First Impressions

It has already been over a week since I have been in Guatemala and I feel that I’ve already accomplished so much. I have seen so many amazing things and have met and talked to so many people with the most interesting stories. There is not just one thing I could say has been the most influential to me because in reality, every single thing, place and person I see/met is influential.

Summer interns Kalie and Adria making new friends

The children. I could go on and on about their cuteness, playfulness, and just willingness to talk and allow us to be such a part of their day. I’m stoked that they are so interested in learning what this and that means in English. Their smiles and energy just make it that much better and I am grateful for being able to help them in any way I can. 

Entering San Pedro

Just in a short time, I have felt so welcomed by the community we work in (Chaquijya), the community we live in (Solola), the places we visit (San Pedro- which was the greatest weekend trip ever, by the way), and the people of MPI Guatemala this summer. Traveling can be such a powerful experience if you make the very best of it and having these people and places around me make it so much easier to create that. 

- Kalie, MPIG Summer Intern

Someone Pinch me, Please!

Since my last blog we have seen and done so much! Now that we have all been assigned to teach certain classes, and have been traveling and becoming comfortable with our housemates, time seems to be flying by! I have been assigned to the 7^th and 8^th grade classes along with fellow volunteer Christina.  Our 7^th grade class is very large with 44 students, and for the first few weeks they were a bit challenging. But now, Christina and I, or “The Dynamic Duo” seem to have a system down that works.

Our 8^th grade class is quite a bit smaller with a total of 11 kids, this makes one-on-one teaching easier, and makes for a teaching environment that is a little more personal.  It is an incredible feeling to be able to teach all of these kids, and to walk away knowing that not only have you changed their lives, but they have more importantly, changed your own. When you see kids improve in class, and see their eyes light up when they know the correct answer--that's what this program is all about.

Travel has been a big part of my time here, we have made trips to nearby town such as Xela, Pana, and others. A big trip for me was when we went to Tikal, which was probably one of the best trips that I have ever been on. We saw beautiful Mayan ruins, hiked in the park, and had an absolute blast! We were able to watch the sunset and sunrise on top of the tallest temple and it was great to experience the animal kingdom prepare for sleep at sunset, then experience the awakening of the jungle at sunrise! Just this past weekend we traveled to San Pedro, where we stayed the night, ate delicious food and went to a small carnival where we rode a ferris wheel that was a little sketchy but fortunately, we all live to tell the tale! On Saturday we went kayaking, which was a big deal for me because I am terrified of water! But thanks to Dana and her support, not to mention her beautiful singing, I was able to face a fear and do something that I never thought I could.  It was a very powerful feeling to know that I could, it was so great!

This weekend we are going to travel to Antigua, where we will meet the new PDs that will be here for the next 13 months- so excited! After the PDs arrive on Saturday, all of us will be helping to train them and show them the ropes. Then we leave it in their hands to continue our programs. Another up-and-coming activity is mini-camp! We're going to have various activities perhaps including dance, sports, crafts, and English classes! What fun! I am really excited for this! It seems that my time here is rapidly coming to a close and I cannot believe that we only have two and a half weeks left! Someone pinch me!

I plan on soaking up every last bit of awesomeness that these last two and a half weeks have to offer, and enjoying every last second!

-Kylie Mosley

“We all die, the goal is not to live forever but to create or do something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Yo no se manana

¡Bienvenidos from MPI Guatemala’s new house in Sololá!

Our first attempt at a group photo from our balcony

     During the past three weeks, my fellow PD’s and I have been living, learning, and experiencing San Pedro La Laguna, an incredibly picturesque Tz’utujil and hippie-tourist town located on the world famous Lake Atitlan. Not only were we able to take intensive Spanish classes every morning, but we also soaked up Maya culture firsthand. Our classes were held at the San Pedro Spanish School, which provided an enjoyable (and much needed) recap of Spanish. Working one-on-one with an instructor, each of us significantly improved our conversation skills and developed close relationships with our teachers. (Please note: the Gringa girls still remain undefeated in the student vs. teacher weekly fútbol games.) All of us were sad to leave the school, but I am confident that we will visit often throughout the year. Plus, for our farewell graduation “speech,” the six of us changed the lyrics to Luis Enrique’s “Yo no sé mañana, and performed it in front of the whole school.

Our graduation song presentation

            While taking classes, each of us stayed with host families that lived near the school.  All of our families were welcoming and friendly. My host parents not only owned a laundromat and a restaurant (so the food was great), but they also used to work as tour guides. Listening to their abundance of stories about Maya legends and traditions, I received an amazing first taste of the local culture in the Guatemalan highlands, and grew even more excited to work in Chaquijyá for the upcoming year.

            For the afternoons and weekends, we spent our time exploring the natural beauty of San Pedro with an eclectic assortment of fellow travelers local residents. Between scaling the Indian Nose mountain to see the sunrise, bathing in solar pools, horseback riding, attending salsa lessons, kayaking to the neighboring organic town of San Marcos, and learning to make paper lanterns, we all kept ourselves quite occupied.  My favorite excursion was our visit to the annual Feria held in Santiago Atitlán.  Just a brief lancha (boat taxi) ride from San Pedro, Santiago experienced numerous tragedies during the brutal 30 year Civil War.  Because of the atrocities committed during the Civil War, the government now forbids the military from entering the town.

An array of onlookers as Jared tries his hand at one of the games at Feria

            I am continuously amazed by the outlook of the Maya peoples despite the recent tragedies. Practically every Maya alive today lost family members and fled their homes, yet these same people are the most generous, amicable, and positive people I have ever met. An interesting fact, despite the lingering horrors of the war, Guatemala ranks #4 on the New Economics Foundation’s Happy Planet Index. Hearing the stories of the local people and observing daily life, I'm inspired by their resilience, and I am filled with awe at the Maya’s ability to maintain their traditions in the face of discrimination and violence. Although we will be leading various classes in the Maya community of Chaquijyá, more importantly, this year will be a cultural exchange and learning opportunity for us both.

            For me, the past three weeks have provided the perfect transition to our new life and work in Sololá and Chaquijyá. Not only have we been able to come together as a group and improve our Spanish, but our time in San Pedro has also allowed us to better acclimate to a new lifestyle and society. Now, as we nest in our house and begin to discuss our programs and positions, my excitement for the upcoming year continues to swell, and I am even more grateful for the opportunities and lessons we have been given throughout the past few weeks.

Relaxing at the top of Indian Nose Moutain

Ginny Savage & the MPIG team