2019

This past week, I had the incredible opportunity to step into the role of an engineer during a service learning trip to Guatemala. Partnering with Natun Guatemala, a non-profit based in Panajachel, I worked on a humanitarian engineering project while enriching my understanding of Guatemalan and Maya culture. 

Our main focus was improving the water quality at a preschool in Pena Blanca. We took on several projects including an ultraviolet filtration system that integrated with the school’s existing ceramic filter, a mechanical level gauge for the rainwater harvesting tanks with labeling in both Spanish and Kaqchikel for accessibility, and a staircase to provide easy access for tank maintenance. 

Working alongside Bilma and Marta, the preschool’s teaching staff, was a highlight. Their warmth and kindness were evident in the beaded bracelets they gifted our team, which in the end was my favorite souvenir that I took home. I was also grateful for the activities Natun and the pre-school’s teaching staff organized with the students at the school. 

When our team was not at the preschool working on our design, Natun Guatemala and our professors organized cultural activities that gave us a deeper insight into the country. I observed backstrap weaving and chocolate making. I witnessed a beautiful religious procession in Antigua. I explored nature, hiked through coffee plantations, and stood under a waterfall. I also drank lots of coffee! Guatemala’s reputation for producing some of the best coffee in the world did not disappoint.

My special highlight was meeting Diegeo Isias Hernandez Mendez, an artist whose work is displayed at the Smithsonian. I purchased a piece of his work and proudly have it hung in my home. 

I am grateful for the friendships made, the lessons learned, and the lasting impact of this unforgettable journey.

After an incredible first day in Panajachel, I woke up bright and early Sunday morning and went up to the hotel rooftop before breakfast to enjoy the quiet (interrupted by the occasional rooster) and the sunrise. The hotel is surrounded by mountains so the views were beautiful in every direction. After eating breakfast together, we packed into a van to drive to Los Tarrales Natural Reserve for the day. Since we arrived once it was already dark on the first day, this was our first opportunity to drive up the mountain out of Panajachel, and we stopped to get a stunning view of Lake Atitlan from above.

     

One of the coolest things about this trip that I really began to appreciate as we drove to Los Tarrales was how members of Natun who live in Guatemala traveled with us on all of our excursions. As we were driving and walking around, they were constantly be pointing things out, translating Spanish phrases we heard or saw on signs, answering questions, and explaining the cultural and historical context behind everything we saw. Getting to hear their insight into the intricacies of Guatemalan life and culture was such a unique opportunity, and because of their presence, I learned so much more than I ever would have if I had just gone to Guatemala and done all of the same things on my own.

Once we arrived at Los Tarrales, we went on a hike through the plantation, and it was really interesting to see how close Panajachel and Los Tarrales were in terms of distance, but how noticeable the difference was in climate and vegetation, since Los Tarrales is more of a humid, tropical forest. The hike ended at a gorgeous waterfall where I went for a swim. After the hike we had a delicious lunch prepared by the staff and spent the rest of the afternoon relaxing, playing flinch ball, and feeding the deer bananas. It was really nice to all spend time together and continue to become closer friends.

           

After a fantastic day, we drove through the communities of San Antonio and Santa Catalina Palopo on the way back to Panajachel and stopped to see the sunset over the lake. We finished the day with a lovely dinner in Panajachel, and prepared to begin our projects tomorrow!

Today we woke up before the sun. A group of us traveled to a spot on Lake Atitlán to watch the sunrise. It was the perfect morning. Everything was quiet, and we were able to just sit and take in the beauty of the lake. 

It’s our last work day at Natün. It’s a bittersweet day. By the end of the day, all projects will be complete, which is amazing! However, it also means that this is our last day working with this wonderful organization.

My team went to visit Peña Blanca in the morning to validate the effectiveness of the installed water filtration and UV disinfection system. To our delight, the water results were positive and showed improvements to the water. Afterward, we all played a game of hide and seek with the preschool students before we departed from Peña Blanca.

We returned to Natün to pick up the rest of the team that stayed back to finalize their rainwater harvesting tank design at the Natün office. As a whole group, we traveled to San Antonio. Upon arrival, we visited one of Natün’s preschools in the town. We were able to meet with the teachers and test their two main water sources within the building. Afterwards, we visited a pottery shop. At this shop, you could see the pieces being crafted and painted. I spent the majority of my time there sitting in the window that overlooked Lake Atitlán. It was a beautiful site that I could have stared at all day. 

