- For my STEP project I traveled to Colonia Valdense, Uruguay with a BUCK-I-Serv team for a week long service learning experience. Our team partnered with local, family-owned, organic, agricultural operations who practice regenerative agriculture. We had two main goals: one learning goal and one service goal. We learned about a sustainable and regenerative way to life and agriculture, especially in the context of a different society. We served by aiding our community partners with whatever functions they needed, such as helping build a home, harvesting squash, preparing onions, cracking and processing walnuts, creating signs, and so much more.
- My STEP project expanded my view of the world in several ways. One, I left the United States for the first time in my life. In this I got to observe and experience different cultures and languages from my own. This fresh language and cultural experience showed me how much more there is to learn about and experience in the world, especially since I only encountered a very small portion of what is out there. Two, I learned that life in Colonia Valdense is much simpler than here in the States. Three, I learned that the “hurry” mindset is so present in the U.S. and that other cultures have practices in place to resist the temptation to hurry in life and “work work work work” as a human doing rather than living as a human being.
- We learned the simpler lifestyle from the families we interacted with. Each family who ran a sustainable farming operation showed so much gratitude for what they have and they taught us that sustainability really begins and ends with taking as few resources from the earth as possible. In order to achieve this you must value things in life that really matter most, such as family, friendship, peace, and living in the present moment. I noticed a lot of the families we partnered with just simply live joyfully with less material items. The heart of sustainability isn’t anything fancy but rather a mindset and lifestyle shift. I remember the first family we served by aiding in construction of their house. They were building their home from sustainable materials like bamboo, straw, mud, and recycled materials. What we observed in their home was firstly the much smaller size compared to American homes, and secondly the self construction of their space. These two things work in tandem to create a more sustainable home. The transformation from a human-doing to a human-being came from the specific practices in Uruguay. Everyone practices a siesta (or three hour rest from work after lunch to enjoy the fruits of your labor and have quality time with family) everyday. This practice shifted the mindsets of the families we worked with from focus on accomplishing to finding joy and satisfaction with what you already have and what you’ve already achieved. A three hour rest each day built in space to breathe and know that each day is a gift worth enjoying. This transformational practice wasn’t only observed but we integrated it into our serving schedules as well for a fully cultural immersive experience. Another transformational activity of visiting the Caliu Earthship Restaurant and Hotel in Colonia Del Sacramento, gave us a different perspective on how modern construction and cooking can meet sustainable and traditional methods to create a more ecological friendly world. Earthship, the type of architecture, uses mud, recycled materials (like tires), clay, and modern engineering like solar panels and rainwater collection ducts for a completely off grid and renewable resource-reliant living space. This transformative experience revealed the endless possibilities of environmentally friendly architecture and gives hope for the future of sustainable living.
- This transformation is valuable in my life because I believe we are stewards of the planet Earth. Meaning it’s our job as humans to care for and protect the planet. This begins with a cultural change as the American culture of consumerism isn’t sustainable or good stewardship of the earth. Rather than creating an artificial relationship with the Earth for our convenience, we should foster an authentic, more natural relationship with the land. Relying on a simpler, slower lifestyle that values what you have rather than working for what you don’t have combined with using a natural method to achieve what you need will lead to a healthier, happier planet for all people. Being a good steward of the Earth is not an easy feat but most definitely possible, as I witnessed while serving with BUCK-I-Serv in Uruguay.