Northeastern University’s Center for Community Service sent over 150 volunteers this past spring break, to locations both at home and abroad, to address issues of community development, affordable housing, and disaster relief. I was lucky enough to be one of them. Along with nine other volunteers, I flew to Guatemala on a once-in-a-lifetime trip that involved eco-living, organic farms and community service.
Guatemala
After leaving campus at 3 o’clock in the morning on Saturday, February 26, we finally arrived in Guatemala City around 3 o’clock in the afternoon–very tired, but in good spirits. The view out of my window was breathtaking—volcanoes, farms and winding roads. We were definitely not in Boston anymore. The airport in Guatemala City is small, but clean and organized. The city is bustling, and guards armed with rifles are planted outside virtually every retail store. Home to over 14 million people, Guatemala is poor, but welcoming; warm, but windy; underdeveloped, but deeply cultural.
The People
The photo above says it all. Every Guatemalan we encountered was always ready to let us experience their culture, be it through their instruments, food, or language. We would walk through town and have strangers wish us good morning or good afternoon. This openness was amazing, considering the long, heartbreaking history these people have endured. They laughed with us when we failed miserably at Spanish. They were proud of their ancient Mayan culture. They made our stay comfortable and exciting.
Community Service
We participated in two main types of community service during the week. First, we picked coffee beans at an organic coffee farm, Finca La Voz. Laborious, but relaxing, coffee picking was time-consuming and tricky. We had baskets hanging from our necks, and with one wrong move, all of our hard work could be spilled on the ground—just like that! We all developed an appreciation for each cup of coffee we have at home after lugging the beans back to town.
Second, we painted a K-6 school in an indigenous, mountainous community. The school was mostly gray when we first arrived, but was a cheery peach color when we left. It was a good feeling to see how these simple tasks could make such a difference to the people living in these communities.
Transportation
We traveled around Guatemala primarily on a private van, but we sometimes rode on the back of a pick-up truck—standing up! It was scary the first time, but I warmed up to the idea of having the wind in my face. We passed lots of chicken buses while we were driving. They are recycled American school buses that are painted bright colors and are packed with people, sometimes four to a seat. A network of chicken bus routes stretches across the country, and it is one of the most convenient ways to get around. The photo above shows what happens when a vehicle doesn’t heed the chicken bus’s horn on a blind, hairpin curve. We all held our breathes as the chicken bus slid backward (thinking it was going to fall off the mountain), but then mustered up enough strength to safely maneuver around the vehicle. Just look at all of the exhaust!
Lodging
We stayed at the eco-hotel Uxlabil in San Juan, right on the edge of the volcanic lake, Atitlan. The photo above is the break taking view I had from the doorway of my hotel room. Our hot water was created from solar panels atop the hotel, and there were hammocks in the hallways. One night, we had dinner with the owner of the hotel, and he answered our many questions about Guatemala. In Antigua, we stayed at a hotel in the center of town and next door to a delicious restaurant.
Food
This is just a sample of the delicious meals we had. Tilapia, potatoes, and fresh salsa, I’m drooling just thinking about it. The food we had generally composed of chicken, rice, beans and potatoes—great for reenergizing ourselves for the next day! Whether in the hotel or at a restaurant, all of the meals we had were hearty and unique.
Volcanoes
Recent eruptions around the world made me a little uneasy when I read that we would be staying in areas with many large, dormant volcanoes. This anxiety gave way to admiration when I was standing atop a mountain, looking straight at a real volcano. So massive, but so beautiful.
Weather
The weather was just right all week long. Cool and windy, when we needed it. Hot and sunny, when we wanted it.
Dogs
Stray dogs are common in Guatemala, and some are friendlier than others. Our buddy pictured above, whom we lovingly named Guacamole, followed us while we picked coffee beans. We quietly left him while he was napping during lunch, but then he managed to find us later in the day. We drew the line when he came back to our hotel!