Filled with Gratitude - Reflections from My 2022 DMVNE

As a low-income student born and raised in South Los Angeles, I never had the opportunity to travel or partake in different cultural experiences to understand more about my heritage or learn about the cultures of others. The OLASTEO DMV National Excursion allowed me to do all these things in one trip to the greater Washington D.C. area.

I can still recall stepping onto the plane for the first time. While nervous, I knew I wasn’t alone as my peers and the OLASTEO team were there to support me and each other. Throughout the entire excursion, we were learning by doing. The excursion provided a unique and more profound learning experience that has no comparison to simply reading about different parts of history in the classroom.

From the different tours and museums to visiting the National Monuments to standing in front of the White House, I kept thinking about the city's history, and everything felt surreal. I realized how capable I am of getting to where I want to go, no matter the challenges. Walking throughout the city also slowed down time for us, getting to take in every moment rather than simply driving everywhere. When we did take rideshares to spots that were further away, we had the best conversations with the friendliest drivers. I have since started socializing more with other rideshare drivers because they each have a story to tell or advice to give me as a young person and student.

While the entire trip was a journey, the food experiences were their own adventure in exploring different cuisines and cultures. It was fun to have the opportunity to try new foods that I probably never would have. But knowing each stop was carefully planned, I felt comfortable being more adventurous because I knew the OLASTEO team did the homework for us.

The bonding within the group made all of the tours, exhibits, monuments, and restaurants truly special. Even though the excursion was less than a week long, I felt like I had a new OLASTEO family when we returned to Los Angeles. I am grateful to call several of my OLASTEO travel mates close friends. The bonds made during our mutual first times are unmatched, and I wish everyone could experience that.