Leaving Xela

Trip Start Jul 20, 2004
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Trip End Jul 20, 2012


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Flag of Guatemala  ,
Friday, August 6, 2004

It's time to change places. I am finishing up my two weeks in a Xela language school and decided to work in one of the projects the school offers - a coffee plantation. Initially, I planned on studying Spanish for 4 weeks but i am better off immersing myself in the language while hanging out more with the locals. I had a wonderful experience in Xela; I felt comfortable here, I liked my family, the school which only has about 10 students and therefore a very cozy feel to it. The second week of classes, I spend half a day in school and the other half visiting several community projects the school is involved in. Since 80% of Guatemala's population are Maya, many community project focus on education and artisan development in the maya communities. All of these communities are dirt poor and it makes me feel so helpless to see the ramshackle schools that lack everything - space, teachers, school materials, toilettes and water.
Almolongo Gardens
Almolongo Gardens
Unfortunately, violence is also a daily occurrence in this country, mainly in the capital. Every day, the newspapers are filled with new murder stories. Year-to-date, almost 300 woman have been killed, altogether about 3000 people have become victims of violence (mostly shootings and stabbing). Some of the killings are gang related (a US import to Guatemala), others seem to occur out of the blue. The country is paralyzed by the violence and people are demonstrating to pressure the government into doing something about it. Unfortunately, the government has no glue how to go about combating the violence.

I will be back in a week (so I hope)and will report about my coffee plantation experience.
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