Olivia here!
Unfortunately, our trip to Guatemala is coming to a close. We started the day off with the last breakfast at Las Lilys hotel and followed our bowls of cornflakes with the five-hour bus ride to Antigua. Leaving Salamá fostered bittersweet emotions. We were happy to see the work "done" and to have formed new relationships with the locals (especially with the children: David, Dennis, and Juana). However, this day also meant goodbye to those same individuals. On the way to Antigua, we dropped the Colins at different locations (another good-bye I did to want to make). The ride to Antigua create hypothetical questions. Will I ever see the finished homes? Will we speak or keep in contact with the Colins and the kids in Salamá? And lastly, did we make a difference if so, how can we continue?
We arrived in Antigua around twelve and the hotel had not finished preparing all of the rooms. As a result, we had lunch early at El Mono Loco, a very Americanized restaurant compared to the others we've previously visited. There we met Pablo, our new "Colin." He shared his story in regard to joining the Habitat community and based on his story in combination with the Colins, I've discovered Habitat members are called to serve. They all joined Habitat at a time when Habitat was in greatest need.
After lunch, we walked through Antigua, haggling for gifts for friends families. Ms. Yen and Jack proved themselves most effective with their bargaining skills. "Just walk away," said Ms. 'yen. Our time among the locals has shown us their culture and improved our Spanish communication.
A few hours later, we went to dinner at Santo Domingo. The setting was amazing--a converted monastery. Sharing memories of the trip filled the majority of the dinner we spent time flipping through Ms. Yen's camera, which somehow documented almost every highlight the trip. We then walked and struggled to find our way back to the hotel (not one of my favorite moments). [Ed. note: we took the scenic route.]
Now, I sit in my hotel room. Abby and Wiam are asleep to my right and Ms. Yen has already checked for lights out. I don't want to leave and those hypothetical questions return. How can we make a difference? If we do, where should we try to make difference? The one thing I've most definitely learned is I should aspire to make a difference and wherever that place is there will always be a need.
Unfortunately, our trip to Guatemala is coming to a close. We started the day off with the last breakfast at Las Lilys hotel and followed our bowls of cornflakes with the five-hour bus ride to Antigua. Leaving Salamá fostered bittersweet emotions. We were happy to see the work "done" and to have formed new relationships with the locals (especially with the children: David, Dennis, and Juana). However, this day also meant goodbye to those same individuals. On the way to Antigua, we dropped the Colins at different locations (another good-bye I did to want to make). The ride to Antigua create hypothetical questions. Will I ever see the finished homes? Will we speak or keep in contact with the Colins and the kids in Salamá? And lastly, did we make a difference if so, how can we continue?
We arrived in Antigua around twelve and the hotel had not finished preparing all of the rooms. As a result, we had lunch early at El Mono Loco, a very Americanized restaurant compared to the others we've previously visited. There we met Pablo, our new "Colin." He shared his story in regard to joining the Habitat community and based on his story in combination with the Colins, I've discovered Habitat members are called to serve. They all joined Habitat at a time when Habitat was in greatest need.
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| Angelina's "office" and home for her family before the Habitat house |
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| Angelina's kitchen pre-Habitat |
After lunch, we walked through Antigua, haggling for gifts for friends families. Ms. Yen and Jack proved themselves most effective with their bargaining skills. "Just walk away," said Ms. 'yen. Our time among the locals has shown us their culture and improved our Spanish communication.
A few hours later, we went to dinner at Santo Domingo. The setting was amazing--a converted monastery. Sharing memories of the trip filled the majority of the dinner we spent time flipping through Ms. Yen's camera, which somehow documented almost every highlight the trip. We then walked and struggled to find our way back to the hotel (not one of my favorite moments). [Ed. note: we took the scenic route.]
Now, I sit in my hotel room. Abby and Wiam are asleep to my right and Ms. Yen has already checked for lights out. I don't want to leave and those hypothetical questions return. How can we make a difference? If we do, where should we try to make difference? The one thing I've most definitely learned is I should aspire to make a difference and wherever that place is there will always be a need.
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