Below you will find some great quotes and prompts to keep you thinking about and reflecting on your trip with Tandana.
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“I have felt this friendship—that I am a friend, that they are my friends--, even though I don’t understand anything of what they’re saying.  This work as a team has been really pleasant for us.” – Norberto Oyagata, Panecillo, Ecuador
Have you learned new ways to connect with others that don’t require a shared language?  What is friendship to you?  During your Tandana program did you feel part of a team?  Why?  Can any new understandings of friendship help you develop new relationships at home?
The willingness of the people of Kansongho to share their lives with us has profoundly impacted me. May my own words and actions as I continue this journey home and through the rest of my days bring this village honor. --Julie Lundquist, Tandana volunteer
How can you honor the new friends you have made during your trip?  How can you reciprocate what has been shared with you?  What actions might demonstrate how you feel about the community that has hosted you?
“From all of these experiences, I have learned to maintain my own culture and value it for myself, since much of it is being lost, and that other people value it and are interested in learning about the many cultures that exist in the world." --Cristina Fuerez, Panecillo, Ecuador
What have you learned about your own culture?  What have you learned from experiencing a new culture?  How do cultures change?  Why do people value, or not value, their cultures? Is there value in learning about other cultures?  Is there value in preventing cultures from being           lost? Is there anything you can do in solidarity with people who are trying to strengthen a culture that has historically been put down?
"When it's over, I want to say: all my life I was a bride married to amazement. I was the bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.  When it is over, I don't want to wonder if I have made of my life something particular, and real.  I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened, or full of argument. I don't want to end up simply having visited this world."  --Mary Oliver
What is the difference between being a visitor and “taking the world into your arms”? During your time with Tandana did you find yourself      “married to amazement”?
"When we moved to Otavalo, Ecuador, I hated it. I just thought that it was super dirty, unfamiliar, and strange. But, as this experience shows, first impressions are most usually wrong. As we started getting settled with our hosts, the Lopez Perugachi family, I began to think that Ecuador wasn´t actually that bad. When school started, I admit that I didn´t think it was the best, but eventually I once again got settled. I have lots of new friends there. My wonderful time here has changed my life entirely, and I will never forget it, not just by looking at our pictures, but by having this experience engraved into my memory."—Jorie Lefler, 9 year-old Tandana volunteer
What were your first impressions, and how did those change during your trip?  What things were hard for you?  What can you learn about      yourself by noticing what was hard?  Did any of the hard things become easier over time?  Why?  How will you remember your experience?
“Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond and we cease to be alone.”   Wendell Berry
Often when we travel to distant lands we think of the people we will visit in terms of “other”.  Did you find yourself crossing this divide? How has your perspective changed?
Society wants everybody to think that individuals are powerless to effect positive change and because of that, why try.  Well, that’s not true.  I’ve seen with Tandana a small group of committed individuals, and I can see what they are able to do. --Mo Penman, Tandana volunteer
What can individuals do? What can people achieve in a small group that would be difficult alone?  What changes would you like to see in          society?  Is there anything that you can do as an individual, or with a small group of others, to effect change in that direction?
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide
Were you nervous or scared about participating on this trip?  Why?  What helped you overcome any fears you had?  Was it worth it?  Can you imagine doing the same in a different situation?  What type of situation?
"I know there is strength in the differences between us. I know there is comfort where we overlap.” -- Ani DiFranco
What differences are there between your culture and that of the people you met in Ecuador?  How can those differences be considered           strengths? Did you notice any commonalities between your own culture and that of the people you met in Ecuador?  Did you find that comforting?  In what way?
 “The people of the village, and of all the commune of Wadouba continue to talk about the visit of the group.  The commentaries are mostly about your manner of integrating yourselves into society, your physical effort, your engagement, your determination, and especially your joy in sharing with the people in unity and cohesion.  For Kansongho, you were like old friends who had come to work with her and not like people coming for the first time to work in an unknown and unfamiliar situation.  The children still do the dance that you showed them in the village and in the fields; that really made an impression on the men, women, young people, and children.  Be thanked for all of that.  The women invite you to go out to look for firewood at the pink dune.  The people are asking when will be the next visit of the group.  As to the commune, she has never seen foreigners come and work like you have done in your visit to Kansongho." --Moussa Tembiné and Timothée Dolo, Bandiagara, Mali
What do you think people in the community you visited might be saying about your group?  Do you think you challenged their stereotypes of North Americans?  What does it mean to come as “old friends,” instead of in unfamiliarity? Do you think anything you did made an impression on people in the community?  What kind of impression?
“ Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, and imaginatively; unless you can choose a challenge instead of a competence. ” -- Eleanor Roosevelt
Did you find yourself challenged during your time with Tandana? If so, in what ways? What did you learn about yourself in response to those challenges?
 “Our community had very nice moments with the foreign students, since they became part of our families.  They shared wonderful times with us and gave all the affection of siblings. … Our family appreciates your visit to our community, and the memories that you leave us will never be forgotten.” --Olga Perugachi, Agualongo, Ecaudor
Did you become part of a new family or community during your Tandana program?  Do you have any new responsibilities as part of a new      family or community?  What do you think your host family (or new friends) want or expect from their relationship with you?  Do you have any plans to keep in touch?   How can you keep your memories alive?
Do you have any other thoughts or ideas you would like to share?
Thank you so much for sharing!  Would you like to give Tandana permission to share your reflections with others?  You may choose to remain anonymous or to use your name.
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This form was created inside of The Tandana Foundation.