Take Me Back

Damn, sitting in my room right now, just like I was doing before those three eventful weeks. To think I went from doing something every hour of the day everyday to just sitting in my room is crazy. I would do anything to go back right now, or to re-live those three weeks. Every little detail about our experience in Antigua will be missed. I'm going to miss ConstruCasa, rooming with Devin, Yolanda and her wonderful family, the food, Valentino messing with us, playing cards, the dog poop-filled cobblestone streets, the tiendas, the bakery, the Sevilla teachers (and Mario and Chucho), watching the World Cup with everybody, the laughs, the arguments, the cyphers, the walks with Charlie, Ritshly, and Devin, rashing each other, the cheap food, what Devin and I call "Guatemalan logic," the bad experiences with Guatemalan restaurants, Eric and our conversations/laughs, annoying/messing around with Karla and Makeda, trips to the market, bargaining, time we all spent together, and just everything about Guatemala. I'm sure there's much more I will miss, and that was just a glimpse of it. I'm glad I got to go on that trip, it really helped my mental state and how I view life. Guatemala taught me a lot. Just wanted to come on here and express my final thoughts. Now, it will take me a little while to re-adjust to life back home. Hasta luego. See you later.

The Sadness After Antigua

Guatemala is seriously offically over.
I can tell because I am currently laying on my bed.
I hate it.
This feeling of sadness. I miss everything about Antigua and it's sound safe security.
I miss the people I have gotten to know so well in Antigua. With ChuCho and Mario and the other Sevilla staff this experience had been so unforgettable. I hated leaving more than anything. I found it so difficult to pull away from these people who have protected me for these past few weeks. Yo soy múy triste. I think the worst part in this is knowing that even if we had the chance to go back to see Antigua again it would never be the same. ChuCho and Mario wouldn't be the same. We wouldn't be the same. Being in Anyigua has showed me so much about friendship and love. It has taught me that love even when it's painful will lead to so much more...All my friends at Sevilla will ALWAYS be in my heart.
I only hope that this pain. This sadness subsides into a distant memory away from my love for Antigua and this Junior Journey.
Bye Dolan and Cantu !! Te Amo!!

Final Days...

       Well... Junior Journey 2014 is quickly approaching it's end and it's bittersweet. The culture of Antigua is so beautiful and peaceful even though those random fireworks can get out of hand. Everyone says buenas dias even if they've never soon you in their life and it's actually a genuine hello.
       I'm not gonna lie there's been some rough days like falling on my butt while trying to climb Volcano Pacaya and not being able to have my kids perform for the school! But nonetheless I'm so grateful for the opportunity to submerge myself into a completely different culture than I'm used to.
       From the kids, to my home-stay family, to the teachers at Sevilla and the other PHAers on this trip my experience here couldn't have been better.
     I hate to go but I love to leave.... 2 more days left!
-Nellie

Several days before leaving :(

Hello Everyone,

Today, we went to San Perdro and saw that PHA's donation has started a shed. It's the beginnning of a small community place where kids around the neighborhood can hang out and play soccer and basketball. It was a really nice exprience playing with the little kids from the school in San Pedro. At the same time it is really sad because I've gotten so attached with the little kids and its emotional leaving them because we have done so much for them. I wish I can stay longer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alondra

guate

I have said goodbye to the kids at San Pedro. Today is constru casa´s last day.
Senay Yibrah

My Gizzy Adventure featuring Makeda Girma

As an individual, who hates being told no to things the exposure to Guatemala's gender roles has stuck out to me. For example, women stay home and raise the children- 14 of them! Girls are marginalized and disrespected. Cat calls and petty gestures are common things done by men. The indisputable bias behavior towards women being weak is common. I was told that I could not play soccer with the "boys" because the game was to rough for a girl to play. I played.  

Regardless of these actions,  there are people who rise above. My teacher told me about her silent fight towards her father who expected her to feed him. To the point in which she would have to put a napkin on his chest. In a country in which there is a femicide going on I am glad to see people, like my students rising above. 

