My program's emphasis on family stays was one of the primary reasons I chose it. I haven't been disappointed. Even though I've spent plenty of time in classrooms, my true classrooms have been the seven places I've called home in Central America - some for as few as two days, others for as long as five weeks.
For me, the homestays have been a nonstop exercise in adapting and being flexible. I've had to learn new ways of speaking Spanish, new ways of bathing...even new ways of flushing the toilet! |
"We're aware that we can't offer you the same conditions you have in your country. What we can give you is love." |
A few days ago, my six fellow students and I returned from the last of our SEVEN different family stays (each!) over our fifteen weeks here. I'm back with my Managua family, who I've been living with for almost three weeks and who I'll stay with for the rest of the program.
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When I started this blog, I set three goals for myself: (1) to share my experience, (2) to reflect, and (3) to "serve as a resource for students who want to study abroad in non-traditional locations like Central America." My my...two-month-ago Katie set some lofty goals. The thing is, while I feel like I've made steps toward accomplishing the first two of these, I don't feel as though I've addressed the final one: of offering my "wisdom" to the world.
Of course, a primary reason for this is that I'm not really sure that I necessarily have much wisdom to share: I see myself, right now at least, as the learner rather than the teacher. It feels like every day I meet someone different, do something I've never done before, and learn something new. But these new experiences have taught me many things, one of which I'd like to offer to you now. It’s dawning on me that I’ve been exceptionally lame about maintaining this blog since I left Guatemala. There are a few reasons for that: First, I was very busy with program activities in Costa Rica – much more so than in Guatemala. Between speakers, class, and three different homestays, I simply found it hard to find time to sit down and reflect. I guess that’s what this week (fall break) was for.
Exactly one week ago, I left Guatemala.
If you've followed my adventures here, on Instagram, or on Facebook, you've probably seen that I had an amazing time. Let me assure you, that was no social media façade. My time in Guatemala was more incredible (increíble!) than anything I expected when I signed up for this program. I didn't tell a lot of people (well, anyone) this, but I was really scared leaving the United States to come to Guatemala. I tried hard to sleep on the plane ride over, but my nerves and fears had a hold over me. For a split second, I wondered, Why am I doing this? Shouldn't I have chosen to study in Western Europe like most of my peers did? Wouldn't that have been easier? Safer? |
AUTHORMy name is Katie. I'm a junior at Duke University, and I'm spending my fall semester traveling throughout Central America studying social change. ARCHIVES
November 2015
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