Last Saturday, we left Santa Rosalia, near Tobati, Paraguay, and our host families. It was a very emotional and most of us and our host siblings cried. Scott and the director of their school shared words about how amazing the experience was for both sides, so I will tell you a little of my experience.
My host family was so nice to me. Domingo, our host and guide in Paraguay, and I were at Alexis Martinez’s house (my host brother). His parents and his two brothers treated me so well. Since I spoke Spanish his parents loved to talk to me about my everyday life and what it was like to live in a city. They also loved to get my opinion on their foods which were awesome and so delicious. My favorite food was carne asada which was made my host father. On the second day I felt sick so my host mother made me homemade medicine; it worked really well and the next day I felt a lot better and could my LearnServe group and my host brothers and sister. My host mom spent almost the whole day looking out for me like my real mom would. This showed me how much she cared for me and how important I was to them. My host family is very special to me, and Alexis and I became really close which also made me feel very welcomed and a part of their family.
In Santa Rosalia I got the nickname Jack the Mack which means that the girls found me cute and attractive. I’m pretty sure I’m the very first and only white American teenage boy they had ever met. They always wanted to take selfies with me, and I really enjoyed the attention. In the U.S. I don’t really get to know that many girls, but here the other LearnServe students called me the “Ryan Gosling of Paraguay.” All of the girls asked for my phone number, and I was so flattered. One time, four girls pulled me over to a bench and literally just looked at me and took a million selfies. It was really touching and it made it really hard for me to say goodbye.
Jack M., Walt Whitman High School
