Sincere Goodbye

It has been almost a week since we’ve been back from Guatemala and we all have jumped right back into our life routine. But, to me, and I’m sure to many other employees’ that experienced this trip, being back has been challenging.

During our time in Guatemala we experienced the eye opening conditions at La Esquintla public hospital, the tedious and tiring work it takes to pick coffee beans for a living, the hardships women face when living in an indigenous village and the struggles adults and children go through in order to have a chance to a better future.  But the most amazing experience of all was meeting the people of Guatemala.

When you walk down a street in Guatemala you are greeted with ‘Buenos Dias’ and a sincere smile from pretty much everyone you see. You can feel the appreciation and the kindness from the people you speak with, even if you don’t know the language. The eyes of the citizens brighten when they speak about their country and their culture. And the pace of life is slower which allows you to appreciate your surroundings and realize what really matters in life.

Since being back I have struggled with finding a medium between my fast pace life and the life I experienced in Guatemala. But, the hardest part of being back is the sometimes not so welcoming way we treat each other in the United States. If anything, from this trip, I have learned that a sincere smile and greeting can go a long way and that we as Americans have much to learn from Guatemalan people.