Our Last Day—Panajachel, and Reflections on Sustainability

Today, our group woke up to the sounds and chilly dampness of the nature outside of our tents. As the cold shocked us into ourselves, we (or at least I) began to feel the supreme surrealness of our trip coming to a close. We have learned so much, so many powerful things, during our stay in Guatemala, and it seems strange that in 24 hours, this environment will be exchanged for the one of College Park (which, admittedly, will also be one of intense learning ).

In the morning, we had our last breakfast of beans, eggs, and tortillas. We then split up, some of us heading up a trail to go zip-lining, and others of us heading into Panajachel to do some shopping. Both options allowed for us to take in the breathtaking beauty of the environment in and around Panajachel. By noon-ish, we met back up at the Reserve and had a quick lunch before deciding to do more shopping. After shopping was over, we hopped onto the bus with Fidel and settled in for a 3-hour drive back to Antigua, where we are spending the night. Fortunately, the relaxed events of the day allowed us time to reflect on our experiences here, and the knowledge that we have been empowered with.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the more we have learned about the issue of sustainable development, the more questions we have about it. But in the interests of imparting knowledge, here is what we have learned:

1. As a term, Sustainable Development can be viewed as an oxymoron. Development itself requires environmental resources and human labor, and therefore requires that a footprint be made on the environmental and social state of our world. It cannot be sustained indefinitely, because resources are finite. Perhaps a more accurate term for SD would be ‘green development’ or ‘ethical development.’ But perhaps also, we shouldn’t get hung up on the term—maybe we should just focus on what it means, which is, presumably, development which is 1) economically viable, 2) socially just, and 3) environmentally aware.

2. Development occurs contextually. There are always people involved, and people themselves are steeped in their own cultures and histories. To be conscious of the needs of people as it ties into SD, it is necessary to understand how these people have been shaped by their social and political climates. For example, when Carlos, Los Andes’ resident medical practitioner, sought to introduce family planning practices to the community of workers at the reserve to lessen the economic burdens of individual families, he had to be understanding of the cultural resistance his efforts were to be met with. Though acceptance of FP practices was slow-going because of religious and cultural norms, Carlos’ sensitivity only strengthened the bonds he had with community members; and after some time, many community members began to adopt FP practices.

3. Development involves power and privilege. The goods and services that are made available to the privileged in and outside of our society are inextricably linked to the less privileged members of our national and global communities. Every material thing we touch, has been touched by someone else—its maker--who most likely does not have the same rights and privileges as the average consumer. This concept has been most powerfully illustrated by our experiences at Los Andes, where we have been exposed to the human component of the soon-to-be coffee in our cups. Being culturally immersed in a community that makes a product which is shipped around the world and consumed en masse has made us think about the human politics and circumstances behind not just coffee, but every product that we consume. Where do we arrive to from this thinking? To the knowledge that WE ARE ALL INTERCONNECTED, regardless of how isolated from one another we may seem. There is a person behind the words “Made in China,” even if they are invisible to us. Acknowledging this interconnectedness seems to be the first step on the path of promoting justice for workers, and thus SD, because it requires us to view the oppression and hardships of others in terms of our own privilege. It requires us to leave our individualism on the shelf.

4. Privilege brings with it certain ethical responsibilities. Alberto explained that with privilege comes the duty to understand the social, economic, and political circumstances surrounding every object that we own. Once we gain an understanding of these, it is our duty to act against oppressive circumstances, because we are the ones with the power. Alberto gave the example of relative cost in terms of the retailer/consumer dynamic. While a consumer (say, in the Antigua market) can buy whatever he or she wants, he explained, for a poor retailer, there is much less choice involved. If he or she does not sell his or her products, he or she must suffer the result. Same thing with coffee: while we as consumers get to choose whether or not to buy coffee, the person working in the fields depends on the coffee he or she picks to support his or her livelihood. Sometimes, this lack of choice results in exploitation and oppression that is invisible to us on the consumer end. But just because it is invisible, does not mean that we are not inextricably linked to the circumstances that surround the production of what we buy. Only when we begin to see other’s oppression in the light of our own lives (and our own material possessions), does it become much easier to see the importance of acting against this oppression. So, our task as privileged individuals is to EDUCATE OURSELVES about social, political, and economical circumstances surrounding production—and not just blindly consume.