Lourdeis- "lulu"  our last day teaching in San Pedro, Guatemala was a languishing one. Although, it may have been difficult at times this young girl stuck out to me. She is both cute and smart but, most importantly a self advocate. Small things like her persistence to master a word when other kids were playing soccer. Or when she came up to Shannon and I in order to learn how to spell vocabulary that was not even taught yet. Thank you Lulu for being a wonderful student and a strong woman!

I hope that in the future, Lourdeis, Anna, Dulce, Adriana and all those beautiful and smart human beings pursue a life full of the love for learning, self advocacy and happiness. 

- Giz. 

los ninos!

I'm just in love with the kids in San Pedro, they're always in a good mood and they're soooo cute. i have a soft spot for these kids because us American kids complain for little things and they have a bunch more to complain about but despite what they go through they are still happy and satisfied. I hope one day I can come back and actually see them again. Time has went by so fast and I can't believe it's almost time to leave.

Guatever

Although I'm writing an entry towards the end of our trip, I have come to realize truly how amazing Guatemala is. I remember arriving in the airport in Guatemala and going through a total culture shock; from the different odor of the air to the fact that little kids sit on the laps of their parents as they are driving. Literally sit in front of them in a vehicle. As of June 23rd, I have felt very comfortable in this city and its an amazing feeling. The overall experience of teaching kids English was also another experience I will never forget. And although we have only taught for about a week or so, receiving the cards from my little ninos has made me realize that maybe it doesn't take so long to create a beautiful bond. I loved teaching one fourth grade class in particular, and with the amount of exposure I have had teaching kids, 4C has to be my favorite class I have taught. When Casandra, Sara, and I entered the class the first day, attempting to teach a class that hasn't had a teacher in three weeks, we looked pretty stupid. However after a couple of days and with the guidance of Mr.Lavelle, it was rather easy to get them quiet and begin teaching them vocabulary. I'm glad they came around because that class is literally filled with the smartest kids, its crazy. Its also crazy to think that in 3 weeks, you can learn so much about yourself, your interests, and other people around you. I also remember the very first night where I began counting down the days because I wanted to leave so badly, and now here I am with three days left wanting to smack myself for even saying that I wanted to leave. Its slightly crazy to think that the same kids you have been going to school with and complaining about homework with are the same people that you will really never forget because of this experience. I am beyond grateful to have met so many people here, and most of all to have established a friendship with my Sevilla teacher; Carlita. I am beyond grateful to have made so many memories here as well. For the most part, I have come to realize that I am beyond grateful for every single part of this trip, however I am not grateful for the nasty cold I got and my instances on the toilet... Woops. #Guate2014
Adios!
-Maki

We are coming to a close on our trip, and I think we all miss home at this point. Everything that we have been throught is nothing like what we excpeced. The days are long and stressful and emotions can get wild. The hike up the volcano tested many of us, but at the same time we all enjoyed and saw one of the most beautiful views in our lifes. To think that three weeks ago we were all finishing finals and looking forword to the trip, to now, only having two full days left. I felt the time fly by and all that we have gone throught has made us see who we really are and throught that we have improved ourselfs as a whole.

Were wrapping up in Guatemala and it´s been a great experience. Hiking the volcano and going to the beach were some of my favorite moments from the trip. I really liked seeing different parts of Guatemala and doing things most people will never experience. It´s also been somewhat of a sad experience becuase there are people around us who need very little to survive and still struggle to get by. I feel like there is more we should do but I don´t know what. The poverty here is a stark contrast from the excesses we enjoy in America. Overall I´ve had a great time but I´m ready to go back to the US. This was my first time in latin America and I hope I can return in the future

Guatemala is amazing. I had no idea what to expect going in and I have been throughly suprised. Everyone is friendly and the atmosphere around Antigua is incrediby calm and laid back, nothing like any American city I have ever been to. As for the food, I have been relatively pleased with it. I was aprehensive about not liking the food beforehand but my host mom has been a great cook. There´s still plenty I don´t like but overall I´m doing pretty well foodwise. Teaching Guatemalan kids has also been a very rewarding experience. I didn´t think I would enjoy it coming in but I´m sad to leave them tomarrow. LAvelle is maing me leave now.

