Guatemalan friend exchange

During our class today, we ended up meeting with a group of students for a short cultural exchange. The students were in the Tourism major and most were in their second year. The whole situation was a bit awkward and uncomfortable at first, but I guess that is what we are here for. I think I would have felt more comfortable if I spoke Spanish better. I also think I felt on the spot and may have been a bit more comfortable if we were playing a game or going somewhere together. Once I got over my uncomfort, I met Magda, an 18 year old student in the Tourism major. She was very sweet and we had a nice conversation with the little Spanish I know and the little English she knew. It was very difficult to talk for a long time and we were able to discuss simple things, such as colors, animals, hobbies, family, but I was so much more curious as I think she was as well. I wanted to ask more about her Mayan heritage and the school system here in Guatemala, but it was just too complicated since we both did not speak the others language. She did tell me that she would like to be a doctor, but it will not be possible since her mother can not afford the schooling. A part of me wishes I were rich so I could take her to Chicago and put her in Medical school. I am grateful for this experience and I was able to take down Magda´s email address to keep in touch. Hopefully one day we will both improve our other languages and be able to have conversation.

Today we went to San Lucas, a little village on Lake Atitlan. The village was on the other side of the lake that we have not ventured to, so it was nice to see the mountains from a differnt angle. The scenery never looks the same twice here. San Lucas was very different that the other villages we visited. Right away the women were speaking almost perfect English to us, which I have not encountered at all so far. The women were using words such as, "Don´t worry, I´m cool!" so I am guessing they were taught by the missionaries that we saw throughout the village. It was also nice to see the locals cleaning up and improving their village. There seemed to be many people working really hard to make their village look nice as well as making it accomodating to visitors.

With only two more classes to go, we are starting to come to an end to our trip. It seems so short, but I have learned much more about myself and other cultures. I know we are all excited to go to Antigua City tomorrow and experience something new.

Panajachel

During class today, we watched a film called "The Color of Fear" and it was so eye opening and controversial to many people, inlcuding me. The movie made me mad, sad, proud, and even happy at times. It was about a group of men getting together for the weekend and having controversial discussions about their thoughts on race and discrimination. There were men from different races and at first they all started ganging up on the "white" man. At first the "white" man seemed very open, but the other men kept trying to get through to him. If that was me, I would have been very offended and hurt while feeling bombarded with all these thoughts. I guess the white person does not really think how race effects other people on a day to day basis. I know things have changed a lot since the movie was filmed in 1993, but a lot of the same thoughts and issues are prevelant today. As a "white" American woman, I would like to believe that no one is oppressed in our country, but I know this is not true. It is a shame that a human being feels hurt and shame because of another human being. This whole issue is going to take time and a lot of effort. I believe it stems from our forefathers and now each generation is doing their part to make everyone´s life easier and equal. Education is the key to change and hopefully I will see more change within my lifetime.

In Panajachel, we had the day to shop around. The town is very touristy and has many shops. It was nice to wander around, although I think I got a bit overwhelmed from all of the goods to buy. I only came home with two things, but I did enjoy looking at everything. Tomorrow we are meeting with some Guatemalan students to talk with about their culture and probably tell a little about ours. I think that will be a great learning opportunity and I am looking forward to it.

Santa Cruz y

Well, we did not get a chance to meet the president, but we did get to meet some cute military guys who camped out next to us. The president was on campus all morning and shifted our classroom and cafeteria a bit, but I guess he was just too busy to come and say hello. The military guys were very informative and funny at the same time. They were stationed on campus over night to help build the parimeter and protect the president. They said they were the third line of defense behind the secret service and then the police. There were so many people walking around campus with huge guns, it was sort of scary, but interesting at the same time.

