Hello, where ever you are in the world!
I hope this letter finds you in good health and happy spirits. If not, you can always read this letter. It has been a while since you were a wide-eyed teen entering into Guatemala’s small and busy airport. I think it is also safe to say that you have changed a bit since then. When Nicole, Ana, or myself were waiting for you at the airport, we also wondered about the adventures that were sure to come. I especially, wondered who would be the people that became sick and who was the one that would talk non-stop. I was sure that at the end of this trip, you would form bonds and unforgettable memories of each other.
I hope you remember the reflections and private conversations that you had those late nights watching movies, cooking brownies, popcorn, and those long van rides. I hope you remember that time is not what dictates your life, it is what you do with the time you have. I hope that the idea of privilege and what you have decided to do with your privilege has better informed your decisions. The discussions from the ex-military Pepe and the ex-gorrilla Auturo, hopefully have stuck with you to assist you in avoiding the acceptance of a Single Story. While you were in Guatemala you taught English, painted murals, or provided upkeep for a school and its students who all desire the best in life. There may have been doubts as to the impact or importance of your GLA trip. However, there is no doubt that you have pushed yourself to see and imagine a world without borders. As your director, I genuinely hope that you consider yourself a world citizen with purpose and a need to serve others who are you neighbors.
I also want you to remember and cherish these moments:
-When you would wake up to a busy bathroom and you had the Guates, and begin to appreciate the bathrooms at your house.
-When you hear a story that was just too much to be true, it probably is not!
-Do not trust a fart!
-I do not have time for that!
-The smallest deserts or comfort foods can remind you of home, so cherish home!
-Siguen en la Buena Lucha,
-Brian Tyler
