Written By OEs Mara & Matt
We are coming to you from the ever rainy and evermore stunning hills of Guatemala. Our first few days as a group have been spent tucked away above Antigua, Guatemala’s old capital, at the aptly named Earthlodge. The food has been unreal – some have even said it slaps and is gas – as we have been served homemade bread and tortillas and fresh guac from the onsite avocado trees.
Our time together began as we filtered into the luxurious Sonesta hotel outside of LAX wearing our large backpacks. The introductions began in the airy lobby other over snacks — clementines and cheese-its were a hit! We continued to get to know each other by the pool with pizza as people trickled in, an appropriate final dinner in the States. We enjoyed the large beds and showers, knowing it might be a while until we had them again.
The next morning we had breakfast in the hotel before heading back to the airport. The box of leftover pizza made its way through security, simultaneously impressing and humoring all who witnessed it. Our first casual Spanish practices started at our gate as we waited to board our flight. We landed in Guatemala City in the midst of a thunderstorm, very appropriate for this time of year, the end of the rainy season. After breezing through customs and collecting all of our backpacks (WOOHOO!), we found our driver and made our way to Earthlodge.
Due to road conditions, the bus couldn’t go as close to the property as anticipated, and thus began our first adventure: walking about a kilometer down to our accommodation with all of our bags at 9 PM. There was a slip, lots of laughter, and lots of anticipation for what views were awaiting us in the morning. That night we were greeted with delicious lasagna and charming cabins. After the full day of travel, we called it a night.
The next morning we were blown away by the scenery – lush greenery and volcanoes surrounded us. After breakfast, we jumped into orientation, which included getting to know you games, goal setting, and prepping for the semester ahead. Lots of laughs, conversations, and teamwork ensued. Now we all know how long it would take each of us to eat a broom and what our dream musical mash-up would be. During dinner, the active volcano in the distance, Fuego, came to life and we had our first glimpses of lava and ash. Incredible. We finished our first day with our first temazcal, a Mayan sauna, at the Earthlodge.
Our second full day in Guatemala, we ventured into Antigua. Following a Batman themed scavenger hunt, we all had time to explore the city and practice some Spanish. The labyrinth market, brightly colored buildings, the world’s most beautiful McDonald’s, and Guatemala’s hottest fried chicken chain, Pollo Campero, were all favorites. The volcano erupted over dinner again and the group erupted into a dance party featuring everything from Britney Spears to Tyler, the Creator and German rap to close out our final night here before transferring to Long Way Home. We are leaving Earthlodge with friendships blossoming, a turtle mascot named Rico, and endless excitement for the semester ahead. Hasta luego!
