Written by Gabrielle D. Bennett, 2022-23 Latitudes Student
My experiences in the small town of Comalapa have been nothing but incredible. Arriving in Comalapa, I stayed with a local family known for their art. One of my favorite things was walking through the pueblo and spotting different murals done by different family members. My favorite day to go into town is Sunday because of the markets. At the market, you can find anything from amazing street food to art supplies and board games. It was in the Comalapa market that I tried my first tamarindo. Having never had tamarindos before these acidic sweet treats quickly became my favorite fruit. My homestay mom even taught me to make Tamarindo juice. Some of my favorite moments at my homestay include playing the card game, Uno, and football with my homestay siblings and neighbors, cooking with my homestay mom and sister, noticing my Spanish improve, and learning about different cultural and political aspects of Guatemala.
Starting my volunteer work at Long Way Home or more commonly known in Comalapa as the Escuela de Llantas was hard work made enjoyable by the surrounding volunteers and workers. Currently, there are two projects being worked on: the science lab and tire wall. The tire wall was by far the one of the most energy consuming activities I have participated in. That said, compacting tires was made fun by the radio blasting a Guatemalan music and news, making plans to visit workers families to learn how to make atol or tortillas, and cheering each other on as we finish the last few tires of the day.
One of the highlights of my stay in Comalapa was participating in the Green Building Academy. As a student I learned different methods of using earth to structure my building, how to finance a green building project, how to create a water system, and how to build a electrical system. In the mornings, we worked on site to get a hands-on experience of our coursework. For instance, we created a drainage system in the laboratory during water week and a solar panel during the electrical week.
The knowledge, connections, and experiences I’ve received through the Green Building Academy will act as a stepping stone for future community green projects I hope to pursue.
Inspired by Gabrielle’s gap year? Learn more about the Latitudes Year and carve out your own journey!
