{"id":7519,"date":"2019-09-03T19:36:57","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T19:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gophilanthropic.org\/?p=7519"},"modified":"2019-10-25T13:52:00","modified_gmt":"2019-10-25T13:52:00","slug":"more-than-meets-the-eye-in-guatemala","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gophilanthropic.org\/more-than-meets-the-eye-in-guatemala\/","title":{"rendered":"More than meets the eye in Guatemala"},"content":{"rendered":"

by Travis Day<\/strong>\u00a0<\/i><\/span>
\nGoPhilanthropic Foundation Director of External Communications and <\/i><\/span>
\nGoPhilanthropic Travel Director of Operations & Guide<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Over the course of the last two years I have participated in four GoPhil journeys to Guatemala, while making a total of eleven trips to this fragile yet stunning country within that same window of time.<\/strong> Given my close proximity – living in nearby Costa Rica – it has become one of my most frequented and favorite destinations. A place where I feel quite at home, where I can really dig in and learn more about mesmerizing Mayan culture, and ultimately, take time to \u2018listen and learn\u2019 with an incredible network of amazing people.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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I have traveled with GoPhil groups both large and small, and I am always astounded by the amount of collective heart that exists within a group of GoPhil travelers. On this most recent journey I had the pleasure of sharing space with Cynthia (GoPhil Ambassador) and her husband Richard, as well as their lifelong friend, Mark. Cynthia and I traveled together in India earlier this year, and Mark and his wife Judi – who also traveled to Guatemala in April 2018 with her cousin Merry – joined GoPhil during last year\u2019s Journey to Southeast Asia. We were a small and intimate group, and given our past travels together, a lovely level of comfort existed before we even hit the ground.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also worth noting is the fact that Richard, Cynthia and Mark have spent the better part of their lives working in healthcare in various fields. As such, their understanding of complex social issues, vast knowledge in healthcare and education, as well as a continued interest in the work of GoPhil and its partners created space for incredible, thought-provoking conversations.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Guatemala really is quite complex to understand. A popular tourist destination where – despite what you may see in the news – upon arrival you are immediately greeted by the majestic beauty of ancient ruins, sweeping volcanic views and bright, colorful textiles at every turn. It really is like a picture perfect vacation in a postcard with bright smiles and friendly people making space for your journey. But like most countries, what you see on the surface is not wholly indicative of the day-to-day realities.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

In an effort to provide insight into GoPhil\u2019s various partnerships in Guatemala, I always find it important during a journey to offer general context in 6 main areas of focus – all of which are naturally rooted in education<\/strong> – to better understand the work of each of the programs we visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

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1. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES (and Education)<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n