The Young Leader

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INDIA – Service Through The Lens – July 14 – July 27, 2017

July 14, 2017

Namaste!
The group has arrived safe and sound in Delhi! We briefly rested, had breakfast and kept the adventure going by hopping on another flight to Amritsar. From here we drove to home base, stopping for some great Indian food along the way. Everyone is kind and positive despite the looming jet lag. We are all ready to start our service and learning about the power of photojournalism.

Stay tuned to more blog posts from the students!

Warmly,
Laura
International Director

 

July 15, 2017

Today was our first day doing service, as we split into 4 groups, 3 at a daycare and 1 at a sports camp, we got to fully experience a typical Indian morning with toddlers for the first time! At the sports camp, we played a variety of games such as cricket and soccer but we also held an arts and crafts activity for the younger children.

At the Anganwadi, we started the day with a couple of games, Duck duck goose and Sardina (an Italian song). We then started teaching the kids how to count and the letters of the alphabet, some were more advanced than others so we split them into two groups; the ones that knew how to count up to 10 and the ones who didn’t know how to count. By the end of the day, all the kids knew how to count up to 10 and some even learned how to write.
In the afternoon we passed by the market where we were immersed in its liveliness, nothing like what we are used to back at home!
 

 

July 16, 2017

Our day started after breakfast with a “camera basics” class. We learned some of the essential photography skills and how to implement them into our own picture taking. After receiving our photo assignments for the day, we headed up the mountain to St. John’s Church.

The church was set in a forest, where the morning fog added to the beauty of the architecture and lush greenery. We had lots of time to explore the grounds, take pictures, and hang out in the gazebo, where we spent time getting to know one another better. The fog cleared and we had a beautiful, sunny drive back down the mountain to home base. Upon returning, we had lunch and then gathered for our first Hindi class.
We were taught many common Hindi words and phrases by our local directors, including numbers, colors, names and questions. This knowledge will come in very handy when it is necessary to communicate with the locals. After class, we headed down the mountain to the market.
After exploring the market, we went to a local fabric store where each of us was able to pick out our own fabric. Then, we headed to a tailor who measured each of us. We are getting traditional Indian clothing made!
After everyone got measured, we made our way back up the mountain to home base where dinner was waiting for us. Following dinner, we called it a night after a long day in India.

 

July 18, 2017

After breakfast we headed to our Anganwadi assignments. Then, after working with the children and eating lunch we left for a Hindi Temple to hear about their beliefs and be blessed. We heard about the basics of Hinduism from one of our mentors, Priyanka, and were allowed to explore the temple and nearby waterfall for a few minutes while we photographed them.

 

 

Wednesday, July 19th, was full of photography, service, and some surprises. We loaded up on the french toast that were drenched in “American Style” syrup and started our day with service. The Anganwadi groups taught lessons from the alphabet to basic math to animals and everything in between. Meanwhile, the Sports Camp leaders played got muddy with soccer and cricket. Afterwards, lunch was served and it had a little more variety. There were spring rolls and fried potatoes, probably the closest thing we will get to french fries until we reach home but we will take what we can get. After, we got to learn the basics of setting up an interview and then conducting it. We were able to test out the mic and composition of interviewing on ourselves. We also learned about the three portrait lighting rules: Rembrandt, Butterfly, and Side. There unfortunately was not a lot light to work with because of the moody Monsoon season but there will be other chances to use our new knowledge. Next was dinner which was white rice and beans but for the sick people there was the comforting food of buttered noodles. We then split into our mentor groups and at the end, the staff surprised us with ice cream floats! Everyone ate the cold dessert quickly and quietly and we were satisfied until the last scope. Wednesday was a day full of fun and we are excited for more!

– Danielle and Clair

 

July 21, 2017

Today was a relaxed day for many of us and it was finally LAUNDRY DAY! In the morning we went to the Anganwadi’s (daycare) and some went off to sports camp. Towards the time of the day everyone starts walking back it started pouring and one by one everyone came back soaked and saying they had just been in a waterfall. After everyone drying off and lunch some watched two amazing TED talks and the others went off to interview people who are a part of Gaddi culture for our capstone projects. The group that went to do interviews was able to see authentic village homes and learn about Indian weddings and their way of life. At dinner everyone was supper happy as we had pasta, enchiladas, and ice cream!

Emily

 

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INDIA – Service Through The Lens – June 20 – July 10, 2017

After a long flight, the students have arrived in India! I am already amazed by their resilience and enthusiasm. We stayed briefly and Delhi andWe took a flight to Amritsar. the group met with Rohit and Rahul, the incredible photographers coordinating the photojournalism curriculum. We stayed in a unique guest house that used to be military barracks, then had an early morning tour of the Golden Temple where students learned about Sikhism and culture. The students took pictures following the Rule of Thirds, and will be analyzing their work tomorrow.
Today we are heading to the home base in Dharamsala. I can’t wait for the rest of the program- this group is truly awesome and I can’t wait to see how they make this program truly their own.
Stay tuned for more blog posts from the students!

Warmly,
Laura, International Director

June 22, 2017

A byproduct of both jet​lag and enthusiasm, Thursday began as early as 4:55 AM for some brave souls who chose to watch the sunrise from home base’s rooftop. For the first full day after what seemed like eons of traveling, friendships had already begun to form and everyone was enthusiastic to get into the city of Dharamsala. In beginning our photography curriculum, we learnt the rudimentary skills required to finally switch the camera to manual mode as well. For some, photography seemed to come naturally (or from years of practice), while for many of us it was a steep learning curve away from the iPhone. In the afternoon, we became accustomed to both the busy market streets via a scavenger hunt of sorts, as well as the utter fearlessness of drivers. Everyone returned in the evening understandably tired, yet excited for the weeks to come.

June 25, 2017

The perpetual honking of a car horn. That would be the main sound that fills the humid Indian air. Just like any country, industrialization has slowly engulfed the cultural traditions that once permeated throughout the physical and spiritual landscape of India. There is asylum, however, in the Hindu temples that continue to preserve sanctity, purity, and connection to the primal sense of true humanity. Inside the Hindu temple that celebrated Vishnu, walked the Babajii; men with long entangled dreads that fell along their backs and chests. Their robes fell loosely around their appendages, granting them the freedom to move swiftly and lightly. As I walked, I tried to replicate the softness of their footsteps, looking to keep the serenity and harmony of the temple. The main spiritual calling of the temple was the eternal flame. A conflagration that has stayed alight for five hundred years, fueled by the unwavering dedication of the Babajii. The Babajii were a generational being, a relic from the past that continued to sustain a bright future. Walking further there was a river that symbolized the holy spirit of Vishnu, a raging blessing that secured passage to spiritual connection. The river retained a divine atmosphere, an entitlement to cleanliness that replicates the providence of Vishnu and offers decontamination to those who wake in its water. My feet were my medium to spirituality. They were my stability as well as a gateway to the ancient holiness of the relics and natural phenomena. I slowly walked into the raging water, trying to engage in the spirituality that the native Indians had practiced relentlessly to obtain. The waters lacked any direct connection to the eternal flame, aside from both containing the admiration and divinity that the Hindi worshiped, as well as being in the caring hands of the Babajii. Despite the non-existent connection of the two that would be solidified by the ancient Hindi texts, the raging waters seemed warm. As if the heat and luminance of the eternal flame mitigated the cold and raging complexion of the river.

