Today marks our fifth to last day in Guatemala. As our time here starts to wind down, we have come to have a deep appreciation for the people and culture of Guatemala. Spending almost a full month in this amazing country has allowed us to immerse ourselves in the everyday work and lifestyle of Mayan and Guatemalan people.
Today, we started the second day of our final week of work at all of our worksites. In Brillo De Sol, we prepped and primed the exterior walls to prepare them for a final coat of paint. Two of the students in the group and CAPT Lennon went to the empty lot that will eventually become the school’s new campus where they installed a fence. The children were at the school today, and it was nice to interact with them and explain what we were doing at their school for the week.
The second group was in San Antonio where they helped a local family rebuild their outdoor kitchen. They cemented a group of cinderblocks together to create a proper foundation for the kitchen, enabling a dry space during the rainy season. This will allow the family to prepare proper meals in the upcoming months.
The last group was at Santa Maria de Jesus. They spent the work day chiseling out the subfloor and pulling up floor tiles which will help the school repair the cracked foundation and install new flooring. During break time, they played a large group soccer game, creating a closer bonding experience with the staff and the students.
During Spanish class, some students and their teachers enjoyed a hike up to the Cerro de la Cruz (Hill of the Cross). Thanks for reading! We will see you tomorrow for another daily update.
-Matilda Laux
