We arrived in Pasac last Monday with mixed expectations. We knew it was another mayan village and were worried about the challenges we would face. We also heard that we were staying with families, which presented the challenge of communicating with families who´s second language was spanish. But the other Central America group said they loved it here so we kept an open mind. I guess our adventure begins with the trip to Pasac. The first 2 hours in our bus were very pleasant and we all enjoyed jamming out to the American music the driver played for us. But then, an hour outside Pasac the driver said he had to switch our comfortable bus for a 4×4. We all got into the back of a pickup truck with our bags piled in around our feet. We had to stand in the bed clutching the metal frame around us. We were lucky that they put a tarp over our cage because as we started to drive away it started to pour… A LOT! The road changed from flat and paved to hilly and dirt. And still it poured. Thuder clapped loudly around us and the road turned into a river! I have to say, I have never had a ride like that before!
When we arrived we were greeted by a friendly group of guides and cooks. That night they gave us the history of Roots & Wings, the organization we were helping with. Roots & Wings was established with the hopes of providing this small mayan community access to computers and a better education. They even sponsor the top student of the senior classwith a chance to study at a university in Xela. Roots & Wings was very inspiring, something I definitely want to come back to.
Day 1- We went to the community market today. There were a lot of strange fruits, and beans, and vegetables but they also sold the traditional mayan clothing. These outfits consist of a long navy skirt with a simple embroidary on it, a floral and flowy top that is tucked into the skirt and a very inticrately designed belt to hold it together. In the afternoon we hiked to the towns bread bakers house. We spent a couple hours there making ´pan dulce´ (sweet bread) into crazy designs. It was then cooked in a brick oven. The smell of the bread made all self control vanish as we dug into our warm basket of ´pan´.
Day 2- Everyday here we fall more and more in love with the people, land, culture, and sense of community. Brothers and friends literally walk together with arms around each other. My family generously gave our neighbors (who were clearly more impoverished than they were) some extra food. Today we went to the coffee plantation called the Nahuala co-op. The founder explained the whole process of how coffee is planted, harvested, roasted, and shipped to the United States. He explained the importance of keeping his coffee organic and fair trade. They also work with ´cafe feminio´ which supports women getting jobs here. The coffee company is just as invested in the community as the people are. They recently built a library for kids and established an after school reading program for them. This afternoon we helped paint a church that had been graffitied. Another thing we did today was help build a tamascal which is sort of like a steam room/house. In this small 5×5 building you pour water on hot rocks to create steam so you can cleanse yourself. We all get VERY dirty making this.
Day 3- After a brief hike and swim we spent more time with coffee but this time we got to harvest the coffee berries. I guess since we´re missing fall in the States this will have to replace apple picking. The coffee grows on large bushes and are ripe when they turn from green to bright red.
