Tag Archives: featured

Guatemala: Community Cloud Forest Conservation

18. February For much of this past week, we were at the Community Cloud Forest Conservation (CCFC) in the Coban area of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Tuesday was a travel day with a long bus ride, arriving at CCFC later in the day. We spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday learning about the important work and programs … Continue Reading ››

Casas, Semilla (Rose, Zoe, Claire, Payton)

Guatemala: Tikal

10. Febrero This week the theme was justice, violence, and peace in Guatemala. On Monday we visited the Survivors Foundation, which is a nonprofit that helps women and children who have experienced domestic violence to rebuild their lives. On Tuesday, we had a Zoom call with Robert Brenneman, an EMU and CASAS alumni. He … Continue Reading ››

All Senses Engaged

3. Feb. 2025 After returning from the trip, this week was a chance to settle back into a regular routine. The theme of the afternoon class was human rights and we started with a trip to the OHDAG offices (Office of Human Rights of the Archbishop of Guatemala). The next day we watched … Continue Reading ››

Guatemala: Mayan history and modern culture

27 January 2025 Week 2 in Guatemala was quite eventful. On Monday we visited Casa de la Memoria and learned about the history of Mayans in Guatemala. On Tuesday we visited the Palacio National de la Cultura. On Wednesday, we heard Ronaldo Similox talk about Mayan spirituality. On Thursday we departed from … Continue Reading ››

Guatemala: Introductions

Week 1 Reflections - January 19 Our group flew from Reagan National Airport to Houston International, then on to Guatemala City. We heard about the History and Culture of Guatemala from Isra Ortiz Escobar. We also had some time to explore the community around Semilla/CASAS. The group went to Casa Horeb to experience a Mennonite … Continue Reading ››

U.S.-Mexico Border: Hard Realities

Welcoming in Mexico When we arrived in Mexico, we were warmly welcomed by Mark and Joca, the leaders of Frontera de Cristo. In our welcoming, we were taken to the American side of the border where we were able to see the wall in person. Many discussions about the wall circulate in … Continue Reading ››

U.S.-Mexico Borderlands

May 23 - May 31, 2024 Hotel McCoy Our 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 ››

CERN-Switzerland-Italy

U.S.-Mexico Border: NOLA & Arizona

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 ››

Cuba: keep asking the hard questions

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 ››

EMU Intercultural Learning