by Sydney Wingenbach
I feel like I’m in a whole ‘nother world. But poverty in Texas, you think is bad, but come on down to where I am right now and look at it. Feel good that we have good homes, iPads, electronics, etc. Be fortunate of what we have and don’t take it for granted.
-A 5th-grade girl
Sydney Wingenbach is the 10-year-old daughter of Dr. Gary Wingenbach. This trip to Guatemala is her first (of hopefully many) outside the United States.
by Jenna M. Howell
Hola! From the high hills of Chajul, Guatemala!
Today, we continued our adventure at the school in Visuchuj. We were able to get the vermiculture compost bed completed and finished.
Huge success!
All the kids painted their hands and put their hand prints on the side of the structure. This, to me, was a very touching and significant part of our day. The children lit up when we told them about the hand prints. It was a way to keep them involved and have their signature on this project.
We also painted a few A&M logos on it and added our own hand prints.
We learned a lot through this project to prepare us for the other two schools we will visit in the days to come.
Not only did we get emerged into the Guatemalan school system today, but we received new roommates at the Posada (our hotel) all the way from Bolder, Colorado.
They work with Philanthropiece doing various projects focused on clean water and global youth organizations. It is interesting to hear about where they live and what they have been working on in preparation for this trip.
One thing that I have loved throughout this trip is the relationship with the people, but also I have grow to love the relationships we have developed with each other. It is amazing to see all these Aggies, who did not know each other prior to this trip, come together on this adventure and work as a great team.
I cannot wait to get back to Aggieland to share our experiences with everyone and be an advocate for future study abroad trips to Guatemala.
I have grown so much through this trip, and my eyes have been opened to things I never thought existed. I have been humbled by this beautiful country and it’s people. I know I am not alone when I say Guatemala now holds a very special place in our hearts and that we will forever be grateful for all it has taught us.
Si Dios Quiere!
by Poleth Robledo
Another beautiful morning in Chajul, barely able to jump out of bed, my body sore from yesterdays 2 hour hike, I was ready to start another day filled with more cultural experiences. Clearly, I am not in shape for the Chajulense lifestyle.
Nonetheless I got out of bed exited to start our first service project with the community of Visuchuj, not too far from Chajul. At Visuchuj, we are helping build a vermiculture site for compost, where the children of Visuchuj can learn to produce their own organic fertilizer.
At the school, we worked with 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who loved having us, “Americanos” helping with their project. As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the kiddos ready to interact with us.
After our service project we had lunch with local families that showed us how to make tortillas. Thinking it was an easy process, I was fooled by my own assumptions. Respect for the Chajulense women who make tortillas perfectly round everyday.
My tortilla was the worst tortilla in all of Guatemala!
It was not even close to being the round shape tortillas are supposed to be, but it was still edible! Filled with tortillas for lunch I was ready for a siesta after a worked-filled morning.
After dinner, we had a Chajul war veteran named Antonio come and shared his story about his survival with us. His story was amazing. I wished the other students were able to hear the passion behind his words.
The translator did great, but Antonio had a lot more passion in his speaking that made the story sharing a great experience. After he finished his speech it was only respectful that we stood up and clapped for sharing with us a horrible but memorable part of his life.
It’s been a great day here in Chajul. Just another day for the books. I cannot wait for what other plans lie in front of us.
Till next time amigos. Saludos.
by Caroline Black
Our first Sunday in Chajul was marked by a five mile hike through the hills of Chajul. The destination: One beautiful waterfall.
We met up with a group of Limitless Horizon’s students who led us up, down, around, etc. to see the sight. After about 2.5 hours of a group of Aggies realizing how out of shape they are, falling and slipping down muddy rocks, envying Dr. Wingenbach’s ability to not slow down… we arrived at the waterfall and enjoyed the refreshing, cool water. The pictures of the area alone are beautiful. Too bad we didn’t pack a picnic lunch!
After our trek to the waterfall, we rode back to Chajul on a Chicken Bus… and survived. Hallelujah!
The afternoon was spent in the homes of Chajul learning to weave. Dr. Wingenbach, his daughter Sydney, Julie Brod and I visited the home of a Limited Horizon’s student Carina. Carina’s sister Margarita taught us how to weave. It was very interesting to learn the process of the weave. Margarita mentioned that it may take up to two days to finish a belt, shirt, scarf, you name it.
Sydney, Julie and I each got to take our turns weaving. (We will have to post pictures for everyone to see.) Upon leaving the home of Carina, we thanked Margarita, and she gave us each the piece of cloth we made. I officially am a weaver – okay, perhaps that is a stretch, but I do have the cloth to prove my skill!