5. SD, when seen in the context of community service, requires that the human component be realized and respected. Meaning, service should only be done in a way which completely involves the community being served and community members’ particular needs (as defined by community members). If service is not done in this way, and is instead the projection of what some people (namely, outsiders) think a community needs, it risks being viewed as paternalistic and may not be sustainable. Why not sustainable? Because the objective of social change in a community is to have the PEOPLE in a community have the power to execute the change. If change is performed entirely with thoughts and resources (material and otherwise) from the outside, the locus of power does not exist within the community itself. This creates dependencies that are counter-intuitive to any change being able to be ethically sustained for a long period of time.

6. Our society’s need for instant gratification is fatal to social change. We discussed this on our trip, and it is true: when you think of all of the roadblocks (structural and otherwise) that inhibit social change, it is very easy to get overwhelmed by the impossibility of it all. It is easy to ask, how can I make a difference when the majority of American’s balk at the suggestion of raised taxes? But, no matter how powerful structural forces may be, individuals (and organized groups) DO HAVE THE POWER TO ACHIEVE SOCIAL CHANGE. Think of Gandhi’s paradox: Nothing you do matters; yet, everything you do matters. When we think of social change as something that has to take place within our lifetime, it becomes very easy to think of all the obstacles to it and get disillusioned. So instead, perhaps we must consider it as an on-going process; and if oppression still exists as we are on our deathbeds, it is still possible for our actions to make a difference after we die. Maybe we have to have faith in gradual change. Maybe we have to believe in the power of changing just one mind, and that mind changing another, and so on. And as Elizabeth eloquently put it, we must certainly have faith in the power of grassroots organizing. It is possible for change to be achieved from the bottom-up.

So…POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Here are just a few things that we can do.

-Pick an issue you care about, and devote you r life to that issue. Change takes work (just think of the work that Olga and Jaime have had to do), and work takes caring. Believe in the seemingly small strides you make as having a place in a larger, long-term shift towards progress. Think of all the progress that has already been made, and how impossible it must have seemed at one point (e.g. the abolishment of slavery, desegregation, voting rights, women’s rights). Progress is possible—it just takes time!

-Contact your representatives. If they receive a certain number of letters (10?) on just one issue, they are required to give a certain amount of attention to that issue. Though our representatives may seem removed from us, WE HAVE THE POWER to reduce this remove IF we choose CARING over apathy. Let’s believe that we have power to care--and let’s not choose the powerlessness of apathy. Just think of all the immoral things that are allowed to happen when people get apathetic!

-Educate yourself. Learn how our lives are inextricably connected to the lives of others, and how one person’s oppression is the oppression of us all. That exploited garment industry worker who lives 5,000 miles away? She is the reason we have the privilege to buy our $10 Old Navy t-shirts. That underpaid field worker who is deducted pay for taking a day off of work for a relative’s funeral? He is the reason we have the privilege of buying a $2 cup of coffee. The oppression of others is inextricably linked to our privilege. Though we have strayed from the transparent household economy, we ARE connected!

-Reach out to others. Reduce us-and-themism. See the humanity in other people, and other cultures; and see their experiences as having to do with your own. Fight the overt individualism and isolation of American culture.

