Day 1
Tuesday. We went to Tres Marías, in Santa Barbara, a little school that Carmen organized with the community for us to help and have an activity with the kids there. So our way up there was a bit though because the road was very small and the coaster was big. But when we arrived, it was all worth it. We managed to be very organized with the instructions of the activity, and the kids were patiently waiting for us sat down eagerly waiting the materials. Kata introduced herself and started off with the first step to take. Overall, the experience was great. I focused on a little kid that was doing each step with so much effort and he was the first one to finish. So I tried to make him finish each step as he wanted to, without being pressured by other kid's accomplishments. When he ended he went to others to see if they needed help, besides he enjoyed so much the activity that he wanted to re do it with members of his family. Later on, we gave them notebooks, and a bread with beans from San Martin. We went to the other destination. Pasac.
We had a very tragic start in Pasac. The coaster we were in suffered from a lot of damage. It was because the driver did a weird maneuver and we got stuck in the sideway and in consequence the bus ruined the entrance of a house which was decorated so beautifully and naturally with plants. We were so ashamed, but there was nothing that was made on purpose. The next step was to take the bus out of the sideway. The community people instantly went to look for ropes to help take the bus out. After many intents it was impossible. The same tactic was used over and over again. The smell of the brake was unbearable and even little children were making faces of disgust. Like we didn't had a complicated situation, it started raining. What I felt was joy, the rain energized me and made me feel grateful to see humans helping humans, even though we haven't met before. It was all human effort and human team towards helping a cause. After other suggestions, they placed rocks and wood tablets underneath the wheels and a final pull and we got the coaster out.
The next activity was a presentation of the organization, explaining its origins and what their mission is, and a brief explanation of the community. What followed after was a presentation by Alfredo, telling each of us our nahuales. It was amazing to listen to everyone's and see the similarities. I cannot say for certain others, but I can see myself being very reflected to what I would like to do, and what I am doing. Mine is Kawoq. One who searches for unity, and works for humanity. He gifted us a piece of necklace that was engraved our nahual in a coconut shell, and on the back our names and the name of our nahual. It was a great detail from his behalf and I bet we all found it very meaningful. The next thing was supper. After it we went to our family's house to meet them. But they hadn't arrived yet. We waited for about 10 minutes, and they arrived. The house was of three stories and it had a very beautiful garden in the patio, and a carpenter's shop. When they arrived they seemed very nice and honest people. The dad was called Pascual, mom, Katarina, and kid, Mayra 15. They gave us the room, which was an open room, no door, with two queen size beds, one was were Mayra slept and the other one were the parents slept. So Mayra slept with her mother in one, and Majo and I in the other one. We accompanied them to eat dinner, because we already had ours. They still offered us a soup made from this fruit/vegetable called Chilacayote. It was good. We talked a lot, about our interests, origins, we clearly specify that we were not americans, as they thought we were. They also told us about their community and how much they enjoyed the sense of fraternity in the community and in the method they use to take decisions, we also talked about our teeth hygiene. When we were in our room, the father told us about his experience crossing the border to arrive to the United States. Really I felt the effort of why he did it, and I completely felt empathetic, I would have done the same if it was for my children well being. It is interesting to see the higher purpose in life that they have, that they will pay anything towards achieving it. We later on went to sleep.
Day 2
Our mom was the best. She asked us if we showered with hot water, because she was going to heat it for us. She did. I was the first one to take a shower. The intense moment came when I noticed the little window in front of the shower gave to the kitchen. I noticed it while both Pascual and Katarina were having a conversation in front of me. I was so ashamed that I got down and start showering with huacalasos acurrucada. I didn't even used half of the water she heated for me. So then Majo used it.
First activity after breakfast was painting the school. The sun was intense, but we played some music and were very proactive in the process. It was neatly finished and gave more life to the organization. I went to the store near the school, and couldn't believe how much I could buy with only 5 quetzales.
After lunch what we had was our virtual professor dialogue via skype. It was Troy, a very interesting man who talked about social complexity and focused on the liberal arts, that teaches you the skills to find a more deeper understanding of life and gives you the wonder and interest of readings that makes your mind connect more links through diverse conversations. The next activity was to fill purified water from an ozone machine, into tambos of water that had a very tidy process. First we cleaned them with bleach, later we rinsed it with water and so on to fill the water bottles up and sealed them with a guaranteed tag.
After this we had our first class of Kiche. I was amazed at the difficulty of the language, and had no idea were did they derived from. We still learned some phrases to say to the women who did the food for us. "Tiosh che le rikil". Thank you for the food.
When we arrived back home, our family was waiting for us in the living room, our mother had spent a difficult evening because her head hurt. They were watching tv, and we talked about the violence in the city, traffic, the earthquake of Chile, and then went to sleep.
First activity after breakfast was painting the school. The sun was intense, but we played some music and were very proactive in the process. It was neatly finished and gave more life to the organization. I went to the store near the school, and couldn't believe how much I could buy with only 5 quetzales.