We returned back to Natün to give a presentation to the Natün employees about the work that was accomplished this week. We celebrated with cake and headed off to play soccer together. Soccer was such a fun time! Teams consisted of both Ohio State and Natün members. We were able to be competitive but also laugh and have fun together. We celebrated our collective soccer victory with some gelato to end the day!

Tonight, we had our last dinner in Panajachel. We were joined by Pablo, Tyler, Valeria, and Manuela. It was such a special night as Tyler and Valeria shared kind parting words to the group. We discussed what we were able to accomplish this week and how we can remain connected to Natün moving forward. To my surprise, both Naseem and I were also recognized at this dinner.  This was our second trip to Guatemala for the Service-Learning course. We were each presented a perraje made by a Natün employee’s mother. A perraje (or shawl) is a colorful cloak that has significance for Guatemalan women that has a valuable ancestral meaning of respect, commitment, culture, and distinguishes the stages of women’s lives. It was emotional receiving this gift, and we were both deeply touched by such a kind gesture.

The rest of the night was spent in celebration. At this point, we had all made such wonderful connections with each other. It is amazing to see how connected a group can be after only 10 short days. It is a testament to both the Ohio State faculty and Natün employees that facilitate such a transformative experience that connects us all. 

On this particular day, I woke up very excited, since this was our very first day in Panajachel. We had arrived insanely late the night before, therefore I didn’t even know what to expect. Leaving my hotel room was enough for me be in awe from the surrounding beauty.

Our adventure led us to the breathtaking San Marco National Reserve, after taking a beautiful boat ride. We were surrounded by

mountains and volcanoes. As we arrived to San Marco, we took a small walk, which lead us to a surreal view, where we had time to take a swim in Lake Atitlan. The water was quite cold, but I couldn’t refuse to at least take a small dip. While exploring, we met a friendly local dog, which made our day even better.

Afterward, we hopped on a boat to San Juan. There, we visited a coop where native Mayan women weave fabric. We learned how they dye the threads and make cotton. It was fascinating, and some of us bought souvenirs to remember the experience. Next up was a coffee break! How else could we continue a wonderful day. The coffee flavor in Guatemala genuinely differs from my normal Starbucks. I hadn’t had such good coffee probably ever. Next up was a visit to a chocolate shop. We watched how they make traditional Maya chocolate, from roasting the beans to mixing flavors. It was delicious! Finally, we took another boat ride to a place to eat dinner. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever gotten to eat at.

Monday, March 13t

 

On the morning of Monday, March 13th, I woke up very ecstatic and optimistic about what the day held. This was our group’s first official day of work in Guatemala and we would be visiting the Natun office for the very first time. Upon arriving at the Natun office we were introduced to some of the staff and Christopher provided an in-depth lecture regarding the history and purpose of the Natun Foundation. The individuals who dedicated their time and efforts to advancing Natun’s mission were all engaging, respectful, and welcoming. As Chris discussed Natun’s missions and how they evolved I gained a deeper understanding of the work that our group was doing. I learned the importance of supplying communities not just with financial and tangible aid, but long-term resources such as knowledge, education, and empowerment. The goals Natun was hoping to achieve were centered strongly around fostering relationships and equipping communities with the necessary tools needed for sustainable success. Hearing all of this inspired me to be intentional about the work and projects that our class came to achieve throughout this trip.

 

After departing the Natun office, our group embarked on a journey to several locations including, Solola, Santa Catarina, and San Antonio. During the rocky bus rides to these locations, my classmates and I were able to admire and observe the breathtaking scenery and the natural beauty of Guatemala. I took a special liking to some of the natural architectural styles of the country that employed the use of bright vibrant colored buildings located on the mountainside. While doing so, it was hard to ignore the colonial influence that left remnants in some of the architectural styles in the region. Such always served as a reminder of the dark past of Guatemala and how such negatively impacted and displaced indigenous peoples like the Mayans.