These words are not coming from my mouth—they came from all of us over the course of 10 days as we were coming up with ways to fight injustice in our communities and the world. As someone eloquently put it during our discussions, we were able to remove ourselves from our culture enough to gain some perspective on things—and this defamiliarization, combined with reaching out to another culture, combined with the power of 13 active minds, allowed us to arrive at many great thoughts and ideas. There IS power in each of us!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Today we woke up for our last breakfast on Los Andes. During this time we presented our ‘thank you’ gifts to Olga, Vilma, and the tres cooks. After breakfast we took a walk across the soccer field to the local store. Previously in the week we had learned about how the store is operated. At the store we all purchased some tea and coffee that had been picked on the reserve. Then we went to visit the playground one last time. The kids were running around the yard and still looked as happy as they did when it first opened. We took this time to individually reflect on the accomplishments and experiences we have had over the past few days. Before we said our final good byes, we got the chance to see how the locals on the reserve really live. Vilma took us to three houses where we saw the pillas (where they wash clothes), the kitchen, and the living rooms. It was surprising to find out that about 6 people lived in such a small space. However, I think it is important that we had the opportunity to see how people on Los Andes live. Finally, we said adios and packed the van for a 3 hour ride to Panajachal. On the way, we stopped at a less touristy location to pick up some riggaetone CDs from the market. Over the past week we have tried to immerse ourselves in the culture any way we can, including listening to music. As soon as we arrived to the nature reserve at Panajachel, we talked to Alberto about Sustainable Development. He made us consider what Sustainable Development really means and brought up the point that the phrase actually contradicts itself. Many of us had not really thought about Sustainable Development as a contradiction prior to this discussion. Most of us were surprised at what he had to say because it really had us thinking in a way in which we had not before. After our long talk, we took our luggage to our nearby camp site where 5 tents had been set up for us. We then reflected on our experience at Los Andes and discussed various privileges in comparison to what we thought about the term before this trip. We enjoyed another traditional Guatemalan dinner after we had worked up an appetite during reflection. After dinner, we proceeded to the camp fire and continued to bond with each other. It was a nice way to relax after all the hard work we had put into our service project.

-Emily and Rachel

Maturity Matters

The seventh day of our trip, the fourth day of service, has come to an end. Today, we experienced another layer of sustainability that drives Los Andes in between intensely productive work sessions. Every morning, our team leaders greet us with more excitement and openness than the previous morning. With their encouragement we’ve finished the fence, chipped off and repainted the entire outside and installed the slide, monkey bars, and swing set! We also completed the frame on which to secure the tin roof extension! Although scrapping the paint off of the outside of the house was frustrating and difficult at times, we got through it with Josue’s jokes, dancing to wonderfully uplifting Spanish music, and our dedication to our new found friends (our construction team leaders). When talking to my specific team leader (Mardoqueo), I learned that he, like many of his friends here, lives by himself in Los Andes. Mardoqueo, at 16, is not only able to cook and fend for himself, but also is the only member of his family who has secured source of income. The level of maturity in each of our team leaders is absolutely inspiring. After a few days of getting to know our team leaders, we’re all hoping to finish the planned work quickly so that we may be able to paint a colorful mural for the kids.

Today, we also explored the infrastructure that governs the main energy source as well as means of recycling in Los Andes. After our morning work session and a much needed lunch break, Jaime took us to see the compost center, where he introduced us to the hundreds of worms that work continuously to degrade left-overs from the Coffee factory into rich fertilizer which is supplied back to thousands of coffee and tea plants. In this way, the process of harvesting coffee cuts down on production costs because the Los Andes Nature Reserve has to spend less on fertilizer for their plants. Therefore, the success of the Reserve is not tied to the success of third party fertilizer suppliers. After a while at the compost centers we willingly hurried away from the piles of smelly fermenting coffee beans to a trail that led us to the hydroelectric plant which produces ALL of the energy for Los Andes. We stopped every so often as Jaime would explain the process of collecting spring water and directing it down the side of the volcano into the hydroelectric turbine and power generator. As an engineering student, I almost passed out at the actual sight of a system which I’ve only seen on paper and through calculations –don’t laugh but this was definitely an “I’m so glad I’m an engineer moment”. He explained that the system that they have so far is very effective in providing for all of their energy needs – but it comes at a pretty high price. As we made our way past the hydroelectric plant, we found ourselves on a trail back to the truck which would more rapidly transfer us back to our construction project.

When we got back to the construction site, we began chipping paint on the inside of a classroom so that it may be re-painted. We found that some of the wood was rotting, and that even Joey’s undeniable power combined with that of the machete was no match for the many layers of paint that coated the wooden walls. After a few more hours of intense work, we were all ready to head home for a shower, another delicious meal and some down time. Dinner, as usual, was chaotically delicious and filled with countless stories and lots of laughter.

After dinner, we listened to Jaime give a talk on conservation and the Los Andes Nature Reserve as an organization. He went into how much time, effort, vision, and planning went into growing the Reserve to what it is today. While there are smaller sources of income such as bird watching tours, their main source of revenue is the coffee and tea sales. Jaime and Olga have other jobs outside of the Reserve but have managed to translate so much of their vision to reality. The most astonishing thing about this Reserve is that, outside of taxes, it is completely independent of the national government. Before leaving for Guatemala, many of us had looked into the political climate of this country (among many other tid bits) and were expecting a country that was totally ridden with chaos and a people living in constant fear. Instead, we found a beautiful natural oasis away from the chaos and fear, where one family is single handedly guiding this community to sustainable and peaceful living.
So, looking back at today’s events, I can honestly say that one of the main themes that occurred to me was the utter maturity of not only the leaders of this town (who propose and help implement ideas of sustainable and ecologically friendly lifestyles), but that of the people themselves who fortify the vision of their leaders. I think we’ve all been inspired by this maturity to work hard to complete our service project and take the lessons that we’ve learned back home, and definitely, implement them in as many ways as possible.

PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY APOORVA <3

-Sindhu

This morning we gathered around the kitchen table at Casa Oliver in preparation for our last day of service at Los Andes. Wearing our matching AB shirts, we walked through the large gate, into the soccer field, past the playground and school to arrive at the service location for the last time. Our carpenters Mardoqueo, Pedro, Rudy, Damaris and Eliseo were gathered together finalizing plans and smiled at each of us when we walked through the doors. We immediately began scrapping paint off of the inner walls of the building adjacent to the playground lot with any tools we could find – scrapers, hammers, pliers, and machetes; some even used screwdrivers. The work was difficult but we all really wanted to finish as the inauguration of the playground at 4:30, leaving little time for work after lunch. For some reason, the job seemed more difficult than the paint removal we had been doing the previous days – perhaps we were all saddened knowing the final moments with our amazing new friends was fast approaching. Although the paint was not completely removed when we went to lunch, Josue assured us we would be able to paint at 4 when we came back in order to finish the job.

At lunch, we made cards for the carpenters we had been working with as well as a group card for Josue, their teacher. As I drew my card for Mardoqueo, I felt as though anything I would write would never be able to adequately describe how I felt about the experience we shared and our new friendship. I wrote, in Spanish, many thanks for an unforgettable experience.

We had our final talk from Velma about the women’s leadership in the community after lunch. Women are doing some amazing things in Los Andes; I was surprised to hear how easily Vilma and others came into their leadership roles after a bit of persuasion of the men. This truly seems like an amazing community full of equality and sustainability. By allowing women to take on leadership roles, the community appears to me to be even stronger than those I have seen in the United States. Promoting equality between the genders may have something to do with some of the successes the community is facing.

Our final walk to the job site was a quick one as we were excited and eager to finish painting before parents started showing up with their children to investigate the work we had done. Our painting was hurried and sloppy but we cleaned our mess as the carpenters put the final touches on the roof over the patio. I finished my section of the wall (there were not enough brushes for everyone) and walked outside to take one last look at our work when I heard my name being called. “Kristine!” (pronounced Kristine-aye by the kids). I was so surprised that they remembered who I was as we had only talked briefly through the fence. I went over and started talking with the kids through the fence as more and more started running over to say hi. All of the sudden, they figured out how to get inside and came pouting onto the playground. One after the other, all of the children slid down the slide over and over again laughing with joy the whole way. I sat in front of the end of the slide and got high fives, hugs and kisses from all of the children. It was at this moment that I recognized how amazing the relationships we had built in just 5 days really were. This project was about construction and working with the carpentry students to produce a sound structure but it was also about the community. We helped construct an area where all the kids can come and play safely for many years to come.

The kids were scooted out, however, as the playground was not officially open for business; the ceremony was needed first. At the inauguration ceremony, Sindhu and I gave Mardoqueo the cards we had made at lunch. I will never forget the look on his face at that moment. I don’t think I have ever seen a bigger smile – he didn’t put them down the whole night. Although we spoke different languages and had a bit of difficulty, this was one message that was received without misunderstanding.

At the end of the night, Mardoqueo called Sindhu and me over, with Elizabeth to translate, to explain to us what a great experience he had had working with the University of Maryland students. This meant a lot to me to know that he too enjoyed our relationship and appreciated our different cultures. He even said that he knew this experience would help him in the future. I had just been thinking the same thing moments before. It was gratifying to know that I was not the only one who appreciated the week and would miss my new friends. I can’t even put into words all of the new things that I had learned in such a short amount of time.

