I am so glad that I chose this trip to Guatemala. When I first signed up I was just going to go, unaware of what was actually going to be going on. Its amazing how much stuff we have done over the week that we have been here;climbing Volan Pacaya, visiting Uaxactun, seeing the ancient ruin in Tikal, working with ARCAS Wildlife Foundation, mountain biking down a mountain, kayaking across lake Atitlan, and very many hikes, all which I never imagined myself doing. I had to push myself physically and mentally to accomplish all of this especially climbing Volcan Pacaya. After i was getting closer and closer to lava flow a rock beneath me crush and I no longer wished to continue further, but I was proud to at least get to a point where I could see lava flow, feel the change in temperature as I approached it. ARCAS opened up my eyes to endagered species, specifically the Macaw, which I never knew the story behind how they were traumatized by being smuggled in plastic bags. I fed and claned Howler Monkey Cages and another animal which was about the size of a chihuahua with a long nose. Cleaning the cage that belonged to the small animal was the hardest because they were agressive, biting and scratching at me every chance they got. In Uaxactun and Tikal we learned about the ancient Mayan culture and saw many temples. I am still amazed at the structures because they live so long ago and its a very hard concept to grasp of how they built them. This trip has also enabled me to open up socially, since I am usualy shy and the fact that I didn´t know the people on this trip and that I am the only ninth grader, and I am very proud of myself. I am very grateful that I got to go on this trip with World School during my One World Week at High Tech High Media Arts and I already know that these are ten days of my life that I will never forget.
Brandi Coley
High Tech High Media Arts
Grade 9
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Guatemala: The Eye-Opener
As I departed for Guatemala, I felt as if we were entering another developing country. I felt that my third time leaving the States was going to be a wildcard travel, that we were entering this country to be sitting stiff, not knowing what we were doing or what we could be doing. I was feeling terribly wrong.
As we arrived to ARCAS, our first destination, we saw the beauty of the rainforest and noticed how dedicated the volunteers are about rehabilitating and reintroducing the animals. As we did our service projects, we saw how relieved some of the staff were, being that what we were doing for one or two days, they were going to continue doing every day from 1 to 8 months. That left us feeling good about ourselves and feeling the need to do more than our part to help save the environment.
After another plane ride we arrived in Uaxactun, where some of the ancient Mayan temples were. We were amazed at the structures and the thought put into buidling and designing them, as well as meeting the locals who helped maintain and keep the area aesthecially pleasing. After Uaxactun we ventured into Tikal to see some more temples. After being dumbstruck at the height of these temples and the history behind them, we were sure we would remember this experience in many different ways.
After exploring the temples and environment, we drove to Antigua for a plethora of activities making each one of us excited to be up and at ´em at very early hours of the morning. The hike up Pacaya Volcano and the bike ride, the hike and kayak to and through Lake Atitlan left us in stitches, but not even a sunburn could have stopped us from enjoying this trip we all considered "Once in a Good Lifetime."
Kyle Goossens
Senior, High Tech High Media Arts
As we arrived to ARCAS, our first destination, we saw the beauty of the rainforest and noticed how dedicated the volunteers are about rehabilitating and reintroducing the animals. As we did our service projects, we saw how relieved some of the staff were, being that what we were doing for one or two days, they were going to continue doing every day from 1 to 8 months. That left us feeling good about ourselves and feeling the need to do more than our part to help save the environment.
After another plane ride we arrived in Uaxactun, where some of the ancient Mayan temples were. We were amazed at the structures and the thought put into buidling and designing them, as well as meeting the locals who helped maintain and keep the area aesthecially pleasing. After Uaxactun we ventured into Tikal to see some more temples. After being dumbstruck at the height of these temples and the history behind them, we were sure we would remember this experience in many different ways.
After exploring the temples and environment, we drove to Antigua for a plethora of activities making each one of us excited to be up and at ´em at very early hours of the morning. The hike up Pacaya Volcano and the bike ride, the hike and kayak to and through Lake Atitlan left us in stitches, but not even a sunburn could have stopped us from enjoying this trip we all considered "Once in a Good Lifetime."
Kyle Goossens
Senior, High Tech High Media Arts
Best days of my 17years of living.
When i signed up for the Guatemala trip i wasnt clear on what was to be expected, i had never been out of non-neighboring countries of the US, and i certainly wasnt experienced in doing outdoor activities. Of the things i was sure of i knew i would be doing some sort of community service, bargain with vendors, and most importantly eat a lot of food. It wasnt until i stepped foot on the ARCAS site that i realized i had gotten myself into an obtuse task of hard work.
