Global Village Trip Update!
November 22, 2011 at 4:10 PM
We filtered into the Bradley Airport early on Saturday, November 5th. Excited, nervous and overpacked, we boarded the plane checking bags filled with sunscreen, bugspray and ancipated neccesities for our 9 day trip to Jutiapa, Guatemala. Over eight hours and three layovers later, we stepped out into Guatemala City, greeted by who we would soon get to know as our guides and friends.
Soon after arrival, we meandered our way into a restaurant just blocks away from our hotel. Guessing at menu items in Spanish, we filled our stomachs with delicious food and one the only real meals we had that day. Having arrived a day before the second round of Presidential Elections, the city was filled with billboards promoting candidates and campaign slogans and with the election, we soon discovered that there was a two day ban on the sale of alcohol. Visions of frosty margaritas to accompany the chips and guacomole we were enjoying, flew out the window as we hydrated with water and sodas instead.
The next morning we began the 3 hour drive to Jutiapa, a department located at the southeast corner of the country. Windy, mountainous roads gave view to sharp volcanic peaks, rolling countryside and stark images of homes that were no bigger than my kitchen. As we continued on, I couldn't help but fixate on these images and compare them to those of the country that I just left.
Arriving at our hotel in the early afternoon, we settled in and began with an opening orientation lead by the local affiliate and an introduction to the partner families that we would be working with over the course of the week. The evening passed quickly and soon relaxation was over as we woke the next morning prepared to begin our work week.
As a group of 12, we split into two teams of 6 so that we could work productively and efficiently on two seperate projects-one that had just begun and the other, the 35,000th home that was close to completion. Over the course of the week, we learned new skills that were relevant to the 3 room stucco houses built of concrete and mortar in an earthquake prone region. Instead of hammers and nails, we used hammers and chisels to carve the block into the appropriate dimensions. Paintbrushes were replaced with spatulas and mortar as we sealed cracks and worked to "paint" on a smooth coating of stucco.
While our primary purpose was to assist with construction, we quickly found ourselves drawn in to the local community, interacting and socializing (lots of hand gestures and pantomiming!) with the incredible family that that house was being built for, area children who were on break from school, and curious passerbys, wondering what a bunch of Americans were doing working in their small town. And while it was rewarding to finish our assigned tasks for the day (mixing and scooping concrete was no easy task!), I found most of the reward being in those interactions. Working with individuals, with a community who was willing to work with me, finding commonalities and connection, despite my inability to speak the language. The experience of being with my team, people of all different walks of life working towards a common goal. Bringing into it our past experiences and personal expectations and trying to rid ourselves of ego and work together to achieve the tasks set before us.
Nicole Williamson
Donor and Volunteer Coordinator at The Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity
