Iīm back in San Christobal. I love this city. Iīm sitting in the Internet cafe that I came to everyday when I was staying here. I left Xela v. late yesterday so I only arrived here at 2 am. And then tried to go to a hostel that didnīt exist. I feel much older and wiser than when I was here last. My comfort zone has shifted and I havenīt realized it before coming back to a familiar place.
First, the trek was fantastic. Challenging. Great weather until the last day. Really fun people. There were 13 of us including guides.
It has always really bothered me when people say things like, "The people have nothing but they have such spirit", especially when itīs followed by some comment about the trappings of Western consumerism. This isnīt that kind of comment, only that I realized for the first time that I am unable to live with what these people have. I canīt live on what they eat. I canīt get wet and cold knowing that it is hard to get dry and warm. I donīt like fires (instead of electricity) or flies. I need space, not just one room for myself and the six closest people to me in all the world. This is a harsh realization.
The first two nights we slept in schools. Both communities have no road access and is a fair trek from any road. We arrived at the first school (1 room school house) and like 40 kids were obsessed with watching everything we did. Like we were setting up sleeping bags on the floor and each window had 10 heads looking in.
The second school house was soley 3 rooms with a dirt floor and a waterproof roof. Whatever youīre imagining it was way less and way worse. 125 kids go to this school. Anyway while we were there the community went to the guides and gave them a proposal for a new school for the community. (This makes sense because Quetzaltrekkers reason for being is to support a school in Xela). Their proposal consisted of needing $30,000. I think a big cost is to transport materials into the community. This is a lot of money, especially for Guatemala but all I could think is that thatīs so freaking little money that would do so much good.
A funnier story. The third night we stayed with a family. There was an outhouse that was only reachable via a very steep hill. And it was pouring rain outside. And we had totally run out of toilet paper and there was none to buy in the town. Then we were told by the head of the household to take the broom with us to the bathroom, in case the dogs got too close. Hys-terical.
Today Iīm going to swim laps at a hotel pool (I think it might be the only pool in the city). At this altitude you float more but itīs harder cardiovascularly. Then Iīm going to eat chocolate cake and pick up my clean laundry. Iīm 16 hours from Cancun. Iīm dreading that trip but I know that I will be rewarded by beach and sun.
First, the trek was fantastic. Challenging. Great weather until the last day. Really fun people. There were 13 of us including guides.
It has always really bothered me when people say things like, "The people have nothing but they have such spirit", especially when itīs followed by some comment about the trappings of Western consumerism. This isnīt that kind of comment, only that I realized for the first time that I am unable to live with what these people have. I canīt live on what they eat. I canīt get wet and cold knowing that it is hard to get dry and warm. I donīt like fires (instead of electricity) or flies. I need space, not just one room for myself and the six closest people to me in all the world. This is a harsh realization.
The first two nights we slept in schools. Both communities have no road access and is a fair trek from any road. We arrived at the first school (1 room school house) and like 40 kids were obsessed with watching everything we did. Like we were setting up sleeping bags on the floor and each window had 10 heads looking in.
The second school house was soley 3 rooms with a dirt floor and a waterproof roof. Whatever youīre imagining it was way less and way worse. 125 kids go to this school. Anyway while we were there the community went to the guides and gave them a proposal for a new school for the community. (This makes sense because Quetzaltrekkers reason for being is to support a school in Xela). Their proposal consisted of needing $30,000. I think a big cost is to transport materials into the community. This is a lot of money, especially for Guatemala but all I could think is that thatīs so freaking little money that would do so much good.
A funnier story. The third night we stayed with a family. There was an outhouse that was only reachable via a very steep hill. And it was pouring rain outside. And we had totally run out of toilet paper and there was none to buy in the town. Then we were told by the head of the household to take the broom with us to the bathroom, in case the dogs got too close. Hys-terical.
Today Iīm going to swim laps at a hotel pool (I think it might be the only pool in the city). At this altitude you float more but itīs harder cardiovascularly. Then Iīm going to eat chocolate cake and pick up my clean laundry. Iīm 16 hours from Cancun. Iīm dreading that trip but I know that I will be rewarded by beach and sun.
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