 

Our first stop was in San Antonio where we endured an arduous trek up a rocky mountainside to reach the community garden. This demanding and dangerous hike put a lot of things into perspective for me. It made me wonder how much harder life is for individuals living in demanding terrains with limited resources. Despite such, I felt inspired and surprised to learn how several locals embark on journeys like such with no protective gear or attire, and yet they manage to live. While at the community garden, my team and I took measurements for a potential rainwater harvesting system. In addition to this, we also inspected a current well located in the garden which had a minimal water supply. 

 

After the community garden, our group visited a pottery cooperative nearby that was located on the coast. The work happening at the cooperative was nothing short of impressive and I admired how the artists and potters were able to incorporate their Mayan identities authentically into the pottery they made. While at the pottery cooperative, I learned about how initiatives like such were able to provide opportunities for young people to adopt skills and trades such as pottery that they could use to financially sustain themselves. This reiterated the need to make knowledge and long-term solutions accessible to those in need.

 

Later that night, our group had dinner at the Jardines Del Lago which had an awe-stunning garden scenery design. As a group, we were able to bond and reconnect after a long yet insightful day. In growing closer to one another, we enjoyed several rounds of flinch ball before departing for the night!

Today was our first day exploring Guatemala. We arrived in Panajachel the night before; however, this was our first time seeing the city in daylight. I walked outside of my hotel room and was overwhelmed with the view that awaited me. The hotel grounds were beautiful, and the mountains right beyond the hotel were breathtaking. 

Going to breakfast, you could feel the excitement amongst the group to go explore Guatemala. We walked through the city in order to get to the boats. The streets were filled with street food, vendors and vibrant colors. It was impossible to take everything in at once because there was so much to look at. Our first boat trip was to San Marcos to visit the natural reserve. It felt like another world in the best way. The walk to the reserve was stunning. Once we were at the reserve, we swam in Lake Atitlan. The water was so clear and felt amazing. The joy in everyone’s faces jumping in the water and swimming in the lake was so special to see. While swimming in the lake, I had to stop and take it all in because of the beauty of the mountains and volcanoes surrounding the lake. 

After San Marcos, we took the next boat ride to San Juan. Once we arrived at San Juan, we went to eat lunch. We went to this beautiful spot overlooking the lake. We had the place to ourselves, and we had a lovely couple of hours chatting, taking pictures and bonding. This was one of the first moments where I was able to witness the special dynamic of the group. Through the trip, this only continued to grow. At this moment, you could tell this group was going to work well together. 

After lunch was over, we went to explore San Juan. The focus of our exploration was to visit a few cooperatives. The first cooperative we went to was to see how fabrics were created. We had a demonstration about what goes into the creation of products like scarves. The level of skill and detail that went into each product was amazing. Hours of work and attention to detail were put into each item. Watching the presentation, you had such a deep respect for the women’s work. Next, we went to the chocolate cooperative. We received a presentation of how chocolate is made and were able to sample it as well. We also visited a coffee and herbal medicine cooperative. One of the biggest takeaways from the day was the amount of care and effort that went into all of these products that we can so easily take for granted. These cooperatives changed my perspective and deepened my appreciation for the work done. 

We returned to Panajachel in the evening. As our boat approached the docks, the lights lit up the shore. It was a beautiful scene and it was such a nice way to return. It was so cool to see how beautiful the city was both during the day and night.

This was such a fulfilling first day in Guatemala. There were so many pictures taken throughout the day, none of which could capture the beauty of what we all saw.

Looking back on our class trip to Guatemala, I can’t stop smiling at the amazing experience we had. I am honored to reflect on Friday the 17th, as it was such a fulfilling and fun day.

That morning our class woke up excited for our last project work day, as each project team had necessary tasks that needed to be completed before we left the communities. I was on the Weather Station Team which was tasked with implementing systems to collect rain and weather data for three specific locations; the Natün Office, Peña Blanca, and Tierra Linda.

Friday was the day we had planned to install two of our rain gauges at preschools in Peña Blanca and Tierra Linda. Over the course of the week, our five person team was split up handling different aspects of our project such as equipment set up, software installation and documentation, and mounting measurements and design. At the end of the week, we were all able to come together to build the mounts needed for installation and then install the equipment on site. That afternoon was so rewarding and wholesome. It was fulfilling to see all our hard work from earlier in the semester and week come together, to interact with the amazing individuals in the community, and to enjoy our team’s company as we had gotten so close throughout the process. I am so proud of our work and will forever remember this project experience and the communities we worked with.