A day in India

Leader of the day: Corrina Lewis
Song of the day: Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
5:45 A.M. Wake up call for sunrise
Alarm song: It’s Tricky- Run DMC
Sunrise summoned by sun salutations with my lovely group of four led by Laura.
6:30 A.M. Breakfast: oatmeal, cut up fresh fruit, fried egg with hot sauce and crushed tomato
Breakfast tunage: Monsoon Madness
7:30 A.M. Departure. The weak are left behind.
Skip ahead: I’m sitting on the edge of a forest with a view of a small town on my left. My eyes wander along the mist covering the mountain side, despite the damp heat surrounding. This is the most silence experienced since my layover in Shanghai. No honking, no angry covering, no loud music over the mountain side, we even find it hard to muster words. We only run into one other traveler along the way, quite a rarity here. The world know photographer/ coffee shop owner has us continue on, taking close ups of a variety of flora while bewaring the leeches. He has two companions. One, Simon, the other I don’t recall but I call him Garfunkle. Although they carry the title “Guide”, the real guide strides ahead on his four paws confidently claiming us as his, only stopping to mark the path from time to time or, once, to take a drink. We continue on for a while before we fall into rhythm with each other, taking less and less breaks, and falling more and more under the silent spell of the mountain. 3.1 miles later we emerge on the other side of the mountain t a rest stop. The car ride to homebase consists of deep conversations before sleep.
1:00 P.M. Lunch is vegan. Nut burger patties, garbonzo salad, and a few leaves and bean sprouts also titles salad.
1:30 P.M. Naptime
5:30 P.M. Some game involving blind folds that started up the monsoon again.
6:00 P.M. Ted Talks
7:00 P.M. Dinner: Rice, Potato Curry, some kind of cheese balls with sauce, naan
The rest of the night we bond together over music and videos, sharing each others interests. We dance, laugh, and sing into the night. I end my night with two people I never knew I could grow so close with in two weeks time. Sitting in woven chairs and listening to the sounds of our new town, Dharamsala and the sights of the upward fade of light into the Himalayas.

Photo by Rylan Martinez
Corrina and Cow

June 29, 2017

My fellow GLA students and I awoke to peaceful rain and a perfect temperature of seventy degrees. As our capstone project approaches its deadline, we began to discuss game plans and ideas for our soon to be masterpieces. Our late morning activities consisted of our visit to the daycare, where we practiced patience while getting in a challenging workout.

At lunchtime we played intense card games and continued to outline the elements in our assignment. The group work transitioned into the afternoon, and we ended the evening with a documentary, dinner, and mentor groups.

Throughout my time here I have had the song “Imagine” by John Lennon playing in my head on repeat. Everyday I spend here in my temporary home, I relate to each song lyric and a feeling of humbleness and gratitude spend here in my temporary home I relate to each song lyric and a feeling of humbleness and gratitude washes over me.

“Imagine there’s no heaven

It’s easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today.”

Although we are exploring a country that holds some of the most religious practices I have ever seen, I have also witnessed a few native people who live and make choices without consideration nor fear. At the daycare, we arrived the scene with shy and respectful pupils. However, they quickly opened up, allowing themselves to act like children. As they stole our phones and cameras and laughed uncontrollably whenever we did something embarrassing, the beauty of not caring about the next moment, day, or week shined through their eyes. Their curiosity, innocence, and intelligence taught me more than any classroom could.

“Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world.”

Coming from a country where self esteem is often built on possessions, I had the opportunity to soften my greedy heart when I went to a local market. Macy and I were searching for souvenirs when we made conversation with the store owner. We discussed American politics, the Indian education system, and the cause of this town’s corruption. After our knowledge-filled discussion, I presented the items I wanted to purchase. To my surprise, the man shook his head and said “Take it.” I insisted that he should take my money, since I was trying to support his business. He responded, “You paid me by speaking to me, we are blessed to have you staying here.” My heart sunk. I gave him a hug and requested to take a picture of him and his brother. I will never forget this man. A man who has close to nothing but is willing to give anything.

“You may say I’m a dreamer

But I’m not the only one

I hope one day you’ll join us

And the world will be as one.”

My most treasured discovery of this trip has been the connections I’ve made with my fellow travelers. Never have I felt more understood by so many people. Every student here has so much in common. The most important similarity is our passion. We are all ready and eager to lead our generation to a more equal world. As the self-driven, supportive GLA India group furthers the journey in India, we will continue to become masters of photography, fluent journalists, and brothers and sisters. But most of all we are dreamers, hoping to better the world one step at a time.

Lacey

 

Saturday, July 1st
We started off the morning with our usual 8am breakfast, however, some came down feeling better than others due to the endless barking of a certain pup which filled the previous night. After breakfast, each capstone group gathered and allocated their time in a way of their choice. This could have been anything from interviewing locals to editing video clips to writing and photographing aspects of a culture. A little before lunch, we came together on the roof to get a quick lesson from Raoul and Rajit about portrait photography lighting. We then had some more free time to practice the lighting skills we had just learned, and reconvened for lunch around 1pm. An hour after lunch, we gathered our things and drove about 15 minutes up the mountain to the village of McCloud Ganj, where we were given 3 hours to spend as we chose. We strolled the streets, filling our time with lots of browsing, the occasional spending, and some quality food (the best chocolate cake and iced mocha I’ve ever had.) 3 hours and 20 fatigued kids later, we head back to the cabs and drove down the mountain to return to home base. After a little but of time to figure out and show off what all had been bought in the previous hours, we were treated to an early dinner of pizza!!!! After dinner we gathered around the screen to watch Chimamanda Adichie’s TED talk The Danger of a Single Story. The video was followed by meeting with mentor groups, in which we discussed what we would take with us after returning home, and how we would adjust back to life in the US.