In addition to today’s activities…
Since arriving in Chajul, I have fallen in love with the little kids that hang around the house where we are staying. All of the little boys know my name, “Carolina,” and I’m one of few they come running to for a hug or high five. They sit in my lap, ask me to play soccer… they are fabulous.
I will be sad to leave them. One in particular, Juanito, looks like he is four, but he is eight. Dr. W said that it was due to malnutrition. Juanito has “stunting disease,” or in other words, his body has eaten himself because he has not received proper nutrients… it absolutely breaks my heart.
I don’t care how bad these kiddos may smell… They can climb all over me all they want. Another little one, Mauricio, pounds my fist every time he sees me. Although I can barely communicate with them in Spanish… it has been fun to just sit and color with them, play games or throw/kick around a soccer ball.
This country is very colorful, and the people are proud of their independence. But it is their independence that is killing them!
For example, they don’t want to use GMO corn that has been bred to be more efficient and nutritional, because they do not want to depend on another country to feed them. For so long I’ve always thought, “Oh, it’s the American farmer’s job to feed the world…” because that is what we’ve been taught in school.
Although the statistics behind the fact are true, I’ve come to a conclusion that even if these people receive food or new Ag practices… If it is against their culture, they won’t use it.
THAT blows my mind.
Yesterday our crew talked with a man who is an Ag specialist in the area. He said that people learned the most by attending trainings and workshops, but if the leaders in the town don’t implement the practices taught, then no one else will either.
Furthermore, they mainly plant corn and beans in Chajul. Some have learned to grow peas, however the people here only grow peas for EXPORT.
Even if this does give them cash and stirs up the economy… the opportunity to have a variety of nutritional foods in the home is getting exported to the US and not imported to the stomachs of their families and children.
It’s more of a cultural change that would have to occur here in the Highlands of Guatemala to get this country out of famine.
The people of Chajul are hungry. Hungry for Food. Independence. Freedom. Life.
I am hungry to learn. Help. Grow. What an experience this has been and will continue to be!
I wish everyone could see this place and read the stories and passion in everyone’s eyes, as kids run into the streets with no shoes on, just to say HOLA to us.
This experience has been humbling, mind blowing and without a doubt heartwarming.
Forever changed… Si Dios quiere (if God wills it).
by Julie Brod
This morning after eating French toast, we were introduced to two local agriculturalists about the projects we will be involved with during our stay in Chajul. They spoke on Chajul’s current agricultural situation and the struggles the locals face in crop production.
One of the difficulties that local Guatemalans face when dealing with diversifying crop production is their families limited income. Other government programs have stressed the importance of incorporating more or different varieties of crops in their field operations. However, they have not been successful because people are unwilling to invest their money into new crops when their is not a model of diversity in their community.
Often locals have to see other locals doing the same practice, or else they will refer back to their original and older traditions of farming. This is where they have found that finding successful leaders within the community will help sustain the new agricultural practices the government wishes to implement.
This information has given our group a much broader understanding of agriculture in Chajul.
Eating lunch in locals’ homes has put into perspective the challenges that Guatemalan women face on a daily basis regarding cooking and cleaning for their families.
In the evening, we discussed how different our lives are from Guatemalans. We discussed what we had seen and heard over the past few days in Chajul.
Truly, we have all been touched by our experiences here. It is our hope to touch the people of Chajul as they have touched us in our short stay here.
by Gary Wingenbach
The pace is slower.
It takes a few days to realize it, but the pace is definitely slower in Guatemala. It has not changed from when I lived this pace 25 years ago as a Peace Corps Volunteer, first in San Rafael Las Flores, Santa Rosa, and then in Quezaltepeque, Chiquimula. My month-long return to this land of “Eternal Spring” with 10 Aggie students, two faculty members, and a 10-year old daughter in tow, is an experience I never would have imagined as a young man.
As I look around the cabin this morning while we listen to Marelino explain sustainable agricultural practices in the Chajul region, it hits me…these students weren’t born the last time I spent this much time in Guatemala.
Dang, I suddenly feel old! Good thing I don’t “feel” old, otherwise I might consider joining the whining sessions about missing the comforts of home in Texas.
It’s a surreal experience to watch the wonderment of learning about Guatemalan life in these Aggies’ faces. I see genuine interest in their expressions. I hear them talk about Guatemalan life with compassion in their voices. These Aggies are the real deal!
I wish I could find another 90 just like them to bring to Chajul. It would make a huge impact in our service-learning projects. Right. I know, poco a poco, little by little; slow down Gary, the pace is a bit slower, and that’s okay.
