EMU Intercultural Learning

Polarities and connections in Guatemala

The following is a response to studying the history of Guatemala and Central America, particularly regarding Spain and the Catholic Church’s efforts to convert and assimilate the natives to Spanish culture.  Through studying the history of Guatemala we are working toward a deeper understanding of the Guatemala of today and how it came to be. January … Continue Reading ››

Turning towards home

December 5, 2012 As our semester draws to a close, our group has returned to the place we started: Motu Moana Boy Scout camp.  I believe it was Eric King who referred to the cyclic nature of our trip as poetic, so I decided to write haiku (mostly as a joke) to describe the last week … Continue Reading ››

South Africa 360°

This trip has been a trip of extremes. When entering Soweto, we met families who were extremely poor, yet had joy that overwhelmed us as we became a part of their families. We lived with the electricity-free families of Lesotho that showed us the joy of a simple life and the problems that come from … Continue Reading ››

Free travel on the South African coast

November 5, 2012 After having been in mountainous Lesotho for almost a month, I was ready for the next adventure. Although I have many cherished memories and moments I will take with me from the village, my toes were aching to sink in sand, my skin was craving the warmth of the sun and tingling of … Continue Reading ››

Ngatiawa community

Sunday, October 14 Dinner in the warm kitchen at Ngatiawa Today we left Otuku Marae and traveled to the Ngatiawa (the g is silent) community. When we first arrived, the sparseness hit us immediately. The … Continue Reading ››