The playground was inaugurated when Genna, Josue and I cut the ribbon with safety scissors and the kids ran down to play. They viciously wacked away at a yellow hippo piñata to celebrate their new space after swinging, sliding and playing tag. After collecting all the candy they could carry, the kids went home with their parents while the carpenters and AB group, along with a few members of the community, sat down to talk about the future of the AB program at Los Andes. Many great projects were brought up by the community members but an outstanding idea of fixing up a place for the teenagers in Los Andes really stood out to all of us. The next AB group may already have a project in the works!

After sad goodbyes to our new friends, we returned to Casa Oliver to participate in a tortilla making contest. Since we had been eating tortillas for EVERY meal, everyday, we incorrectly assumed we would all be able to produce some quality food. We were very wrong. At least for most of us anyway – Joey made his into the shape of a Quetzal (Guatemala’s national bird) and almost won the competition! We had salsa dancing lessons from Josue and also were not so great at that either. We want to go dancing tomorrow in Panajachel to see what we have learned!

We made a book for reflection this evening and everyone drew a memorable experience on each page. The mood was somber as we realized that our time in Guatemala had almost come to an end. I now sit and wonder how I can describe everything I have learned from this community when I go back to College Park. It all seems so different now; waving hi to everyone that passes, talking to everyone with more than just small talk, hugging random children running down the road – this is nothing like where I live. But maybe, with 13 sets of newly widen eyes, College Park can begin to change into a more sustainable community of amigos. I think it can.

-Kristine

Earthquake Doesn't Shake AWBo -Guatemala'ers Resolve to Serve

Day six – our third day of service! So, through this blog, we are hoping to tie our day of service to the larger issue of our trip: sustainable development.

Right now there is an independently-run primary school based on an innovative method called “ERA” Escuela Rural Area—Rural Area School. Because there isn’t a large population and the community can’t afford to hire multiple teachers, they use this system—based on group learning—in which a teacher manages one classroom with multiple class levels.

Our thoughts…This community wouldn’t be sustainable without the current education system because (1) without the initiative of Los Andes education wouldn’t be possible due to the limited access – so families can stay in this area and educate their children, (2) Los Andes is educating their future workers. Education is not affordable for most residents of Los Andes – currently only three students are attending a university. Surprisingly, students are grouped together in the school system. If one student falls behind, the entire group does not progress – forcing students to work together and support each other. This system is very different from the U.S. Los Andes portrays a deeper collectivist attitude than what we are accustomed.

During Playground Construction: Day 3, we worked finished building and stained the fence, began construction of the sliding board and started chipping away the old and painting in the new! As always, we enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with our Guatemalan team leaders.

At the end of the day, we looked out on the ravine beyond the playground and were basically staring at clouds at eye-level. The earthquake earlier in the day; the exotic plants and flowers all around us. The beauty and newness of Guatemal heightens our sense of being alive. However, for the community this is normal. Back home we ourselves are not paying attention to these beautiful details around us. We hope to recognize them more when we return home.

As our journey continues – four days left- we can only hope that our sense of community involvement, and desire for social change does not end here in Guatemala. Hopefully, our drive continues as we head back to College Park where we can make our service sustainable.

Earthquake

There was an earthquake off of the coast of Guatemala this morning, but we are all okay!! Just a few shakes here in Los Andes. The Guatemalans were laughing at our reactions but it was awesome; very fun!!!

Dia Del Iglesia

We woke up to another delicious breakfast of plantains, salsa, beans, eggs and tortillas. Walking to the job site the weather was beautiful as ever. Day two of work led to better communication and corporation between the groups and student leaders. Damaris, the only female group leader, continued to be patient with our group's effort to communicate in Spanish. We were able to use the few words we knew to find out more about her interests (her dream job is a doctor, her favorite color is green and she has a black cat). Rudy also continued to be patient with our group-- groupo de marron! We had a few more setbacks in building the fence, but laughing at our mistakes when communicating was constant entertainment. I think my favorite communication glitch of the day was trying to tell Rudy that I saw a dog wearing glasses. I really saw a dog wearing glasses, no lies. He just gave me a blank stare. I continued trying to explain (using body language) that I saw this weird dog, but I believe he thinks I am a bit crazy. For those of you reading this blog, I'm guessing your siding with Rudy too!

