| Today was my first day in Guatemala and the experience so far has been nothing short of breathtaking. After a long flight and then another, longer flight, I have finally landed in the country which has taken hold of my imagination for the past few weeks. In the days prior to taking off from CVG this morning, I spent countless hours reading up on Guatemalan culture--specifically on Antigua and the area around Lake Atitlan, which we will be visiting on our trip. Any rust that developed in my Spanish over the break so far has hopefully been eliminated by the quick skim through my Spanish textbook that occurred last night, and I am now ready to take advantage of my experience. |
It was a bit hard to get up this morning, given that our flight departed at around 6:30 in the morning. A strong motivation to do so came in the thought that the many sights and sounds that I have dreamed about would finally be mine to have today. That morning now seems like a distant memory after spending only one night in Guatemala. After falling in and out of sleep in the planes and airports that led me here, I am even more exhausted now from taking in all the novel experiences in this new country.
I do have the energy, however, to explain my first half-day here. From my brief stay, I have realized that Guatemala is among the most naturally beautiful places that I have ever visited. The way that the setting sun so magnificently caught the tips of mountains and volcanoes around Guatemalan City was awe-inspiring. The country is also vibrant with life. Colorful street signs are peppered in between shops varying from car washes to soccer training academies, from panaderias to heladerias. Refurbished American school buses decked out in red and gold paint carry workers home from the city. Large mountains loom overhead and green foliage intermixes with the pink-blue clouds that wrap around the mountain peaks. Cars and motorcycles--sometimes with three or more people--shoot by as horns blare and diesel-laden fuel sits at the bottom of my lungs. The sounds and smells remind me of Libya, as do the many pedestrians crossing major thoroughfares and the loose rubble that comprise side streets.
I do have the energy, however, to explain my first half-day here. From my brief stay, I have realized that Guatemala is among the most naturally beautiful places that I have ever visited. The way that the setting sun so magnificently caught the tips of mountains and volcanoes around Guatemalan City was awe-inspiring. The country is also vibrant with life. Colorful street signs are peppered in between shops varying from car washes to soccer training academies, from panaderias to heladerias. Refurbished American school buses decked out in red and gold paint carry workers home from the city. Large mountains loom overhead and green foliage intermixes with the pink-blue clouds that wrap around the mountain peaks. Cars and motorcycles--sometimes with three or more people--shoot by as horns blare and diesel-laden fuel sits at the bottom of my lungs. The sounds and smells remind me of Libya, as do the many pedestrians crossing major thoroughfares and the loose rubble that comprise side streets.
The convent where we are staying is spacious and the sisters have offered us only the best of their hospitality. We spent time today getting to know them and each other--as not everyone on the trip knew everyone else prior to departure. We spent some time tonight exploring the grounds while preparing for dinner, and I took the time to watch as the night sky breathed one last breath into the falling sun to send it on its way. The North Star flickered brightly as we made our way to a dinner comprised of rice, chicken, beans, tortillas, and squash soup. The food quickly filled me, in part because it tasted so natural and wholesome, as opposed to a great deal of the processed food back home.
Friends on the trip have been great so far, both old and new. We took the time tonight to reflect as a group on some of the important aspects of service abroad, including an understanding of the meanings of poverty, culture, and service. The insight that other students provided today was interesting. Through a word-pairing exercise, we examined our thought processes and pattern formulation with regard to these important topics. It was interesting to see the different perspectives that everyone came into the experience with. I think that these varied perspectives will help us enrich this experience to a higher level in the coming days, as everyone will have a unique perspective to contribute.
Friends on the trip have been great so far, both old and new. We took the time tonight to reflect as a group on some of the important aspects of service abroad, including an understanding of the meanings of poverty, culture, and service. The insight that other students provided today was interesting. Through a word-pairing exercise, we examined our thought processes and pattern formulation with regard to these important topics. It was interesting to see the different perspectives that everyone came into the experience with. I think that these varied perspectives will help us enrich this experience to a higher level in the coming days, as everyone will have a unique perspective to contribute.