First Blog

Hello Everyone,

This is the first time I am doing something like this. I just want to share something with you guys whomever is reading this. Thrusday  June 5,2014 was a really hard time saying good-bye to my family. But I had to think positive because I know that I was going to have a great time. Once I got to Sevilla, the Spanish school, and we were all getting dropped off to our host family was a little scary because I was scared that my host family was not going to interact with me and my room-mate. My time here has been wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!. I have been learning new things that I have never learned about my own culture. Living with my host family has been wonderful because they are very nice and we get along with each other. Teaching my little students has been wonderful :) but it is sad because Tuesday June 19 is going to be the last time that I am going to be with my students. Its going to be heart breaking leaving them because I am starting to get along with everyone and getting attached to them. So far I can´t complain about anything. I have been getting along with the whole group and I´ve been talking to people that I have never talked to at school on a daily basis. Everything in Antigua is so beautiful!!! I got some nice things that I am going to bring back home for my family. I am not ganna lie, but I do miss my family even though sometimes they can be annoying I miss my mom especailly because she´s always yelling at me and my dad is always making me laugh and embarassing me all the time. I HOPE TO WRITE AGAIN SOON!!!!!!!!

-Alondra

Wow wow woooww!!!

Hi.Hello. Hola!!
Here. In Antigua. It is SO different!
I absolutely LOVE all the color in Antigua. All the little tiendas and shops make me want to go inside!!
I have discovered BANANA gum!! it is GREAT!! I am defiantly bringing some back to the states!!!
Yet...also find myself missing all the random people in Boston.
I find it scary at night walking to Sevilla for our night activity. I often times shut down because I am so homesick (but people don't know that here).
I miss everyone back home more than I can tell. Sometimes at night when all the comotion of the day is gone and I am muy cansada, i think about everyone still living their lives in Boston. I think about my mother and my little sibling and even BB (my older brother who I USUALLY cannot stand!!). Yet I am also very grateful for getting to know all these people here with me.
Constantly. I think about going back home and having this experience with these people completely erased from our minds. I fear building relationships that can only exist within Guatemala, and then having those security lines breached as soon as we land in Miami again. That feeling is a constant struggle for me and everyday i try to forget it and live in Guatemala.
I am afraid of getting to know people here because I am afraid of losing them back in the United States...
The Children here are AWESOME!!! its scary how old some of the kids can be in my class. One of my faviorite students in my 4th grade class are 15!!! This is somehow not so shocking here. It has been a struggle to adjust to the "Guatemala style".
When we got here one of the fourth grade classes did not have a teacher so as a result we were not assigned to their class yet they still needed help. Mr. Lavell (sorry if i spelt his name wrong) decided to take into his own hands the whole class. He decided not to leave them defenseless. With Mr. Lavell and Makeda and Cassandra (my teaching partners) we gave them "English" or at least a little bit of it. That has become my favorite class, however Monday 4c will be no more! I will miss them. To me its crazy how a teacher can be gone for three weeks with no explanation. That mad me very upset the first day teaching.
Well, I guess this is pretty long lo siento!!
Adios!!!

First day of Actually teaching

So far, I'm loving the vibes and atmosphere of Antigua. Everyone is really nice and the kids here are so smart! The first day of teaching was amazing. Elizabeth and I walked in and our first grade class all say "Beinos dias professoras, como estan usted" It was awkward but funny because we did not know what to say other than "bien".
We began our lesson with introducing ourselves and playing a who likes what game. The students were excited and could not stop smiling at us. We than began the lesson with having them repeat colors in both english and spanish. After we had them color in shapes with different colors and them telling us what the color is in english.

GUATEVER! lol

Guateverrrr!! For some reason i love that word. It's really beautiful in Guatemala. The kids are soooo cute I just want to take one home with me. I love the people here, if you're walking down the street everyone will  smile at you and say hi to you and it seems like though they are less fortunate than us americans, they are satisfied and happy with what they have.It took me some time to adjust to a lot of the things over here but I feel like it's all apart of the experience here.

...

