In 2020 I was set to have the best travel year of my life. Obviously it didn’t happen… however, I would like to reflect on the life-changing trip I snuck in just before the pandemic and how extremely grateful I am that I got to experience another country before COVID struck.
In September of 2019, I went with a group of my coworkers to Guatemala with an organization called Medical Teams International (MTI). I had never traveled very far outside the country except to bordering countries. Canada hardly counts since the maple leaf country is in my backyard. Traveling to a distant place isn’t new to me though… I’ve traveled to Hawaii several times, taken a week-long family cruise to Alaska and even a small two-night cruise to Mexico but nothing fully prepared me for my week-long trip to Guatemala.
The culture, the food, the cars, the countryside, the people…it was so much to take in.
My expectations weren’t elaborate. I wasn’t expecting a desert wasteland, nor was I expecting ancient ruins, or a tropical jungle. Guatemala felt surprisingly similar to home. Instead of the PNW dome-shaped snow capped mountains, the mountains there were pointy, hot, and active. Exactly what I imagined a volcano to look like. Guatemala’s countryside was decorated with lakes, beautiful valleys, and green lush forests. The landscape had so much depth and variety.
Our tour of Guatemala (mainly by bus) from Guatemala City, to Chicaman, to the village where we worked- San Sebastian Beleju, to Antigua, and back to Guatemala City. I couldn’t get enough of the views and the hillside village where we spent the majority of our time. We were there to partner with local MTI staff to install latrines and hand washing stations alongside some of the village contractors. Although our work was physically demanding and took a decent amount of time and focus; we were able to install a total of 20 latrines, benefiting 20 different families in the village.
They showed their appreciation by giving us a welcome ceremony, offering us food when we were in their homes, and at the end of the week in the village we received hugs and a few more verbal exchanges; we tried really hard to learn some of their language throughout the week. It was the most rewarding experience because we got to feel welcomed and loved by people so far away from our own home. We were able to experience firsthand their joy, their livelihoods, their homes, their food, and a glimpse into their beautiful Guatemalan culture.
My team left the trip feeling nothing but gratitude for the gift of travel. We were able to play tourists for a few days of the trip but the most special time was in the village immersing ourselves into another culture and way of living. It put our face-paced American lives into perspective and left us craving another opportunity to explore this glorious and diverse planet. Again, I am so thankful I was able to do this trip before the world shut down, before travel became limited to none, and my canceled trips became my new reality.
I haven’t lost hope for my next adventure and I hope, someday, to visit Guatemala again.
Where are you eager to travel? Have you ever been to Guatemala?
The Salty Exchange 