Tikal

Being out of America was not a new experience for me. Ever since I went to France when I was ten I have loved simply being somewhere where I have no experience surviving in the society. For me, American life is tedious and boring. I like to do things that take me out of my comfort zone and make me reflect on my life in America. Different societies interest me. Especially ones that existed thousands of years ago. Visiting the Mayan ruins in Tikal and Uaxactun were definately the most interesting and inspiring part of my time in Guatemala. To think that such a monstrous society rose and fell before any of us even existed simply boggles my mind. What did the people of that time think about? What were their daily lives like? How does ancient Mayan society compare to our own? These questions were constantly running through my head while I was walking up and down the temples of Tikal. While I was there I couldn´t help but feel the presence of some antediluvian entity trying to communicate with me. It made me wish I could have been alive to witness the creation of such a mystical place. To me, the Mayan ways seemed to reach out from the mist. Like something palpable. Like an idea. It was easily the most intense spiritual experience of my life, and I know I will never forget it. My time in Guatemala has truly made me realize how much I love getting out of my own society and experiencing a new kinds of connections with other societies that exist in the past or present.

Nate Levenson
High Tech High International