       My ninth day in Guatemala and I can barely rember what happened yesterday. Like I`ve seen and done so much already! But like I love my third graders! They´re so SMART! Like Gladys is like an inborn leader... and Angel Luiz is sooo curious! Everyday I come to class he asks me how to say "salchichas" in english. Why even are sausages so important to him?? lol...And Fatima is sooo poised and ready to do work whenever me and Lowre come in to teach! AND Andy is Uber(Yes Uber) Intelligent. This kid could be president of Guatemala! Plus there´s this random kid that sits in the back and he always pretends to die.... (I try not to question him lol) He gives me that innovater vibe. It just sucks that with the lack of resources and opportunities, their potential can´t be seen by the rest of the world. These kids are thirsty for knowledge....
       But on another note I got a cold because of my suckish immune system. Like I can´t deal. But my "Mom" gave me tea. Like I might have to start calling her Mommy because she actually acts like my mother. This lady can COOK! Like YAAASSS! FRIJOLES GAME TOO STRONG! I añso have two brothers... one´s 17 and one´s 15....but they don´t talk to us... Their mom said it´s out of "respect." But at least I sort of have brothers...I`ve never had any.
      On the plus side... My stomach is still stable. Hopefully that lasts for the rest of the trip.

-Nellie :)

Jaleel is the best to be honest

To be honest, I don´t feel like I live in Boston anymore. Guatemala has truly become my home..for now at least.

Me and Isaac both have our alarms set for 6 and we always wake up before it goes off, but we wait for it to finally sound so we can take our shower. We leave our room with our towels in hand and seem to always have this coversation: ¨You wanna shower?¨ ¨Nah, you can go¨¨But do you want to¨..whoever showers first usually changes.

etcetera for now

president senay

hola, senay in guatemala. i dont know how to do capital letters and apostrophes points on this computer, so that is why its wierd. guatemala has been a great experience. i really like my home stay dad. we run together with our dog chevy. we also talk about politics at dinner, and one day after dinner we just talked for ours into the night after gemaers and our home stay mom left. its also wicked funny when they say a joke in spanish and evereyone laughs, then gemaers asks what they said.

there is this kid in san pedro that i buy fries from everyday. he is nice, but i feel bad cause he does  that because he doesnt go to school. and there are soo many child workers. my teacher told me its illegal, but nobody enforces it. lavelle says this country is not ready for a democacy, but i dont believe that an autocracy is the answer in any 3rd world nation. its sad thinking about the people who cannot pay for medicine and surgery in guatemala dont get the attemtion they need as opposed povery in the united states. im not a communist, but this counry needs a more socialistic outake on life. the lionshare of people and politicians here are leaning to the right, this only widens the huge gap between the rich and poor.


until next time 
senay yibrah

So far, my experiences in Guatemala have been largely positive. I have formed a great relationship with my Spanish tutor here, Elvia, and I have greatly improved my Spanish skills. I have participated in another way of life. However, my time here has also included three of the worst days of my life. It began with an upset stomach. This developed into a serious stomach sickness, and eventually into a fever of 102. I spent the next three days shivering under five blankets, alone in my room, while everyone else did whatever incredibly fun things they were doing. The fever was so bad that I began to get delirious. I believed that I was the last person alive on earth, and that I was also a ghost. To determine once and for all if this was true, I decided to hop in the shower, and see if the water passed through my body (makes sense right?). Anyway, that's how I ended up standing in the shower, fully clothed, with my shoes on. Thankfully I have since recovered my health and sanity. I'm having a great time, and I am freshly thankful for every healthy, able bodied moment.

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE

GUATEGUATEGUATEGUATE 

-an excerpt from Isaac Davenport's "GuateGuate"

So far my experience in Guatemala has been great. I have been recieving a great Spanish education. I have been being fed 3 meals daily. My homestay mother is nice, and my homestay partner is simpatico. I brought my camera to document my experience in ConstruCasa and other such things, and I am already on my 5th roll of film.

My sect of ConstruCasa (consisting of Uriel, Germaers, and I) have completed our first house. It is exciting to begin the week smashing blocks of cement with axes (in order to allow steel poles to fit through the blocks, to reinforce the house) to ending the week taking a photo of a solid-walled, fully-roofed building. Hopefully it will greatly improve the quality of life, as well as the health of Luis' family.

Tomorrow we are going swimming.

