by Judy Polanco
Staff Writer
Four hours south of the United States border lies the quaint town of Tecate, Mexico, inhabited by simple people who lead simple lives. Within this town is the Orfanatorio de Nazareth, an orphanage run by Catholic nuns.
During spring break, the orphanage was not occupied by orphans, but rather by 16 students from the University of La Verne.
For the second year in a row, ULV students traveled to Mexico to perform community service for another culture. The students left Saturday, March 30, and returned Thursday, April 4. Even though the students were in Tecate for less than a week, the contributions they made to the orphanage will last a lifetime.
By 8 a.m., the students would begin their assigned tasks. Some of the students worked on digging a drainage trench. In order to dig the trench, the students first had to remove plants and other foliage. After the trench was dug, cement was poured and the walls were sealed.
Sophomore Alma Barrera and freshman Eddie Casarez built a subterranean vegetable garden. They dug a 6 foot by 8 foot trench, 2 feet deep.
“This was the hardest I’ve ever worked in my life,” said Barrera.
The remaining students were involved with remodeling a playroom. Every piece of furniture was removed from the playroom; walls were cleaned, patched and re-spackled; the carpets were hand-cleaned and the windows were washed. Once all of the prep-work was completed, the students painted the playroom.
“At times it was hard work and we would get frustrated. What kept me going was seeing the enthusiasm the group had to serve,” said Kamal Bhate, service learning coordinator.
Every day, the group began and concluded with a check-in. During check-in, the students would relay their feelings, thoughts and emotions to one another. Through these discussions, it was apparent that the students gained a greater sense and appreciation for what they have.
“Even though there is a very short distance between the Tecate border and the U.S., the amount of privilege difference is cavernous,” said Tracy Germann, coordinator of the prevention center.
By the second day of the trip, the orphanage became like home for many of the students. The entire group pitched in to prepare meals. In the mornings one group would lay out the utensils and food items. For lunch, another group would slice the fruits and vegetables and set up. At dinner time, the group helped with set up, preparation, cooking and clean-up.
Improvisation was a useful tool when it came time to shower, according to Bhate. One shower for 16 students would appear to be an impossibility. But not for the group. People alternated their shower times in order to accommodate one another. Bhate said group cohesiveness and a sense of family occurred, even in a foreign land.
Departing Tecate, the group looked back on its work with pride.
“These students learned and participated in the international language of giving and caring,” said Bhate.
She added that, for five days, their lives revolved around a little town nestled between granite-spotted mountains. A foreign town lacking the amenities the United States has learned to rely on. The orphanage was enriched by the 16 students from the United States and the trip, in turn, enriched the lives of the students.
