (10) and Gabriel (7), were hugging me, running in circles around me asking questions, and handing me sweets the minute I introduced myself as their sister. From that moment on it was all teasing and laughter–about how my brothers speak so fast I can barely understand them, about how my Spanish sounds even worse when I am wearing my retainer, about how I eat more than anyone they’ve ever met in their lives because I love Peruvian food so much.

I was not sure what to expect before I came here, but integrating into their family has felt surprisingly natural. On the first day, I met Abuela and Abuelo, who live downstairs and my 4-year-old cousin who lives next door. Just like at home, family and friends are always walking in and out of the house to say hello. On Thursday, my host mom’s brother and his family arrived after 15 hours of driving, surprising us all. His 4-month-old baby and 4-year-old were precious and quickly became family as well. I spent all Friday night playing tag with the 4-year-old, watching her when the rest of the family went out and making sure she ate all of her dinner as an older cousin would. That night we watched a movie and she curled up on my lap, comfortable with me as if I was family.

While I will miss Roca Fuerte dinners all eleven of us in the cohort, reading together on the hammocks, movie nights, and the simple joy of sharing the mundanities of life, I am excited for this next chapter. I am excited for all the Spanish I will continue to learn and all the connections I will strengthen in my time here–whether that be with Mama Flora at the corner store down the street or my adorable 4-year-old cousin. I know that no matter how much Spanish I misunderstand–which will be a lot inevitably–there will be much laugher and joy in the next month and a half because in just the last week there has been an abundance of the two.

– Shuntavi

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End of Beginning

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.