In 2005, I had the enormous fortune of being selected to go to Guatemala on a "Fam" Trip and the course of my life took a 90 degree turn the moment I arrived in this amazing country...
It was my first time to Central America, and although I was really excited about it, I really didn't know what to expect. I knew they had gone trhough a long civil war which I knew almost nothing about. I knew it was a very poor country in general. I knew there was Mayan Ruins and a supposedly beautiful lake in the middle. Although I had sold trips to Guatemala many times (I was a travel specialist at the time) I actually didn't know very much about the country at all...
My perceptions changed almost the minute I arrived into the Flores airport. Despite being on an airport tarmac, I could not help but notice the smell of fresh, oxygenated air! Flores is located up in the Peten province of Guatemala, where the dense tropical jungle is, and my breath was taken away by the beauty I saw. I knew I was going to plove this place!
Together with my group of travel agents, we toured around the country with our guide, Juan who was very knowledgable about the country he loved so much. It was clear that Juan was given an agenda to take us to all the finest restaurants and hotels in the country to show off the "fancy" side of the country, but I made it a point to break off from the group to explore what I call the "real" Guatemala. What I found was extreme poverty, sub-standard housing and conditions, inequality for indigenous people, but also the most warm, welcoming, wonderful people I have ever met! Not to mention the deep, rich culture that just doesn't exist in Canada. Oh ya, and possibly the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen in the world (I had been to over 20 countries at this point). And yes, Lake Atitlan was indeed the most spectacular lake I have ever seen...
In short, Guatemala is a magical place that everyone should see before they die. And when they do, they need to step off the "Gringo Trail" and see some of the tiny villages that are scattered all over the place. This country has changed my life forever, and this statement is not to be taken lightly. El Camino VolunTours would not be here today if it were not for this familiarization trip to a country I knew viurtually nothing about...
Check out CNN's Article. It's about time people start discovering this "Jade Jewel" of Central America...
http://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/12/28/top.destinations.2011/index.html?hpt=Sbin
Chris
There were 7 travel agents including myself with our local guide and driver. This was my first time to Guatemala and I was really excited about learning about the culture of the country. The people…
Our guide Juan, was a really friendly guy and he wanted to give us all a great experience in his country, but it was also clear that there was some kind of agenda happening on our tour…
We would drive from place to place and pass by very poor neighbourhoods. Shanty towns. And when we did, Juan would actually get up in our private microbus and block the windows as to block the view of the poor village we were passing.
A bit later, we were driving along the road and one of the girls in our group happened to see a dead dog on the side of the highway, and was quite freaked out about it! We all looked to see it, and Juan jumps up again, and says, “oh no, he’s not dead, he’s just sleeping. Resting on the road…”
I saw the dog in question, and I can tell you with all honesty, that dog was deceased. It was very sad, but it was reality.
It became clear that Juan was given an agenda, most likely by the tourism board of Guatemala, to shield our group from the realities in the country.
We were group of travel agents that were there is inspect the country and report back to our bosses about it, and they knew this. They took us to all the fanciest hotels and resorts in the country, and tried to keep us away from the smaller villages and places that might be seen as poor, or downtrodden.
They tried to shield us from the reality of the country. Almost as though they were ashamed of it…
For me, I was there to experience that reality. I wanted to see Guatemala in its purest form. I wanted to talk to the locals, I wanted to hear what they had to say.
I wanted to experience true cultural exchange. But I was being sheltered from it! And I found this quite odd. And quite sad…
I am big into exchanging culture and it is the main purpose for me when I travel.
So I did just that when I could. I broke away from the group often and went out experience as much as I could on my own. And this made poor Juan quite nervous. It was made clear to him that we were to be sheltered from this…
SO HOW DO WE OBTAIN THAT TRUE CULTURAL EXCHANGE WHEN WE TRAVEL?
There are ways to do it when you’re in the country.
First of all, try using local transportation within the country…
If you use the local transit system to get you from place to place, you will no doubt encounter and most likely sit elbow to elbow with local people!
Spark up a conversation!
This may be a little difficult if there are language barriers, BUT there are other ways to communicate, non-verbally.
Smiling for starters. A tip of the hat. Learning the basics in their language is very important! Learn to say good morning, good afternoon, good evening, please and thank you, etc. This will make your experience SO much more fulfilling!
You may have noticed that when you are traveling overseas, sometimes there is a level of tentativeness between travelers and locals. A guarded curiosity of some sort. These are moments when there is a possibility of communication or cultural exchange…
TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY and approach these people. Engage them in conversation.
Have you ever had a tourist come up to you to ask for directions or help of some kind? Being Canadians, we LEAP at the opportunity to help these people, don’t we?
I see people on the streets in Vancouver looking at maps, and I go out of my way to help them. This is a form of cultural exchange! It’s really not that hard at all!