EIL Intercultural Learning

¡Hola de Guatemala!

Apologies for the delay in getting my first blog posted but things have been so busy here over the past few weeks.  I didn't want to have to  write in a rush so decided to wait until I had some time and energy to write with ease.  I'm now on my fourth week here but I'm gonna take you right back to the start where it all began...

Wow its hard to believe how fast time is flying by! It really doesn't feel like I'm half way through my time here already! My experience here in Guatemala so far has been far from a straight line, and I'm pretty sure it will continue to have as many twists and turns as do the windy roads that I travel here every day aboard a jam-packed camionetta. Since thge week before my depart my mind has been a constant  carnival, with my emotions racing up and down on a never ceasing roller-coaster. I have days joyfully filled with excitment and  wonder, and others ridden with countless anxieties and fears of the unknown.

I've always had a desir e  to learn about the ways of different cultures, and love sharing with others the things I know and do, so for me winning this travel award was an amazing opportunity. I am only 18 though, and have travelled afar before, so while the idea of spending two months half way around the world from everyone and everything I know  was envigorating it was also pretty daunting! Alas I'm here now and with both the good and bad included, it is proving to be one hell of a learning experience!

The journey from Ireland was a long one, and a time-change at each of the airports I passed through left me pretty tired and just a tad disorientated on arrival in Gautemala city! Aside from a flicker of panic  that I might miss my connectiuon as I stood in an extremely long queue in Chicago airport (before being frisked by a very serious-looking woman), my journey passed by without problem. I have heard some quite unnerving travel horror stories  and was a bit nervous about travelling so far on my own for the first time, so boy was I delighted to see my big red rucksack sitting waiting for me on the conveyor belt when I arrived in Guatemala airport! A vivid memory of mine is of the moment I stepped outside the airport doors. My body was weary with he weight of luggage and my mind was exhausted from trying to stay semi-alert through the 20 hours of travelling that had gone before me. I heard them before I saw them....a crowd of buzzing bodies behind a little barrier, frantically calling names and waving make-shift signs about in the air. An airport official casually approached a disorientated-looking me and asked did I want to use his phone to call somebody-but all that I wanted to do  was drop my bags for a wee minute and gather up the contents of my catteres brain! A second later I spotted my name floating amongst the  crowd and made my way towa rd s it. I was met with a smile  by my local coordinater, ALex, who informed me of a few practical bits and bobs on th e twenty minute drive to Santo Tomas, the town where  I now live with my host-family.

The next day , somewhat recooperated, I met Gloria from INLEX, who informed my that there was a slight problem in that my original volunteer prject had been called off  due to some political reason, but not to worry as we were on our way to  visit two other possible projects right that minute. No delay getting right into it here anyway! After visiting the projects I was brought to see the language school where I met a couple of other volunteers, followed by a drive through tour of Antigua accompanied by the names of all the towns on the way there! To tell the truth my first few days here  were really a total  information overload, but it was all part of learning the ropes and finding my feet!

I have babbled on a bit too much now and have run out of time as its getting dark and I must scoot on home.  I will continue very soon I promise! 

Adios amigos!