La Salle Students from Yakima, WA, and the Paiz community of Guatemala
On the early Saturday morning of April 20th, we arrived in Guatemala City after our long and tiring journey. We had yet to know that we would soon receive a warm welcome and stay with the Paiz community, with productive and quick work. We started off our first day in Guatemala by going to a restaurant and eating breakfast to prepare for our six-hour bus ride from Guatemala City to Paiz. When we arrived in Paiz we received a warm welcome from the community. On our arrival we were met with a great meal for lunch from great cooks, a delicious chicken soup, with potato and noodles. We set up our beds and luggage in the school. Later we took an easy hike around the community to learn about the community and the environment. We learned about the mass amounts of land for corn and other various crops for the families of the community. The La Sallian student volunteers were very eager knowing that there was a local shop with various new snacks and foods. Later that night we received a nutritious meal of rice and beans, scrambled eggs, and a sweet plantain. We had a wonderful introduction to Paiz community who would later help us and teach us much about their culture and way of life.
The Sunday of April 21st was an exciting day; we participated in many activities throughout the day. We first had breakfast to prepare for the excitement we had waiting for us. Our first activity after breakfast was church; we dressed nicely to prepare for church and then took a 20-minute bus ride to a magnificent church. The church was about three stories high with a comfortable interior, the church’s colors were yellow with accents of white, including the interior the stain glass windows and the exterior. We had a wonderful mass with a wonderful homily from the priest. We then went back to the school to eat lunch to prepare for our next activity. After lunch we then took an hour-long bus ride to a market filled with people and bustling with shops. Many of the La Sallian volunteers enjoyed the shopping, many buying gifts for themselves and others, some bought snacks. We stayed at the market for about two and a half hours bargaining for better deals. We returned with many bargained purchases and a fun time. Once we were back some of us enjoyed a fun time playing soccer with the community. We finished our day of not working with a noodle and meat mix to prepare for our day of work on Monday.
The Monday of April 22nd was our first out of three days of work for the basketball court. We started our morning by waking up and getting dressed for work, then eating. We ate a good healthy breakfast to prepare for our day of work. We started our work with an opening ceremony to officiate the creation of the court. Our method of work was to split up into three teams, then one team would carry sand buckets for 15 minutes, the other team would carry rock buckets for 15 minutes, and the last team would take a break for 15 minutes, and our groups would cycle through until the job was finished or until we were offered a break to participate in a short activity from the community. Sometimes we would all take a break if there was an inconvenience, such as the mixer running out of gasoline. We worked until we were about halfway done and then the community school students had a presentation to offer us. The students had a semi-dance, semi-informal presentation about the roles and traditions of men and women. Then we got back to work and finished the first third of the court. After that we had lunch to prepare for our next activity. We took a 30-minute bus ride to a hiking spot with a park. We then took a long hike throughout the forest on the sides of the hills going over bridges and on the steep sides of the forestry hills. We took a big loop and ended back at the park. We then had a fun time at the park, some of us playing volleyball or soccer, others going on the various swings, teeter totters, and other playground equipment, and others just rested. When we returned some students were unaware of the giant loop and were very funnily confused. After a good time at the park we returned to the school and ate a very good dinner. We ended with a fun and productive day.
The Tuesday of April 23rd was an informal and good day. We started the day by getting dressed for work then eating breakfast. For breakfast we had a good soup to nourish for our second day of work. We got to work on the second third of the court. Work went slow that day but consistent. Once we were about halfway done with the court, the community school students had a presentation to offer us. Five boys and five girls from the school showed us a traditional style dance. One boy did a solo poetry speech that was spoken very proudly and very well. We then proceeded to finish second third of the court. For lunch we had pasta with red salsa and deer meat. We were then invited to a local family's home to learn the process to make traditional tortillas and tamales. We were welcomed into their home, and we learned how they grind the corn, how they make it into tortillas and tamales, they also taught us some of their native language; K’iche’. While cooking we had a fun time with much laughter and love while learning a lot. We developed a connection with the people teaching us to cook even when some of us had a language barrier. We ended our day with a good dinner of scrambled eggs and carrot with beans with a glass of rice water.
On Wednesday of April 24th was the day we finished the court! We started the day off by getting dressed to work and then eating breakfast. For breakfast we ate sausage, eggs, and beans to prepare for our final day of work. We went to work, working at a moderate pace, getting the job done. About halfway through the final third of the court the community gave us a presentation on sweet water bread and atole, showing us what makes it, how to make it, and letting us eat and drink it. The community also taught us its significance as it’s usually eaten on Good Friday. We enjoyed eating it then we got back to work finishing the court. Then most of us sat there looking at our finished work. We then had a lunch of carne asada in a soup with rice. Then to celebrate finishing the court we went to a local hot spring. We took about a 30-minute drive to get to the hot spring where we then spent about 2 hours enjoying different pools with different levels of heat. We all had a really fun time there swimming and enjoying the hot spring. We then returned to the school where we relaxed, played soccer or volleyball, then ate. We ended our day with a finished court and a good meal.
