Round Square Regional Conference 2015 in Bogotá, Colombia - Hosted by Colegio Anglo Colombiano
Amazon Post-Conference Tour to Reserva Marasha (Leticia, Colombia) - Led by Offbound Adventures
Reflections by Brooke Mounsey '15 and Audrey Bicknell '16
Going into my first Roundsquare conference, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. After reading the itinerary for the first time, I was the most excited for all the activities and marveled at the thought of being able to explore a new country with such a rich culture. I’ll admit I was also little nervous at the thought of staying with a host family and travelling to a place I’d heard many things about in the past. What I found when I first arrived in Colombia was people who were incredibly warm and welcoming, and who couldn’t wait to show us their country. I felt immersed in their city right away and was able to learn about Colombia through the conference keynote speakers as well as from my host family, who were always willing to answer my questions. During the conference, we saw a country that was picking itself up and standing strong again. The people brimmed with hope for a new Colombia and a better future and it was inspiring to see. I was able to meet so many people from around the Americas and made some awesome friends. From building a pre-fabricated home, to kayaking on the Amazon, to salsa dancing with friends, it really was a meaningful and unforgettable experience. The post conference tour to the Amazon was a highlight for me, and a trip that I’ll remember for a long time to come. We ventured out of our comfort zone and witnessed the distinct environment and beauty that is the Amazon. I feel so lucky to have experienced Colombia first hand through the conference. This trip inspired me, challenged me and taught me in ways that I didn’t know it could before I left.
Brooke Mounsey '15
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On April 4th Brooke Mounsey, Ms. Chamberlin and myself embarked on a journey across the Americas to Bogota, Colombia. This was my first RoundSquare Conference and to say the least I was excited but also quite nervous. Colombia is a country that isn't particularly known for the best things but when being in this country for 10 days I saw a completely different Colombia then the newspaper explains it to be. Throughout the trip I was overwhelmed by how inviting, welcoming and passionate the people of Colombia are. An example of this behaviour was on one of the service projects, the woman who we built a home made us a traditional Colombian meal called ‘Ajico’. She then proceeded to invite us into her mother's home so we could sit down and rest. This is just one of the many examples of how the people of Colombia are extremely inviting. During the conference itself, there were numerous keynote speakers who shared the progress that Colombia has made in the past 15 years by picking up the broken pieces and becoming an unified Country. The adventures that happened on this trip were remarkable, from making new friendships with people across the Americas, to having salsa lessons, to exploring the city Amazing Race style. This trip was an experience that I will never forget. The highlight of the trip was our Post Conference tour of the Amazon. We traveled to the southern tip of Colombia and boated into Peru where we stayed at a Nature Reserve to enjoy the Amazon. I witnessed the life of the Amazon fist hand by seeing pink dolphins jumping in the Amazon River, to wild toucans and parrots and to my favorite, the capybara swimming in the Amazon waters. All in all I feel so fortunate to have experienced the wonders of Colombia.
Audrey Bicknell '16
Brooke Mounsey '15
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On April 4th Brooke Mounsey, Ms. Chamberlin and myself embarked on a journey across the Americas to Bogota, Colombia. This was my first RoundSquare Conference and to say the least I was excited but also quite nervous. Colombia is a country that isn't particularly known for the best things but when being in this country for 10 days I saw a completely different Colombia then the newspaper explains it to be. Throughout the trip I was overwhelmed by how inviting, welcoming and passionate the people of Colombia are. An example of this behaviour was on one of the service projects, the woman who we built a home made us a traditional Colombian meal called ‘Ajico’. She then proceeded to invite us into her mother's home so we could sit down and rest. This is just one of the many examples of how the people of Colombia are extremely inviting. During the conference itself, there were numerous keynote speakers who shared the progress that Colombia has made in the past 15 years by picking up the broken pieces and becoming an unified Country. The adventures that happened on this trip were remarkable, from making new friendships with people across the Americas, to having salsa lessons, to exploring the city Amazing Race style. This trip was an experience that I will never forget. The highlight of the trip was our Post Conference tour of the Amazon. We traveled to the southern tip of Colombia and boated into Peru where we stayed at a Nature Reserve to enjoy the Amazon. I witnessed the life of the Amazon fist hand by seeing pink dolphins jumping in the Amazon River, to wild toucans and parrots and to my favorite, the capybara swimming in the Amazon waters. All in all I feel so fortunate to have experienced the wonders of Colombia.
Audrey Bicknell '16