 

July 4, 2017

Today the group spent all of our time exploring Priyanka’s (GLA staff member) family farm. Whether it was picking mangoes and Jamun straight from the trees or helping out in the rice fields learning about the growing process, we were all fully immersed in the agricultural life of a local farm in the mountains of India. During our time at the farm, we were split into groups of 4 or 5 and asked to photograph different aspects of life on the property as it pertained to our group’s assignment. Through this we were able to converse with elders and gain insight into their perspectives on culture and tradition. Additionally we got the opportunity to watch chai tea be made from scratch and see traditional meals being cooked. A part of this process involved eating a delicious meal made by the family members who owned the farm. To wrap up the day, we were given a final tour of the farm and all the fresh produce grown on its property. Afterwards we said our goodbyes and headed back to home base for a final evening meal before ending that day’s festivities.

-Nikita
The group getting a taste of S’Mores….. Indian style!

The group planting rice near the farm

 

July 5, 2017

We began our day with the usual amazing breakfast and afterwards spent the morning working on our Capstone projects. Everyone is either nearly done or making great progress on the educational and fun presentations which allow us to immerse ourselves more into the culture’s past and present. Afterwards, we received our beautiful specially tailored traditional Saris that everyone was ecstatic to put on and show off. After lunch we all quickly got ready to go to the Dalai Lama’s temple in McLeod Ganj where one of our leaders, Priyanka, gave us a tour. She explained the traditions and history of the temple and the significance of each intricate aspect and shrine. Being in such a sacred and beautiful place was surreal and an amazing honor. Then we spent a few hours shopping in the market and practicing our bargaining skills while trying to find the perfect gifts for ourselves and loved ones. We went out to dinner at a Tibetan restaurant and loved every bite. When we got home we played games and enjoyed Coca-Cola and Fanta ice cream floats(because apparently root beer doesn’t exist in India) to celebrate the Fourth of July in our own way. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

-Nina

6 July 2017 : INDIA FUN DAY 

Leader: Sofiarose Mineghino
Song of the day: Angel by Shaggy
       Three weeks. Three weeks to immerse ourselves in a culture so diverse, even the locals still haven’t quite grasped it. The Himalayan mountains have served as our neighbors an the dogs and cows, our friends. As a group, we’re currently facing the realization that the end date, (that has slowly been creeping up behind us) is getting closer and closer; not even being able to fathom the thought that we may not be ready to leave quite yet.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re most definitely still enjoying the few days we have left:
Losses thus far:
  -Patagonia Sweatshirt
  – Invisalign
  -A beautifully bruised kankle
Gains from the losses:
  – the hope that someone who needs it more has found a Patagonia sweatshirt
 -The practice of learning to be more responsible… I’m trying to prove that I’m good at adulting !!
-my blood fed an insect
Breakdown of the day:
      The usual morning chirp of a bird at the early hour of 6 am wakes the majority of the girls rooms up.
8 am: (the scheduled start of our day) marks the time for breakfast.
Next: Capstones. All. Morning.
      The intense work period ends with lunch at 1 pm and now it’s time for the “fun” part of “India Fun Day.”
2pm: Henna party and fashion show preparations
5: Fashion show on the roof to show each individuals take on a traditional sari.
6: A failed attempt of a silent disco but a well deserved dance party.
7: A rain storm greets us with the beginning of our Bollywood dance class.
8: Dinner (with ice cream floats I might add)!!
9: Bedtime
The night ends earlier for those who danced too hard or are far too sick. The rest join quietly on the roof for a casual DMC (deep meaningful conversations) accompanied by the mountains, the stars, and discoveries of new music.

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GUATEMALA – Children of the Maya – July 22 – August 4, 2017

July 22 and 23 

 

Guat’s up friends and family? All but one of the girls have arrived safely and are at home base here in Quetzaltenango. Alexis will be joining us in the morning. Yesterday, our students trickled into Guatemala in multiple waves. The flights from the west coast landed bright and early at five in the morning. The majority of girls arrived midday, but some were landing as late as 10:00 p.m. Today, we had breakfast with a view on the roof of our hotel in Antigua. Our accommodations, courtesy of La Quinta Santa Lucia Hotel, were beautiful! The rooms bordered a gorgeous courtyard and had lots of character. We left after breakfast and drove to a local shop where the girls and mentors learned about the Mayan culture through a weaving workshop and wedding reenactment. Not only did we learn about the customs and clothing of the Mayan people, but also about how they are diligently working to preserve their culture, which is currently threatened by the more efficient technologies of large manufacturers. We then drove an hour to a beautiful restaurant in the countryside where we enjoyed a delicious lunch of either chicken, beef, or a veggie kabob. Next, we hopped back in the vans and drove 30 minutes to the ancient Mayan ruins of the town of Iximche. We continued to learn about aspects of the Mayan culture and also found out that the Spaniards could not pronounce Iximche, or Cuauhtemallan, so simply called the city Guatemala, which became the country’s namesake. After the ruins, we proceeded on our route to Quetzaltenango. During the next two and a half hours, we zigzagged through the mountains. Urban areas turned to farms and lush forests, but the number of stray dogs roaming the streets did not change, and they continued to pull at our heart strings. As we ascended even higher into the mountains, we literally drove through the clouds. Finally, we reached home base, where we had orientation and received room assignments. Our service at the school begins tomorrow, and we are all very excited to meet the students and to continue getting to know each other. Even though it’s only our first full day here, we are already very close and having a blast! We are in such disbelief that we are finally here that we keep asking ourselves, “A-mayan Guatemala for real right now?” Stay tuned for more updates to come! 

Caroline Foshee and Jordan Remillard

 

July 24, 2017

 