First Post

Guatemala is not what I expected. There's tons of stray, starving dogs that we aren't allowed to feed. Haggling is exciting and stressful at the same time. People here are so different than in Massachusetts. When walking down the street, people actually say hi and smile. The only detraction to this is that everyone walks extremely slow. I love all the color and character in Antigua - the fabrics, houses, tiendas. Stuff here is so cheap - I love it. Except that everything I love to eat is gone. There's rarely any milk here, and when there is it's either powdered or goat's. I really like my teacher at Sevilla and my students at San Pedro. All my second graders actually seem to like me. Anyways, I gotta go and sleep (this trip is extremely exhausting). Bye.

After about a week in Guatemala

So far this trip has been  great. It is so different from my life in America. I actually eat a full breakfast every morning. I wake up everday with wonderful food to start my day and have conversation with my house mother. Then I have been teaching the little kids in San Pedro. These kids are amazing. They pick everything up so fast and are very cute.Our night activites were also cool. Yesterday we saw somebody set on fire as a tradition they have here. I am enjoying my stay and hopefully I will blog again.  

THE LITTLE KIDS THOUGH

The little kids that are here are so cute. I just want to wrap them up and take them home. My little friends in my second class tried to get me to dance with them the other day. I attempted it, but Zumba is not my thing, I guess. It rains a lot here. It always seems to start around 3:30. I really miss home, but I also really enjoy it here. The only thing I don´t really enjoy is the constant cat-calling. SO ANNOYING. GO AWAY.
-Elizabeth O

Nine Days In Guatemala

   After my first nine days in Guatemala I have fallen in love with Antigua. Travelling to Guatemala for my third time is completely different than the past two times with my family. Nine days ago I was not incredibly close with most of my classmates here, but living with people for 216 hours has changed a lot of things. I have been able to bond with a lot of people that I thought I would never have gotten along with. As far as immersion goes, I can no longer speak english correctly. After spending atleast eight hours a day speaking in spanish, I quickly make mistakes when I switch back to English. I love my home stay family, my teacher at Sevilla, and of course my 6th graders at San Pedro. Everyone here is so much happier, although they have so much less, it is amazing to witness coming from a country with a culuture of mental health issues and constant complaining. I can't wait to see more of the country and I'm sure it will be great!

Life in Guatemala has been great so far. Completely different from life back home, although sometimes I forget I'm in another country. Being here has taught me a lot, and allowed me to look at things differently. I've learned to appreciate things a lot more. Not having internet access really opened my eyes to how fun cards can be, and how conversation has much more value than I thought. ConstruCasa is amazing as well. The first couple days were the most manual labor I have ever done, and as days went on the actual construction was left to Luis and Oscar, two wonderful, patient and hardworking guys. I love how much healthier I am eating here. Back home I never would have thought that I would be eating this many vegetables and fruits. It really hits me that I am in a third world country when I find things like catching rain drops and throwing rocks in holes fun. I usually can resort to my phone or computer, but here my imagination expands due to my limitations on resources. It's ok though, I actually enjoy this feeling and am happy that I am able to experience this. If I were to write all my thoughts, experiences and feelings, I would be here all day. Hopefully I am able to lose some weight by the time I get home. Until next time.

-Uriel

Weather here is unstable, however it is better than the boston. there's a lot of rain here and lots of thunder and lightning. the favorable weather is only complimented by the polite and geniune people in guatemala, another thing i find to be rare in the united states, people just seem nicer. Guatemala reminds me of Jamaica especially with the beautiful view of mountains and hills. everything is also cheaper here so my wallet has been happy about that

However the need for water has been amplified in guatemala. i've found myself getting headaches due to dehydration. but most likely the worst of the negatives is the water. consume the slightest bit of tap water and youll find yourself sprinting to the bathroom. i thought it was funny when the chaperones talked about being cautious with water, but let me tell you it a force to be reckoned with. do not underestimate the power of the stomach aches followed by diarhea, it can break your day

I'm in construcasa, and after a week of working with the gentlemen at the site i have observed how resourceful, strong, and intelligent these people are. i only hope that everything went well with the house and that Jesus' family is safe