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29 June 2010
Dates at project: October 2008- February 2009
You get a lot of attention from the kids and you get to give it back- that's pretty cool
I've been staying with a family- it's OK, the food isn't quite what I would have expected though. I like the accomodation and if I came again I would be quite happy to stay with the same people.
I've never volunteered before- I've never volunteered for anything, as my Grandfather said!
I heard about the project when I got to Guatemala- from the Spanish language school I was studying at and also from the girl that I'm sharing the house with.
I decided to volunteer when it came to the end of the Summer- my work is very seasonal and I usually spend the winter hanging round, waiting for the summer to come again. This year I thought I would do something positive to try and cleanse my soul somewhat!
A typical day is get up at 6.30, shower, then a mile and a half walk to the school. At 8 O'Clock class starts, then you're just trying to take some pressure off the teacher, talking with the kids, trying to help them with stuff. They help me with Spanish, I help them with English. We play football at breaktime- 8 aside and there are about 6 games going on simultaneously on the same pitch! And then, the kids get a nice little roll or something to eat. They're a happy bunch, a really happy bunch.
The best thing about volunteering.... there's probably a few things. I love their smiling faces- it's pretty special. You get alot of attention from the kids and you get to give it back- that's pretty cool. The kids here give you a lot of love. It makes you feel good volunteering, it resets your moral compass and it makes you stand up a couple of inches taller when you walk down the street.
There's nothing that I've really disliked- getting up a 6.30 ain't no walk in the park you know but getting up in the morning's not my thing anyway!
For future volunteers I'd really recommend coming out here and getting involved with the culture- I think some people don't quite understand sometimes if they come out from our systems in europe. We have a lot more money and things are quite different out here. Before you come read up on the place. Learn a little about the history, learn a little about the culture and don't come in blind- coz I think some people do and it's a bit of a shock to them. Have some idea of what you're coming to- that's my advice. Get involved! Also Antigua is a great place- get involved, go out and socialise and enjoy the whole experience.