This past J-term I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to study abroad in Antigua, Guatemala for three weeks. I decided to spend my winter break in Guatemala earning six credits for my Spanish minor and learning about Latin American culture with six other students from Towson University.
We each stayed with host families throughout our trip, attending a small Spanish language school weekday mornings and spending the afternoon experiencing the culture of the small, historic town with our Spanish-speaking teachers. We took walks through the open market, which sold everything you could possibly think of; we hiked to Cerro de la Cruz to overlook Antigua; and we visited neighboring towns to learn and experience indigenous Mayan ceremonies.
On the weekends we traveled to the Tikal Mayan ruins, Lake Atitlán, and Chichicastenango, the largest indigenous market in Central America, and saw the most beautiful sites and created the most unforgettable memories.
I could go on and on about how lucky I was to have the opportunity to visit Guatemala, I knew how lucky I was, but at the time I really missed my friends and family at home. I spent a lot of time alone in Antigua — against my nervous parent’s wishes (I’m alive, aren’t I?) — going on adventures around town by myself and riding around in a horse-carriage with a few friends and visiting the indigenous market after a refreshing run down the cobblestone streets, dodging motorcycles and Tuk-Tuks along the way.
Almost every night, the other students in my study abroad group went out to the bars while I stayed in or went out to explore by myself. Part of me regrets that I didn’t go experience the bar-scene in Antigua as much as I should have, but the other part of me realizes that I needed to create my own, personal experiences and find myself now that I finally had the chance to be completely alone and completely me. That meant no connections to my family and friends in America, and that brought on an eerie peace of mind that I crave every now and then.
After the trip, I was ecstatic to come home and see my best friends and my parents. I even drove back to Towson on the same night I came back to the U.S. so I could hug my friends and tell them all about my trip. Although, I soon found myself longing to be back in Guatemala, speaking my broken Spanish with my hilarious teachers and spending time with my caring, loving host family and walking the streets of Antigua alone and loving everything I walked past.
This trip, my first time alone and outside of the United States, has definitely had some side effects.
1. I miss my host family.
My host family was a dream come true! The mother, Amanda, was incredibly sweet and caring, she spoke to us in Spanish every day, she volunteered in town and at church multiple times a week, cooked delicious meals for us every day, and she cared for me for days when I was sick with an infection. I will never be able to thank her and her funny, sweet husband, Paco, for their hospitality, generosity and great spirits. Their three handsome sons were always nice and caring with big dreams and fun-loving personalities. Their home was so welcoming and cozy with such a positive attitude, and I am forever grateful to them for giving me such a positive environment for three weeks.
2. I miss the new friendships.
3. I miss the FOOD ... and drinks.
Side note: Bread is served with every meal!
MY GOD! The food in Guatemala was so good that I gained at least five pounds in three weeks. There was a café on every corner and multiple bars and restaurants on each street. Don’t let me forget about the amazing home-cooked meals we had for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will never forget the amazing black beans we ate almost every day! Yum!
4. You need the warm weather.
Ahhhh, beautiful.
If you decide to study abroad in a warm place during J-term, be ready for the massive disappointment when you come back home and the temperature is below freezing. Imagine going from sunny 75-degree days with no rain or humidity to snowy, 20-degree weather every day. It takes some adjusting, and I am so, so, so happy that it's summer again.
5. I miss the culture and overall spirit.
I love America. I love, love, love Towson and Baltimore and Maryland. Buuuuuut, the people in Antigua were some of the nicest people that I have ever met. Everybody had a smile on their face — no matter what! Next to America, Guatemala is considered a poor, developing country, and yes, I saw a few disheartening sights — people sleeping in the main plaza and children selling cigarettes and candy in the street. BUT, I’ve seen the same thing in Washington D.C., the difference is that in America nobody has a smile on their face whether they are rich or poor. In Antigua, Tikal, Atitlán and Chichicastenango, everybody at least seemed happy and friendly.
6. And I miss the peace of mind.
Yeah, I was supposed to be studying and working hard, and I promise that I worked my butt off at school, but I also had a blast while learning, so it didn’t seem hard at all! Inside and outside of class, I felt a sense of freedom and peace of mind. I could talk to my teachers about whatever I wanted to ... well, anything I knew how to say. We spoke about things I would never talk to my professors about back home. I was able to explain political issues to my teachers and discuss controversial events in the United States, but we also talked about our favorite movies and our best friends. My classes were really only an hour of work and several hours of talking with my teachers, and I loved it. Outside of the classroom I was able to explore and clear my head and take in the utter beauty of my surroundings — the historic architecture and art, the volcanoes and mountains, the people and views.
7. You may return with a constant desire to travel.
I’ve lost track of the amount of times I’ve cried, “I miss Antigua,” and, “I miss Guatemala,” to everybody that has asked about my experience. I’ll admit that I have looked at flights and hostels in the area so I can return as soon as possible. Although I miss everything about Guatemala, I want to see more of the world! I have this new longing to travel everywhere, to experience different cultures all around the world.
Thank you to everybody that made this opportunity possible.
I know I’ll visit somewhere new very soon, but where do I go?
