A Fantastico Visit to Guatemala

Foreign Language Instructor Stacy Wilson traveled abroad with our students and former Dean of Students Michael Houdyshell in 2015. In late May of that year, we took 11 students to Central America. The goal? Introduce them to traveling abroad, provide an opportunity for language immersion, and develop their interests in culturally deeper subjects. The trip was taken as part of our Global Studies class, which is held every two years. The class visited the capital city of Antigua in Guatemala, a UNESCO World Heritage site, to learn about the culture and study Spanish for four hours a day. Students said they were amazed at how fast they picked up the language, and how the native people were very friendly and open to foreigners. Trip highlights include visits to Macaw Mountain in Honduras, the Mayan ruins, and a coffee farm. Three students extended their trip for two weeks to work on an organic farm. Student Myndi Doremus said, “It was life-changing to see people completely live off the land, eating everything they grow, and it was beautiful to meet so many kind people.”