Monday, January 8, 2007
Confidence and curiosity - to immerse oneself into another culture, a teenager needs those traits.
Palisade high school senior Gwen Cameron possesses more than just those traits, and this January, when she begins her last semester at the Colorado school, she will have already experienced what most adults haven't.
Cameron's first semester of her senior year was spent at Orchard College in Curico, Chile, where she participated in an instructional kayak program with Chilean Adventures.
"Going abroad is not this stressful, over-organized thing anymore," Cameron said. "And it doesn't have to be a rare occurrence. I would love to return to Chile and also explore the rest of South America."
A Palisade native, Cameron grew up on an organic farm with her older sisters, Caitlan, 23, and Marcy, 21, and her parents, Thomas and Janet. Cameron's experience on the farm could have contributed to her high level of comfort as a traveler.
"Our work crew has been an evolving mix of people from all over the world who wish to learn about organic farming and the U.S.A.," Janet said.
Through those connections, Camerons maintains friendships with students in France, Canada and Japan, and Gwen Cameron's passion for other cultures runs deep within. She operates with a 'global perspective,' and, because she loves climbing, kayaking and snowboarding, Chilean Adventures was a good fit.
Cameron's family has traveled extensively, and both parents were involved in programs similar to Chilean Adventures in their youth.
"I lived in Chile for six months when I was 15," dad Thomas said.
Before Gwen's trip, the Camerons looked for a program with a focus on language and outdoor activities. Janet Cameron said Chilean Adventures had that.
Chilean Adventures is owned and operated by Eduardo Doerr, a Chilean and American Todd Ericson, a former coach and teacher at Eagle Valley High School.
"We have seen all types of students come through our programs," Ericson said. "We see students mature and become more confident with themselves in challenging, new environments.
"Gwen is definitely one of the more independent students that we have had study and travel with us," he added.
But communicating wasn't always easy.
"Listening to the variety of ways Chileans pronounced 'Gwen' provided an unending source of entertainment," Gwen said.
She heard everything from 'yoo-wen' to 'when." On a more serious note, Cameron said getting so deeply involved in a foreign community is not easy, but worth the effort.
"It's essential to learn the customs and etiquette of the culture," she said. "It's all about respecting differences and learning how to deal with it."
After graduation, she plans to get a summer job to fund future travels. Next fall, she will attend either Colorado College or the University of Colorado, Boulder.
"I can't count the ways this experience has changed me. I'm more willing to make a fool of myself," Gwen said. "Making mistakes, especially speaking another language, is the only way you learn to do it right."
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