After a succulent lunch with frutas and homemade guacamole (BEST IN THE WORLD) we made our way over to the community medical center. Considering its small size of only three rooms, the one doctor/nurse there (Carlos) seems to take great care of the community members. He shared with us that his favorite practice is delivering babies. However, this is occurring less and less due to family planning classes that have been implemented in recent years. Los Andes exemplifies healthy living and has a very low mal nutrition rate compared to the rest of Guatemala and also has a very similar life expectancy as the United States. All of the community members seem to have a very close bond to Carlos because he is so committed to their health and well being. He has been the only medical practitioner at Los Andes for the last 25 years. Carlos also chooses to use natural medicines such as herbs to treat his patients when applicable, which we found very interesting.

When we returned to our work station for the afternoon, refueled with knowledge and an amazing lunch, the sounds of Shakria and Lady Ga Ga (who would guess?) caused dancing among the AWB members. Again, I think our group leaders might get the impression we're crazy, but in a good way of course! Towards the end of our work session, when we were getting so close to finishing our fence but having a few technical difficulties, the slide and monkey bars for the playground were brought into the center of our work area. Seeing the actual pieces of the playground (surprising already built!) gave us new hope and motivation for completing our project. Now we can envision los ninos playing on the finished project, laughing and having a good time.

After work, we rushed over to a church service (la iglesia). When walking into the simple, but beautiful church, we over heard people singing from inside. Our initial impression was a very relaxing, spiritual atmosphere conveyed by the soft lighting of only a few candles at the altar. The priest greeted us upon entering and we sat among the other community members. The priest awakened us all with his powerful voice. Soon the church members came alive with joyful song and clapping. The lively singing was so inviting and we all wished we could join in. In contrast with the churches we've come accustom to in the United States, the members in the church seemed alive with passion and emotion. We could hear the soft sobs of many church members while singing their prayers to God.

Upon our arrival back to Casa Oliver, we feasted on dobladas, vegetable soup, pasta with pesto, and cinnamon apples for dessert. Our creative reflection activity involved us writing our own haiku, summarizing the activities and emotions of the day. The restrictive process of writing a haiku paralleled the struggles of communicating with a limited Spanish vocabulary. It was comforting to know many of the other AB member felt the same way. We were able to relate to each other and discuss our struggles in communicating with our team leaders. By the end of our discussion, it was agreed that without the patience of our team leaders, our relationships, growing daily, would not be a possibility.

Buenos Noches!

Sarita Edwards y Abril Coughlin

Communicating Without Words

Today was our first day of work! All of us awoke eager to get started on the project. Our first job was to build the fence surrounding the soon-to-be playground. Going into it, everyone was pretty nervous about the language barrier between them and their team leaders. The morning began slowly and quietly, but as we got to know our team leaders better, we all found that the language barrier was not an insurmountable challenge. Most of us relied on body language, trial and error and a lot of laughing. Any tension was easily cured by some good 'ol fashioned goofing around. It was a slow start to finding our groove with the building process. By the end of the day, we had constructed the entire frame of the fence and about 1/3 of the fence was complete. It seemed like we weren't progressing too quickly, but the team leaders were incredibly patient and diligent about getting it right. Our team obviously had the most important task because our end of the fence would prevent the small children from falling off the edge of a cliff. So, it's no wonder why we took the extra time to get it right :).

Before launching into the second half of the work day we had a discussion with the leaders of the Asociacion de Solidaridad (The Solidarity Association), which is essentially a savings and loan program by and for the community. Those community members who chose to be a part can save up to 5% of their salary. This is a huge accomplishment given that saving money was not previously possible or even thought about because of the patriachal structure on many farms around Guatemala. We were all very impressed at the organization and the community's committment and leadership to the program.

Then, we began our 2nd half of the work day...

As previous posts mentioned, we were split into teams of 2-3 AWBers and 1 team leader who is a student in the carpentry program at Los Andes. Our team leader was Pedro. All of us came into it not knowing anything about carpentry, but he was incredibly encouraging and motivated us to be hands-on with the project. Emily discovered that she is an absolutely amazing hammer-er (is that a word?) and Elizabeth found out that she's not so good at sawing - but we still have four days to perfect our carpentry skills...so watch out! All joking aside, it was especially amazing to all of us how enthusiastic the carpentry students/team leaders were and the immense amount of commitment and effort they had put into the project. They had been working on preparing for this project for the past two weeks and each morning, they start about 2-3 hours prior to us arriving on the scene.

