Written By OEs Abby & Mara
Woweeee! What an incredible welcome to Guatemala it has been! We dove straight into getting to know each other, the program, and the incredible country that will be our home for the next 8 weeks!
Our orientation activities have allowed the group to reflect on their intentions for being here, their comfort zones, stereotypes and assumptions about different cultures, best practices for health and safety moving forward, and what leadership will look like within the group! Rarely a silent moment, we have had fun conversations about everything from origin stories of our names to favorite types of dogs. We enjoyed the comforts of our colonial style Airbnb, where we also shared delicious homemade meals and meaningful conversations with Isabel! The group has quickly been bonding and enjoying learning more about the diverse backgrounds we all come from!
Some highlights of our week have included joining the locals at a night market outside the cathedral, our first salsa class, views from the Cerro overlooking the town, and exploring the city together on a scavenger hunt! We have found that capybaras (typically of the stuffed and plastic variety) are everywhere. We have quickly adopted a couple to be our group mascots.
We closed out the orientation period with an opening ceremony where we wrote letters to ourselves and wove our gratitudes, gifts, fears, and manifestations for the program together, continuing to deepen our irreversible bond as we embark on this experience together. We have made it to our next stop: Comalapa, where we have already been immersed in the town’s rich artistic culture and are embracing life outside of the touristy heart of Antigua.
We are so excited for all that is to come and to support each other through the newness!
What were three of the top highlights this week?:
Some highlights of our week have included joining the locals at a night market outside the cathedral, our first salsa class, views from the Cerro overlooking the town, and exploring the city together on a scavenger hunt! We have found that capybaras (typically of the stuffed and plastic variety) are everywhere. We have quickly adopted a couple to be our group mascots.
What is something you or the group is challenged by this week?:
We’ve been challenged by navigating a new country and culture, using Spanish to order and navigate, and by adjusting to the program as a whole.
🌎 What are you most grateful for this week?:
We are so grateful for how well we have embraced each other, our differences, and our boundaries!