Hola everybody! Today was our first full day at home base. We woke up ecstatic to get to the school and meet all of the friendly Guatemalan kids. We piled into the van and took a short drive to the school and were immediately greeted by over 500 smiling colorful children all with interesting stories and personalities. After a tour of the school by one of the teachers at the school we could not be more excited to contribute and add more to all that GLA has done for this community. It was amazing to see how school life is like for these kids compared to our daily lifestyles and how little they have yet how happy they are. We learned about the 3 different service projects we will be working on at the school during our stay in Guatemala. The first project is a mural that we will be working on and finishing to help improve the students addition, multiplication and division skills. We are also working on finishing a classroom that the previous sessions began by smoothing the walls and plastering. The final project is teaching the 5th and 6th graders english and helping them to improve their skills. This is a lot harder than it sounds but we have been working together to develop lesson plans and games that will keep the students entertained. Recess was probably the best part of the day where we had kids begging for piggyback rides and teaching us their games that they love to play. They were so friendly and happy to be playing with us and we all could not get enough of the them. We left to head back to home base for lunch and were so excited to go to our next adventure! After our feast of food that everyone inhaled, we then got into the vans to head towards a tour of a church. After singing and jamming out in the vans for 40 minutes, we arrived at this eye brightening church! It was more colorful than anyone could imagine. Reds, yellows, blues, greens, and whites. The church portrayed symbolism of their culture. We then hiked up the steep streets and made our way to see extremely beautiful views of the mountains at the high elevations. After snapping photos of everyone at the beautiful views, we made our way back down and stopped to see a traditional dance of a guy acting like a monkey.  Then, we went to visit a lady who makes traditional patterns that take around six months to make.  We got to see her live in action and then a couple of girls got to try on the traditional outfit as well. We then made our way to a house that we received homemade hot chocolate that is made in this town and also a traditional bread that was both delicious! The hot chocolate was different from the hot chocolate that we are used to, but was awesome too! Trying not to slip down the steep streets, we finally made our way back to the vans and headed to the home base.  30 girls squeezed on a couch but surprisingly it worked and was super comfy! We watched a TED talk which was about we appropriate cultures from different countries.  After discussing what we wrote on flashcards about three things that we thought represents the United States and Guatemala. It was extremely interesting to see how everyone thought our where they live compared to where we are visiting now. We headed to dinner and then after showers and hanging around, the people who had to teach the next day needed to plan their lessons. Since we were divided into groups for service, the three groups planned their lessons while others watched Grownups on the couch.  As everyone went their separate ways to their rooms, we settled down ready to wake up for a new adventure in Guatemala tomorrow!

 

July 25, 2017

By: Charlotte Howard and Ellianna Bryan  

Today was the second day of service and we started the day off splitting up into our groups to teach, construct and paint. The teaching groups headed into their classrooms introducing themselves and began teaching things like “I like..” and “I do not like..“. It was more challenging than we all expected and even though we felt super prepared with lessons it was difficult to maintain the students‘ attention but once we got the hang of it we really felt like they were learning. The best feeling was when the students were able to answer our questions in English and show they were understanding. After the lesson it was recess and we spent another hour playing games with the kids. The construction groups plastered the walls and continued working on the classroom, while the painting group worked on painting multiplication tables on stairs. We headed back to home base to get ready for an exciting afternoon of chocolate and salsa dancing.  As we arrived to the chocolate workshop, we were all seated in a large room and row by row, we went up to get our choice of fruit with the homemade chocolate. After our faces were covered, we went outside to see and understand how the chocolate is made. We then received hot chocolate and before taking the first sip, we made a wish and then drank the warm mug of hot chocolate! As everyone jammed into the chocolate shop, bars after bars were purchased. We headed out and made our way to learn the traditional salsa dance. After sweating and laughing immensely, we all were wiped. We came back to the home base and all squished into the living room to listen to a veteran from Guatemala speak. After listening to his astonishing story about his war experiences, we all ate and then the groups for teaching tomorrow planned their lessons! Extremely tired and wiped out, we all crashed and were ready for the hot springs and another day with endless smiles! 

 

June 26

Howdy yall! It’s May and Brianna from Houston, TX reporting live from Guatemala! This morning we woke up and ate some delicious pancakes and then headed to the school. The GLA student teachers taught the children family words and school subjects in English. Girls in construction plastered walls for the storage room. Painting people finished painting times table onto the stairs. After lots of playing with the kids, we headed back to home base and ate delicious beef, mashed potatoes, and cucumbers! Soon we took an hour drive into the mountain where we swam in the Hot Springs! The scenic route was breathtaking. No picture could do it justice. We were literally in the clouds! When swimming in the Hot Springs, the sulfur in the water made our skin very soft. It was a good time to relax from our previous very busy days. Finally and most importantly, our best part of the day was going to WALMART!! Wise GLA students decided to splurge their parents’ money on light-up blue-tooth fidget spinners and live turtles. PSA: be prepared parents when your child returns. But obviously, every student bought way too much junk food (if that is even possible). We ended the day at home base reflecting upon an anthropology article describing Americans in a different perspective, reminding us to not be close-minded and listens to everyone’s stories. This is your favorite bloggers signing out.  

Gracias por tu attencion!!  

Brianna Barrow and May Koby

Thursday, July 27

Hey everybody! Its Anna Conneely and Ellie Bryan checking in from Guatemala! Today was a day full of car rides and big spending. We woke up to a classic American breakfast, the first one we’ve had so far. We climbed into our vans and drove off towards Chichicastenango, the biggest market in the southern hemisphere. We jammed out to some throwback songs for a couple hours in between falling asleep on top of each other. Finally we arrived and unloaded from our van and were allowed to wander around the market for a couple hours. We were amazed at all the colorful souvenirs and brushed up on our bargaining and Spanish skills. Everyone bought lots of sweatshirts and gifts for home (so get ready parents)! After a couple of hours in the market, we had lunch at an adorable hotel in the middle of the city, filled with parrots and other crazy birds. Then we drove another hour to Panajachel, a lakeside market town. We got another few hours to wander. Some of us caught up with friends from home in the internet cafe, shopped for more gifts, sat by the lake watching the sunset, or got henna tattoos (they’re temporary!!!). We then settled into our gorgeous lakeside hotel where we roomed with some friends that we’ve made so far. We hung out in our rooms getting even closer and laughing our butts off through the night. See ya next time!!! Xoxoxo

-Anna and Ellie

 

 

Friday, July 28

Hi guys!!! We’re back! It’s Anna from Chicago and Ellie from NYC!! We spent the night at the hotel by the lake and woke up to the sound of birds and chickens outside our window and the sun above the lake. We got a nice surprise of breakfast at 8 rather than 7:30! Then after a breakfast of PLANTAINS outside in the hotel garden, we headed down to the docks to board the boats for a ride to San Jose, a town across the lake. There we got lots of time to wander around the streets and EVEN MORE MARKETS! We got frappuccinos at a local cafe and waited to board the boats again. We bargained some more and looked at pretty paintings of Guatemala along with other bracelets and souvenirs. The boat ride back was a little bumpier than the way there but still just as amazing of a view. When we safely arrived back at the hotel we had some free time to relax in our rooms and pack up for the drive back to Home Base. During the drive back we went through the clouds after a rain storm and everybody was falling asleep. Once arriving at Home Base we all hung out and had free time until dinner time, during which we celebrated Ellie’s birthday with a piñata & cake! Afterwards Orlando started a dance party and a couple of us got super hyped up. Nicole and Ana, our mentors, were singing along and laughing at our silly dance moves and how we knew every word to every song. They also said we were the most entertaining and the best session yet, obvi 😉 After our dance party, we headed to bed tired and excited for everything in store tomorrow, including zip lining!!!!!!! We’re having the best time and already so sad that we only have 6 more days here in Guatemala. See ya next time!!! Xoxoxo

