My Journey To Guatemala

Culture has always been important part of my life. I am a first generation American; my father is a Greek immigrant and all of my mother’s family was born in Greece. Learning about my family’s history and visiting their homes in Greece has given me a worldly perspective. I want to travel to Guatemala to not only learn the language, but also fully immerse myself in the culture and create life long relationships. My friendships, family and connecting with new people are all special to me. I feel comfortable talking to anybody and value sharing my cultural experiences with those I meet. I have traveled to numerous foreign places such as Greece, Mexico, London, and the Bahamas. I am grateful to have had these opportunities to travel. My passion
The opportunity to speak Spanish everyday with native speakers, live in their homes, and learn about their culture first hand will be more beneficial for me than a traditional classroom experience. Traditional Spanish courses are often structured for students to learn and then memorize. This has never been a skill of mine, especially with a restricted time frame. The opportunity to deeply engage myself in the culture of Guatemala is a more constructive learning environment for me.
One challenge I may face while in Guatemala is my minimal Spanish background. My lack of background will make it difficult for me to communicate in the beginning of my course. I am eager to learn and hope that this will no longer be a challenge for me when I am done with my course in Guatemala.
In the future, I plan to attend nursing school and work in a children’s hospital in Chicago, my hometown. While working in a large, diverse city the skills that I acquire in Guatemala will help me communicate and relate to the Spanish speaking community. Although I will not become fluent in Spanish, I will acquire the skills needed for basic communication with Spanish speakers in