Twenty-five years can change many things in Guatemala. I see cell phones now where only telegram offices once existed. I’ve used wifi in the highlands where computer technology would have been considered Star Trek nonsense 25 years ago. Yes, I know some of you will not know what the original Star Trek series was, but trust me, it was a classic, and you really missed a cultural phenomenon!
Some things did not change in the past 25 years. Poverty, malnutrition, pollution, lack of resources, illiteracy, and respiratory and intestinal diseases still exist, most likely with the same intensity as they did in the mid-1980s.
It’s easy to become depressed by these societal challenges. It could be easy to turn away from these issues and never think about them again. It would be so easy to concern ourselves with the next release of the iPhone or the next idiotic vampire movie debut.
But, for 13 Aggie students and faculty members, and one future Aggie, we won’t walk away. We’re here to make a difference!
Just now, on Saturday morning, Aggies and Chajul agriculturists are working side-by-side to design a new vermiculture system to produce organic fertilizer for a local school garden. Gig ’em Ags!
I am hopeful to contribute a few more reflections, from the prof’s perspective, to this blog. Oh yeah, that’s one more thing that didn’t exist 25 years ago…blogging! I’m very happy to make this post, my first ever, on a topic near and dear to my heart.
Vamos adelante Aggies!
Peace,
Gary
by Annalee Antoon
This morning, the first of many in Chajul, I lay in bed wide awake at 6 a.m. patiently awaiting breakfast at 8. Why am I up two hours early? Because the startling sound of bombs and cannons blasting woke me up. Along with my roommates, I lay there scared and confused. Eventually, I fell back asleep and woke up to a breakfast of beans, eggs, and corn tortillas. Was it a bad dream? No, just the locals celebrating with “bombas,” or fireworks, at all hours of the morning. Welcome to Chajul, Texas A&M!
After a morning full of sounds that we are sure to get used to, we spent the morning learning what our life will be like for the next two weeks. Feeling a little overwhelmed by our busy and exciting schedule, we hiked up hill to the Limitless Horizons and Philanthropiece office.
On the way, we passed the butcher. Seeing cow tails hanging out of the window did nothing for my appetite and made me happy that we won’t be consuming much meat in this leg of our journey. Once we arrived, the employees and students explain to us what they do for the organization, and we met the people that we would be working with on our projects.
As we walked around the town and saw sights that we would never dream of seeing in Texas: children playing in the streets, starving dogs, and a market that filled many blocks of the town.
Next, we made our way to the family of a Philanthropiece scholar’s home for lunch. I walked down the road until it ended and then cautiously stepped down several uneven cement blocks that acted as stairs until I saw the home in which I would be eating.
A wooden house on cinder blocks, a dirt floor, and cement blocks with wooden planks that served as a bed, this house was no larger than my room in my apartment in College Station.
Humbled, I sat at the table with three other students in silence. We ate a traditional Guatemalan lunch of Boxbol (bosh-bol), corn dough wrapped in a squash leaf then boiled for 20 minutes. Once our translator arrived, the only question that I could ask was if this family was aware of our lifestyle and if they knew they were in poverty.
His answer was that they have never seen what our lives are like unless they have watched an American movie. They are truly happy with nothing and know of no other life than the one that they live.
Being here is a constant reminder to for me to count my blessings, and I am forever thankful that I am a part of such an amazing trip.
by Josh Hardcastle
The car – no, let me rephrase that, the SUV (cars couldn’t handle this situation) – jerked back and forth as we traversed down the rocky Guatemalan “road” (and I use that term loosely).
Jerk! My fellow passengers and I slid to the left.
Jerk! We were knocked to the right.
As I said, this was no road for any “weak” cars. It wasn’t a road for any weak stomach, either, unless it was doped up on Dramamine, and many were! We couldn’t stop, though; we were Aggies on a mission, bound and determined to get to an escuela in what seemed like the middle of nowhere.
Forty-five minutes later, we pulled up to in front of a small three-room schoolhouse. Children ran up to greet us, the “gringos” who had come to teach them about plants.
With two Junior Master Gardener activities in hand, we jumped out of our vehicles and prepared ourselves to teach two groups of Guatemalan children the importance of plants.
Thus, began our second battle, which was as rocky as a Guatemalan dirt road: a language barrier. However, we were not going to let this obstacle keep us from achieving our goal.
Our starting presentation went well (we thank our awesome bilingual travelers for that), but working one-on-one with the kids soon had us frantically pulling Spanish phrases out of the air.
“Sí, es una planta.”
“¡Muy bueno, chico!”
