Hola familía y amigos!
Today was day 5 of our trip, but day 4 in Xela. We traveled to Santa Anita to learn about organic coffee production. We took a two hour hike through the coffee fields, down a very, very steep mountain to some beautiful waterfalls, and back up the very steep mountain. The views were absolutely AMAZING and we can't wait to share them with you! Following the hike, we had lunch at the farm and learned about the history of Santa Anita. Like we've been hearing from most other testimonials, their history has been influenced and shaped majorly by the Guatemalan Civil War. The Santa Anita farming cooperative has existed for 21 years! It took a lot of hard work to cultivate the land, learn about organic coffee production, develop water, electric and sewer systems and create a school and childcare center. We were also able to visit their museum, learning about the tragic experiences of different people faced during the Civil War.
Following the museum, we drove back to Xela for our reflection. One topic of reflection was things that we've seen here that we often take for granted in the United States. One thing that was mentioned was that the Santa Anita community has only been able to access drinkable, purified water since 2010. It made us realize how grateful we are to be able to access drinking water at almost any instant and also how much water we waste, without thinking twice about it. Secondly, we talked about the societal importance of education. Due to the circumstances surrounding the Guatemalan Civil War, Jose, our farm guide, only completed a third grade education. An education isn't something that has been historically important in Guatemala, as so many individuals have been fighting just to survive. For example, the community needing to focus on getting clean water and growing the coffee beans. In the United States, a higher education and a future life plan is something that is simply expected of each other. Today, and this week, has really helped us put into perspective how fortunate we are and just how much we take for granted. We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to continue to immerse ourselves in this culture.
Tomorrow is our last fully day with our host families. This week is flying by! Hope all is well at home.
Aminah y Laney
What great pic!
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