The Chronicles of World Accord Volunteer, Katharine O'Connell
Part 1: Antigua, Guatemala
The sound of horns, the endless line ups of people on the street, the thick pollution that fills the air, the bright colored buses and large billboards displaying advertisements for companies such as Coca Cola; these are the sights and sounds of Guatemala City.
As I left the city with my driver Sergio we entered the open countryside of Guatemala that was filled with crisp, clean air, vast mountains and breathtaking scenery. My journey had begun. I was on my way to Antigua, Guatemala; a place I would call home for the next eight days.
When I arrived in Antigua the first thing I noticed was the bumpy, old roads, the colonial buildings, unique architecture and numerous churches. These were just some of the sights that I would later get a closer look at during the next week.
As we approached the home of my host family, I began to wonder what the next week would hold for me; would I be able to learn Spanish in such a short time? Would I make it in a different culture on my own without the support of my friends and family?
When I arrived at my host family’s home I was kindly greeted by Veronica, her daughters (Ana and Stephanie) and some of the other foreigners currently studying Spanish, who were residing in the home. Everyone had just sat down to dinner and was enjoying a traditional Guatemalan meal of beans, tortillas, salad and cheese.
I was nervous and unsure of what to say due to my small Spanish vocabulary that I had acquired while taking an online course the previous March. With the help of my roommates, however, I was able to make it through the first evening.
