It feels
weird writing about one day in particular. It’s crazy to think that it’s only
been a week since coming back from Guatemala, and yet all the memories and
experiences somewhat blur together. Even the gazillion mosquito bites that remind
me of the trip everyday are starting to fade away!
I don’t
think it really hit me that I was leaving Guatemala until we officially left
Los Andes on the bus. The majority of our stay in Guatemala was at Los Andes,
so when we were physically leaving our Guatemalan home, I finally realized that
the end of the trip (but not of the experience) was approaching us. Chelsea had
to leave a day early, which made it even more of a reality. Everyone had gotten
really close and it felt like there was a gaping hole that needed to be filled when
she left!
Even though Antigua
is beautiful, I think a lot of us would agree with me when I say that the
simplicity of Los Andes is even more beautiful. I think it’s because despite
the superficial aspects of the different places we stayed, ultimately, we
really connected with the people of Los Andes and I think that’s what we’re
going to remember years from now.
For our
final reflection – well, maybe it was just me – I remember it being a little
silent. I feel like no words really had to be spoken because we all shared the
same sobering thought that this was going to be our last night in Guatemala. Of
course, afterwards, we all were our usual, goofy selves - but I think our true
final reflection was more on an individual level than anything else.
Being back
at school, I feel like I’m still thinking about my time in Guatemala every day.
Just like Sarah and Chris said might happen, it’s hard to explain my
trip to my friends and family because I feel like they won’t comprehend the
entirety of the whole experience without every detail (and every inside joke).
Now, whenever someone asks me about my trip, all I say is that it
was “amazing.” Some things need to be experienced firsthand to really be
understood, you know?
Kids in Los Andes in front of a freshly painted fence
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