This is a guest blog post from our student social media ambassador, Kaela. Currently studying abroad on the semester program, “New Activisms, Human Rights and Social Justice” that travels to Guatemala and Costa Rica.
In just two weeks, Guatemala has shocked, intrigued, and challenged me through its history, culture, and community. From the moment I stepped out of the airport, I was struck by the crowds of people with noisemakers, balloons, and excitement to welcome their families home.
Before arriving in Guatemala, one of my biggest fears was feeling lonely in a new place, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and a different culture. I worried about how I would fit in, if I’d make connections or if the language barriers would isolate me. But those fears quickly faded once I met my group. During our orientation week inside our hostel, we bonded over our shared fears of the amount of travel, our language understanding, and whether we packed the right things. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming, and there’s this unspoken understanding among us that we’re all in this together. Whether one of us wants to get a coffee or study in a new location, the sense of friendship and community is undeniable.
This past summer, I had an internship in a museum. So, when our first week consisted of visiting several museums throughout the city, I was excited! We visited the Miraflores Museum to learn about ancient Mayan civilization, the “Art, Nature, and Women: Ecofeminist views from Guatemala” exhibit at the Centro Cultural de España, and Casa de la Memoria to learn Guatemala’s history interactivly. My favorite was the ecofeminism exhibit at Centro Cultural de España. I loved seeing how each piece told a story of resistance and beauty. I also enjoyed learning about Guatemala’s history at Casa de la Memoria. The museum featured different rooms telling parts of Guatemala’s history. The rooms felt like I was actually stepping into that part of history. It was such a unique and emotional way of understanding Guatemala. Our time spent in Guatemala City was the perfect start to understanding the history and cultural landscape of the country before entering Spanish school and homestays in Xela. I’m so excited to see where this semester will lead us!
