There were tons of kids, a band, traditional dancers, a marching percussion band, great food and drink, and a lot of speeches.

Today was the hottest day of all, but that certainly didn't hinder our partying. One of the greatest parts was in the very beginning during the musical act, when the lead singer invited everyone up to dance. Originally it was just a few Brigadistas (of course, I was one of them) who braved the crowd and performed in front of them, but eventually a lot of people followed.

Seeing all the kids dancing with the Brigadistas was a highlight of my trip. It definitely set the tone for the day, and we continued celebrating for several hours.

Something that I think hit me pretty hard was how all of the kids remembered me from the day I helped translate in the clinic and from working around the compound. Many of them came to sit with me and hold my hand or tried to dance with me, and all of them asked for pictures. Some of them even asked if I would hold their baby siblings. One little boy in particular was at the clinic every time we were there. Saying goodbye to him was difficult for many of us, and as we pulled away on the school bus for the last time, he ran as hard as he could through our dust to keep waving. Knowing I wouldn't be seeing these kids again was hard to deal with as we said goodbye.

Of the many emotional moments I've had on this trip, I think these were the most difficult. All of a sudden it hit me that my stay here was transient, and all of the help I want to give to these kids isn't enough. It was very hard to drive away from the center of Nueva Vida, seeing all the young kids in their school uniforms (which were actually the same as mine in high school).

Driving through the dusty roads, I tried to think how I could possibly explain to my family and friends how small the houses are, how skinny the kids are, and the overall atrocities of the living conditions. I don't think that the pictures from my disposable camera can quite convey the things I have seen here.

The school bus that we ride on every day has quotes and signatures written on it by past participants in this trip. Some are silly, some are political, and many are very memorable. Today I looked at the one that reads: "Once you know, you can never not know," from a past Brigadista, and Nueva Vida truly captures that quote. The things that I have seen here will never leave me. My memories may fade over the years, but I will never "not know" what I now know.

During our three-hour bus ride yesterday, I started thinking about what I will write on the bus before I leave. So many different things run through my head when I look at the ceiling of that bus that I don't think I could pick just one to write. Something that represents me, my experience here, and my hope for the future does not exactly spring to mind. With one more full day here, hopefully, I will be enlightened and leave something to entertain the other Brigadistas as they drive through the dust. But even if I end up just signing my name at least I now "know."