May 23 - May 31, 2024Hotel McCoyOur next stop was Tucson, Arizona. While in the cactus-filled city, we stayed at Hotel McCoy. Originally, it was a motel that people struggling with drug issues used to be in and out of. However, it has been repurposed into what is now a trendy … Continue Reading ››
May 13 - May 23 New Orleans New Orleans is known for its lively French Quarter and its Mardi Gras festival, but other important aspects of the city are overlooked. New Orleans is a city of resilience in multiple ways that extend beyond its party nature. With 2nd Line Tours, Jay, our tour … Continue Reading ››
Stepping off the plane, Cuba already felt different. Palm trees lining the road, the sun shining brightly, breathing in the fresh air. Throughout our two weeks here in Cuba we have experienced the beauty of Cuban culture. The streets filled with the sound of music and people dancing, with art displayedContinue Reading ››
how beautiful the birds are
they roam freely
oh how they sing
do they know they are locked in a cage?
oh how they continue to fly with pride
singing loudly for all to hearunder the sun
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We recently spent 10 days living in communities around Guatemala and serving with organizations in those communities. Keep reading to hear about where each group went. We (Marie & Sophia) spent the week in Santiago, Atitlan working with Amanecer Nueva de Santiago Atitlan (ANADESA). This organization focuses on helping empower indigenous women, … Continue Reading ››
Holy Week in Guatemala The past week we traveled out to Chichicastenango and around Lago Atitlan. We left on the tails of our goodbyes to host families and the end of Spanish classes, so the week was a real change of pace. Throughout the week we saw examples of hope being held … Continue Reading ››
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 … Continue Reading ››
Plunging into Cultural LearningGuatemala is a paradoxical paradise. That’s what Israel Ortiz told us on the first day of orientation in the second-floor CASAS meeting room. I remember sitting in that room, full of excitement. I was ready to fully plunge into this new paradise.Three weeks later I’m panicking … Continue Reading ››
During the week of spring break for the rest of EMU, the Guatemala intercultural students had the chance to travel in small groups around Guatemala, Belize, and El Salvador. We planned the trips ourselves and were given the opportunity to go anywhere we wanted (with the approval of our leaders, of course). Here’s … Continue Reading ››
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