Read Part 1 of this post here.
In my last post, I wrote a bit about the overall experience of living with seven different Central American families. In order to truly give my friends and family a glimpse into the diversity and richness of my experience here, I'd now like to give a brief portrait of each family I stayed with.
In my last post, I wrote a bit about the overall experience of living with seven different Central American families. In order to truly give my friends and family a glimpse into the diversity and richness of my experience here, I'd now like to give a brief portrait of each family I stayed with.
#1: Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Length of Stay: 3 weeks
Setting: Urban
Location: Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala, the second-largest city in Guatemala, located in the Western highlands of the country. My house was located in the 1st zone of the city, a two-minute walk from the Spanish school and a 10-minute walk from the Central Park.
House: Large, 1-story house with an attached small factory where the family produces sports uniforms for the local schools. The family has a dog and two birds.
Family makeup: 5 people - grandmother, father, mother, two daughters (15 and 20)
Religion: Evangelical Christians
Biggest challenge: Because of their deep faith, my host family had a way of seeing the world and understanding things that at times felt very foreign to me. In our conversations, though, I learned a lot, and I think they learned a lot from me as well!
Best memory: I became very close with my host sister - her sass and intelligence reminded me a lot of my own sister - and I got to celebrate her 15th birthday with her!
Setting: Urban
Location: Quetzaltenango (Xela), Guatemala, the second-largest city in Guatemala, located in the Western highlands of the country. My house was located in the 1st zone of the city, a two-minute walk from the Spanish school and a 10-minute walk from the Central Park.
House: Large, 1-story house with an attached small factory where the family produces sports uniforms for the local schools. The family has a dog and two birds.
Family makeup: 5 people - grandmother, father, mother, two daughters (15 and 20)
Religion: Evangelical Christians
Biggest challenge: Because of their deep faith, my host family had a way of seeing the world and understanding things that at times felt very foreign to me. In our conversations, though, I learned a lot, and I think they learned a lot from me as well!
Best memory: I became very close with my host sister - her sass and intelligence reminded me a lot of my own sister - and I got to celebrate her 15th birthday with her!