After lunch what we had was our virtual professor dialogue via skype. It was Troy, a very interesting man who talked about social complexity and focused on the liberal arts, that teaches you the skills to find a more deeper understanding of life and gives you the wonder and interest of readings that makes your mind connect more links through diverse conversations. The next activity was to fill purified water from an ozone machine, into tambos of water that had a very tidy process. First we cleaned them with bleach, later we rinsed it with water and so on to fill the water bottles up and sealed them with a guaranteed tag.
After this we had our first class of Kiche. I was amazed at the difficulty of the language, and had no idea were did they derived from. We still learned some phrases to say to the women who did the food for us. "Tiosh che le rikil". Thank you for the food.
When we arrived back home, our family was waiting for us in the living room, our mother had spent a difficult evening because her head hurt. They were watching tv, and we talked about the violence in the city, traffic, the earthquake of Chile, and then went to sleep.
Day 3
As I went down in the river that day, observing and studying about nature itself, I felt the wonder within and couldn’t explain such order and beauty seen. Every step I walked I was amazed to the progress we have come up to as human beings, to the point where I can walk with an upright posture and own a true sense of self.
Bert, Javi and I, were left behind because we appreciate the minutia of the journey more than the destination and we observed nature more closely. Questions like what is mind, and what is freedom were asked and no specific answer was given. I realize I had to answer them for myself, it is I who knew the answers to the questions, or I am the one who is in the search for my own answer. The conversation kept a very intense flow; it was such a rich content that I re affirmed that mind is part of something greater, a universal consciousness. Everything seemed so connected in the end. Where mind is part of nature and it belongs to something bigger than human intervention, and this is were we represent it by being spiritual beings. We are more than just human beings. Before arriving to the river, I couldn’t stop thinking as how many things had to happen so I can be there in that moment. Billion of years of evolution, rocks, plants, trees, fruits, everything that my eyes could see had a beginning, another person giving it a meaning, and here I am giving the meaning myself. I felt huge. I am part of this big work in progress that constitutes the universe, and I can make my legacy to the awareness of consciousness and progress more noticeable to human kind. What is it that made me the person I am now, only experiences that have left me learning’s. I couldn’t be more happier to where I am now, in the present, listening to nature outside and inside myself being in peace and in accordance.
Steiner consideró que el propósito de la evolución humana era el desarrollo de las cualidades interdependientes de amor y libertad.15
Bert, Javi and I, were left behind because we appreciate the minutia of the journey more than the destination and we observed nature more closely. Questions like what is mind, and what is freedom were asked and no specific answer was given. I realize I had to answer them for myself, it is I who knew the answers to the questions, or I am the one who is in the search for my own answer. The conversation kept a very intense flow; it was such a rich content that I re affirmed that mind is part of something greater, a universal consciousness. Everything seemed so connected in the end. Where mind is part of nature and it belongs to something bigger than human intervention, and this is were we represent it by being spiritual beings. We are more than just human beings. Before arriving to the river, I couldn’t stop thinking as how many things had to happen so I can be there in that moment. Billion of years of evolution, rocks, plants, trees, fruits, everything that my eyes could see had a beginning, another person giving it a meaning, and here I am giving the meaning myself. I felt huge. I am part of this big work in progress that constitutes the universe, and I can make my legacy to the awareness of consciousness and progress more noticeable to human kind. What is it that made me the person I am now, only experiences that have left me learning’s. I couldn’t be more happier to where I am now, in the present, listening to nature outside and inside myself being in peace and in accordance.
Steiner consideró que el propósito de la evolución humana era el desarrollo de las cualidades interdependientes de amor y libertad.15
After walking down to the river. We went to the school and thought children to typewrite in the computers using a program that told them specifically which finger to use while typing. It is amazing but it is something so naturally within me that I never stop to think about it and normally I don't even think I learned it. It came out as it came out.
The person who was in charge told us after an hour or so of practice, to go for the library and tell stories to the children. It started with few children, and little by little the whole community of children were gathered in a circle, inventing stories about hypopotamus, participating in games, and just being little children, us included. I had such a blast, and laughed so much. When we finish we did a debrief, and each of the kids had a chance to say something they enjoyed about the activities. I was so happy to see the children so eager about learning, and especially about reading. Plus, they had a very neat library, with new books and very nice and complete tools to learn.
We had our last class of kiche, and also had a dialogue with Alfredo, about the beginning of the community in Pasac. I am amazed to the power of organization these people have come to. They are apolitical, and go forward the improvement of the whole community. First, they have banned the selling of alcohol and cigarrettes in the community because they've seen the dangers of long term, and have focused on improving the security within the town. It has worked. Plus the various institutions that have been established have helped to the development of the society they are trying to build. For example Roots and Wings is going towards the approach of education with a higher level of study, they have graduated one person and there are about three more people following her in the next year or so. I was very proud of the effort they've all done, towards reaching the best version of a community.
