On one hand, we are so busy in Argentina that we don't often have the chance to think about what's going on at home. Between Rotary meetings, company tours, getting to know our host families and exploring new cities we have little time to think about anything other than the exchange program.
On the other hand, when we have moments of downtime our minds often wander to what we have in the United States. When you're sleeping in the bedroom of your host family's daughter, riding on a bus for twelve hours through the night, eating new food that you're not familiar with or struggling to form sentences in Spanish frustration can develop. Luckily, we have a solid team that makes each other laugh and reminds each other of the incredible opportunity we are experiencing in Argentina that others would die to have.
Each of us has a job in the United States, family, friends, pets, significant others and daily responsibilities that we are missing. When each team member was asked what they miss most in the United States, they said:
Ellis- Traditional, American meals (pizza, hamburger, ect)
Paul- A healthy daily breakfast and my pillow
Katy- Eight hours, daily, of sleep
Kathleen- A structured daily schedule/knowing what to expect throughout the day
Molly- Working out daily and sleeping in my own bed
So, in the end, are we homesick? No. Do we miss our daily lives in the United States? Of course. But... we are living in the moment and soaking in every experience we have in Argentina!
To Rotary International, and each of our sponsoring clubs- Fond du Lac Morning, Ripon, Hardford, Amigos de Milwaukee and Rotary Club of Milwaukee- thank you for putting us in a situation where we get the chance of becoming homesick! Thanks for your commitment to the Rotary mission and development of young professionals throughout the United States. That passion is what allows us to be here.
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