“¿Como se llama?”
(That’s all I’ve got for you…)
Somehow, we made it through, and the classroom was adorned with homemade Chia Pets and plant mobiles. Sad to see us go, the kids thanked us. Even sadder to leave, we bid them, “¡Adios!”.
Though we could barely communicate with these children, they truly touched my life. Somehow, some way, we were able to make a connection, and I know my time spent with them will remain with me in the years to come.
I guess this just goes to show you that great things happen when you don’t let obstacles stand in your way.
We survived the road and bypassed a language barrier; now, it’s time to tackle Chajul. We leave en la mañana. Please join us (virtually) if you have the chance!
by Annalee Antoon
Since the minute we arrived in Guatemala we have had more than interesting experiences. Saturday morning we met at 5:30am to begin our 25 day journey. With hundreds of pounds of suitcases, we made it to the airport just in time to grab coffee and get on the plane. Once we arrived, we found out that Christina’s bag had been lost and had to be tracked down. Finally, we got on a bus that took us from Guatemala City to the beautiful city of Antigua. Although the ride was beautiful, Kesley really started the trip when she got sick on the bus!
Once we got settled in “El Hostal”, we all got to know each other very well during our orientation. Laura and Jake, our guides (who are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable) took us to an amazing restaurant where the food was amazing and the lemonade was even better. That’s right, lemonade lovers. If you want the best, come to Guatemala! At dinner, we also enjoyed live music from an authentic Guatemalan band. After dinner, it was bed time for some tired Aggies!
Sunday was an activity-filled day. It started with breakfast at El Hostal the quickly turned into a walking tour of Antigua with none other than Elizabeth Bell – a local tour guide and preservationist. We saw ruins, crypts, churches, a jade museum, and a beautiful hotel. Next up was lunch at a small sandwich and smoothie shop which was run by an adventurous Californian couple. After a siesta at the hotel, we head back out for dinner and a salsa dancing lesson. Learning to dance was an experience to say the least!
Monday marked the transition from the orientation period of the trip to the service portion. Once again our day began with an amazing breakfast at El Hostal. Dale Rogers of the Borlaug Institute met us and took us to AGTEC (Borlaug’s Guatemalan headquarters) where we learned about organic farming practices and Guatemalan culture. Most of the day was spent in the garden, putting our knowledge into action and learning to make organic fungicides and pesticides.
After we left, we made a stop in the town of Pastores to get custom boots made – only as true Aggies would do! After a long day, dinner was more than welcomed, and we celebrated Cera’s 21st birthday with a beautiful cake from a local bakery. Exhausted, we made it back to the hotel in time to have a quick reflection and make a contract with each other. Included in the contract we made sure to hold each other accountable for staying engaged and keeping a positive attitude. We have decided that the theme of our trip is “Choose your Attitude,” meaning that we all have the right to dictate how our trip goes. By choosing a positive attitude every day, we will not only help to keep a healthy energy within our group, but our personal experience will be enhanced.
Tonight, Tuesday, as I sit in the beautiful courtyard of El Hostal writing this, I keep back spacing and re-wording everything. I become frustrated in doing this and realize that I feel this way because my experience is too amazing to put into words.
Today, we went deep into the highlands of Guatemala to help a community of farmers build a greenhouse. This was our first experience with the real living conditions of Guatemala. As we winded up and down roads for what seemed like an eternity, it was clear that a major limiting factor to agriculture was the infrastructure. There is simply no way for one of these farmers to bring his crops to market. Saddened and humbled by what we saw, it was a true reminder of the role that service leadership plays in our lives. Alone, we have the ability to make a difference in peoples lives and holding that kind of power is an amazing thing.
On the way back we encountered a problem when the road became washed over with heavy rain waters, and we had to wait out the flood before crossing the road.
I am now more excited than ever to offer all that I can to the people of Chajul for the next two and a half weeks. It will be a blessing and a learning experience, and I am forever thankful for the opportunity to learn in such an environment. Feeling a little overwhelmed by today’s activities and experiences, the thought of laying down in my bed is taking over. Until next time, Adios!
by Josh Hardcastle
Welcome to our blog!
This summer students from the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Science Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications (ALEC) will be studying abroad in two great countries: Guatemala and Namibia!
Through this blog, we hope to share with you our experiences – our thoughts and fears, the lesson we learn, the sights we see, and the life-changing moments that fill our travels.
It’s about time for us to spread our wings and leave College Station, and we hope you come along for the ride!
Our flights our books, our passports are waiting, and in June we head to Central America! Please join us then for a Guatemalan good time!