LaSER Trip to Argentina - 2009

Many people ask me ‘so... how was your trip Roxanne?' I always reply with the same answer ‘absolutely amazing.' There is so much more behind that answer though. Certainly, everyone can hear about my adventure to South America and take a look at photos but I'm unsure if people will ever truly be able to understand the magic behind it all and how special it was to me personally. We can, however, always give it a try and it may even encourage others to try for similar experiences also.

When I was first chosen to be a member of the LaSER South America 2009 team I cried for such a long time and still do not quite know as to why. I think I even scared some people with it, but, I am glad I got over the tears and grabbed the opportunity with both hands because I think I would have been a lot more tearful if I missed out on going. I have gained so much from three weeks away and the preparation and meetings beforehand it is unreal. The journey of a lifetime has left me with some spectacular memories and the best bunch of friends I could have bargained for.

When I woke up one morning and realised that I would be leaving England to help in other countries, I became very nervous. After all the hard work of organising fundraisers, sending out letters to help fundraise the £2,800 I needed and meeting the team to talk about what we would be getting up to, we were finally leaving. Even whilst being in awe of it all, I was prepared to leave with all needed essentials packed away in just two bags which I still cannot seem to get over!

The flight was long but, as good films were on, it was okay. We should have been sleeping, but, I found this a struggle as I couldn't get comfortable.

Arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, was lovely. We boarded a bus to our hostel and couldn't stop saying ‘Wow, look at that! Have you seen that? Wow...'  At the hostel we stayed in; which resembled a juice bar to me, we met the sweetest Argentinean Girl Guides. Their names were Juli and Tati whom we grew very close over the next week. One of the funniest moments about our arrival was that the first food we ate was McDonald's! It was the last McDonald's that we had there, as we soon got to eating lots of steaks!

Whilst in the McDonald's a young girl intrigued by us all in our matching uniform came to have a chat with my friend and I, she asked questions about what we were doing and when she had to leave she gave us a kiss as she said goodbye. Bless her! Unfortunately soon after that nice encounter I had a child begging at my leg and just had to get away. I know that these things happen, but, I do not think I ever realised how often it occurred until that moment. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around a park and having fun by seeing if we could all fit on one bench. I was rather squashed!

We went to a ranch which was great fun. Meeting gaucho's (known as cowboys to you probably!) was a highlight of my trip because it meant a lot to me to see something that I know my Grandad so dearly likes. Going on a horse was hilarious too because you were just sitting there and the horse did all the work! We also had a huge dinner whilst there and didn't think the food would ever stop coming! They asked us to sing an English song and we strangely sang ‘Alive, Alert, Awake, Enthusiastic' A guiding song sung, as felt, under pressure! There was a show on that we watched too where they showed us some typical things that Gaucho's do.
 
We went on a yellow tour bus for a day which was interesting yet tricky to remember what we were being told about. We hopped on and off at various sights. We saw a bridge called the Woman's Bridge which we all liked as in Girlguiding UK we are all ladies. As well as this bridge we visited a very colourful town like place with lots of quirky little shops. At the end of our day we watched a Tango Show with a meal, the dancing was so clever and beautiful.

We visited Argentinean Guide Head Quarters where a lovely lady sold us their uniform and badges. She probably thought it very odd to see nineteen people squeezing into a tiny room. It was nowhere near as big as what we have at home.

The largest part of the trip was the time spent at the children's homes in a place called Posadas slightly further up in Argentina which we travelled to on an overnight bus. The visit will forever be in my heart as I wish to work with children one day. It is something I shall treasure and never forget. The days were hard and challenging, but, so rewarding. Seeing the children's faces light up at simple things such as a toothbrush for a gift and playing ordinary games with others such as Duck Duck Goose was a delight. It was lovely to have the support of the other girls if you had had a low day at the homes, I can always rely on the girls to lift me up even now that I am back home I know they are just a phone call away.

We did a lot of singing and dancing with the children from the homes, when we went back to visit again they were singing the songs before we had even begun them! We starting making friendship bracelets in one home and once we were making them the children just wanted to have trillions. It was as if they were competing to see how many bracelets they could have each. We asked the boys and girls if they would like to draw and they said ‘yes' so we drew animals with them and then stuck the drawings up on the walls as they were so plain. I also had the chance to go and buy a water heater with the people that run one of the children's homes as a gift from all of us. The lady was so grateful for it and kept saying ‘muchas gracias' over and over again. They had been struggling and were just heating water on the stove and taking it to where it was needed. You could see how thankful they were. 

I had my 17th birthday whilst in Posadas and was so happy with how thoughtful the leaders and girls were. We were at the children's homes for the day and Juli explained to the children that it was my birthday and they sang happy birthday to me in Spanish which was really cute.

The supermarket that I had gone to get the water heater from was not the only time I visited there. Us team went back and we spent around £1000 on gifts for the children and some much needed necessities for the homes. You could tell how appreciative the children were of all we had done for them and on knowing we had to leave. Whilst in Posadas we visited a school were students were learning to speak English. It felt so good for us to not be the one's so confused for a change! We popped over to Paraguay for an hour too which was hilarious. We kind of just ate ice cream and had a loud sing song, leaving our mark there in style! Juli and Tati had to leave us for the last part of the trip as they had school to get back too. Having to say goodbye to them was very emotional as they had easily become a part of our group.

The next part of the trip I feel we deserved after everything we had done and been through in our last week. We travelled to Foz de Iguaçu (Brazil) where there are quite well known waterfalls. The couple of days that we spent in Iguaçu were incredible. I do not think I will ever have such a feeling of euphoria like that again with the things we did. Flying over the huge falls in a helicopter looking down and standing in the middle of them making or renewing our promise was beautiful. The whole atmosphere of the place was like a dream! We also went in a boat under them and got drenched which had us all in fits of laughter.

I am glad to say that after a rather sickening bus journey to a place called Paraty (another part of Brazil); the town was pretty and worth the queasy travelling. We really just relaxed there and swam in the South Atlantic Ocean; I always like to say I have dipped my toes in it!

Ihla Grande was lots of fun and we had our own boat for a day. We jumped off of it into the sea and had a snorkel. A yummy barbeque was cooked and we were introduced to a typical soft drink they have. After this we sang and danced round the boat! We also had a little look round the few shops that were there.

Rio de Janeiro (the city of Brazil) made me notice a lot that this whole South America trip may never have happened to me and I was so grateful that I could visit such places. We went to a favela, this you may know as a shanty town, and experienced what the people do there and how they live. It was quite poor conditions which people must do a great deal of coping with. We climbed a lot of steps to the statue of ‘Christ the Redeemer'.

Then, after a cable car ride up Sugarloaf, the trip was almost over. The flight home went quick and we were all happy to be home, typically singing as we arrived, as we had missed our families. Yet it was still sad to leave the new family we had made behind. We all knew though that it was only goodnight and not really goodbye.

To conclude I wouldn't change a moment of my trip away. I look forward to growing up and, one day, possibly telling children of my own what I have done and definitely encourage them to get involved in such organisations. I have so many people to thank and I can just never say it enough times. This experience has inspired me to go out and help more wherever it is needed because you can never be helpful enough.

THANK YOU ALL. 

Roxanne Rolfe

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