Maria De Los Angeles, or Maria De Los for short, was a former student of Dr. Clemente´s and obtained her Masters degree in Counseling at the University in Guatemala City. Maria came to speak with us about her story and life as an indiginous, educated woman in her society. I thought she was very informative and gave us much insight into her life. At birth, her path was determined by the Mayan Calendar. She was to be a healer and she struggled with her decisions to take on her path as a healer. It seemed that each life occurrence happened for a reason, thus bringing her to a University to complete her Master´s degree, which is a huge feat for an indiginous woman. From much respect, she is also the Mayor of her village which is basically unheard of since she is a woman and she is single, without children. I respect Maria for telling her story and giving us the hope and strength that she has. She crossed many barriers and is paving the way for other little girls or boys who want to pursue an educational path.

We went to two little towns on the lake that were not big at all and not very touristy. I enjoyed the tranquilness of the villages and seeing the day to day life of the townspeople. Each town we go to seems more and more open to foreigners. The children seemed especially open to us as we walked through the towns and wanted to take pictures with us just so they could look at the picture through the digital screen. I noticed the women´s head scarves or hats differed in the two towns again and I wonder what the symbolism is behind the different hats or scarves.

We also got to stop in Solola and walk through the busy market. I guess Tuesday is market day and many traders come to Solola to trade goods or shop. I could have sat there all day and watched the transactions take place.

San Pedro y San Marco

I am becoming more acclamated to the Guatemalan culture each day. I love the food that we are served each day in the cafeteria and I am feeling more comfortable talking with the locals throughout the day. It seems as though some of the girls are having a bit of trouble with the food and the daily living here. I really can not understand, but I am trying to be empathetic towards their feelings. I try to be as open as possible and try anything. Why else would you go out of the country?

Class today was very interesting. I never thought about culture as much and I realized that I have many views and there are so many facets of culture other than the physical ideas such as clothing, music, and food. I really liked the thought that every individual has their own individualized culture. So many things influence a person and that makes up a culture. I also enjoyed our discussion on U.S. Americans. I feel that everyone has a different view point on our own culture and how others view U.S. Americans. I say U.S. Americans since we learned today that many countries in what we know as North/South America claim there are only 5 continents, America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. Thus, all the countries in what they consider America call themselves Americans. It seems a little arrogant to think that we are the only Americans, when others clearly call themselves Americans as well.

After class, we took the bus down to Panajachel and took the water taxi to San Pedro on the other side of Lake Atitlan. I can not explain how beautiful the lake is with about four volcanoes surrounding the water. San Pedro is a beautiful little hippie town next to Volcan San Pedro. There were people laying out on the rocks and kayaking around the lake. We stopped at a little restaurant next to the lake for lunch and it was so nice to take in the scenery and watch the locals. I did notice that the town seemed more touristy and less traditional than the other towns were have visited. The women had similar clothing, but different head dresses on. After lunch, we walked around and did some shopping. Everything is less expensive here so it is nice to shop for jewelry or handicrafts.

We also took a water taxi over to San Marco which was beautiful but even more hippyish with yoga and holistic centers offering massages to reiki for a minimal fee. I also saw some retreats where you can learn shiatsu and other techniques. Again, this town seemed less traditional, but the locals seemed more friendly and outgoing. The children came up to us and asked us our names where the other towns the children were very quiet. A couple of us stopped in a restaurant to get a drink and a little girl, probably about 10 years old was running the place. She took our order, made our drinks, and when I went over to pay the bill, she was cooking the food. She added up our bill and she just seemed like a grown up little girl. My hope is that she is just helping out and this is not her daily duties. The children seemed to be so looked after and loved here, but there also seems to be a darker side. Dr. Clemente explained that in the past, selling children on the black market was a big crime, therefore many people look after their children and are very protective of them. It is nice to see the community fighting back against such crime. I have been to many places that tend to stand back and let these things take place.

In other exciting news, the President of Guatemala will be on campus tomorrow for some reason. Today was the first day of class, so there have been students here all day. We were informed that the President was coming and they would try to get him to talk with us and at first we thought they meant the President of the University, but she said, no, the president of the country. When we arrived back to campus to eat dinner, a ton of men were standing around and eating dinner in the cafeteria with us. We later found out that they are the equivelant to the secret service and are creating a secure parameter for the presidents arrival tomorrow. We were also told we can not wander around tonight so we are supposed to go back to the dorms after the computer lab. It is exciting and I am hopeful for the opportunity to meet or at least witness his visit.

