As the New Year rolled in, two groups of CSB/SJU students rolled out to participate in this year’s winter Alternative Break Experiences (ABE). While one group voyaged to Peru at the end of December, the other hopped down south to New Mexico and Texas in early January.
Both trips pushed students out of their comfort zones to raise awareness of social issues and injustices. The trips placed emphasis in solidarity, developing a unified community between the group members, and emphasis in the opportunity to gain cross-cultural awareness.
Alexa LaPatka, a St. Ben’s senior reflected on her time in Peru.
“It was such a rewarding and eye-opening experience, I really enjoyed it,” LaPatka said.
LaPatka, along with her fellow ABE-ers, focused on working with children who have physical and mental disabilities. These students were placed in one of Peru’s most poor and contaminated cities, allowing them to witness poverty first-hand.
Each day, the students were able to play, to mentor, to provide a positive influence and to even bring the children to the beach for a special day. “It just takes so little to put a smile on the kids’ faces,” said LaPatka with a smile of her own.
Instead of direct service work, the US/Mexico border trip focused on learning about the issues surrounding the border between the two countries.
Alyssa Brown, a junior Peace Studies and Theology major, was one of the students to take part in the US/Mexico border trip.
“It was great to be able to gain a better and fuller perspective on the border situation, to reaffirm my stance, and to be able to have direct information to back up my views,” Brown said.
During the short time that the students were near the border, they were busy filling their heads to the brim with as much knowledge possible. The group witnessed an immigration court proceeding in action, attended presentations about the border issue and immigration, toured with the Border Patrol at the site of the dividing lines and visited the Mexican Consulate.
Bernadette Martinez, a sophomore elementary education major, shared her perspective about the trip.
“I saw the benefit in being able to see both sides of this issue,” Martinez said.
Both of the winter ABE trips organized daily reflections, a way for students to vocalize and process their thoughts as a group, building friendships and solidarity.
Each spring and winter, Campus Ministries organizes Alternative Break Experiences. “Take the opportunity,” Martinez said. “Apply for an ABE trip, any trip.”