Summer Exchange to Guatemala
Last spring I started looking for a host family in Spain in order to improve my Spanish over the summer. I was unable to find a host family in Spain but my cousin told me she has a friend who lives in Guatemala and has a little sister my age. I contacted the family and they too were looking for a family who could host their daughter for an American exchange. It was just perfect.
I prepared for my trip and set off all alone for the first time in my life. I was really nervous and anxious but the second I met Paula and her family I felt in good hands. It was also perfect that the parents spoke only Spanish, which forced me to cope with communicating with them. Somehow I managed it. Not only did I improve my Spanish speaking skills but I was also fortunate enough to see half of Guatemala. The family lives in Quetzeltenango, the second biggest city in the country, and my exchange student’s siblings live in Guatemala City. With my family, I traveled to the town of Antigua, the Aztec city of Tikal, to the lake, to the jungle and to the beach. I saw pretty much every aspect of beautiful Guatemala and furthermore learned a lot about the culture. After the four weeks were over I was sad to leave my family and the country. All my classmates and the host family’s friends were just as sad to have me leave. I arrived back in Atlanta, missing Guatemala but also glad to be reunited with my own family.
More recently Paula left Atlanta after being with me here for six weeks. She too saw a lot here in Atlanta as well as visiting parts of Georgia, North Carolina and New York City. I think we are both really grateful to have had the opportunity to understand and appreciate different and exciting cultures and to have been able to learn each other’s language. I know we will be friends forever.
I thank my parents for giving me this opportunity and my exchange student’s parents for enabling Paula’s trip to Atlanta. Thanks also to AIS and my fellow classmates for taking good care of Paula during her stay. I strongly believe that my international education at AIS allowed me this fantastic adventure and that it will be especially valuable during my IB years. This experience will guide me through life forever!