travel dispatch

Emily and Tom Edwards with the family of Summer Search Alumni Diana and Juan Oviedo

Letter from Central and South America
by Emily Edwards, Summer Search Boston Executive Director 2002-2007, Summer Search Director of Strategy 2007-present

Dear Alumni Family,

I am very happy to share the journey I took to Latin America this winter as it was very much inspired by you. Just three days after the emotional Bon Voyage party you threw for me, my husband Tom and I left for Guatemala. We spent one month there, doing a Spanish immersion program and exploring Mayan pyramids while being surrounded by monkeys that made a guttural roar unlike anything I’d ever heard.

Next, we spent three weeks in Colombia, spoiled by the 24-hour care of the Guzman family, the aunts, uncles and cousins of alumni Diana and Juan Oviedo! (pictured above) The Guzmans helped us explore the beautiful city of Bogotá and its surroundings. Then, Tom and I headed to the Caribbean coast, where I developed a tropical fruit addiction.

We spent the last two months of our trip in Argentina and Chile. We hiked in mountains whose stunning beauty was matched by the incredible openness of the people we met. One was Marcelo, a sailor in the lake district of Patagonia. We became his first American friends, and he gave us a CD of Argentine rock with a note that said: The only borders we create are within ourselves.

This is a lesson I first learned from having the privilege of being connected with all of you. This trip pushed me to let go of borders in new ways in my life. Tom and I left feeling more connected with each other than ever before and having new friends and family in every place we visited.

We arrived back in Boston in April, just in time to celebrate with you at the Leadership Dinner, the Spring Event, and at many of your college graduations. I’ll continue to be based in Boston as I take on my new role with Summer Search as the Director of Strategy. This should make it easy for us to stay connected, and I hope you’ll email me at Emily@summersearch.org and, please, help me keep practicing Spanish!

Your friend always,

Emily