Keansburg Early Learning Center, Keansburg NJ
Explore in Guatemala cultural customs and beliefs, and the understanding of food and rituals associated with the heritage shared by an increasing number of students’ Central American countries of origin, to highlight indigenous groups bound by customs that predate national affiliations and empathize intimately with students about what it is to be in a country that is not your own, with people who are not your people.
Lake Atitlan - Boat ride from Panajachel to San Juan La Laguna - surrounded by volcanos
Mayan Family Textile Cooperative - Working with Cotton in San Juan La Laguna
Calle de las Sombrillas - Walking the streets in San Juan La Laguna - so much to see
Climbing the volcano - Parque Nacional Volcán de Pacaya y Laguna de Calderas - will it erupt, will I fall off the horse?
Volunteering at Escuela Niños de Guatemala, Cuidad Vieja
Native Cooking Class - El Feliz Frijol, Antigua - so yummy!
Climbing Pacaya: Guatemalans have omnipresent respect for the 37 volcanoes found throughout the country, 3 which are actively erupting. Everywhere you go volcanoes are visible. Puffs of smoke can be seen during the day, flowing lava glows at night. And volcanoes are a source of income in the tourism industry. To climb an active volcano is a mixture of emotions - awe at the beauty of nature, trepidation at the destruction it can impose, and appreciation for the livelihood it provides.
I leaned that I am adaptable - washing my hands in a rusted garbage can of water after using the bathroom (a hole in the floor) at a Mayan street market; that I am not an alarmist - remaining calm as sirens went off in the middle of the night in Antigua; and that I am adventurous - jumping into hot springs in Santa Caterina, riding a horse on a volcano, exploring villages and eating uncommon foods. Professionally, I learned I can direct my own learning with personal and impactful experiences.
With parents from different Latin countries, I knew that Latinos are a varied group. I didn't know it could be so different within the same country. All Guatemalans share history, speak Spanish, dress in similar cultural garb and eat similar foods, but if you look and listen closely, you find there are 23 distinct groups, with their own Mayan languages and customs. This is a lesson for everyday - sometimes we have to look and listen closely to be able to see what's different and what's the same.
The main goal of my fellowship was to make me sensitive to the differences in my students and create opportunities for community in my school despite these differences. After surveying families, each month families of my students from one country will be highlighted in our classroom with food, music, toys, dress and other relevant materials that the children can use. Other classrooms will be invited to tour our classroom and spend time with us. These will also be shared on our Facebook page.
Interactive Cultural Zoom Exchange - I will set up a zoom exchange with Niños de Guatemala where we volunteered. My students will interact with the pre-k students from that school taking turns singing songs and engaging in a facilitated Q&A session. If it is successful, I will invite other classrooms in my school to join us. Another thing I want to do is make worry dolls with non-traditional materials in our classroom. Not only would it be a cultural lesson but also an up-cycling activity.
Slideshow Presentation - during a school mandated professional time, I will share pictures of my trip with my fellow school teachers. At this time I will also share the honey, chocolate and coffee from Guatemala that I brought back and present the textiles from the Mayan co-op. I usually have big food celebrations with my classroom community only. I would like to extend this to the rest of the school in a Cultural Day where all families can bring in national foods to share with each other.