The Final Countdown

The Final Countdown

By Harrison Cho

I would love to start off by apologizing to Ms. Miller for typing this. Things will inevitably be censored for their content or completely omitted. I apologize I apologize I apologize. Please enjoy.

Cusco in the foreground, Miles Davis in the background. What a good night it has been thus far. I don’t consider myself a pensive person, nor a cathartic person at that, but for the next few moments of your time I will try and wow you with just these characteristics. If you haven’t been monitoring your children lately, then you would be surprised to find out that they are in Peru. Don’t pack those bags and rent your clothing in sadness yet though, you’re in luck. It’s is our last day here in this wonderful country.

Your student may tell you of the exhilarating experiences of running up mountains, speaking into the porcelain telephone, or communicating with the many people that we met in our adventure, but I can guarantee they will not tell you of the inner change that he or she may have made. I will try and relate this to you as best as I can. Internal change beings with the external, as counterintuitive as that may appear. Unwanted Body hair, the lack of bathing or basic oral hygiene, and common trips to the bathroom are the impetus for this change. Fortitude of the body leads to fortitude of the mind: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” - Frederich Nietzsche. This quote is a simple summation of what has gone on in the past week externally. Through sickness, dehydration, the cold, and the impressive language barrier we have become stronger in body. I digress though.

Though the external change was unwarranted in every single way, shape, and form, it was all for the better. While confined to a sick bed for two days, it gave me more than enough time to be the solipsistic individual that I thought was nonexistent. “What am I doing with my life,” I thought to myself as I furiously coughed. “What really makes me a happy person,” I pondered as I lay in bed dehydrated. While I was alone for two days, Peru gave each of us enough time to consider what we would be doing for the immediate future. While I may have had a few moments more to consider what I thought about life and existence as a whole, you should be confident in knowing there is a changed individual returning to the United States.

We are not the smartest people to ever live nor the most insightful. We are not the strongest nor the fastest. We are not the happiest nor the most gracious. Instead, we are human beings who are trying to progress to these states of being. We are teenagers ready to take on the world, solve its problems, and evaluate its state of being. We may not tell you how we have changed. We may feel afraid. We may not want to divulge any information at all to be quite honest. (I’ll try my best to tell you everything ma.) We have changed though. We have come back with individual goals that challenge our comfort zone. We are happy to be coming back.

To be honest I don’t really know what else to say to give a final summation. We are sitting in the lobby of our inn ready to depart for burgers, Walmart, and easily obtainable firearms. I’m ready to be back. We are ready.

We will miss Peru.

To end this, I’ll type the lyrics to a famous song that some of you might know.

“We’re leaving together

 But still it’s farewell

 And maybe we’ll come back

 To Earth, who can tell?

 I guess there is no one to blame

 We’re leaving ground

 Will things ever be the same again?

 It’s the final countdown”

Adios Peru. It has been both the best of times and the worst of times. We will see you in a day’s time patient parents. (Mom please don’t forget me at the airport.)