I have been back home for a day now and it feels so strange to be back to “normal” life. I had so many amazing experiences while in Guatemala and Belize, especially during the past few days in Caye Caulker!
However my favorite experiences were the ones I shared with the people I met along the way. I loved eating meals with my homestay family and getting to know them over delicious, homecooked food. Doña Lucky and Don Jose are some of the kindest and most loving people I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet.
I loved meeting the guides and locals throughout the trip. It was incredibly powerful to learn about the work of the women at the Casa Flor Ixcaco and San Antonio Village co-ops. They are all dedicated and knowledgeable about the work they do, from dyeing thread to making tortillas! It was also incredibly meaningful to learn about stories or traditions I would have otherwise never have known, such as how the Civil War affected the town of Santiago Atitlan as well as all of Guatemala. It is very humbling to hear about the lives of people from another place/culture and I am very grateful to all of them for being willing to share their stories with us
This was my last class as a UT student and it was the perfect end to my undergraduate career. I encourage everyone, including graduating seniors, to study abroad! I know I will look back at my time in Guatemala and Belize with profound happiness. I am so glad I’ll be able to start life as a Texas Ex with more understanding and empathy towards the people and world around me.