-Anna and Ellie

Saturday July 29 

By Caroline Foshee and Lydia Bailey 

Hey everyone! We’re still here in Guatemala. To begin this eighth day on foreign soil, we enjoyed a delicious breakfast of French toast, fruit, and bread. It was refreshing to have a meal at home base after a night away. After breakfast, we hopped in the vans for an hour drive to the ziplining course. There, we partook in a series of ziplines cascading down the mountains. But first, we had to take a bumpy truck ride through the woods. Once we were all harnessed up, we went down the nine different ziplines one by one, stopping along the way to let everyone catch up. After that fun adventure, we drove back to home base where we ate a lunch of steak and veggies. Once the rain cleared, we went to the school and broke into groups to paint and construct. It was weird being at the school without any kids there. However, it gave us time to work without distraction. The constructors continued to cement the walls in a classroom, while the painters worked more on the times tables painting on the school’s stairs. Both of us, in addition to Gray, Juli and Kristin began a mural, which is turning out beautifully! What was once an orange wall is now a budding masterpiece. Upon returning to home base, we had an ex-guerilla speak to us about the Guatemalan civil conflict. This presentation was truly touching, and it was fascinating to compare the speaker from earlier this week to tonight’s speaker. Then, we ate dinner, which was tamales. After dinner a few of us watched a movie before going to bed.

July 30, 2017 

By Caroline Foshee and Aeryn Massenza 

Have you ever hiked a volcano and gone to a Guatemalan circus in the same day? Because we have! After breakfast, we left for the hike up Chicabal volcano. The drive in the vans was about 40 minutes, but once we arrived, we piled into all–terrain pick–up trucks that had seating in the truck bed. The trucks carried us over hilly, dirt roads to the trailhead. Then, we began our hour-long trek up the steep and slippery paths to the top of the volcano (don’t worry- it’s dormant). The trip was hard, as the air got thinner with every step. Finally, we reached the lookout point, where we had an eagle eye’s view of both the sacred lake and the surrounding area. Then, we climbed down hundreds of stairs to reach the lake’s edge. Being at the lake felt like being in a different realm. Clouds and fog scraped the water’s surface, blurring the lines between earth and sky. At the lake, we had a snack to replenish our energy and participated in a sacred Mayan ritual ceremony. The ceremony involved the burning of fruits and sugar, throwing of candles into the flames, the making of wishes, and a prayer in a native Mayan language. After the ceremony, we headed back for the trailhead. On the way back, a dog followed us down the mountain. The dog belonged to the man who led the ceremony. Finally, we returned to the bottom and headed back to home base. For lunch, we ate Domino’s pizza and breadsticks, which have never tasted so good. We had some free time after lunch, then we went to Walmart for even more snacks. From Walmart, we went to Internacional Circo de la Luz (aka the circus). What originally appeared as a haphazard spectacle in a small tent, it was actually very entertaining. The clowns made us laugh, despite our lack of fluency, and other acts kept us on our toes. There were acrobats, tightrope walkers, dancers, jugglers, fire spinners, and other talented performers. During one of the acts, Anna was whisked onto stage by a German man playing a cannibalistic animal. After the circus, we came home to a dinner of baked potatoes and veggies. Then, some of us planned lessons for school tomorrow while some of us played cards or just hung out. We went to bed easily, after such a fun, but exhausting day.

July 31, 2017

The Chicago and New York ladies coming at you live all the way from Xela Guatemala! Today was another day at the school where we all helped out in different ways.  Some of us plastered, some painted steps and mural, and some taught. Everybody had an awesome time with the kids at recess (as always) and it was an awesome way to take a break from all of our work. The highlight of today’s recess was that someone brought about 800 stickers, and the kids could not have been more thrilled! Faces, hands, and clothes were covered in stickers by the end.  As we resumed our work, Anna and Charlotte (authors of this blog obvi) ended up plastering a total of two whole walls. That may not seem like a lot, but trust us it was, you all should be proud.  We suffered through blisters and were covered from head to toe with plaster by the end. We went home for lunch and after a couple hours of resting, we went out to a local coffee shop to hear the ideas of a man who had lived in both America and Guatemala. The shop was a non-profit organization and part time art gallery. The speaker opened all of our eyes to how one can be wealthy with money but poor in relationships. Everyone left the talk with something new to think about. We stopped at a bakery on the way home, and it was a riot. Everyone was grabbing donuts, muffins, and pastries, all courtesy of Brian. After we got home, we all hung out, played cards, and crashed. “Boy were we exhausted” -Charlotte. Overall, it was another amazing day in Xela where we all learned so much and got to experience an amazing culture! XOXO Anna and Charlotte 😉

August 1st and 2nd blog by Olivia Ketcham and Ava Green. 

Hello parents and others! Yesterday started at home base, with a delicious breakfast that we didn’t make it to, because we slept in, but others said it was great! After that, it was back to the school where we made our finishing touches on the cementing, painting, and teaching. Back at home base, lunch was later served, and then to the Marimba work shop we went! There, we listened and participated in the beauty of the art. Later, we reflected on our days, and discussed. Dinner was made and later there was some well-deserved free time. Personally, we watched movies, played board games, made brownies, and had conversations with Brian (the counselor). Finally, it was time to go to sleep, and we went to sleep. The next day, again we slept late and ate dry cereal on the way to the school (but again, others said it was great) and finalized GLA’s hard work this past summer. After the students and faculty presented us with gifts and did dances, they thanked us and we thanked them as well. Okay continuing on, after the school we had lunch and later went to the weaver’s house, where we learned how the threads are made, and some bought more bajas, blankets, and scarves. We also got to eat and make delicious tortillas. Then we had dinner and another discussion, but this time about our experience overall, and what we’re going to take away from it. The reflection challenged us to think in different ways and incorporate multiple perspectives while exploring and learning about this beautiful country. Currently, we are watching movies, packing, and making brownies. Everyone is sad to go home, but the journey was amazing and the memories and friendships we’ve created over the past two weeks are irreplaceable.  

Here’s some other beautiful photos from our time in Guatemala. Enjoy!

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GUATEMALA – Children of the Maya – July 8 – July 21, 2017

July 8, 2017

Estamos en Guatemala!! We’re all here and excited for our new adventure. We went for a walk in the beautiful city of Antigua today and are looking forward to participating in a Mayan wedding and visiting some Mayan ruins tomorrow.

 

July 11, 2017

Hola familias! It is the end of day 4. We’ve had an action-packed couple of days filled with endless fun and adventure! Yesterday we met the children that we are going to be working with for the remainder of the program. We really enjoyed getting to know them and playing with them at recess. It’s safe to say our Spanish is rapidly improving! Then we were able to visit a chocolate factory and enjoy some Guatemalan chocolate with locals. Muy delicioso!

