During spring break, students in the short-term study abroad courses, ECG 200 "Faces of Guatemala and Justice" and ECG 300 "Working for Justice in Guatemala," travel to Guatemala to learn about and work alongside the people there. This is my account of the trip.
Day 6
The week has flown by despite some mild intestinal problems some felt. The group cared for each other well and everybody is OK for the flight home.
We concluded the week with a special opportunity to go grocery shopping for seven widows who struggle financially. We bought large grocery bags of food and supplies that will last them a week. At the end of the day, we met these elderly women to give them the bags. They said a prayer over us and blessed us. This was a truly moving moment to remind us of how blessed we are.
In the afternoon we received an in-depth lesson in how coffee goes from a small plant to the cup we drink. We saw each stage in the process and got to taste the coffee that we saw an hour earlier as a unroasted bean. Several are writing and filming a Loquitur story, which I will share when done.
Following that we learned from a Mayan man who has dedicated his life to caring for the planet. He grows thousands of small trees to prevent erosion, teaches children to reduce litter and the use of plastic, and works with university researchers to lessen our adding to climate change.
We concluded the day, as we do everyday, with a group reflection under the full moon. As we prepare to head to the airport at 7:30am, we are all grateful for the opportunity to spend this week together and with members of the San Lucas community. Some of our key takeaways? We were privileged to spend time working side by side with talented Guatemalans, who, although they have far, far less in material possessions than we have, possess many non-material assets that we have grown to recognize.
Part of Cabrini's Mission Statement is to become "engaged citizens of the world." This week has been an important step in this engagement. We see our country and countries all over the world pulling back from engagement, fortifying borders, turning their backs on people in need or distress or who are different in race or religion. We are proud of these students and alumni who are seeking unity across borders, recognizing our common humanity, and looking to establish respectful relationships with those superficially different.
When we return, we will prepare to meet with our senators and representatives in Washington in May. We will discuss with them what we learned first-hand. Few of those in Congress and the White House who speak so loudly and often negatively about the people we have met have actually witnessed in person what we have. We have seen the results of climate change in the withering crops. We see the need for fair economic relationships between nations. We learned and see the complex causes of migration and families fleeing violence or grinding poverty. Not that we have all the answers but now these students and alumni have personal experience with issues confronting our world. They have experienced the common humanity we all share across differences and can work for a more just world.
View all photos from the week!