Thoughts on Guatemala

Below I've posted the "pre-trip paper" that I wrote for the directed study I did this semeter on Guatemalan culture. It elaborates on the ideas I put in my first post.

I’ve done the background work. I’ve read books and articles. I’ve talked to many people who are familiar with the area. I’ve made reservations. I’ve spent half a day in the eastern part of the country. And yet I know that there’s no way I can really know what I’m getting into. That being said, I certainly have guesses and visions of what my five months in Guatemala will be like.
I will be living in Queztaltenango, a city I imagine to be fairly large, cultural and colorful. I expect that the terrain surrounding the city will be mountainous and the weather warm but not too warm. I am excited and apprehensive about living with a host family. On one hand there’s no better way to get to know the locals and learn the language and culture. On the other hand living with a host family was by far the most difficult part of my time spent in Argentina. On this point I am consoled by two facts. One, the school I will be studying with seems to have a pretty thorough screening process for their host families. Two, unlike when I was a high school junior, the situation seems much more flexible and if something isn’t working out I’ll be in a position where I can change the situation.
I pause in my ramblings, my spiraling train of thought, and ask myself why am I going to Guatemala? What compelled me to pull this whole crazy trip together? In answer, there are so many reasons on so many levels. On the academic level, I’m motivated by the chance to smooth out my Spanish, learn about a new culture and explore the effects of tourism. On a personal level, I’m motivated by the chance to go some place where I’m completely out of my element. I know that this experience will offer me many opportunities to grow and I’m ready for that. I love the life I lead in Alaska, I mean love. I live in a beautiful state with unbelievable backcountry skiing at my fingertips. I have amazing friends and an amazing boyfriend. I couldn’t ask for a better job. I find school interesting and enjoy being a student. And yet, like I said, I’m ready for a change. I’m ready for something that will make me step outside of the comfort circle and compel me to grow. For me, going to Guatemala is that step outside of the comfort circle. And an exciting step at that.
I’m excited about being on my own. I’m excited about meeting new people, both Guatemalans and other international travelers like myself. I’m excited to get to know the kids in the elementary school where I will be volunteering. I’m excited about attending the language school. It’s pretty much been a life-long dream to learn Spanish fluently. I see this trip as my opportunity to do that. One of the most amazing things about this trip is the balance between work and play. I definitely will be putting a lot of energy into my volunteer work and schoolwork. But I will also have plenty of opportunity to relax and have fun. I can’t wait to go to Antigua for semana santa, visit Tikal, hike a volcano and go on many other excursions. Just picturing myself walking through the market in Queztaltenango makes me smile.
I’m sitting here in Anchorage and I have just written what I imagine the next six months of my life will be like. I really wonder what I’ll think when I reread this at the end of my time in Central America… when Guatemala will no longer be my future but rather be my past. The phrase “only time will tell” certainly does apply. And yet, even though I don’t know what will happen, I’m completely confident that whatever does happen will be wonderful.