Is it Over Already?

“The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are just thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase; and in the meantime, all of those lives stunted for lack of opportunity seem a mere spectacle; they fail to move us.”

We discussed this quote by Pope Francis during our last reflection as a class. It was an appropriate catalyst to talk through some of the things we had seen and done during our dialogue. We are more aware now. I thought I was aware of current events and world news, but it’s one thing to read an article describing poverty, and another to be surrounded by it, to meet people who live with it every day. We are more aware now and so we are all responsible to do more. I am moved by those that I have met, with the strength and talent I have seen in people who were born with less opportunity than me but have never stopped fighting.

Tomorrow we board the plane back to New York City, and as with most goodbyes this one doesn’t feel real yet. Most of us have yet to digest what we’ve seen over the past month. I feel different, but it’s hard to put these changes into a neat little package, to summarize all that I have learned. The issue is not that there is not a general awareness about poverty, but that it is often lumped into one huge problem, almost unsolvable in its immensity. Where do I focus my efforts? How can I use my skills to even scratch the surface, considering the magnitude of the issues human beings face daily? But rather than be discouraged, we were encouraged to focus our efforts on a passion – a particular country or social issue – and that would move us to improve lives.

I can’t decide if studying abroad has made the world feel bigger or smaller. I was exposed to some completely new experiences and surroundings, nature that I could only dream of and living conditions that shouldn’t exist in 2016. It made me realize how many people are on this earth living lives that are very different from mine – and this is after exploring only one country. In that respect, the world is huge and there is no way to explore it all in my lifetime. However, I was surprised at how small if felt because the people I met were not completely unlike me. We shared similar humor, we got annoyed at similar things, listened to the same music, liked the same food, and forged friendships that went beyond our circumstances. I think most people are just trying to be successful and happy, and my view is that this is similar in most areas of the world. Success and happiness mean different things depending on our values – family, financial gain, fame, respect, personal achievement – but human beings can be connected by our motivation to find our own version of success.

I would absolutely go on study abroad again after this experience. I would go as far to say that it was more influential than an entire year of Northeastern classes could have been. My only regret is that as a senior, I don’t have anymore room for dialogues. But if I could give advice to someone else going on a dialogue, it would be to say yes to every experience offered to you. Is a group going skydiving over the weekend? Join in! Freaked out by a certain food? Eat it anyway. Feel like all you want is a nap after class? Grab coffee and get going because dialogue flies by and you won’t want to miss any of it.

My favorite experience occurred on our first full day in Cape Town. We hiked Table mountain – one of the most difficult hikes I’ve completed – and it brought the group together instantly. It may have been the grueling hike that we all suffered through together, or the beautiful view at the top, but that hike was the beginning of some of the closest friendships I made on dialogue. It was also a day filled with anticipation at the month to come, a day I want to relive because the excitement was palpable.

I’ll go back to Boston with a full heart and warm memories, and I’ll go back wanting to do more and complain less. The hardest question I’ll be asked in September is, “how was your summer?” Where do I begin…