And, the spell check is in spanish, so I appologize for any misspellings! :)

Solola´ dia dos

Being in Guatemala is very eye opening. This is one of the most interesting countries I have visited since the culture is so alive and in your face. I find my self very curious about the lifestyles of the people who live here. I love just watching the day to day business of everyone who passes.

We started today with our first class with each of us individually talking about a project we had prepared for the class. The project was two part, the first part was to make a collage about our culture as we see it, the second part was to map out a Genogram of our family members. A genogram is basically a more elaborate family tree that is used a lot in Family and Marriage Counseling. It was very interesting to hear everyone´s stories and persepectives on culture. I saw my culture as coming from my native country of the Netherlands and many others saw their culture as American or just a mix of things they rememered growing up or even in the present time. It opened my eyes to my definition of culture and extended what I believed is my culture or values.

After class, we took the bus to Panajachel, one of the bigger towns on Lake Atitlan. It was about a 15 minute ride down the mountain and surprisingly much warmer. The town itself looks very nice, but very touristy. We took a two little speed boats across the lake to a little village called San Tiago, which was very much like a smaller Panajachel. It had so much charm and all the people were so nice. After a very good and inexpensive lunch, we met two young boys who lead us to a place that was very strange. I do not know how to explain it, but I will do my best. Maximon is the saint of the town, but he is not recognized by the Catholic church, which is in the center of town. Maximon is a statue that is all dressed in clothing and scarves around his neck and he has a cigar in his mouth. Since he is not recognized by the church, Maximon travels from home to home for a year at a time. The mayor of the city decides whose home Maximon will live in. When we walked in the current home, about 15 men and women were all eating at a long table and Maximon was place right on the side of the table, draped in clothing, with candles and an offering try in the middle. We paid a little over a dollar to go in the home and take as many pictures as we wanted. On the side of the home was a glass coffin with another statued in dress who was said to be Maximon´s father. On the other side were other statues that had some meaning, but I was so obsessed with Maximon that I did not ask. The people who were eating were the caretakers of Maximon and the home. Each person spends a week as a caretaker and the offerings go to one man who takes care of Maximon for the year. I think Maximon is dressed everyday and put to bed at night. It was a very strange but wonderful experience. I liked that it was so intimate and close and I felt that I learned more about the culture. I wish I could speak more spanish so I would be able to sit and talk with some of the caretakers.

We also visited the church while mass was beginning. This again was a very intimate experience sitting in the pews and watching everyone walking in. The statues who were regarded as saints on the side of the church were all draped in various traditional clothing and I did notice a bunch of the statues had pink raincoats on. I will have to ask what the significance of the pink raincoats as well as the clothing the statues were wearing. The town was alive with people and I felt very comfortable walking around and even speaking with the people and the children. I found that many of the people, especially the children were very shy, but when I smiled, waved, or said hello they opened up a bit. I met some children at the dock and shared my gummi worms with them and I liked that even without speaking we were able to communicate in some way.

I also noticed how hard the people work here. It does not seem as though they are working to become rich, like most Americans, but just working for their way of life. It seems so simple, although I am sure it is not. I see men, women, and children carrying tons of wood or other supplies from a rope on their head up a mountain and it makes me think of how much we take for granted in our country, especially our children these days who are so used to TV and video games.

Although it looks like all the Guatemalans are the same, we learned that over 70% of people are indiginous to the country. Most of the villages speak their own dialect as well as Spanish and some other languages. We have a few fluent Spanish speakers in our group and they can not understand anything of the other languages that are spoken. I think that is wonderful that Guatemala is holding on to their culture and not giving up their heritage or language just to make things easier. The lake is not that big and many people take the ferry to other towns to work and it just amazes me that different languages are spoken in most of these towns.