We were also fully immersed in the culture through witnessing a faux-Guatemalan wedding, exploring ancient ruins, getting a lesson in chocolate-making, and listening to a fantastic guest speaker on the history of Guatemala. As you can see, your kids are busy, busy, busy!

One of our top cultural shocks has been the food. We have had a wide variety of Guatemalan meals, which consist of rice, chicken, and some of the most delicious fruit! Tuesday morning, we woke up bright and early to enjoy a few hours with the children. After lunch, we hopped into the van and headed for San Andres, which is a beautiful city surrounding multiple mountains. Although the winding paths had us traveling up many hills, the views were worth the aching calves. Back at the GLA home base, the GLA kids are getting ready for a well-deserved rest.

Enjoy the photos! Love, Lexi and Kate


July 13, 2017

Yesterday, we all headed out on an hour drive to the forested area of Guatemala. After a bumpy ride on the back of a pickup truck, we reached the ziplining platform. We ziplined through the clouds high above the ground. Later in the day we visited the mall with Walmart and McDonald’s and got wifi for the first time since Antigua!

Today we went to service and worked on painting a school and teaching English. After lunch we went to the hot springs. The drive was scary with many curves in offroads as we traveled up a mountain to arrive at the hot springs. Once we got there, we got to swim in naturally heated water that had a green tint to it. After that, we headed back to Home Base and tried traditional tamales for dinner.

After dinner, we took part in an interesting activity regarding our personality and leadership type. Individuals were categorized into 1 of 4 quadrants. These quadrants consisted of relationship masters, architects & analysis, spontaneous motivators, and drivers. For example, while spontaneous motivators were characterized as energetic and headstrong, architects & analysis individuals were viewed as wise and thoughtful. After discovering that I was an architect, I realized how the actions I did during the day coincided with my personality quadrant. This activity truly exemplified how well rounded this trip, in general, is. We have taught others to learn, but also discover crucial, thought provoking traits about ourselves.

– Aryaa, Anna, Jolie

 

July 14, 2017

We started off this morning painting and teaching at the primary school. It was another great experience, interacting with kids. After lunch, we traveled to Totonicapan to visit a local potter and students were given the opportunity to make their own ceramics. We ended off the day with dinner and a group discussion.
-Andrea, Michaela and Max
Recent Days
Hello! This blog has been neglected for a few days, sorry! On Saturday, we traveled from rainy Xela to sunny Panajanchel. As we got closer to the hotel, beautiful flashes of the lake appeared through the trees. When we got to the hotel, it felt like we were on vacation. We traveled across the sacred Lake Atitlán to go shopping in a small town. Later that day, we bargained with street vendors and prepared for Chichicastenango. On Sunday, we went to the colorful Chichicastenango market. After hours of bargaining, spending, and buying, we were exhausted. The market was chaotic, yet beautiful. There was never a dull moment! On Monday, we woke up early to hike three miles with the other GLA group. It was a strenuous hike to the beautiful lake at Laguna Chicabal, however, we got to rest during the Mayan shaman ceremony. We had a great break from service!
– Dara

FINAL BLOG 🙁

As we say good bye to the friends we have made in the last fourteen day, the final students awaiting their late flight would like to reflect on the amazing memories we’ve made. Last night we participated in our final activity to express our gratitude and love towards each other. At the end of the activity it was obvious we were very sad to see each other go. 

Throughout these past two weeks we’ve learned so many new things about ourselves, our peers, culture, and the environment around us. Through the experiences and activities we’ve done, we’ve pushed through challenging situations that have put us outside our comfort zone and led us to be more self aware people. Every individual has discovered something unique and important about themselves. Adventuring through the busy streets of Antigua to the dirt roads and farms of rural Xela allowed us to fall in love with the incredible culture of Guatemala. 

This transformation within us wouldn’t have been possible without the amazing people we are lucky to call our mentors. Sydney, Allie, Julia- thank you for your advice, support, patience, kind words, the endless laughs, and the infinite lessons you’ve taught us. We will never forget you and the endless thought-provoking  conversations we’ve been through on this journey. 

Last, but definitely not least, thank you to the drivers and all the support staff. To Nayo, Diego, and Tono, thank you for keeping us safe and transporting us all over the country. Nayo- thank you for sharing your inspiring and personal story. ¡Muchas gracias por todo!

To end this final reflection, none of us will ever forget this amazing trip and we are so thankful we took part in it. 

We out- hasta luego 🙂

  • Aryaa, Jolie, Marley, Maya, and Victoria

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GUATEMALA – Children of the Maya – July 6 – July 19, 2017

July 6, 2017

Blog by Molly Ellner

My flight from Atlanta arrived around 12:00 pm. I was the first one off of the plane and I waited  outside of customs to group together the rest of the GLA kids from my flight. We all got to know each other during the long wait going through customs. I felt like going through this foreign airport together really built some close friendships between people on the trip. After grouping together and meeting up with everyone else at the hotel we all made our way to the rooftop. It was an amazing view and sharing this with everyone together made it that more special. We listened to music, did some icebreakers, and watched the sunset. Soon after it got dark we stayed on the roof and saw fireworks. It was really cool! Around 8:00 pm we walked a few blocks to go to dinner. Walking into the restaurant smelled like fresh bakery which is the best. We all sat around a huge table and ate and talked for a while. We were all so exhausted so we were happy to make our way back to the hotel to go to bed. Overall today was really amazing. I’m looking forward to the adventures to come and the friendships to be made.

– Molly Ellner

(Not included in the photo and arriving tonight or tomorrow: Emma M, Mizuki I, Esmeralda G, Jewel M, Maria T, Nicholas B, Maria M, Chandni S, Kaitlyn R)

July 7, 2017

Today, we had a breakfast of beans, eggs, and fried plantains on the roof of our hotel in Antigua. We played a game of get-to-know-you bingo before loading the vans and departing for a Mayan wedding demonstration. After watching a Mayan woman describe the traditional weaving techniques, Diego gave it a try. We experienced a traditional wedding ceremony firsthand, where Molly “married” Sam, and Emma and Greg watched over as the parents-in-law. When the “wedding” was over, everyone got a chance to cook tortillas, try handmade bread, and buy different Mayan crafts.
From the wedding, we took the GLA vans to a coffee farm, where we were led through the coffee-making process and walked through a museum describing Mayan culture. At the end of the tour, we had an opportunity to try medium-roasted coffee and buy coffee and chocolate to take home for our family and friends. We drove to lunch and met up with a group of students that had just arrived from a delayed flight. For dessert we had ice cream, and then got back in the vans for a four-hour ride to our Home Base. We stopped half-way through the ride at a gas station, where we all stocked up on “American” food (chips, candy, and Gatorade) and struggled to conserve our limited supply of toilet paper.When we arrived at the Home Base, it was raining, and we all went inside to unpack and rest. We ate a dinner of tamalitos and went over house rules. Now, we’re all preparing for bed and tomorrow’s a new adventure.

