No Leaving it Behind

I have come to the expected moments that everyone seems to experience while abroad. I have begun to panic just a little, for the fact that I only have just over a month left here and I feel like there is so much left still to experience and accomplish. I want to keep learning and using Spanish, I want to know more of Guatemala and see all there is to see, I want to continue learning as much about myself as I do every day here, I want to strengthen and build my friendships that I have made here. Then I step back and realize that everything I have had the opportunity to learn and in all of the ways I have grown, I will take this with me, there is no way to leave it behind.

As I sit in Café Baviera, my new favorite (with fantastic music), I simply want to take in all of the joys in life. It has so much to give and yet I too often find myself soaked up in everything I want to take that I cannot find. Changing my lifestyle and surroundings here in Guatemala has definitely opened up my eyes to a greater world need – structural, economical, social, environmental, and the list continues. I may have thought I was not immune to the suffering and hardships of other people, which I don’t believe I ever was, but being surrounded by it for longer than just a short time, constantly being approached with empty hats asking for money, or having adorable little girls and boys come up to me on the streets trying to sell bracelets and candy, really touches my heart. The feeling of helplessness overwhelms me, and the best I can do for them at that moment is look into their eyes and give them a genuinely loving look from inside.

Continuing with our group excursions, we travelled to El Salvador for the long weekend of March 10-14th. The first night on our way there we visited Rafael Landivar University in Guatemala City. They put on a program for us where we learned about the Mayan calendar cycle and social practices in everyday life; saw a short drama performed by a few students, and Rafael Rosales (director of Las Cruces film about the internal conflict in Guatemala) presented a clip of his film. We then ate dinner at Frida’s, a nice Mexican restaurant.

The next morning we met with the Human Rights office of the Archbishop of Guatemala. We then went into the garage where Monseñor Gerardi was assassinated. Then we were off for our 6 hour trip to San Salvador, El Salvador. Once there we met with a professor of Pastoral Theology from the Jesuit University of Central America (UCA) about the pastoral reality of the preferential option for the poor today in El Salvador. For dinner we went up where there was a gorgeous lookout of the city, and feasted on some traditional El Salvadorian food of papoosas. Basically the best way to describe these would be like a pancake quesadilla with your choice of meat, beans, and cheese inside. Then back to our “hotel” for the night. I stayed in a room with 6 other girls, and had I known what it felt like to live in an orphanage, I’m pretty sure this would have felt the same. It was pretty funny, and the 7 of us couldn’t stop singing Annie songs the whole time we were there.

Friday, March 12th was the 33rd anniversary celebration of the martyrdom of Fr. Rutilio Grande and his companions. We participated in the pilgrimage to the place of “Las Tres Cruces,” where there was an Ecumenical Prayer said and we were part of the big procession. We then finished off the pilgrimage to Plaza Rutilio Grande in El Paisnal, where they had Mass and an offering of flowers. The weather is very warm and dry in El Salvador, as well as the sun being very intense. Needless to say, after a 1 ½ hour walk in the direct sunlight, we were hot and tired. The rest of the afternoon after we returned to San Salvador, we went to the mall to cool off and relax for a while (and of course get some ice cream). For dinner I tried calamari – very tasty, and a choco-banana shake, which I am going to be making a lot of when I return home.

Saturday we visited Divina Providencia, the site of Archbishop Romero’s murder. We toured the chapel where Romero was killed and toured the house he lived in. It was a moving experience, after having learned about all of Romero’s work for the poor of El Salvador, then imagining his murder in the church during mass. Lunch was at a place called Cooperative El Jicaro, a place of local development and eco-development and tourism. We dined on fish and shrimp. The next day we had a long, 10 hour bus-ride back to Xela.

Last week wasn’t anything too out of the ordinary for us, though St. Patrick’s Day was a good time. We went to a nearby bar/lounge where they served green beer and green jello-shots. There were a lot of “gringos” there, especially since Guatemalans really don’t celebrate St. Patty’s Day – when I ask them about it, most of them didn’t know it existed or had only heard about it.

This past Friday some of our group travelled to the highlands about an hour outside of Xela just outside of the village of Totonicapán to a nature preserve/community owned forest called Aprisca. It is an eco-tourism draw, and one of the few places in Guatemala where kids can come learn about the forest and nature. Molly, an alum of St. Ben’s is working there as part of the Peace Corp. I felt right at home there, like I stepped into the north woods of Minnesota – the fresh smell of pine trees brought me right back home. We also learned about herbs that are grown there and Mayan remedies. There were 8 of us that spent the night (there are a few cabins there). It was a really great, relaxing weekend. We had the chance to play some fun “camp games” like human knot, ninjas, and relay races. Of course we had a campfire and sing-along that night, and roasted some pink, strawberry-flavored bunny marshmallows (otherwise known as Angelitos here).

The morning brought another walk through the woods with some binoculars and a bird-book. Then a trip to the market in Totonicapán. Despite the number of times I have visited them, I remain overwhelmed at the markets here. Imagine a truck-full of plantains, piles upon piles of fresh fruits and vegetables (all sold for a very minimal price), fresh fish, seafood, and meats hanging for display – which leaves a disturbing smell in the air and me without an appetite for a while, barrels of dried beans and rice, and more. Then once we made our way inside, this is where they sell the brightly – colored indigenous clothing, shoes, pottery, and much more.

On Saturday we are off to the island of Roaton in Honduras for Holy Week! Bliss. Hopefully all goes well!!