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Madrid, Toledo, Cordoba, Valencia (families and school) May 24 At the time of writing, we have been in Spain exactly two weeks—two weeks ago to the hour, we were en route to the airport, trying to imagine how we would navigate the next month and a half in new cities, a new culture, and…
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Guatemala: Weekend Trips, Halfway Mark, & Hope With March upon us, it’s clear that time is flying by. While some days may seem long, the weeks truly are short. As we continue to attend the final days of Spanish classes during the week, the weekends serve as memorable and educational getaways, full of learning opportunities…
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Now that we’ve passed the 1-month mark, settled into host families and Spanish classes, figured out the public transport system, gotten comfortable with our surroundings, etc., we’ve realized that we’re here to stay for a little while. The honeymoon phase is a thing of the past and some days feel harder than others. Some days…
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In Journal Snippets -Kate Szambecki September 18, 2021 I am currently sitting at the laundromat. It’s outside (covered) and you must take your shoes off. It’s very nice. We flew to Bangkok, then Chiang Mai, and were greeted by YMCA staff and university interns, and drove to the YMCA. I napped, we ate, then went…
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Posted 14 September 2021 Today, we arrived in Phuket, and I write this as I hungrily wait for dinner. I am looking forward to sleeping in a bed because we had about 38 hours of travel. Driving through Phuket felt surreal. There were pineapple stands and little shops and so many people on motorcycles. I…
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3.31.20 “What does it mean to pack up your bags and go somewhere new? To leave family, friends, school, your way of living… and just restart in a new place, a new country perhaps? Well, these were my thoughts when we first left the United States in January, and I had similar feelings as we…
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Feb. 24, 2020 We are told there is bad in the world. We are told of war, malnutrition, poverty, starvation. But to what extent do we truly understand how these bad things look in the everyday lives of people who are no different from ourselves? This weekend we got the amazing opportunity to live in…
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Feb. 17, 2020 Thirty days here Lots of new experiences So many questions… Crowded buses but The sweetest people you’ll meet. Greeted with hugs and kisses Yet divided through language. Hot weather makes a beautiful day long walks to and from school. New people in your life means long lasting friendships. Volcán de Pacaya. Antigua.…
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1/30/20 I like to know what’s going on. Unfortunately, I don’t always in my host family. I have a couple of instances of this that come to mind. The first is with my host brother Jacob. He is in the army but comes home for weekends. Two weekends ago, I went along to take him…
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The sun makes a halo in the air pollution as it falls behind the mountains. A slight breeze plays with the leaves, my hair, and the laundry line. My brother’s Honda jacket still hangs there. How many days has it been now? Several dogs engage in territory disputes, paws and head visible over brightly-painted roof-edge…