One final reflection from our latest group of travelers from Onondaga Community College, this time from Fatima Osmanovic.
Jan 6 2014
My point of view !
Today was a quite busy day. Hearty breakfast with multiple
cups of coffee became quite the norm while at Guatemala. Today, we as a group
went to San Jose , the community in which we built stoves few days back. We had
a chance to give our masons small gifts and also receive gifts from women in
the community. I always knew, just by their hospitality and beauty of their
souls that they would give us a small gift as a sign of appreciation, and they
did. Each and every one of us got a traditional bag with a head-wrap like
cloth, besides Hans, he got a scarf :) ! We also went to the homes where we
have built the stoves to see them. It was pure delight and joy at the same
time, it was one of the most enjoyable activities that I have done in
Guatemala.
After lunch we were headed to Antigua ! Oh what a beautiful
place this was. It was very very touristy like, with plenty of things to see
and also eat :) ! Antigua compared to Toliman was completely different, as we
expected it to be. This place was full of attractions like the park, the coco
museum, the chapels and the long walk to the arch & also very
commercialized markets, for those that like to shop a bit. Our tour guide
Candace, provided us with very good map of Antigua, in order for us to get to
where we would like to, and we did it ! Successfully ! After walking multiple
blocks at Antigua and trying to see everything, it was time to go back to the
hotel for our last dinner as a group while in Guatemala. We went to a very fine
restaurant, we even had live music to enjoy with our diner! After dinner was
done it was pretty much time to get all the packing together and be ready for
Guatemala City in the morning for our flight.
I would like to point out a few things about my experience
in Guatemala. I would definitely rate this experience as one of the most
valuable experiences, as I got to see life through different set of eyes. I got
a chance to see how little people of Guatemala have, yet they aren't as
miserable as majority of our people back in the states. These people are very relaxed,
easy going, there was barley if any tension present while interacting with
them. I just got this feeling like I could actually belong to such culture.
Guatemala changed my perspective on life pretty much in sense that I realized
what I thought was a huge issue is really not. As my mason Arolodo would always
say " esta-bien " no matter how much we messed something up while
making our stove , he found a way to fix it.In general I feel like those who
need to see life from different perspective or need to make some adjustments in
their lives or are searching for a meaning to life, should most certainly
participate in one of these mission trips to Guatemala. Guatemala is a
developing country, that doesn't have these to die for attractive places and
most amazing things one may do, but people are truly beautiful inside and out,
and that's what matters at the end of the day. God bless them all ! After this
trip I hope to go and visit Guatemala soon again because I feel obligate to do
so.
OCC Nursing Student
Fatima Osmanovic
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