July 8, 2017

Blog by Mizuki

Today, we had a rather adventurous day where we enjoyed a nice zipline through the jungle. Although many of us were nervous at the beginning, we all ended up having a great time. The view whilst we were ziplining was absolutely mesmerizing and a great experience overall. Even during the short moments where we were waiting, it allowed us to bond with one another and learn more about each other’s lives. On the other hand, despite being told to spray bug repellent and to cover up the ankles, I decided to see what would happen out of mere curiosity. Unfortunately, my curiosity got the best of me and my bug-covered legs proved the legitimacy of the mentor’s recommendations…

After ziplining, we came back to home base and ate a lunch which consisted of rice, corn, and other miscellaneous foods. The food was great and it was nice to have the rice although the bean paste has been an exotic food to taste. In addition to this, we went to the school in the afternoon and were introduced to the gist of what we would be teaching at the school. The introduction gave us a nice opportunity to not only see the place where we would be for the next two weeks but it portrayed a vast difference between the two worlds in which we are used to and the life in Guatemala.

Despite living in this home base for only a day, we are already becoming a close-knit community and creating countless memories. Hopefully we will continue to create these connections with one another and cherish the memories from this 2 week experience.

 

July 9-10

Blog by Molly Ellner

We all left Saturday morning to explore the huge market called Chichicastenango. We all split into our small groups and went into the overwhelming market filled with tourists, venders, and locals. A little girl, named Marta, followed my group around the market for what seemed to be hours. She was probably around 10 years old and was trying to sell products to support her family’s business. I have never met such an amazing saleswoman. She managed to get money out of all of us! As time went by we all learned how to barter our way to receive the prices and products we wanted. It was an awesome way to practice my Spanish as well. After spending a few hours shopping and touring the market we all grouped together and ate lunch at a hotel next to the market. We all shared our stories and showed each other all the cool things we bought. After lunch we took a short bus ride to Panajacahel, where we spent the night. The hotel was beautiful and the views of the mountains and lake were insane. The most eventful part of my night was having to trap/kill a cockroach before going to bed. One of my friends was awesome and went full on “Hulk” to kill the bug. Afterwards we calmed down and went to bed shortly after. The next morning we had breakfast then got ready for our boat ride on Lake Atitlan. The boat ride was amazing. The water was so clear and the scenery was beautiful. We stopped at San Juan and walked around the area. They had many shops there but had a completely different vibe than Chichicastenango. The vendors talked to us and told us their stories which I really liked. I walked around and bought many things for my family and friends. Some friends and I walked to the top of the hilly road and found this beautiful church overlooking the lake. It was so pretty and different than other churches I’ve seen. (Which isn’t many because I’m Jewish, but still it was cool). The boat ride back was so bumpy but also super fun. After going back we left to go to another market in Panajacahel. We walked around and me and my “husband” (from the first blog) got matching turtle henna tattoos. Don’t worry mom, henna is temporary. Right after, we went to the vans and drove back to the home base. After we got settled in, ate dinner, and watched the movie Ted, I led a workshop for everyone to get to know each other better. I felt like everyone enjoyed talking and sharing. It felt like as a whole group we all connected and formed a stronger bond. Now everyone is settling down and getting ready for bed.

 

July 11

Blog by Molly Ellner

Today was the first day we got to go to the school and start our service work. We walked through the school gates into the courtyard and were greeted by many students of all ages. Some of the kids ran up to us and gave us hugs. We went around meeting the kids who were outside. Some of us went to play soccer or basketball while others talked to the kids and tried getting to know them. Once school started we spilt into our three groups, teaching, painting, and construction. I was in the teaching group today. My group walked into our classroom thinking that we had everything planned out but it was initially crazy. The teacher wasn’t there and the class was very loud and distracted. It took a while to get everyone settled down and to listen to the lesson we were teaching. But once we got the hang of it, it was so much fun. The kids seemed to really understand what we were teaching which made my group feel accomplished. After our first class we went to recess. Children excitedly ran to all of the volunteers ready to play. A group of five year old girls crowded me and my friend Jazmin. They all wanted to be picked up and go on our backs. We raced and played games with the kids for a long time. After recess we taught another class with different students. This class was so perfect. They were more engaged and participated during the entire lesson. We all left to go to a chocolate workshop after leaving the school. We ate and drank the samples they gave us. It was a really cool and tasty experience. We were supposed to go to a salsa dancing class after but that got rescheduled so we ended up going to a mall. We spent a couple hours walking around and exploring the different stores. Me and some other girls went to a 5D movie. Other people ate and shopped at the mall. Not much went on there. After, we all went back to the home base and cleaned up for dinner. Then we planned our lessons for tomorrow’s class lessons.

 

July 13th, 2017

Blog by Megan R

We started off the day with a breakfast of french toast and fruit. I think that most of us have been hoping for some food that is more common in the United States, so french toast was perfect. After breakfast, we headed over to the school to continue our service projects. Some of us continued to paint and plaster while others went on to teach English to a few of the classes. I was in one of the teaching groups. As a member of this group, I helped to teach three classes. The first class was composed of younger students. We went over colors, fruits, and numbers with them for fifteen minutes. My group then proceeded to teach one of the classes that we have been regularly teaching for the past three days. In this class, we reviewed previously taught material with a game of human bingo that we all created the night before. The end of this class marked the beginning of recess. At recess, we all stopped plastering, painting, and teaching to play with the students. Recess usually consists of carrying the kids around, giving them piggyback rides, and playing tag. After recess, we all continued our service projects. For my group, this meant teaching our second regular class of the day. Once the class was over and everyone had wrapped up their service projects for the day, we all headed back to home base for lunch. Lunch included a beef and lentil stew, rice, and fruit. After a delicious lunch, we proceeded to the town of San Andres. While touring the town, we had the opportunity to see a church that exercises a combination of the Mayan and Catholic religions. We also had the chance to see a Mayan shrine, the outdoor facilities where the townspeople are able to do their laundry, a person performing a traditional dance, and the home of the tour guide. At the tour guide’s house, we were offered drinking chocolate and bread, both of which were delicious. Once the tour was over, we returned to home base to listen to a veteran of the Guatemalan armed forces. Through his talk, we were able to gain a new and different perspective on the political and military history of Guatemala, the Cold War, the Bay of Pigs, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. The talk was extremely informative and interesting. Once the talk was over, we ate dinner, which consisted of chicken wings, coleslaw, and jello. We then proceeded outside for reflection. At reflection, we were told to take notes as an article was read aloud to us. It was revealed at the end that the article was about American culture and some of its customs. However, the language in which the article was written had completely altered our perspective of the culture being described to us. We then mimicked the language used in the article to describe American customs of our choice. This activity helped us to fully understand the impact of language and diction and served to enrich the idea that a single story can greatly affect the opinions that people gain of a culture. Once reflection was over, we called it a day and went to bed. We can’t wait for the adventures that lie ahead!