Guatemala: Dia uno

Being home for only 36 hours was not nearly enough time, but I pulled it off, exhausted and all. Our Social and Cultural Foundations course (along with some Psych students) met at the airport at 11:30pm on Friday night in the middle of a snow storm. All together there are 14 female students, 2 professors, Dr. Clemente and Dr. Ochoa, and Dr. Ochoa´s wife, Monica. In talking with many of the girls, a lot of us have traveled to various places and different experiences to discuss. Some of the girls studied abroad in Australia or Asia and some just went to places on vacation. It was a little hesitant explaining my travel background at first, but I am getting more and more comfortable with the girls.

Our flight left at 2:30am and arrived in Guatemala City around 6:35am. It was a long flight, but I think I managed to get a couple hours of sleep. I noticed that going through customs was much more lax than I have ever witnessed before. They basically just stamped our passports and sent us on our merry ways. We found our bus driver and all toook the 3 hour journey to the University where we will reside for the week. We were able to stop at a little restaurant for some food and we all agreed that we did not pack enough warm clothing for the trip. It is probably mid 60s and we mostly packed warmer weather clothing. Oh well, I am sure we will manage just fine. From the bus, I immediately noticed the local Guatemalans wearing traditional clothing. The women are dressed in beautifully colors wraps around their waste and pinned together with a colorful belt and a matching woven shirt. Some of the men wore the traditional garments, but most wore clothes to work in. I think it is wonderful that the country is keeping it´s culture and traditions alive. There are so many countries that are loosing their own identity in these times, that it is nice to see a culture hanging on to their beliefs. With that, I did witness an older woman in traditional clothing stuff a cell phone down here shirt before getting on the bus, so I guess the technological age is upon all of us.

I did not expect Guatemala to be so rich in tradition and so unlike Costa Rica, where I just visited prior to this trip. Not that I am an expert on heritage or nationalities, but I see much Indian or Mayan descent in the faces of the Guatemalans. Some of their faces remind me of the Peruvian descent as well. I am anxious and curious to learn much more about this culture in the coming days.

The university we are staying at is quite cozy. We were greeted by a male soccer team who really wanted to befriend a bus full of girls. Our dorms are really nice and better than I expected. It´s a single floored building with one single hall and about 10 rooms. We have bunkbeds, a single bed, and a desk with a chair. They remind me of my college days and I already claimed the top bunk! Down the hall are shared toilets and showers that are all clean. We had a tour of the facilities we are using and our classroom is almost better than our classrooms at Roosevelt and they provided us with a great computer lab. Breakfast and dinner will be provided by a sweet woman whom we met with today. I am so excited to try some of the food.

Once we wondered around our new home for the week, we took the "Chicken" bus into town. I do not know how the country got so many buses, but their buses are old American school buses; some are the yellow kind and some are painted wild colors. Some even say the township that the bus is from. It´s quite different from what I have seen before. The little town was very cute and full of life. I loved the cobblestoned streets and the culture that was all around us. We walked through the market and walked down to the lake area with a beautiful view of the volcanoes around it. I do not think picures or words could give that view justice.

So far I am impressed with Guatemala and I am excited to see and learn more about this country and its culture. It is also nice traveling with other students who are new to some things that I have become accoustomed to I guess. I am kind of living through their excitement. I am realizing with the amount of travel I have done, some things do not stand out as much to me. For example, I am used to the no toilet paper in the toilet rule, but some of the girls are having a really hard time with it here. I am sure they´ll get used to it, just as I have. So, I can see a different light in my travels this time around.

Jaco, cars, monkeys and home

Well, I no longer sit in the warm tropical weather writing this blog. No, I am in flannel pajamas sitting on the couch watching TV. Definitely strange (and cold!) to be at home, but good at the same time.

In Montezuma, we survived the crazy monkeys, but with hardley any sleep...stupid howling monkey. We later found out that the monkey just howls like that all the time and is not related to the monkey who plunged to death. The woman who owns the place says the monkeys are all really protective, so it could have been a bit louder, but the thing never shuts up I guess. And, it's about 3 feet long, not big at all. SO much for spending more money for a good room. It was nice, but doesn't help if you can't sleep...and we had ear plugs in!

