Independent travel in Guatemala and Belize
Free travel was supposed to be a well-earned vacation from learning; I was expecting to saunter off into the Guatemalan jungle and render my mind blissfully empty of deep thoughts. Yet, in the aftermath of our week-long adventure through the mountains of Cob谩n and the steamy lowlands of Lake Izabal, I鈥檝e realized that I accidentally....
Guatemala: Poetry
Hola m鈥檋ija Ahorita llego De platicar con un ciego Pero voz fijo Su coraz贸n de fuego Perdi贸 su visi贸n En el a帽o ochenta y siete Por un accidente de cohete Creando una fisi贸n En ambos ojos y la mente Escuchame, me indicaba Es el trig茅simo primer a帽o De vivir as铆 cotidiano Pero lo que me....
Guatemala: Alta Verapaz
We鈥檙e back from five breathtaking days in Guatemala鈥檚 Alta Verapaz, where we stayed with the organization Community Cloud Forest Conservation, led Rob and Tara Cahill, along with teachers and staff from the surrounding Q鈥檈qchi鈥� communities. CCFC is working with the conservation of the rapidly diminishing cloud forest, as it intersects with the lives and well-being....
Guatemala: Bucket List
Bucket List for Guatemala: 鉁� -Watch a volcanic eruption from our classroom window -Hike a volcano and roast marshmallows at the top (this coming weekend!) -Take a moto (motorcycle) ride around the city 鉁� -Barter down prices at the central market -Have a conversation with a stranger in Spanish 鉁� -Attend Catholic Mass (one with....
Guatemala: Privelege and contrast
Last Tuesday after classes, everyone loaded into the CASAS minivans on an unusual tourist excursion. We were not headed to the national museum, nor to the presidential mansion, but to the cemetery: a resting place for some of Guatemala鈥檚 wealthiest elite that also happens to overlook the city dump. We arrived to elaborate cast iron....
Guatemala: Daily rhythms
Last Thursday, I woke up early and stepped outside into a gorgeous, sunny, Guatemala morning. It was our first day at CASAS. After a long day of airplane rides and a late night arrival, it was refreshing to finally begin the second part of our journey. The group was surprisingly animated for a short night鈥檚....
Guatemala & Cuba: Two sides of our wall
鈥淭his wall is not Trump鈥檚 wall. This is our wall. This is how we as a country choose to mark our border.鈥� I know my words cannot do justice to the week we spent at the U.S./Mexico border, so I figured I might as well start with someone else鈥檚. This was said by Mark Adams,....