Written By Lauren & Lucina
This past week has been nothing short of transformative. As we arrived in Comalapa, we were greeted by the city’s beautiful mountains, art, and an array of friendly locals. “Long Way Home” , the NGO we worked with, housed us all in one room which made the week feel like one big sleepover. While the icy cold showers and up-hill walks both to and from their eco-friendly school were definitely a challenge, those late night conversations will never be forgotten.
We kicked off our Comalapa trip with a walking tour to take a look at the Ancient city’s most beautiful artwork. One of the top pieces being an over 600 feet long mural diving into the depths of the country’s rich history. Through the walking tour we were able to discover more about the indigenous Mayan cultures that still surround the town. We spent our days working at the school learning various ways of sustainable construction. Some of which included mixing plaster and concrete, compressing trash into bricks that were then put into walls, and making eco bricks out of plastic bottles stuffed with trash. Although our time in Comalapa was physically demanding, group bonding was at an all time high. We learned a lot about each other as we worked together towards a common goal. We utilized our individual strengths and skills where they were best applied to maximize the efficiency of the work done. Nevertheless, building doesn’t have to be boring. That’s right- dance party on the worksite!! Aside from our amazing dance party, we also spent time at the school playing with the kids. Don’t worry though, we made sure to take care of ourselves after work with a spa night!! I know you might be surprised, but our night of face masks and lip scrubs did eventually devolve into yet another dance party!! We also got the opportunity to attend a cooking class after work one day. Together we made Turasco- a traditional dish with the most unforgettable guacamole. Our last night at the school, the kids gave out an amazing musical performance with traditional Guatemalan goodies for sale. As our time in Comalapa sadly came to an end, we said our goodbyes to the school and everyone who helped us with a handmade mosaic the group put together. On the way to Xela, we stopped at gorgeous Mayan ruins called Iximche before finally arriving for some much needed decompression and hot showers. Whoever thought one could miss flushable toilets this much? We can’t wait to see what the next week brings.