We trekked over to the Montezuma Waterfalls in the morning and we should have kept out flip flops at home this time! Since it was free to go, there was no path and we had to stumble and climb over rocks in the river, up steep inclines and over trees. It was quite hard to do and people were bringing little babies over there. It took a good 30 mins to get to the second tear of the waterfall and didn't even try to go further up to the third tear. Many people die there and now I know why. One of the friends we made in Mal Pais told us the first time he went to the falls, they were identifying a body of a Canadian or American...So, we didn't push our luck and once we ended up at the waterfall, we didn't even go in. It was pretty, but not worth the trek over in flip flops. Anyhoo, we wondered around the town and went to the beach for a bit and then on to the pool at our cabinas. We chilled there and had a sporatic night out on the town with good people we met at the bar. The next day, not so hungover, thank goodness, we took a taxi boat over to Jaco. It's a one hour bumpy, wet, and fast ride over to a town known for being very Americanized. Once we made it out of the boat in one piece, we had no game plan, so we decided to check out this so called Americanized town. We found a nicer place run by a French guy and his wife. It was sorta weird and cult like there, but we didn't care...we had AC and a TV, so after checking out the town, we checked in for the night at about 6pm and watched the TV we had been so missing.

The next day, after checking out some prices we decided to rent a car for our last three days and explore the coast a bit. We got a good deal and it wasn't much more than it would cost to get to the airport. We took of in our little Yaris to Playa Hermosa, which is renowned for it's huge waves and crazy surfing. If you are not an experienced surfer, it is best to stay away and from the looks of the waves, we agree! Matt was thinking about renting a board, but upon closer look, he opted out and thank goodness he did. We watched for a bit and then headed down to Manual Antonio National Park, next to a little town called Quepos. The drive was nice and we stopped at a grocery store and I am now a proud member of the local grocer establishment preferred card club!! Once we got to Manual Antonio, we realized it was actually closed on Mondays and we passed by a hostel that was right near the park and the beach, so it was perfect. We parked the car, checked in and headed for the beach. The beach is known as the disneyland of beaches and it had everything! Surfboards (even though there were no waves to surf!), jet skiis, parasailing, chairs and umbrellas to rent, and bars/restaurants on the beach. It was the perfect ending to our trip, we didn't mind the stereotypes!

The next day, we headed into the National Park. It was $10 pp to get in, but only $2 for Ticans, go figure. There were way too many tour groups with guides for us, but we did see some cools things, mostly insects and my beloved monkeys. There are five beautiful beaches throughout the park, so we mostly checked those out while getting some needed exercise. Other than that, we chilled at the beach all day, taking in our last day before we head back to the city to catch our flight.

The trip home was a long one, but not without funny moments. Matt driving our little 5 speed Yaris through the narrow roads of the mountains was sorta funny, but mostly scary. I was glad when we found the car rental place after getting a little lost since we missed the turn, but we headed for Denny's (Yes, there is a Denny's there!) for our last meal. Once we got to Ft Lauderdale, everything was shut down except for Dunkin Donuts, so we got our $20 sandwiches and headed for a corner that Matt called the Caribbean to set up camp. We had little clouds on the walls and a straw awning, it felt quite nice, but I was just waiting for someone in the airport to take out their camera and take a picture of us, with our sheets out and earplugs in. We ended up getting a bit of sleep before out 6:30am flight and made it back to the cold and dreary Chicago. Now I sit on the couch posting pictures on Facebook, eating tons of food, and getting ready for the next adventure tomorrow. In about 24 hours I'll be heading for the airport again, this time with 13 other girls (yikes, I know!) and two professors heading to Guatemala for 8 days. I have to write a daily journal, so I am deciding how deep I am going to get and I may write it on here, so my next postings may be a bit more deep and cultural since I am writing for an A in the class.