Edy Leonet, between bites of an ice cream bar as we take the tram up to see the Christ statue and the view of Chchabamba below |
When we were midway in the process of relocating to Cochabamba, in a minibus with Rhegan Hyypio, Hugh Smeltekop, and the remainder of our belongings from UAC-CP, we received a cellphone call that Edy had reached the interview stage. When we were beginning our search for a place to live in Cochabamba, we received a call from Edy himself he had been selected along with 35 other students from various countries to study English language in Philadelphia at Drexel University. Lynn and I thought he was a good choice because of his ability and enthusiasm. And last week, picking him up at the Cochabamba bus terminal after his experience in the US, we felt that our opinion was affirmed. He graduated beyond his first encounter experiences through media such as photos, film, and music. He seemed impressed by the cleanliness and the processes by which work can be accomplished efficiently. He did not return with a sense of rapture that everything is better in the US or that he should live there rather than in his own country. He seemed instead glad to be back, glad to be visiting friends--us and others he knows in Cochabamba--speaking both Spanish and English and moving comfortably through the culture.
It felt very good to see him again. It felt very good to see a young person work for something, achieve it, and not be disappointed by the result. We hope that Edy can use this for making his next steps toward completing his degree and that all of the other scholarship applicants will also find their opportunities.
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