Guat’s Up?

The semester is closing, and we semester abroad students feel torn leaving Antigua, Guatemala. When we arrived we knew little Spanish and had no idea what the semester would hold for us. We were both excited and nervous to spend more than three months living in a foreign culture.We’ve missed Artprize and Thanksgiving, fall colors and snow, open mic nights and slip-n-slides, early mornings in chapel and late nights in the library, friends and family and of course, our fiancés, girlfriends and boyfriends. We’re torn between returning to familiarity and staying in the land of eternal spring.However, in Antigua we’ve experienced earthquakes, embarrassed ourselves learning Spanish, survived a tropical storm, climbed a volcano, seen volcanic eruptions, gone swimming at the beach on Thanksgiving weekend, seen dry season and wet season, taken one-on-one Spanish classes and learned many cultural lessons.

Many of us have spent time volunteering at various organizations. Senior Emily Osborne compiled research at The Godchild’s Project about human-trafficking in Guatemala. Senior Aleia Ratcliff and other students volunteered at the Godchild’s Project as well, playing with children who would otherwise not receive attention. Jennifer Bozeman, Cassondra Angle and Alyssa Bulow worked to translate support letters from Spanish to English of children being sponsored in the U.S.

Other students have worked hard to complete internships for university credit. Senior Evan Schiro completed a business internship at Casa De Jade (House of Jade) while senior Kyle Bowers and senior Rachel DeSimpelare completed internships at Camino Real (Royal Way), a 5-star hotel.

Out of all we’ve seen, we have made many unforgettable memories. It will be difficult to forget being thankful for living with running water. It will be difficult to forget the enthusiasm Guatemalans have for both tourists and for each other, as well as the importance of relationships. It will be difficult to forget the hot days we enjoyed in December, the way the sun warms the hills around Antigua while setting behind Volcano Fuego, the beautifully painted houses and cobblestone streets, the weekly parades and festivals and the small class sizes with Paul and Bev Nemecek. We won’t forget the marimba music unique to Guatemala and the colorfully dressed Mayan women speaking Cakchikel in Parque Central. It will also be difficult to lose the habit of throwing toilet paper into a trashcan instead of into the toilet.

The semester has been life changing. We’ve learned to appreciate education and access to resources in the United States. We are blessed to both live in comfort and to be able to study in a foreign culture. It’s easy to forget this during finals week, but education is a blessing many do not have.

We have greater cultural and social understanding, a greater appreciation for education and how to act “amagable”, or “agreeable/friendly.” We all know a little more of how to live “como un Chapin”, or “like a Guatemalan.” Guatemala has been an incredible opportunity to see what it means to be “critical participants in the contemporary world.” Students here will be taking this experience with them far past Spring Arbor as they go out into the real world and their respective career paths.

Visit David’s blog at dshinabarger.wordpress.com