Thursday, April 25th, was the opening ceremony for the court a moment of speaking and thanksgiving. We woke up and ate breakfast and then dressed nicely for the ceremony, and the girls were invited to dress in the traditional Guatemalan attire. We then participated in the opening ceremony in which there was many speeches from representatives and a thanks to the work of the community members and the La Sallian volunteers. Some of our La Salle students had speeches of their own. All of us were then given little blankets with an intricate design and the writing of the location “PAIZ MOMOSTENANGO GUATEMALA” it was very heartfelt and meant a lot to us. Then everyone was served soda and a pastry. We then walked over to the court to cut the ribbon and start playing sports, with a massive firecracker in the background causing loud means for celebration. Joy filled the air with the clapping and thanks of all. We then were in a lot of photos, all of us setting up for photos and once we were done with group photos, we were then had singular photos with some of the locals. The rest of the day was filled with playing sports and relaxing. The feeling of playing sports on the court was great, playing with the community was very fun. We ate lunch and then some of us played sports, others relaxed till dinner and bed to prepare for our next day.
Friday, April 26th, was the day we left Paiz. We ate breakfast got dressed and packed up to leave. On our way to the bus, we said our goodbyes with many hugs and tears and smiles, we made a genuine connection with the community, and it was harder then ever to leave them, then we took our final photos and then left. We continued to take a four-hour bus ride to lake Atitlán where we stayed in a hostel near a restaurant on the lake side. We then ate lunch which was a variety of meats with garlic bread. We then were free to relax, some of us played cards, others watched TV, some went to the pool. We then finished our day by having spaghetti with garlic bread, a very filling and tasty meal. We then watched movies and got ready for bed.
Saturday April 27th, we got up, got dressed and ate waffles with yogurt and fruit. We then got our currency and took a 30-minute boat ride to San Juan La Laguna filled with shopping areas. It was vibrant and very artistic having a lot of graffiti art portraying the culture and area we were at. It was stunning and filled with people. We went directly to Casa Flor Ixcaco where we learned about the traditional methods of weaving and dying which used many different materials and substances to make dyes. Some of us participated in the weaving process. We learned about the struggle for an independent business run by Mayan women, and the founders struggles and achievements, it was truly inspiring. We then looked around their shop and bought truly incredible works of weaving. Each piece of work came with a tag that said who made it and how long it took to make it. We then went around the various shops buying things for ourselves and for others such as clothing, art, trinkets etc. We then went back to the boat and to the hostel where we ate a lunch of hamburgers and french fries. After finishing dinner we got on the bus to Guatemala City where we stayed at Hostal los Volcanes. We had pizza for dinner while playing cards or watching TV. Then we went to bed to prepare for the plane ride the next day.
Sunday April 28th was our last day in Guatemala. We packed our bags, got dressed and then left to the airport. We said our goodbyes to those who helped us and then we left after a life changing experience.
In conclusion, this was a life changing experience for everyone who went on this trip. I know that everyone who went definitely had something good to say about it. This was an amazing experience that you can’t take any negatives out of. Special thanks to Peter and Molly who helped make this possible. ~ Jasper Holman Screaming Eagle of La salle High school Yakima
US Volunteers Quotes:
The most difficult part of going home is leaving this extremely nice community behind and just leaving them after all they’ve done for us, I will miss all the friends I made and all the things we did together. ~ Sam Brewer
My high pointy of the trip was being able to play on the court we made, my favorite activity was playing volleyball. ~ Natalie Richardson
I was deeply changed for the better, I’ve learned more about where my heart stand and why I stands for. ~ Jasper Holman
The most difficult part of going home is leaving the community members. Throughout our whole time here they’ve been super kind, hospitable and have made a bunch of sacrifices for us. ~ Katherine Forsyth
I would recommend a Courts for Kids trip because it´s a great opportunity to see new perspectives. ~ Isabella Schneider
What I learned about the world was that single-sides stories and stereotypes can extremely alter perspectives, views or opinions about something that may be unknown or something we may be oblivious or ignorant to. ~ Gabriel Tamez
This incredible experience of going to Guatemala to help build a court has left many permanent memories I will cherish forever. I also am incredibly grateful for the relationships I have made. ~ Kennedy Schaake
What I have learned from the community is that they might’ve not been money rich buy they were love rich, this community has taught me true love. ~ Natalia Valladares
Community Quotes:
This project was needed at the school, and it is good that it has been carried out, as it is useful for sports activities and physical exercise. Thanks to the donors for the project, and also thanks to the neighbours for all their collaboration in carrying out the project. ~ Miguel Guox, Community member
We hope that the volunteers have taken away a good impression of the school, teachers, parents, children and our community in general. We cannot recognize their good will, but we believe that the Supreme Being will reward them greatly.
~ Erick Herrera, Community member
It is the desire of the entire educational community and a great need to complement the teaching and learning of children. It was an unforgettable experience to know that there are such noble institutions that are very committed to their neighbors and it is very nice to know different cultures and live together in a very humble way. ~ Alicia Itzep, School teacher
It is the dream of all the teachers and students of the school. The arrival of the volunteers was a great joy for us and we shared unique moments, our traditions, food and places of our community. The volunteers showed very good values, we got used to their company and during the work they showed a lot of interest in us. God bless the volunteers and we will always carry them in our hearts. ~ Elizabeth Ajtun, School teacher
In just a few days, a dream that we had been waiting for 15 years came true. The volunteers have left their mark on our hearts because of the great love they had for us. ~ Dolores Castro, School teacher
