Memories of Chajul
by Hannah Boyer, Service Trip Participant
Taking a trip to Guatema
la had not been on the top of my bucket list before I was presented with the opportunity to study abroad there. I was hesitant to go to a country I knew so little about and nervous to be pushed so far out of my comfort zone.
la had not been on the top of my bucket list before I was presented with the opportunity to study abroad there. I was hesitant to go to a country I knew so little about and nervous to be pushed so far out of my comfort zone.From the moment I stepped off the plane, however, I began to fall in love with Guatemala.
The people were so kind and welcoming, the food so delicious and authentic, and the culture so rich and vibrant. Our group had the opportunity to visit many places during our time there, but the place where we spent the most time and the place which holds the best memories for me was the rural town of Chajul.
We felt very welcome in Chajul and spent our first few days getting to know the locals we would be working with for the next 10 days. We worked mainly with two local organizations: Philanthropiece, which focuses on social entrepreneurship and community development, and Limitless Horizons Ixil, which provides educational opportunities for middle and high school students.
The best times I had in Chajul were the lunches in the family homes and the interviews we held with some of the students. Getting to be part of a traditional family lunch in an authentic Guatemalan home was very special to me; I was able to see how their food is made and how much effort and skill food preparation takes while cooking over an open fire. This made me appreciate the delicious food even more!
Interviewing some of the girls who are LHI scholarship recipients was touching because they talked about how important education is to them and how they have these big dreams they can’t wait to follow. Seeing how these girls are so invested in their education makes me really appreciate their dedication to bettering their future.
My time in Guatemala was full of eye-opening experiences, new friendships made, and fulfilling service projects that all taught me a great deal about myself and about the rich Ixil culture.
About Hannah
Hannah Boyer, an agronomy student from Texas A&M University, visited Chajul as part of a service trip with her university in May 2014.
On a three-week adventure, the visiting group explored a number of diverse sites throughout Guatemala where they experienced the stunning natural beauty of the country while learning about different agricultural techniques and approaches practiced.
The group spent 10 days in the village of Chajul, where they teamed up with local agriculture students to build three large worm composting bins which will provide organic fertilizer for the community.
The group also interviewed students and community leaders for a research project, and participated in exciting and engaging cultural activities that included meals with local families, weaving lessons, Ixil language classes, homestays, and a theatrical story hour at LHI’s community library.