After we finished our project work, our class headed to a local soccer stadium to play soccer with individuals from the Natün Office. Everyone was so lively and energetic and we had an amazing time running around on the field and cheering each other on. The teams were a mix of students, professors, and community professionals of all different ages, experiences, and soccer skills. It was inspiring to see everyone come together to play a fun game of soccer and to witness everyone’s sense of humor and competitiveness come out in a laid back environment.

After the soccer games, everyone headed back to the Natün Office for dinner and final project presentations. One of the Natün employees native to the area cooked us a traditional homecooked meal that was delicious. I am extremely grateful for her openness to include us in her culture and the effort she put in to prepare the meal for us. After we ate, each project team presented their work and findings from the week. We had all been working in various locations and split in small groups, so it was inspiring to see all the amazing work each team had put in behind the scenes. It also was rewarding to see how the projects interconnected in support of the communities. For example, our rain data will aid the design and sizing of solutions for the Water Harvesting Team and the Water Testing Team gathered data which can facilitate what the harvested water is used for based on the level or type of contaminants.

After dinner and presentations, we had an enjoyable night with two of our Natün program leads, Tyler and Pablo. They showed us a few areas on the lake that offered local music and entertainment. We had an incredible time hanging out together and sharing each others experiences and stories from throughout the trip. Over the course of the trip, I was able to build such meaningful bonds with individuals I had not known a week prior. I am so thankful for how genuine and inclusive everyone was, and it was amazing to see all our unique personalities build off and encourage each others.

I am appreciative for the partnership Natün offered, as our experience would not have been the same without their leadership and guidance. Our program leads took our class in, granting perspective and access to the culture and communities of Guatemala that we would not have been able to experience without them. They took the time to teach our class, as well as to form meaningful bonds with each and every one of us, and I am beyond thankful for each of them.

I remember signing up for this course not knowing what to expect, and the little information I could find online was this blog from past years. So, if you are reading this intrigued by the class or experience this is your sign to enroll, it was the best experience I could have ever asked for 🙂

Thanks,

Kathlyn Reilley

We had an earlier start today (by 30 minutes) than the day before, but the coffee helped tremendously. We drove to the Los Tarrales nature reserve in the morning, and the drive there was smooth in some parts – others were like an old wooden roller coaster. On the route, there’s a “magnetic” hill – it looks like you’re going up when you’re going down – but we missed it on the way to Los Tarrales.

After arriving, we prepared for the hike in a little outdoor parlor area with plants on the walls and ceiling; truly some immaculate vibes. The hike itself was quite steep, and we ended up splitting into three groups of various speeds. The views looking into the valley were absolutely insane. Our hike culminated at a waterfall that fed a pool and small stream. Said water was wicked cold but very refreshing after getting sweaty on the hike. Several members stayed in the water for quite some time. The hike back down was almost a relief. Lunch, consisting of chicken, rice, bread, and salad, was delicious, especially with the additional sauces and condiments.

After lunch and a brief rest, we played kickball with a couple local children. It was fun watching them have fun, even though we didn’t understand each other particularly well. Mid-game, Ray’s ukelele was *sheds tear* run over by the van. We were lining up and all turned around to hear the crunch of wood under tire, mouths agape in shock. I was also stung by a yellow jacket trying to help retrieve the ball from beyond a fence, but thankfully I’m not allergic to stings and Adithya had anti-inflammatory drugs handy. After a while, we left Los Tarrales to get ice cream and come back to Panajachel. Almost everyone wanted the cheesecake/passionfruit twist from this place, but they ran out; thus, the popular choice became pumpkin seed with cream. Many were pleasantly surprised by the flavor combo there. It began to rain just as we left the ice cream place, which felt and smelled quite refreshing. Because of the rain, we missed the magnetic hill on the return journey too. By this point, I was having some stomach problems, so I was particularly not enjoying the rough, jostly portions of the road. As noted by the date I’m posting this, I survived.

