True inspiration comes from people who have overcome, and I have been fortunate enough to encounter many people here in Guatemala who have overcome more hardship in their lives than I could ever imagine.
My host dad watched his dad be beheaded during the Civil War for speaking out.
Our school director came from a family with great poverty and an alcoholic father and seeking asylum from death threats during the Civil War to running a school with a great mission for children of Guatemala who come from his same roots.
Benedicto and Maria (my new friends in San Juan) come from childhoods of illiterate parents and Spanish as their second language to both graduating collegio and now teaching Spanish. But that’s not all. Benedicto, an artist, began learning English by leading groups of tourists who visited the area and then had enough English to befriend Americans, get a multiple entry Visa, and now he sells his art in the States, including in Telluride, and works for different cooperatives in San Juan lending his time, English, and resources. He is also studying journalism right now. Maria, his wife, is an incredible Spanish teacher. My Spanish grammar improved in the few hours I spent having conversations with her. She is also studying Law at the University. I asked if there was a lawyer in San Juan and she said, “at this time, no”. She fully intends on being the first lawyer her town has ever had. HOW COOL!
Having conversations with Benedicto and Maria about their past history of poverty and lack of education (Maria received her first new corte (Mayan skirt thing that are expected to last 7 years) the day she graduated from collegio and her mom doesn’t speak Spanish) gave me hope for Guatemala in general; you can make big changes in one generation. It gives hope and is empowering.
I wonder what this generation holds... We can all make so much change.
No comments:
Post a Comment