Leaving Guatemala and Belize was an incredibly bittersweet experience. Don’t get me wrong, I was excited to be able to drink tap water and have working amenities like constant electricity, but the experiences I’ve had in Latin America were some of the most transformative of my life. The people I’ve met, the history I’ve learned, and the opportunities I’ve lived while abroad were eye opening in terms of being culturally aware and undergoing extraordinary personal growth.
The Maya, both the modern people and their ancient ancestors, have shaped the way I look at life. I’m leaving feeling much more in tune with nature, more appreciative of the simple things, and more spiritual. After visiting ancient sites, particularly Tikal, I feel small, in a good way! I feel like I need to love more and worry less. My patience has grown, and I try not to sweat the small stuff. All the little complications seem useless to stress about.
Even though I will cherish the experiences I had, the people I met will be what I remember most of all. The people I shared my experiences with will be forever friends. They supported me when I was feeling home sick, talked me through culture shock, and made every multi-hour van ride fly by!
However, the women of Guatemala were the most inspirational of all. Coming into the trip I expected to experience stronger gender roles, and frankly more soft-spoken women. That was simply not the case. Many of the women I met in Guatemala were strong entrepreneurs, active mothers, quick learners, progressive thinkers, and feminists. I was consistently shocked by their adaptability and resilience towards both personal and cultural obstacles. I’m leaving feeling empowered by the women I met, and more confident than ever that women can truly do it all.
Overall, I wouldn’t trade my trip to Guatemala and Belize for the world. I’m leaving as a more patient, well rounded, adaptable, culturally aware person than when I started.