Everyone in the group learned a great deal about cross-cultural interaction and service. Oftentimes, volunteer groups come in with the idea that they are going to greatly benefit the community, but really we end up learning more from the community in the end. This was clearly evident in the interaction with our team leaders. They had so much knowledge and experience to impart on us. Also, we learned a lot about what it means to be patient. Due to our lack of carpentry skills, all of us made many mistakes, however Pedro and all the team leaders were not necesarily focused on the efficiency of the project but rather the process of learning and, in the end, geting it right. During reflection tonight we wondered whether or not such patience would be displayed by people in the US if the roles were reversed. Ask yourself, if you had to teach somebody who doesnt't speak your language or know the same things you do, would you be as patient? We know we would not, and our intereactions with our team leaders have made us want to strive to follow their example.

One of the biggest things that we've learned today is that the product is only a part of the experience. So maybe the material outcome is not as important as the relationships and lessons that come out of the process. This is something that is not acknowledged as readily in American culture with efficiency and productivity as the goal which causes the benefits and rewards of the process to be overlooked.

- Emily G. and Elizabeth

Quetzales, Coffee, and Carpentry!

Today was the first full day on Los Andes. After breakfast and a short introduction to the reserve and the plantation, we took a hike around the northern part of the reserve on the slopes of the volcano. Our tour guide, Jesus, took us on a search for a Quetzal, the national bird of Guatemala. The bird is an endangered species of the area and also is the name of Guatemalan currency. We had several close encounters and even heard its call but unfortunately it remained hidden. According to Jesus, the best time to spot the Quetzal is during March and April when the babies are being hatched. Although it was pleasantly warm outside, we were shaded by the tall trees that inhabited the forest around us. When we finished our hike/tour of the reserve, we took a dangerously bumpy ride on the bed of a truck back to the central part of the reserve. Most of us immediately jumped into the icily refreshing pool to cool off. Many of us did leisurely activities, like badminton, hammock laying, and reading before lunch. Olga and her father then showed us how coffee is processed before export. We saw the fermenting, drying, and packaging processes. Some of us even got to take part in those processes. For instance, Brookes got to dump a wheel barrel full of dried coffee down a chute for further drying and packaging. About six others in the group got the chance to rake the drying beds. In order to keep an uniform consistency, the beans were raked every few hours. We were next introduced to the five carpenters in the community we were going to be working with on the project. Many of the carpenters have graduated their primary school and are ready to further their education. They have been working hard for the past two weeks to prepare the materials and plans for the project we are going to assisting them with. Our project is building a play ground which will be used for about 30 small children of families on the reserve. This will provide activities and a place where the kids will be watched while their families are working on the plantation during the day. We will be constructing a fence, reinforcing a roof and adding a slide and swing set. We were divided into 5 groups with one of the carpenters as the leader. We then spent some time getting to know our respective carpenters before we made our way back to the house. Before dinner we spent time playing badminton, ping pong and refreshing our Spanish! We realized that communicating with our carpenters would certainly present a challenge. After a filling dinner, we spent quite a while reflecting on our thoughts about what the coming week would bring. We look forward to working with and getting to know the carpenters and community of Los Andes on a more intimate level.
From-
Brookes and Emily

