Despite the warning from the Embassy not to travel because of possible mudslides, we ironically went to Guatemala City to visit the U.S. Embassy. When we got there we were met with two U.S. marines, had to surrender our passports and go through security. I was expecting to enter a building that would look something like the West Wing and be met with the demeaning glares of slightly annoyed dignitaries. However, the reality proved to be quite in the contrast. The entryway of the Embassy was fairly distinguished but the farther we got into the building the more it looked like an old high school turned into just a regular office building. We were met with a girl the same age as myself who is doing her internship at the Embassy and had just arrived a few days before. We were also met with a guy named Sam who looked just like a famous person and had a title something like the coordinator of public service. He definitely destroyed my stereotype of foreign dignitaries by being hilarious, welcoming, laid back and talking like a college student. On the way to a meeting room they picked up several other workers and threw together a little presentation for us. The other workers included the press secretary, a few native Guatemalans (one of whom is a dear friend of SAU’s provost Dr. Betty) and other people with lofty titles. They causally told us about what they each do and how things work at the Embassy. They were very personable and seemed to really enjoy talking with us. I think I was mainly surprised by the fact that most of them were in there 20s and none of them were musty old men. However, the more they talked the more I realized that these were some incredibly intelligent people. They had to undergo rigorous testing and security clearances to be where they are. They were really wonderful people with very respectable intentions in Guatemala which really helped to restore my faith in the U.S. government’s role in Guatemala. They also made me realize that foreign public service is something that somewhat interests me even though it was not a career path I would have ever considered before.
Also while we were in Guatemala City we visited a orphanage called Casa Bernabe. On the way there we were lost for what felt like hours. Our bus driver stopped on the road so many times to ask for directions that we decided he must have been taking a poll. However, after we were sickeningly high off the horrendous bus fumes that engulf that city, we finally made it. It was definitely worth the trouble to get there. This orphanage is not at all how I expected a third world orphanage to be. They were not funded by the government and thus were able to run it much differently than government run orphanages. The children were divided by gender and age group and lived in a home with parents. They tried to set it up as much like a traditional family as possible. The first house we visited was the little boy house. There was probably 10-15 little boys within the ages of 3-5 plus one boy’s little sister. The kids were clearly overjoyed by the arrival of 18 new playmates and particularly enjoyed a fun new game that Paul named “Pile of Kyle.”
On Friday we visited a Macadamia nut plantation. It was really cool and they let us sample nuts, chocolate covered nuts, nut oil, and nut lotion. We met the owner who reminded me of an old hippie farmer mixed with crocodile Dundee. However, despite his appearance he is actually the inventor of the active ingredient in Nivea’s anti-aging cream, which of course is made from macadamia nuts.
Saturday some of us decided to climb the Hill of the Cross which overlooks Antigua (and personally I would call it a mountain not a hill). The weather was perfect for our adventure and I absolutely loved getting to be outside and off the cobblestone streets of Antigua. We climbed up a steep cobblestone path which was slightly painful since I had just gotten back from the gym but the cool shade and incredible view made it entirely worth it. From the top we could see all of Antigua. It was so peaceful and we had an unbelievable bird’s eye view of our lovely city. Sometimes I am so focused on walking that I forget to look up and see the beauty of where I am. The Hill of the Cross was a strong reminder for me of where I am and Who brought me to this place.
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