When we arrived home, our mother had done arroz con chocolate and had some pan dulce for us to have. It was incredibly delicious, the shame is that before we had had french fries in a stand were the first day was very informal, yet we managed to buy the man's whole stock. For the next day he had arranged small tables, with table clothes, chairs and even 2L coca colas. It was amazing the power of the economy, and the extra value he added for us to have a richer experience. He was very proactive, in the sense that he saw what was missing and how he could improve that situation.
We gave our phone numbers, directions of our houses in Guate and our names as we appear in Facebook. It was very nice to have that confidence with someone you just met few days before, and they are so willing to be forever friends with you.
The person who was in charge told us after an hour or so of practice, to go for the library and tell stories to the children. It started with few children, and little by little the whole community of children were gathered in a circle, inventing stories about hypopotamus, participating in games, and just being little children, us included. I had such a blast, and laughed so much. When we finish we did a debrief, and each of the kids had a chance to say something they enjoyed about the activities. I was so happy to see the children so eager about learning, and especially about reading. Plus, they had a very neat library, with new books and very nice and complete tools to learn.
We had our last class of kiche, and also had a dialogue with Alfredo, about the beginning of the community in Pasac. I am amazed to the power of organization these people have come to. They are apolitical, and go forward the improvement of the whole community. First, they have banned the selling of alcohol and cigarrettes in the community because they've seen the dangers of long term, and have focused on improving the security within the town. It has worked. Plus the various institutions that have been established have helped to the development of the society they are trying to build. For example Roots and Wings is going towards the approach of education with a higher level of study, they have graduated one person and there are about three more people following her in the next year or so. I was very proud of the effort they've all done, towards reaching the best version of a community.
When we arrived home, our mother had done arroz con chocolate and had some pan dulce for us to have. It was incredibly delicious, the shame is that before we had had french fries in a stand were the first day was very informal, yet we managed to buy the man's whole stock. For the next day he had arranged small tables, with table clothes, chairs and even 2L coca colas. It was amazing the power of the economy, and the extra value he added for us to have a richer experience. He was very proactive, in the sense that he saw what was missing and how he could improve that situation.
We gave our phone numbers, directions of our houses in Guate and our names as we appear in Facebook. It was very nice to have that confidence with someone you just met few days before, and they are so willing to be forever friends with you.
Last Day
The last day was very sad. Mayra told me to wake her up before I left so she could do me a trenza. I did, and so she worked it very nicely and gave me two bobby pins decorated with flower details, very beautiful. So the dynamic was to go around each house that our friends had stayed and see how they said goodbye to each other.
When we arrived to our house, I felt very nostalgic, and cried a little, I told them that I was very grateful, that it had been a great experience and that i loved them. Everything in that moment felt so honest and meaningful. Katarina's concern was our safety when we are back in Guate. Just like a mother will be concerned with her child's safety.
When we arrived to Kata's and Pablito's house, I saw the house were some children that I had put my eyes on since we came, that were very dirty, and spent three days with the same clothes. The little girl every time she saw me through her arms and hugged me tightly. She saw my bracelet and loved it. She asked for it, and I couldn't say no. I learned that I have to be less attached to the material things. She couldn't believe it while I gave it to her. She didn't stop saying "mia"? mia?... and was incredibly grateful. I was more grateful to her than she was to me. I left with a knot in my throat and even dropped a few tears in the bus. I was saying to myself, that I didn't want this to be just another experience that I live and I forgot about it. And as I went back to my house and lived several experiences that are actually luxuries I kept making the comparison of how I wouldn't have had that privilege back at Pasac. And that made me be more grateful for everything that I have, for all the effort my ancestors have made for me to be in the situation I am. Really to not give everything as a given in life, but to think that everything you have made it happen, and is you who have the responsibility to improve the situation you encounter yourself.
When we arrived to our house, I felt very nostalgic, and cried a little, I told them that I was very grateful, that it had been a great experience and that i loved them. Everything in that moment felt so honest and meaningful. Katarina's concern was our safety when we are back in Guate. Just like a mother will be concerned with her child's safety.
When we arrived to Kata's and Pablito's house, I saw the house were some children that I had put my eyes on since we came, that were very dirty, and spent three days with the same clothes. The little girl every time she saw me through her arms and hugged me tightly. She saw my bracelet and loved it. She asked for it, and I couldn't say no. I learned that I have to be less attached to the material things. She couldn't believe it while I gave it to her. She didn't stop saying "mia"? mia?... and was incredibly grateful. I was more grateful to her than she was to me. I left with a knot in my throat and even dropped a few tears in the bus. I was saying to myself, that I didn't want this to be just another experience that I live and I forgot about it. And as I went back to my house and lived several experiences that are actually luxuries I kept making the comparison of how I wouldn't have had that privilege back at Pasac. And that made me be more grateful for everything that I have, for all the effort my ancestors have made for me to be in the situation I am. Really to not give everything as a given in life, but to think that everything you have made it happen, and is you who have the responsibility to improve the situation you encounter yourself.