1-26-14

Today we explored Antigua. We went to the market place and learned to barter. We visited the Chocolate Museum and we all tried delicious new foods.

One of the things we saw was how happy and outgoing everyone was. The children werent afraid to wander the streets alone and almost everyone had a smile on their face. We also saw some extreme cases of poverty. One woman was sitting on the side of the street in her wheelchair begging for money. Another was sitting on the corner holding her hand out to everyone that passed by. Even outside of the market, locals were walking up to us trying to sell us their goods. Some of them were adults, while some of them were young children. Almost all of the goods we saw, in and out of the market, were made by the people selling them. There were bags, bracelets, paintings, journals, clothing and much more. Everything was so colorful, and much different to what we see walking the streets back home.

The food we had was amazing. Breakfast included fresh fruit and some of us tried papaya and plantains for the first time. For lunch we went to a local restaurant where some of us had nachos, tacos, burritos and quesadillas. We all gathered together again for the Chocolate Museum where we molded our own chocolates and got to try many different recipies, including Mayan and Spanish recipes, dating back 4,000 years ago. For dinner, we went to Cafe Sky with our team coordinators Jessa and Christiana, where we got to try more authentic Guatemalan food.

It was hard for us to take all of it in and we all realized how much we take for granted back home. Seeing all the poverty around here, most of us, if not all of us, feel bad that there isnt more that we can do to help, and that there isnt enough money to go around. Some of us who bartered for something at the market realized how cheap we got it for, which made us feel guilty, that we were taking away from all the hard work these people put in to their work every day.

Tomorrow we begin our work at Safe Passage. We are excited to work with the kids. However, we know that it will be an emotional day for all of us.

Maggie Seitz and Courtney Buhelt