July 14th, 2017

By: Liam Kingsbury 

Today was our last day with the kids at the school, and the final day of us teaching them. The service was just like the other days, and those of us who were teachers wrapped up our lessons with the students. Since it was our last recess with the kids it was the craziest and we made the most out of it. As the school day started to wind down, the students started to set up a farewell ceremony for us. The students did cultural dances for us and then gifted us handmade dolls with the words ‘thank you’ written on them. The farewell was a very emotional time for all of us because we were saying goodbye to these kids that we had bonded with for 5 days. We knew that even if we never saw them again, they would go on to do good things in their lives because of our positive impact on them. After the school we ate lunch and went to a marimba workshop where we watched a teacher and his students play an array of pieces from cultural Guatemalan songs, to a song by Paul McCartney. Then 8 of us were invited up to practice and play a riff from the song Heart and Soul. They then invited up 8 more of us and we had to teach the rhythm to each other. After Marimba, we headed to a salsa class. The salsa workshop was fun whether or not you could dance. We had an instructor teaching us step by step different moves for the salsa. There were some naturals on the dance floor like Diego, CiCi, and Patricia. And some that couldn’t dance like me, but it was a fun time overall. Shout out to Talia for being my dance partner. After salsa we visited the 8th wonder of the world once again, Walmart. At Walmart everyone stuffed their bags with snacks for the remaining days and the plane rides home. We also got food and ice cream at McDonalds and other fast food restaurants in the mall. After an hour in the mall we headed home for dinner which was tacos. Even with everyone eating at McDonalds, we still had room for tacos. After dinner, just like the night before, we had a speaker talk to us. It was another veteran of the war but instead of being a soldier for Guatemala, this man was a Guerilla. He talked to us about his experiences in the war and what we heard was very different from the soldier. But, unlike the soldier, this Guerilla had proof and documents to back up the tragedies that he told us the Guatemalan Army committed. After the speaker finished we reflected on what he said and ultimately passed out in our beds that night.  

July 15th, 2017

By Talia Helmus 

We started the day by sleeping in an extra hour, something we were all very thankful for. After a breakfast of french toast and fruit we went back to the school to paint. By breaking into groups we were able to start painting the stairs, desks, repainting hopscotch, fixing other designs on the blacktop, and plastering. Our final goal for painting is creating the multiplication and division tables on the stairs so the students can practice at recess. We left the school and returned to home base to a wonderfully prepared lunch by the kitchen staff of carne asada and potatoes. Then we went to a nearby cafe called La Red Kat. A man named William gave us a very inspirational speech on immigration and balancing our lives. He explained how forgetting time and living by the light and moon is his key to happiness. William also explained certain parts of his Mayan culture and the numerous murals that covered the walls of his business. It was all eye opening and gave us a new perspective on living as an individual while still understanding your roots. William also touched upon the importance of living in the present and not overusing technology. After the talk we were given the option to stay at home or go to a local circus. I chose to go to the circus and it was especially entertaining because none of us understood what was going on. We all agreed it was the best 10 Qs we ever spent. The people that stayed home watched movies and ate Mcflurries. We all had empanadas and flan for dinner.  

 

July 16th, 2017

By Jazmin Bender and Nikki Macolino 

We started the day off at the school getting very “handsey” (refer to the picture) in the hot sun, painting handprints, flowers and finishing up the work we had started on Saturday. Scrubbing down the desks with sand paper and washing the paint brushes, our last day of community service was a bonding experience. It was sad leaving the school knowing we would not be able to come back and see the reactions of our students. But after we finished we returned back to the home base for lunch. After lunch we headed out to Momostenango where we went to a weaver’s house. To get to the house, we had to walk down a steep, narrow steps. When we reached the bottom, we walked into an open room filled with different color wool and huge machines that are used to transform the wool into unique textiles. The weaver explained to us how weaving has been in his family for 5 generations and how everyone in his family participates. He also showed us how the machines work and gave us the opportunity to try it out for ourselves. We learned that insects, rocks, and a variety of different plants and berries are used to dye the strands of wools. After learning all about his handmade textiles we were able to buy them. Along with buying their products, we were able to go into their kitchen and eat a homemade tortilla to which we could add salsa, guacamole, beans, and cheese. Once we were all done shopping and eating we headed back up to the vans. But let us tell you something about this walk up. It was longest 5 minutes of our lives. It was very steep and we aren’t sure how our hike up the volcano tomorrow is going to be (Stay Tuned). But after the long ride home we all gathered together and reflected on our trip so far and how it has impacted us all.  

July 17th, 2017

Blog by Emma

The day started off with a nice scenic drive through the Mountainous views of Guatemala to a dormant volcano where we would later sacrifice our lungs and legs to get to the top. We reached our destination at promptly 9:00 AM. This day was unlike any other because of the fact that we met up with the other group attending the GLA service trip in Guatemala. It was quite the experience meeting all the other kids within the other session and see how they interacted with each other on the trip versus how we interact with each other and seeing new faces in general. The hike was quite the climb but the view was great. Once we got down to the lagoon in the volcano we were able to open up our snack packs that our mentors had given us for the hike. Inside were many wondrous things such as some frito type chips, an apple, and some granola cookies. The lagoon was a sacred Mayan place where rituals and ceremonies are performed. We got to witness one of the ceremonies and contribute to it. We were able to make a prayer or wish while placing a candle into the “fire of desire” as I like to call it. It was really interesting to actually be able to sit and see one of the ceremonies instead of just seeing an alter. After the treacherous hike back which several of us almost perished on (because of the rain and mud mix) we went back to the vans to head to home base. Later on in the night we had a reflection on our time here and what it meant to be on a service learning trip. We watched a video in which several people’s differing opinions on service learning trips were shared. Its interesting to hear both sides and all the different opinions on whether or not service learning trips are important. I believe it’s important to go abroad and serve even if what comes of the trip is your acknowledgement of our privilege in America. After our reflection some of the girls put together a “last night at home base” talent show. It’s very bittersweet knowing this is our last night here and the talent show was a perfect way to end this unforgettable trip. Thank you to everyone for all the memories, I am excited to see how many more we’re able to make in the very last days.

-Emma

(aka AJ)

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