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| Neighbors chillin' in a tree |
I’m not quite sure where to
begin with this entry, so I will just write and see where it goes. It has been
so long since I have made an entry. As I have been here for four weeks now I have
grown close and gotten to know many of the locals. It has become common place
when out for a walk through the village to here a soft voice calling ‘’Miguel?
Miguel? Atik, atik!” As anyone who has travelled knows it is the little kids
who seem to have the most interest when foreigners come to town. Thus, these are the soft voices that engage
from behind the branches of apple and peach trees. Don’t misunderstand me many adults are
interested and approach after having been engaged with a Hola or ‘janik batx,
but it is usually the little kids who are first to engage you. Perhaps one reason is that kids seem to just
let their actions flow and do not preoccupy themselves with thoughts of, “What
will he/she do or say if I approach and say hi?”
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Top: Martin, Julio, David, Juan y Ana
Bottom: School kids in Lolbatzam |
The locals and usually the kids will often ask “What do you
like better Calhuitz or San Jose?” I then reply with, “ Calhuitz.” They then
counter with, “But San Jose is much cleaner, has paved streets, and offers
technologies that Calhuitz cannot afford.” San Jose is a larger village that is
located about a 30 minute walk from Calhuitz. Many of us from Calhuitz venture to San Jose
at least every Friday to take advantage of the Friday market. It is at the
market where we stock up on various food items for the coming week. I will often get a similar question from those
who have been in the United States already except instead of asking me to
compare villages I am asked to compare the US with Calhuitz. “Are you growing homesick? It must be tough
to live here given that it is so dirty and we don’t have many of the things
that the lifestyle in US can offer. Did you bring food with you to eat or do
you get it shipped in?” To these questions my
usual response is something like this: “Well, I have spent a significant amount
of time out of the US and so I really don’t get very homesick. I like Guatemala
and I love the people. Yes, there are dirt roads and for sure there are some
technologies in the US available that are not available to me here. I eat the same food that you guys eat, eggs, beans, tortillas, corn, and sometimes pollo. I
am more content here with my simple lifestyle than I am in the US with an overly
complicated lifestyle that involves chasing higher degrees and social prestige.”
The people here are poor on material things and health but one would often fail to notice by the look on
their faces or by the laughter that is heard daily throughout the village.
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| Full moon in Calhuitz |
When I was little I used to always hear people refer to life
in the US as a ‘rat race’. I was never
too sure what the meaning of this was until I got older and observed the
stressful lifestyles that we live. We
are so involved in chasing higher degrees, social status, prestige, fame, etc.
that life moves by so quickly and not for a minute do we sit back and give
attention to what should be important such as social interaction with friends,
family and humanity. Sure, this is an
issue that many of us are aware of, but when one lives in the villages of
Guatemala or any other village throughout the world it becomes even more
apparent how severed the daily social connection has become. Life here simply slows down and there is no such thing as 'being in a hurry'. The slower pace truly makes life more
enjoyable. In addition, the air is much
cleaner here than at home. I can see the moon and stars ever so bright in the
night. One of the best things, when I
say hello or smile at someone on the street they respond with a smile and
hello. This is definitely not the normal
routine at home which downright is pathetic and sucks. How far detached from
one another have we become when we cannot even address one another in the
street with a simple smile or hello?
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| Chico having fun |
I’m going to close this entry out but would like to say
this. Often when volunteer groups,
relief groups etc., and “professionals”—I cannot stand this word—come to developing
countries we usually hold the view that we are coming to teach them something
and do not think about all that they have to teach us. Thus, I leave you with this, regardless of
one’s education, financial situation, age, or social status we can always learn
from each other. Keep your eyes and mind open. Learning is never a one
way street.
The locals and usually the kids will often ask “What do you
like better Calhuitz or San Jose?” I then reply with, “ Calhuitz.” They then
counter with, “But San Jose is much cleaner, has paved streets, and offers
technologies that Calhuitz cannot afford.” San Jose is a larger village that is
located about a 30 minute walk from Calhuitz. Many of us from Calhuitz venture to San Jose
at least every Friday to take advantage of the Friday market. It is at the
market where we stock up on various food items for the coming week. I will often get a similar question from those
who have been in the United States already except instead of asking me to
compare villages I am asked to compare the US with Calhuitz. “Are you growing homesick? It must be tough
to live here given that it is so dirty and we don’t have many of the things
that the lifestyle in US can offer. Did you bring food with you to eat or do
you get it shipped in?” To these questions my
usual response is something like this: “Well, I have spent a significant amount
of time out of the US and so I really don’t get very homesick. I like Guatemala
and I love the people. Yes, there are dirt roads and for sure there are some
technologies in the US available that are not available to me here. I eat the same food that you guys eat, eggs, beans, tortillas, corn, and sometimes pollo. I
am more content here with my simple lifestyle than I am in the US with an overly
complicated lifestyle that involves chasing higher degrees and social prestige.”
The people here are poor on material things and health but one would often fail to notice by the look on
their faces or by the laughter that is heard daily throughout the village. 
