Whenever people talk about how their semester-long study abroad has changed their perspective, I find it a little hard to believe. Yet our month abroad in Guatemala and Belize has changed more than just my perspective, it truly changed my life. From my lovely homestay mom who showed my whole group nothing but generosity and genuine kindness, to the beauty of nature I got to see every day on my way to Casa Herrera. I don’t think many people can say that they saw volcanoes on the way to class! Also, learning about the resilience of the Maya community was inspiring, and this whole trip really made me question a lot of aspects of travelling and tourism that I hadn’t really thought of before. It was hard to just pick one picture for this trip, but I had to go with an image of volcanoes from Lake Atitlan. This image was taken on a rainy evening walk, where a classmate and I got to watch the sunset beautifully like we had never seen it before. Pictures don’t do this scenic view justice, and the actual moment will remain engrained in my memories. Memories made with new friends, experiencing new things. This trip has given me a newfound appreciation for life that I will carry with me for years to come.
