So in case you haven't heard... I'm going to Chile in a few weeks with an organization called Partners of the Americas, an international "grassroots" network that has about 120 chapters in the Western Hemisphere.
As best I can tell... It was founded in 1964 as part of the US. Agency for International Development. It all started when this guy named Jim Boren was in Peru and wanted to create a network pairing up US communities with Latin American communities in performing small service projects in different place where the receivers of the service are also participants.
So today, it is sponsored by the US Department of State, and has various programs throughout the year dealing with agriculture, cultural and educational exchange, domestic violence prevention, social inclusion and youth. One program they sponsor is called Youth Ambassadors, which groups 10 high school students with 2 adults and sends them to a country in Latin America for a few weeks.
I, on the other hand, had never heard of this organization until a fellow foreign language teacher from Laramie, WY told me about her experience with it at a World Language Conference last year (which I planned BTW :) ). At first, it sounded cool, but still no interest from me. Then I got an e-mail from her announcing mentor applications; I ignored it. Then, a couple weeks later I got another e-mail from her stating that the deadline was approaching quickly; I ignored it. Then I got another e-mail from her stating that the deadline had been extended for mentors, because they were still in need of one more; I was going to ignore it... And then I thought "maybe this is a sign that I should apply?????" So I did. Literally, at the last second. I had to overnight the application to DC.
Well, as good fortune has it, I was accepted! I had to write several essays in English and Spanish, interview on the phone in both languages, and it paid off! And to further my good fortune, the program is exactly one day after our family reunion in Montana (I have to fly out of Billings even), and ends exactly one day before I have to report back at school. This is no coincidence, my friends. Every crazy and wonderful thing I have ever done has included me applying at the last microsecond and having everything work out like a beautiful, tight-fitting puzzle.
I will write much more about everything as I find out (itinerary, program details, etc), but for now, I'll attach the link to the announcement about 2011 participants (including me!). There are actually 3 students from Laramie, WY going, including one girl I taught as a student teacher.
Here's to adventure!
