My second trip to San Miguel Escobar, Guatemala was even better than the first. I was able to spend time with my host family from my previous stay–it was great to see what they have been able to accomplish in the last year. The most exciting achievement was putting an addition on their home. For most of their lives they had lived in a makeshift room made of corn stalks, but were able to build a permanent structure to keep them dry and out of the elements. They expressed that it was difficult to adjust but they no longer ran into problems such as cold nights and the rain leaking through the corn stalk walls. They also thanked me greatly for everything that the OSU SIFE has done for their village.
I was also able to see the entrepreneurs that we interviewed last year and personally speak with them in Spanish about how the positive impact our micro loans had on their business. It was very humbling to see how much impact just a few hundred dollars could have on their lives and their livelihoods.
happy they with the little they have really gave me a greater appreciation with my life. Each family had a different story and really impacted my experience in Guatemala.
Going to Guatemala has been a truly life changing experience. Having the opportunity to see how happy and welcoming the locals were was amazing and I hope to be able to return soon. One of the things that really stuck with me was the fact that even though they were a part of a developing country and were living within or below their means, they still managed to be able to stay so positive and were all so nice and welcoming. It was an aspect that I hope to bring back with me to the states as well as my daily life. Seeing LaVosi and what they have done, along with the passion that they put into everything that they do was inspiring. They were some of the most genuine and compassionate people I have ever met. This trip has changed my life and has given me the drive to travel the world and hopefully help out more in Guatemala and around the world.