Mixed feelings
By Winslow
I have learned a great deal about social finance, but also about global connections. As we continue to follow the ever gloomier news, I can’t help but feel that the world is a very small place full of many people trying to improve our situation.
By mid-March I would be in Manaus, a city in north-western Brazil, learning about the Amazon rainforest and reflecting on several very busy days in Rio de Janeiro. I would have already given a presentation to our client on our research project at their offices in Rio, and I would be preparing to fly home to Massachusetts. These were my expectations several weeks ago, and it has been a very different experience, filled with very unexpected learning opportunities.
Instead of being in Manaus, I am still in Massachusetts and never left. Instead of a busy week in Rio, I have had a very quiet week of vacation from work with time to reflect. Public health concerns around coronavirus prevented our international trip, and have caused much greater turmoil for many others. I find myself left with conflicted feelings about the whole experience. There is definite disappointment over missed opportunities, but it is mixed with some very real relief that I am not following the current news cycle from an unfamiliar hotel room in a foreign country. That feeling has in turn left with me with some guilt for feeling so relieved. There is some sense that I should feel more indignation over this canceled trip, but instead I just feel grateful that everyone involved has made the decisions possible for public health and safety.
We recently presented our preliminary project findings to our client in Brazil on a video conference call, and received very helpful feedback for our final deliverables. I was lucky to be part of a great group for this consulting project, and to have a very knowledgeable and patient client to work for. I have learned a great deal about social finance, but also about global connections. As we continue to follow the ever gloomier news, I can’t help but feel that the world is a very small place full of many people trying to improve our situation. I hope to someday travel to Brazil, meet our client in person, and get the opportunities to explore Rio, Manaus, and the Amazon.