My Study Abroad Experience in Guatemala

Student and guest blogger Jamy McClain shared her reflections about a recent trip to Central America as part of a Mount Mary University January (“J-Term”) course.

Guatemala is a wonderful country full of interesting sites, aromas—and smiles of friendly people! Over the J-term, I had the privilege of attending a MMU study abroad trip to Guatemala for Spanish and Service Learning. During the trip we gathered unforgettable experiences– hiking up mountains, eating delicious food, wandering through markets and working within the local communities that we visited.

The trip began in Antigua, a beautiful tourist town full of markets and surrounded by volcanoes–including an active one with puffs of smoke visible from our hotel roof top! Our group then traveled to Chinique, where we stayed for just under a week with host families. During this time, we took our classes and the Centro de Paz Barbara Ford and volunteered at a school within the area. In the Spanish class we examined Guatemalan civilization and reflected on our own images as Americans, considering how this fluctuates with knowledge and experience gained over time. The group participated in service learning, cleaning up the local school’s classrooms in preparation for returning students the following week. We also toured the ASUVI water project, a non-profit organization that serves the local community through charitable work. The organization works with Global Partners: Running Waters, a group working to deliver fresh water to a nearby village by filtering mountain water through a gravity tank system.

Some of the trip highlights included visits to a market in Chichicastenango, the Mayan ruins of Gumarkaaj, a macadamia nut farm and even a boat tour of lake Atitlán. Each experience was marked by unique challenges and learning opportunities. The market seemed large and chaotic at first, but once we were able to have conversations with the locals and embrace the sights and smells, we were able to grasp a deeper appreciation of the pace and rhythm of life in the town. Gumarkaaj was particularly breathtaking. This place is sacred to the Mayan community, and modern Guatemalans still visit ancient Mayan altars to conduct ceremonies. Near lake Atitlán we visited the massive church of Saint James the Apostle, built over a thousand years ago and still a center of daily life for the nearby village.

One of the most profound moments I had during the trip was an interaction I had with my host. Despite language barriers, we were able to navigate conversations during evening walks together. We discussed the cities we lived in: she told me about the new constructions that happened in Chinique, while I shared what life was like in Milwaukee. It is fascinating to observe how basic language skills combined with translation apps can help people from different regions of the world communicate!

Studying abroad in Guatemala was an amazing experience full of profound conversations between my peers, professors and the people that we met along the way. This experience increased my confidence in my Spanish language skills and helped deepen my understanding of service to others. I am truly grateful to have experienced the rich, beautiful culture of Guatemala!