Over spring break, Spanish and Global Studies students traveled to Guatemala for a nine-day trip. The group spent most of their time in the city of Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela), one of the largest cities in the country. During this time, they were able to experience Semana Santa, or the Guatemalan Holy Week.
Faculty leader and Global Studies Director Mr. Andrew Poolman said, “[Holy Week] added an interesting flare to an already magnificent city.”
While in Xela, students had the chance to work with some Mayan hip-hop artists and participated in a music workshop.
From there, the group made their way to a cooperative farm in more rural areas. They learned about how crops are recycled through the Milpa system to produce crops at a more efficient and sustainable rate. The group then went to watch a film created by a women’s film cooperative. The film was centered around environmental issues, and it specifically highlighted nature, water, and how we use those things.
In the city of San Juan La Laguna (off the coast of Atitlán Lake), students lived with native host families. They engaged in Spanish classes and various workshops.
“We often see a narrative portrayed by the media of Latin America relating to things such as drugs and violence, but I was extremely happy to see the guys realize that this just isn’t true. They were able to experience Guatemala for what it was.”
MR. Andrew Poolman
The trip to Guatemala offered many takeaways, but a few that stood out. Among those, the trip served to reconstruct perceptions of Latin American life.
“We often see a narrative portrayed by the media of Latin America relating to things such as drugs and violence,” Mr. Poolman said, “but I was extremely happy to see the guys realize that this just isn’t true. They were able to experience Guatemala for what it was.”
“People in Guatemala value family, friends, and connections over material possessions like we do in the United States. Each host family welcomed our guys with open arms into their homes,” Mr. Poolman said.
“We got a chance to practice our Spanish in the real world,” Sixth Former Musa Jabateh said. “That was a very valuable experience.”
However, the trip wasn’t all fun and games. Notably, many members of the cohort came down with illness.
“Whenever travelers go to a country where the food or water may be slightly different, there is always a risk of gastrointestinal issues,” Mr. Poolman said. “It did, unfortunately, put a damper on things, especially considering that the illness was on the first few days of the trip. However, it wasn’t the main takeaway for any of us, and a lot more important lessons were learned.”
