I Am Not A Savior by Michael J. Seaberry

I Am Not A Savior. 

Michael J. Seaberry 

This trip to Chile has been beautiful over the first week. I have had deep and powerful moments that will forever change my worldview, not only in my personal life, but also in academic and spiritual life. Each and every moment I have had here in the past seven days have left my mindset shifted in a positive manner.

For this reason, I like to make it known that I am not a savior. I am not here to change anyone's life, nor am I here to save the "needy." I say this because if you were to see Concepcion, Chile, they are far from needy. No one here needs me and everyone is beyond capable of continuously living their lives with or without me. I am here to experience change within myself and have an inward experience that has been unlike any of my other educational experiences. I am here to save myself from the formalistic, hegemonic worldview that has plagued my mind from a comfortable living experience in the United States. This is to make me uncomfortable and to force me to accept that there are other ways of doing things. None of them are the right way, though some may seem better than others.

Therefore, in the past week I have not aimed to teach anyone anything that they do not already know. I have simply fell into the rhythm that was already in place here at Colegio Concepcion San Pedro (CCSP). I do not try to instill my values nor my lifestyle into any students here. I may share with them my way of life in the U.S., but, in the same manner, I listen to their ways of life as well. Instead of trying to perpetuate the "Savior Syndrome" of many travelers, I am here to experience, live, and have fun! I listen. I play games. I sing. I dance. I laugh. I hold. I let go. I live.

This is for me losing me in another country.
This is for me finding me in another country.
This is for me being me in another country.

With Love,
Michael J. Seaberry