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David Michalik: Student Report from 2014 Alternative Winter Break in Guatemala

David Michalik in Guatemala
From left, David Michalik and one of the group’s Guatemalan hosts show off the new constructed stove.

This past winter break, I had the chance to travel to Guatemala with seven of my peers with the intentions of performing a service project to help the local people, to gain an excellent experience abroad, and learn as much as possible about the culture. As the Fall semester closed out and I began preparations for the trip, I can remember wondering if it was worth it to finish finals only to jump on a plane for another country right before Christmas. As I came to find out throughout the time in Guatemala, the trip was much more than I was expecting; it fulfilled any initial expectations I had, and taught me much more than I was expecting.

The first of the highlights of the trip was the chance to build stoves for six Guatemalan families who currently cooked over an open fire. For the first four mornings, we would wake up, eat a quick breakfast, and head out to a house to start building. It was interesting to see how the people lived; typically the homes were pretty small, yet functional, and all the homes had open fire stoves that consisted of a few firebricks and a grate to hold the cookware. With eight guys, we were able to work alongside a contractor and knock out the stove building pretty quickly. The families would normally help if possible, and were very thankful the whole time. They were so honored that we had come to help them, as they were not necessarily expectant, but were happy at the prospect of a huge increase in living quality.

 

David Michalik Chopping Cinder Blocks
David Michalik, left, chops cinder blocks while helping to build cooking stoves in Guatemala.

Whereas we thought we were only improving how they cooked by limiting the amount of smoke they inhaled, I think the people really appreciated the time and the effort we spent by coming into their home just as much as the practical benefits of the finished product. The last day of work, the family was very hospitable and showed us their best by pouring us refill after refill of an orange soda that was refreshing after a hot days’ work. I realized that these people are very hospitable and did not expect us to be there, but were so humbled and grateful that we were helping them.

The culture, scenery, and people of the city in which we stayed, Quetzaltenango, was another highlight of the trip. After we finished work each day, we got to experience a different part of the culture with little trips and outings throughout the afternoons. The second day, we went horseback riding. The freedom we had on the horses was surprising, which provided for a lot of fun, and, best of all, an excellent view of some of the farmland and mountains surrounding our city. Another day, we got to tour the city and visit shops of all kinds. One of my favorite experiences that developed over the week was experiencing the quality of the coffee (and the food for that matter). The coffee was very rich and the food fresh.

David Michalik Horseback Ride
David Michalik, on horse, prepares to embark on a horseback ride with other UT students during the 2014 Guatemalan trip.

Coming at the perfect time, after our last day of work, we took a windy mountain road through heavy fog, to finally reach a hot springs, Las Fuentes Georginas, tucked up in the mountains. It was a great experience, as I was able to make some friends that spoke both Spanish and English. As we left, the fog cleared and we were spoiled with one of the best views of the whole week: a large volcano, Volcan de Santa Maria, among mountains and valleys, with the sun just setting. It made me appreciate just how beautiful the country is, and reminded me a little bit of our own Appalachian Mountains. Throughout all these travels, the newness of the culture intrigued me. The people are very nice and vibrant. The city is active and energetic throughout the day. There are little shops everywhere and almost every block is filled throughout the city, creating a very wild and lively atmosphere.

Perhaps one of the best parts of the trip, though, was the beach trip to Tulate on the Pacific Coast. After a long and very bumpy ride, we were rewarded with a day and a half in a truly beautiful place. The beach was remote and not touristy at all. The sights were amazing. Huge waves, an endless beach with no high-rise buildings, and coconut trees everywhere. The people were equally as great as the place. A whole family helped us cross the inter-coastal waterway in order to access the motel; their small kids even tried to lift our luggage into the boat. They just reaffirmed what we had learned all week from our host family: the people truly care about each other and are excellent hosts.

After looking around for soccer all week, we finally found it at the beach. After eating a fresh cooked meal of fish, shrimp, chicken, and vegetables, some of the local children challenged us to a soccer match that we could not turn down. The agreement was that the loser would buy soda. After a hard fought loss, we bought them soda, only to find all the younger town children handing us candy and suckers. This continued generosity of the people was truly humbling. The whole town was extremely poor, with trash scattered around, chickens running loose, and very limited housing. You wouldn’t know it, though, after interacting with the people.

I would be remiss to not mention my loving host family. From the moment I met them, I knew they were good people. They cooked absolutely excellent food for each meal every day, giving us a wide variety of what they eat: vegetables, eggs, beans and rice, chicken, beef, and soups to name a few. The house had a great inner patio area that we were able to play with the youngest grandson of the house, Ethan. Throughout the week, our host parents would engage us in conversation, and I was able to pick up a good amount of Spanish, which created for me a new interest in the language. They truly felt like family, being so hospitable and friendly to us.

In conclusion, I learned that the Guatemalans are happy, content people who make do with what they have. This was a huge learning moment, realizing that these people are not happy because of anything the world has given them, but because of family, faith, and their mindset.

Guatemalan coast scene
Guatemalan coast scene