Over the summer, a small group of Bluffton students, along with professor Emily Buckell, were able to travel to Guatemala for their cross-cultural experience. While in Guatemala, the students were given a glimpse of the culture through hikes, food, shopping and interacting with locals.
Audrey Hazelton
Hazelton showing earrings she bought from Guatemala.
“I rode on a motorcycle for the first time. They ride a lot of motorcycles over there because they can go around cars. Their traffic is super heavy so if you’re on a motorcycle, you’re allowed to go on the shoulder and pass everyone. Their traffic is crazy. The roads are similar to ours, but the rules of the road are way different there. I was thinking about it a lot. The cars will get super close to pedestrians. There are usually never any sidewalks so motorcycles and stuff will get super close to you. You just have to run across the street as fast as you can to cross. Especially in the villages, there are these super narrow roads and never any sidewalks. Since there are no sidewalks people are always hanging around in the street. There are also no big yards there. Cars have to weave in between a million pedestrians.”
Evan Burden
Bag of coffee, purchased in Guatemala by Evan Burden.
“One of my favorite memories from our trip was when we traveled to Lake Atitlan, and we got to hike up to the mountaintop overlook. We got a ride in a tuk-tuk (a three-wheeled vehicle used as a taxi) on our experience. Then we got to do four different co-ops. One being a honey co-op, a textile co-op, a chocolate co-op, e co-op. Then we got to try some honey and coffee,
Evan Burden holding coffee that he got from the coffee co-op.
and try weaving. We got to see how the products are made and how those people interact in their villages. They’re trying to keep their money in their village. They support the other families living in the village. It was a super cool thing to see and experience seeing as it’s a lot different than how life here in the US is. It was just a really great trip.”
Liz Deal
Liz Deal models a headband she got while in Guatemala.
“I really enjoyed going and touring the different places and the different things that we did. I kind of like how spontaneous the trip was. We didn’t know what was coming next, and it was kind of great. I would check the itinerary and see what’s coming up next and then I didn’t know what any of it said. It would say something and I don’t know where I’m going, but that’s fine. It was kind of nice to let that adventure happen. They honestly don’t know what’s coming next, either. Saturday we were supposed to do this, but then things would get changed. I think that was great to step out of my normal of what I am doing next. I have a list of what needs to come next and being able to just sit back and relax and trust that we’re going to be in safe hands. Being able to let go and go on adventures was kind of nice. ”
Adam Shanaman
Adam Shanaman showing the necklace and hat he purchased while in Guatemala.
“I’d say probably the most impactful memory that I have from the trip is when we got to visit Wilmar’s village. We got to meet his family and share a meal with them. They had genuine hospitality, and I’ve never felt more welcomed anywhere in my entire life. We were only there for maybe a little over an hour. While we ate lunch with them we talked a little bit. His dad had said that anytime we’re back in Guatemala we have a place to stay, we have a home with them. They made us a delicious soup that had both cow and chicken in
Close-up photo of Shanaman’s hat purchased in Guatemala.
it as well as vegetables that they had grown. They were just really willing to go above and beyond. Wilmar has a really large family so you know putting up that soup was probably not an easy thing to do. You could really see God work in their hearts and through their lives.”
Laura Irwin
Laura Irwin wearing earrings she purchased while in Guatemala.
“My favorite memory was definitely when we went to a cloud forest. In that cloud forest were a lot of different aspects of nature that I’ve never really seen before, which was truly amazing to see. There was a cave, a volcano, a rainforest and all that stuff. The best part was when we got to actually jump into this stream, it was about 50°(F). We all apparently brought bathing suits just for the right reason because we all went right into that stream. The tour guide thought we’d only last 10 minutes, but we were there for around 30 minutes in this freezing cold water. Adam
Close up of a pair of shorts Irwin purchased in Guatemala.
Shanaman had to wear the guide’s shorts because he didn’t bring any swim trunks. He had on like 50-year-old swim trunks and was swimming with us. It was really awkward, but it was great because we were all just looking like these crazy American tourists in the water. The [local] woman who was with us was completely blown out of her mind. That was one of my favorite memories .”