The ARCAS visit was almost purely labor but it rarely felt like it. I was given the oppurtunity to feed spider monkeys and clean their cages. I had never been that upclose and personal with a wild animal, so even though i was hauling monkey poo into a bucket i actually really enjoyed it. The monkeys were such a joy to be around and made me smile, it was hard not to play or talk to them. Id have to say the most challenging part of ARCAS was not so fun, but i wouldnt change anything at all. We had to work in the fields getting the dirt (well im almost sure it was goat droppings) ready and turned so that we could help ARCAS become more self sustainable and plant their own garden. I had never been worked that hard in my life and to think that people have been doing this everyday for litte pay and many years is just spine rattling. I have gained so much respect for workers.
After we left our volunteering part of our journey in ARCAS we arrived at the ancient ruins of Uaxactun and Tikal. Both of the sites left me abosolutly at awe. I was interested into the amount of time, knowledge, patience, endurance, and determination it took the ancient mayans to build their living quarters. They knew more than a lot of people from the 21st centurary with all of its resources would even know. It is amazing i honestly cant believe i was able to see this, when i stepped on every ancient ground i could envision how it would be to be Mayan and how my everyday life would be (our tour guide Roxy was also amazing at creating this picture for me). Every body needs to experiance a visit to an ancient ruin because it really puts into perspective what humans were capable of then and what we are capable or incapable of doing now. The best part of this visit was the fact that i got to hold a turantula, yes an 8 legged creature that is fuzzy and feared!
The 3rd part of our trip in Guatemala was the physically challenging part, man o man was i exsuasted! i did so many things i wouldnt have even thought i could do prior to this trip such as a 20 mile mountain bike journey, hiking up a what seems to be oversized volcano, learning the importance of communication skills with my partner through kyaking, bargaining my way to getting souveners i most likely wont even use in my lifetime, fighting a mad case of spicy diarea, and conversng in spanish with words i didnt even know that i knew!
As we are on our 4th part of our trip here in antigua i am honestly sad its ending. Last night was the first night leading up to semana santa and the streets were so festive and full of life, i had so much food and i dont even know how to pronounce some of it, it was great. Today is the walking tour of antigua im excited to see how this all goes and tomorrow we leave back to sunny san diego.
I am almost sure this is the best experiance of my life, i am super stoked about traveling and hopefully this is the beginning of great adventures. I would love to travel through world school anytime after such a great experiance. Jen was great, my teachers were great, everything was honestly fantastic, and i garuntee you this blog is no hyperbole.
ashley matthews 11th grade
high tech high media arts
april 4, 2009
The ARCAS visit was almost purely labor but it rarely felt like it. I was given the oppurtunity to feed spider monkeys and clean their cages. I had never been that upclose and personal with a wild animal, so even though i was hauling monkey poo into a bucket i actually really enjoyed it. The monkeys were such a joy to be around and made me smile, it was hard not to play or talk to them. Id have to say the most challenging part of ARCAS was not so fun, but i wouldnt change anything at all. We had to work in the fields getting the dirt (well im almost sure it was goat droppings) ready and turned so that we could help ARCAS become more self sustainable and plant their own garden. I had never been worked that hard in my life and to think that people have been doing this everyday for litte pay and many years is just spine rattling. I have gained so much respect for workers.
After we left our volunteering part of our journey in ARCAS we arrived at the ancient ruins of Uaxactun and Tikal. Both of the sites left me abosolutly at awe. I was interested into the amount of time, knowledge, patience, endurance, and determination it took the ancient mayans to build their living quarters. They knew more than a lot of people from the 21st centurary with all of its resources would even know. It is amazing i honestly cant believe i was able to see this, when i stepped on every ancient ground i could envision how it would be to be Mayan and how my everyday life would be (our tour guide Roxy was also amazing at creating this picture for me). Every body needs to experiance a visit to an ancient ruin because it really puts into perspective what humans were capable of then and what we are capable or incapable of doing now. The best part of this visit was the fact that i got to hold a turantula, yes an 8 legged creature that is fuzzy and feared!
The 3rd part of our trip in Guatemala was the physically challenging part, man o man was i exsuasted! i did so many things i wouldnt have even thought i could do prior to this trip such as a 20 mile mountain bike journey, hiking up a what seems to be oversized volcano, learning the importance of communication skills with my partner through kyaking, bargaining my way to getting souveners i most likely wont even use in my lifetime, fighting a mad case of spicy diarea, and conversng in spanish with words i didnt even know that i knew!
As we are on our 4th part of our trip here in antigua i am honestly sad its ending. Last night was the first night leading up to semana santa and the streets were so festive and full of life, i had so much food and i dont even know how to pronounce some of it, it was great. Today is the walking tour of antigua im excited to see how this all goes and tomorrow we leave back to sunny san diego.
I am almost sure this is the best experiance of my life, i am super stoked about traveling and hopefully this is the beginning of great adventures. I would love to travel through world school anytime after such a great experiance. Jen was great, my teachers were great, everything was honestly fantastic, and i garuntee you this blog is no hyperbole.
ashley matthews 11th grade
high tech high media arts
april 4, 2009
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