Guatemala 2010

This past summer 6 River Ridge students traveled to Guatemala for 12 days. While in the country they stayed with local families, walked to school each morning, attended 4 hours of class, and then returned back to their families for lunch. After the midday meal students used the school as a meeting place for the afternoon activities. They visited a coffee plantation, a macadamian nut farm, ziplined through a canyon in the rain, took dance lessons, visited several surrounding towns, parks, and churches, and still had plenty of time to shop and barter at the local markets. One of the favorite afternoon activities was participating in a local service project at a local orphanage. The students bonded quickly with the young children by dancing, drawing, and playing games with the kids. Both of the weekends that we were in Guatemala were used for touring and sightseeing. We visited the Mayan ruins of Tikal, the Mayan market in Chichicastenango, and had a day at the black sand beach in Monterrico. Overall an exciting learning experience for all.

Although it wasn't a year away, our students got a small taste of what it is like to leave your home country and live with a family of a different culture that does not speak their native language!