Dinner at Chinita’s was Asian fusion with Guatemalan cuisine. The former proprietor of the restaurant came, ate, and spoke with us there. It was really cool to hear her story of opening and running the restaurant, then giving it to her workers when she decided to hang it up. Observing the relationship between her and Adithya/Pablo was also very heartwarming. I ordered jocon, a traditional dish with green sauce, which was delicious. I would come to be glad I chose jocon over pepian – another traditional dish with a different sauce – as we had pepian several more times throughout the week, but never again was jocon seen. I wanted to make sure I experienced as many flavors as I could while we were there.

The day ended with me feeling overall more educated, but mildly sad I couldn’t learn more. We were all tired, but excited for what was to come in the week.

Tristan Meyers – Engineering 5797.22S – Service Learning in Guatemala

March 14th, 2023

 

The morning started with a walk from my hotel room through the beautiful garden towards the breakfast area. I woke up early enough to enjoy a delicious breakfast cooked by the hotel staff in true Guatemalan fashion, with grits, syrup, eggs, fruit, and pancakes. After breakfast, the class departed the hotel for the Natün office, a convenient 10 minute walk through the bustling streets during the morning rush. As locals made their way to work, the market, and around the city, we enjoyed the sights sounds and fresh smells of Guatemala. After arriving at Natün’s office, the class split up into each team and determined their agenda for the day. My team (The Weather Station Team) decided to go to the community in Peña Blanca to determine where and how to set up the self-tipping rain gauge system that we had purchased before the trip. Once arriving, my team identified a beam extending from the rooftop of the preschool in Peña Blanca that offered the aerial clearance as well as certain protections from theft or vandalism. My team took measurements of the deflection of the roof, the length of the beam’s extension from the roof, and some other relevant measurements for the purposes of construction. Then, I drew up a basic conceptual design of the mount that would offer some stability, access, and convenience of construction. I passed this design along to my team, and then we all had a discussion about some aspects that would need refined in order to protect against the high-speed winds in the stormy season, as well as some building concerns regarding the tools we had access to, and the experience we had with them. After an afternoon of refining the design for additional constraints, we left for the main office at Natün and from there went back to the hotel to prepare for dinner. We would meet and depart shortly for dinner at an Uruguayan restaurant that was open to the street, which offered live music, delicious food, and some entertaining interactions with other students and locals.

 

Wednesday started pretty similar to other work days on Monday and Tuesday. We had breakfast at the hotel which was good as always. We then headed to Natun where all the teams , including my team, worked on our projects for a few hours. I personally helped with the designing and ideation stage of the mounts that were to be used at the Pena Blanca and Tierra Linda preschools for the rain gauges. We did have a little treat during this time when we took a trip to crossroads cafe for a mocha. Crossroads was one of the coolest shops/cafes that we visited in Panajachel for me, and the coffee was very good which was a plus. We then went back to the office where tim and the table saw had a nice interaction, and tim prevailed. I then went with Ray and Tristen to Peña Blanca and Tierra Linda to get final measurements and confirm locations to place the weather stations. The rest of the team I was working with stayed at the office to work on different components of our project. I really enjoyed this because everybody was able to play more of a role and we were able to accomplish a lot this day because we split up. This day our team was able to accomplish a lot due to splitting up and we had the design of our mounts for the rain gauges confirmed. This day was when I gained a sense of confidence over our project and knew we were going to be able to complete what we set out to do. After the work for the day was done, we all went to the hotel to change and then went to Atlantis for dinner and salsa dancing ! Dinner was very enjoyable and was joined with a game of celebrity and telephone which were very fun. Celebrity was a game that was created during our time in Guatemala that consisted of someone thinking of a person on the trip, and then the rest of the people asking simple yes or no questions to guess who the person is thinking of. It was very fun and as the trip went on the questions got funnier as we grew closer as a group. Salsa dancing was also very fun led by Giorgio from the Natun office. I enjoyed learning a new dance and even though I wasn’t very good, it was fun to learn a new skill. Tim and Abby were determined to have the “best” skills at the end of the night. Overall it was a very busy, fun, and productive day, but that is pretty similar to the other days in Guatemala. Something pretty impactful that happened this day was when we were arriving in Peña Blanca, I saw a little girl that attended the elementary school there walking home from school. This was impactful towards me because they had not been able to go to school for three days before due to a lack of water. This helped me conceptualize the importance of what we were helping the communities achieve with rain water harvesting and the different projects focused on water.