We also had the great fortune to play soccer and other fun games with the children of our host family (David, Oscar, Robin, Diego, and Michelle), as well as many of the local children from the area who were happy to welcome us onto their soccer field situated in the middle of the mountains. With crisp, cold air piercing my lungs and magnificent vistas of the many rolling hills that are native to Guatemala, the beautiful game never was never more so. Without worries of differences in language, culture, or customs, we enjoyed a game that left me with an overwhelming feeling of serenity. It was truly an unforgettable experience to enjoy myself in the pure, open air with new friends from across the globe. Attached below are the full reflective essay for this Honors Experience and the dissemination presentation shared with the GlobeMed chapter. | Today was the last day of our journey here in Guatemala, and perhaps our best. After working hard all week towards the completion of the house on which we were working, today we finally were able to see the hard labor come into fruition with the formal presentation of the house to the family that is to live in it. A large community gathering where many of the local community members that worked alongside us to build the house were in attendance, the ceremony was heart-warming and a wonderful final display of the community's connectivity throughout our stay. Finally, our last night ended in Guatemala City in preparation for the flight back to Cincinnati tomorrow. The city was, perhaps even more so than Antigua, a demonstration of old mixed with new, native with colonial, developed with developing. We visited the central plaza, home to the President's palace, and Sixth Avenue, a central pedestrian walkway through the city on which many young artists were selling their wares. After an authentic dinner at a wonderful restaurant, we set about exploring the city for a short while before returning to the hostel where we will spend the night. The drive back to the hostel was perhaps one of the most surprising and meaningful moments of my entire stay in Guatemala. The driver of our taxi was playing John Lennon's Imagine, and later a host of other rock classics with a soft, smooth feel. Together with the other students from SBC who were in the car in a very sentimental and emotional bonding experience, and wrapped up in the melodies of piano and guitar, in that taxicab I had a wonderful outlet to explore some of the most impactful experiences during my time here in Guatemala. As lights and street signs flew past and the fleeting moments of my wonderful stay in Guatemala slowly escaped me, I felt completely happy. I know that this moment will be one that I will cherish for a long while, and one that has definitely ingrained in me a strong level of appreciation for community, culture, and service. |
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