7/19/2004 - A Letter from an AFS Mother
Iris Córdoba, mother of Barbara Rodriguez – AFS Argentina Cargill Scholarship Winner, answers the question:
Why would a mother want her dear daughter to go away from the security and comfort of domestic life into an adventure abroad through AFS?
I firmly believe that traveling broadens the mind. During these programs there is an inner self-growing as I think would not happen otherwise. You are on your own and become autonomous, you learn to think and make decisions. It takes a life to process all the input of such a experience. You develop a sense of cosmic belonging. It is no longer your small hometown but the whole world becomes your home. One develops a cosmopolitan mind, a citizen of the world. Understanding differences enables us to appreciate our roots and enhances our identity. Bonds of brotherly love are made with other human beings that have differences but two great things in common: all by themselves and away from the security of the known world at home.
Fashion, status and glamour find the last seat in the list of life values. We learn how illusory they can be and how immensely happy we can feel without them! It is an adventure the soul. And of the body as well. Learning new habits, trying new food, playing other games, running other roads, is so much fun! Summing up, CONSCIOUSNESS, AWARENESS do not comply with any state of warfare or violence. It is no longer the Turks, the Jews, the Australians or the Americans. It is Mom, my sister, my American family, mi friend Tim from Germany, my friend Palle from Norway, Tiim Tim from Asia, etc.
I finish with another question. How would a loving mother disregard this life opportunity for a daughter or a son? Dangers are across the street and do not side with these benefits. I have been an AFSer and had such great experience that I want it for my children, if they agree of course.
Tres generaciones de AFSers! Three generations of AFSers! 34 years have gone by. During all this time kept fluent communication with my American family. We mailed, sent packages, had phone calls and exchanged videos and pictures of the development of our lives. Phoned, chatted and e-mailed each other. One of my American sisters, Nancy went to Peru with AFS. I visited them once in LA. And this past February my American mom Marion came to Argentina to visit us. She has been by my side with wise words always. Through difficult moments, in happy times, her letters were always waiting for me. Long juicy letters and pictures that I cherish. She was the person most impacted in my life. She has been a mom and a friend, a pal and a grandma to my children. She has been my support in gloomy moments of my life and a new injection of hope, optimism, courage and love for life constantly. Hopefully and thanks to Cargill and the good offices of AFS management department my daughter Barbara (named after my American sister Barbara) is going to the United States this coming August for a year of studies. Impossible to describe our joy over the news, since we had little to no chance of doing it with self-monetary resources. Thanks to the Cargill full scholarship, my daughter’s dream also comes true. Moreover it is related to her latest studies and “pasantia” in High School. She wants to go on studying biotechnology after she graduates from High School and is a temporary student at INTA: National Institute of Agricultural Technology. She grew up listening about AFS and its spirit so I think she is going to do her best and give back as much as she can. She has already spread the good news and mention Cargill and AFS throughout our town community of 30000 inhabitants. I’m looking forward to meeting the people that made this possible and thank them in person for this valuable contribution.
Sincerely,
Iris Córdoba
AFS 1970-71
Barbara Rodriguez’s mom
AFS 2004-05
In the photo: Marion, American mom, visiting Argentina, tasting home made empanadas in Funes, Sta Fe
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