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Latin American Area Studies

UMM Home > LAAS > Testimonials

Student Testimonials

Ali Jordahl

Guatamala

From May 20-July 9, 2005 I had the wonderful opportunity to conduct ethnographic field research in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. I lived in a town called San Antonio Palopo with a wonderful woman named Dona Petrona. She taught me lessons on life that I will never forget.

Ali with friends, wearing Traje.
I worked with a domestic abuse crisis center located in Santa Catarina Palopo and conducted an evaluation of their program. Working with the women from Sta Catarina and San Antonio changed my life and how I viewed the world. I participated in their Thursday meetings and actually taught classes about different subjects such as potable water, trash disposal and recycling, intrafamiliar violence, food preparation, etc. No matter how much I taught, these women taught me more. They taught me about what it means to be happy in your life with what you have and who you are. Even though these women are considered to be some of the poorest women in the country, their spirits are glowing with love and friendship, which they passed on to me. I gained access to aspects of their lives that most people do not have a chance to see and I am grateful for the opportunity I had of working, helping, and learning from these extraordinary women.

Ali's host mother weaving.

When I was not observing at the center or teaching a class, I was always doing something fun and exciting in one of the towns around the lake that I lived on. Panajachel was always a favorite spot to people watch, meet up with other students, and make new friends. During my stay, five of us on the trip decided to take an overnight bus ride up into El Peten to visit the ancient Mayan city of Tikal. Being up in the rainforest, seeing the great temples and structures that the ancient Maya built, was almost surreal. I saw the most breathtaking scenery and structures that I have ever seen in my entire life. Our group of students went on other excursions to Chichicastenango to see their market day, Antigua to see the Conquest capital of Guatemala, and to Patzun to see a religious festival and procession. And if there was not a field trip planned for one weekend, there was always something interesting going on around the lake. My town had their religious festival for San Antonio and San Nicolas while I was there. It was a time for dancing and singing and watching their culture and heritage unfold right before your eyes.

Women in Una Vida Sin Violencia.

But, my favorite activity while I was in Lake Atitlan, was walking around with my fellow student, Brie, and meeting people, talking with them and interacting with the people of the lake. I was so intrigued by their culture and overall way of life and how they viewed the world that we would just sit for hours talking to people. This is how I made the friends that I did in Guatemala, that I still consider my friends even though we are thousands of miles apart. I can say one thing, going to Guatemala, living among the people rather than being a typical tourist, opened my eyes to a new way of life and a new way of thinking that I would have never even known existed had I not stepped out of my comfort zone. Because of all of this I am a changed person and the impact of this wonderful and enlightening trip will stay with me for the rest of my life. It has made me a better person.

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.