Day 2: End of Antigua/Beginning of Los Andes

So, today, January the 14th 2010, we awoke to a rooster-seriously. We meant to wake up at 7 a.m. but were actually fooled by the one hour time difference, therefore it was 6 a.m (coffee por favor). We ate a traditional Guatemalan meal made by Blanca, who works at Hostel 5--sidenote: $7 dorms, holler. It consisted of eggs, black beans, a sweet fried banana (i think it's called a plantain), and tortillas. After the lovely breakfast, we took a stroll down the cobblestone streets by the mountains and enjoyed the sunny weather (70 degrees, take that Maryland). Now, meet Fidel--the bus driver. He is supeourghb (Tara--is that how you spell it?) He drove us to the Casa de Popenoe, a reconstructed authentic Guatemalan house. The rooftop view was incredible. We learned the brief history of the original and the renovated building. Here comes the best part. MARKET! Yay. We were informed by Fidel to suggest 30% less than the original price before we made a bargain. All of this was done in Spanglish, and a calculator. No bueno. But, we made it happen, and we all left with about 500 less quatzales (Guatemalan currency). After a tiring but educational experience, we preceded to a local Guatemalan restaurante, needless to say we ate a lot. With full stomachs we decided to take a walk to a beautiful park in central Antigua. Fun Fact! People retire in Antigua because if they make more than $350 a month from outside of Guatemala, they can live there tax free. We were surprised to see very young girls walking around selling scarves. That's not something we were familiar with. Once our time in Antigua was up, we began the 3 hour trek to Los Andes. Oh, but before that, Genna attempted to pet a street perro and it was honestly the most terrified look we've ever seen from a dog--and the quickest escape. So, onward, the 3 hour drive consisted of driving up the side of a volcano, driving through water, rubber trees (they do exist), and many small villages. We received many stares from the Guatemalan people along the streets. Many seemed intrigued by the large van with unfamiliar looking people. As we drove closer to Los Andes, we saw women and their children walking along the streets barefoot carrying baskets of fruit and men with lumber on their backs. We noticed one teenage girl washing her dishes in a stream. This was yet another cultural difference that taught us more about the culture and made us appreciate all that we have (Thanks America). After a few attempts to find the correct route to Los Andes, we arrived and were immediately in awe of the house that we're staying in. The sun was setting as we drove up creating an ambiance beyond our imaginations. Needless to say, all thirteen of us were taking the same picture, multiple times. The house has a pool, volleyball net, 3 dogs (that like people), and space for us to enjoy. We got our room assignments, and hope everyone comes back in one piece. Before dinner we had reflection time with the group and we set up a few guidelines and expectations for our trip. Finally, when we were exhausted from talking we ate... again. We had broth, some veggies, arroz (rice), and multiple glasses of definitely caffinated iced tea. During our meal we let loose, out of exhaustion and caffiene, which led to prolonged laughter, tears of laughter (christine and tara), and more laughter. When that was over, we mistakenly thought we were done with activites for the night, but oh no. Christine and Genna had great plans for us. We talked about service and openly spoke about our experiences and opinions. Now, we are currently writing a blog, while others are playing cards. So, buenos noches.

Love,
Tara and Rachel

Day 1: Wednesday, January 13th, 2010. We're here!

Hello all!

After over 5 hours of flying and a 2-hour lay-over, we finally made it to Guatemala City! We were so excited to see the country's beautiful mountains (some volcanic ones) and colorful capitol city from the sky above. After landing and going through customs we ditched the airport for the balmy air outside. There, we had the pleasure of finally meeting Olga, our host at Los Andes, who gave us warm welcome and clued us in to the day's events. We also were introduced to Fidel, our awesome driver, who jokingly assured us that he was nothing like Cuba's Fidel. After some hearty laughs, we packed into our van and made our way to El Universidad Francisco Marroquin, where academic Luis Figueroa showed us around the Lienzo de Quauhquechollan exhibit and explained "Cortes the killer" and the conquest of Guatemala from an indigenous perspective. The talk was an enlightening one to say the least, and we were happy to get the chance to pick Luis' brain and admire the beautiful campus of Univ. San Marroquin.

We then got back into the van and the landscape outside changed dramatically. We were on our way to Antigua! and of course that meant getting out of Guatemala City first. Fidel expertly navigated us through the treacherous traffic and tricky streets (and through the city's poorest area, which was as heart-wrenching as you could imagine), and an hour later, we rolled into Antigua. We were stunned by the beauty of this post-colonial city. We were also completely happy with the prospect of getting pizza at Queso y Vino, seeing as our airport food had long since worn off. The food turned out to be almost as excellent as the company that was kept, and our round of Roses and Thorns wasn't so bad either--especially since it involved the infamous Lisardo popping in and joining us! We were happy to meet up with Joey's friend, who is a grad student at UMD and a native Guatemalan. The vibe was great and the conversations enlightening.

Now we're at the hostel ($7/night--woo!) and everyone except for me (Genna) is asleep. Tomorrow we will be going on a history tour in Antigua and stopping by the city's Handicraft Market--all before we make the 3-hour drive to Los Andes and crash there for the night.

Things are going great and we're all very excited! Stay tuned for updates as they come (which will be when we next have email access)!