Our families have been an integral part of our Guatemalan experience. At first, the idea of staying and living with a family we had never met before in an entirely new country was a bit frightening for a majority of us. The cultural and language barriers seemed to be the biggest worries, but once meeting our families we realized we were so, so welcomed. Everyone was received with open arms and truly treated like a family member. In my own experience, I shared a host family with my on-campus roommate and we’re both so grateful! We now have amazing memories of an amazing family that we get to share forever. Our family taught us what a community within a family looks like. Our host mom especially showed us what it means to be a kind and sharing person with everyone around her. She is the most selfless and caring being I have met, and I’m extremely grateful to have been her host daughter for two months. Saying goodbye was such a heartbreak! I believe I reflect all of my peers by saying that our host families truly became our families and a little piece of home in Guatemala. 

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Poema:

Panorama

Querida casita en San Cristóbal 

Gracias por tu amabilidad 

Y por el amor que nos enseñaste 

Gracias por recibirnos con un abrazo fuerte

que fue acompañado por perros ladrando 

 y cuetes ruidosos

Gracias por tener una panadería tan cerca 

Siempre teniendo pan fresco y calientito 

Gracias por mi cuarto y terraza 

Desde donde podía ver el hermoso paisaje de un volcán 

Gracias por las desayunos, almuerzos y cenas en familia 

Gracias a nuestra familia por demostrarnos el amor Guatemalteco 

Cuanto los extrañare familia y casita en Panorama

-Arelys Martinez Fabian