T-Minus 52 Days!

     I have probably thought about this trip almost every day since I found out that I was going to Guatemala, so I have decided to start a count down! We will be headed out in 52 days! It seems like far from now but I'm sure time will fly by.
     Unfortunately, I haven't been able to attend recent pre-trip meetings due to prior engagements but I'm looking forward to the December 4th meeting! I have been trying to learn more about poverty in Guatemala on my own and came across this interesting article: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/country/home/tags/guatemala
     That article discusses the link between agriculture and poverty in Guatemala, which is strongly related to our trip! Farmers in Guatemala face many challenges relating to degradation of natural resources, rough terrain, and over-exploitation of land and water resources.
     The article also mentions the high rates of poverty "[i]n the ‘poverty belt' of the western plateau and the northern region, comprising the departments of Huehuetenango and Quiché (north-western region); San Marcos, Quetzaltenango, Sololá and Totonicapán (south-western region); and Alta Verapaz and Baja Verapaz (northern region)." I'm wondering what areas we will be spending time in and if they correspond to any of the areas mentioned in the article.
     I have never been to a developing country and am really looking forward to the culture shock that I will experience on this trip and am sure that I will be strongly affected even upon my return!

Meeting #2

• Introductions
• Recap of Pre-Trip Service
• Documentary: "Living On One Dollar"
• The movie will be screened again in College Park on Mon. 11/25 in Stamp (Prince George's Room) if you missed it!
• Synopsis from the website: The film follows the story of four young friends who set out to live on just one dollar a day for eight weeks in rural Guatemala. They battle hunger, parasites and the realization that there are no easy answers. Yet, the generosity and strength of Rosa, a 20 year old woman, and Chino, a 12 year old boy gives them resilient hope that there are effective ways to make a difference.
• Spanish Intro
• Que Hora Es (mock soap opera using basic Spanish vocab)
• Link to the review sheet 
• We will go over pronunciation & play Spanish charades next time!

To new beginnings...

Last Saturday, we went to Eco City Farms for our pre-trip service. Although the weather was actually pretty nice considering how freezing it was not too long ago (there you go again Maryland weather!), for some reason right when I got back I went straight to bed for a nap. I think I got a little bit sick. Thankfully it only lasted a couple of hours.

Despite how I felt after the trip, I had an awesome time at Eco City Farms. It was my first time going there and Christian, our guide for the day, was super cool! I got to mulch the soil around the plants so that the dirt wouldn't freeze over the winter.

Considering that I'm only eighteen years old, I felt pretty old when my back started hurting. It really put things in perspective - my parents love gardening and I usually don't help them out even when they ask... their backs must hurt a lot.

What I really found interesting during my time there was learning about how sustainable the farm was. The "mulch" that I put down was really just raked up leaves and branches - things that you can literally find outside your doorstep! I'm looking into a minor in sustainability, so this really related to my interests currently. I hope I get to visit again!

It was also really nice being able to work with the rest of my team members. Although the team dynamic is still in its baby steps (the awkward "hi... what's your name again?" moments), I feel already that we have such a diverse and dedicated team for this winter's Alternative Break.

I really am so excited to go to Guatemala. This already is shaping into a memorable experience... it's crazy to think that I'm only a freshman, and that an opportunity like this will only be the beginning of my college experience... and the year of 2014! What else could possibly be in store for me?

Sleeping ducks at the farm!

Pre-Trip Service

Team Guatemala had a great time at ECO City Farms in Edmonston, MD helping out with tasks such as mulching, turning and sifting compost piles, and digging a trench! Afterwards we got to take a very informative tour of the farm. It was a wonderful experience had by all!