Written by Central America Students, Laurie and Ray
What’s New?
This past week, we had the pleasure of continuing to explore Xela, but through a different lens—homestays! We were paired off with another person in the group and got to build one-on-one relationships while also building community and connection with the host families. Seeing Guatemalan life through the perspective of a local family was an enriching experience. Eating delicious meals and spending time with the families was a great exposure to the culture and a wonderful way to continue practicing our Spanish. We worked hard in Spanish classes in the mornings and explored the city in the afternoons. One-on-one Spanish classes allowed us to build unique connections with our teachers. The school was tailored to our needs and interests, and we had the opportunity to explore Xela with our teachers as guides.
Top Highlights of the Week
Fuentes Georginas:
The group took a van to Fuentes Georginas, a well-known attraction outside of Xela. The volcano-heated natural spring water trickled down the mountainside into a pool. The group had a relaxing time in the steamy lagoon. The nature was beautiful—cliff walls covered in lush, hanging vegetation surrounded the pool. A thick fog filled the atmosphere during our time there, adding an extra feeling of magic.
Mayan Cooking Class:
For the first time since the pandemic, our Carpe group was the first Americans to have the honor of participating in a cooking class at the home of a local Mayan chef. Working as a team, we split off into groups and were each assigned a part of the meal to prepare. We made a delicious pepián de pollo and shared a lot of laughter in the kitchen.
Dancing:
While talking with locals, we heard about a popular spot for young people to go dancing and decided to check it out. We made many friends with the local teenagers and had a lot of fun dancing our hearts out to popular Guatemalan music.
A Challenge We Faced
After being together for almost three weeks, being separated was a big change. It became harder to plan group activities and debrief our days. It was an adjustment to each be living different experiences and feeling the weight of individuality. In a way, it made the group stronger because we missed being together, making each time we saw each other more special. Being randomly paired off allowed us to branch out and connect on a deeper level with a group member we didn’t know as well.
Growth and Gratitude
With a new sense of individuality, there was a lot of time and space for personal growth. Stepping out of our comfort zones and speaking Spanish with the families all the time allowed us to improve our Spanish skills and make meaningful connections with locals. One thing the group has been working on since the beginning of the program and carried into our homestays was leaving time and space for reflection and mindfulness through journaling. We are looking forward to continuing to adapt how we reflect and internalize the fast-paced routine we are living in. As we look to the weeks ahead, we are excited to cherish every moment and new experience together.
