Buck-I-Serv : Constru Casa in Antigua, Guatemala | Eryka Harper

My Step Signature Project was a Buck – I – Serv trip in Antigua, Guatemala. This trip was from March 7, 2020 – March 14, 2020. During this time our cohort worked with a Guatemalan nonprofit, Constru Casa. The mission of Constru Casa is to improve the quality of life among Guatemalans living in extreme poverty through holistic community development with the provision of basic housing, support programs, and community building for health and education programs. Over the course of one week, from 9 am – 5 pm, our cohort worked closely with local masons to build a home for a local family in need of housing. We were also able to work alongside the family and learn more about them. 

This experience was one of the most meaningful things that I have ever been a part of, I was able to reflect on the pace and speed that I live my life in the United States. Although it may seem cliche, the saying “Stop and smell the roses” was something that I was truly able to practice in Guatemala. When walking through the streets of Antigua, I noticed the amount of hard work and time that the locals put into everyday tasks. I believe that there is much value in taking additional time to focus on the task at hand, rather than thinking about future tasks that you have to complete. These simple observations reminded me that I need to make more of an effort to live in the moment, you don’t always have to think ten steps ahead. 

During this trip, I was also able to reflect on the way that non-English speakers are treated in the United States. Prior to arriving in Guatemala, I was extremely nervous that my Spanish would not be up to par and I was fearful that I would have trouble communicating with the site and locals. In the United States, I believe that there should be more of an effort to exercise a sense of patience and understanding when interacting with individuals that speak different languages. Overall, I wish that Americans would be more understanding when it comes to non-English speakers and to take more of an interest in learning other languages themselves. 

Although I believe that these experiences and events were transformative on their own, the rising threat of Covid-19 made me feel every emotion you would normally feel in a different country, but more intensely. An event that had a true impact on me was being able to observe the Catholic processions that were held as a part of Guatemala’s Holy week celebrations. Our hosts, Elvira and Enrique, allowed us to take part in making the traditional flower rugs that adorned the streets during this holy event. The process of making the flower rug was around 2-3 hours. We lined the outside of the rug with a variety of beautiful flowers and filled the inside with layers of lettuce and flowers. The procession stretched throughout the entire neighborhood and there was a beautiful display of flower rugs along the roads. At this moment, I did not think about the obligations that I had back in the states, the only thing that I was thinking about was the amount of gratitude that I had towards my host country for allowing me to partake in this once-in-a-lifetime experience

I would also like to acknowledge the other ways in which the catholic procession impacted me. When watching the procession, I was able to observe the impact that colonialism has had on Latin America. Aside from having strong Catholic influences, the procession had strong Spanish influences. It is difficult to explain the range of emotions that I felt during this event.  Although I was appreciative of being a part of such a beautiful event, I was interested in learning about how and if indigenous religions had been preserved after the Spanish conquest. Throughout this experience, I made sure that I looked at events such as the one that I have just described through a critical social justice lens. 

Finally, I want to acknowledge the amount of kindness and patience that I experienced from each and every person that I interacted with. As I mentioned above, I was extremely worried about my Spanish skills and I did not believe that they were strong enough for me to initiate conversations with the locals. These concerns quickly dissipated as soon as I got off of the plane and landed in Guatemala. I definitely struggled with using the right grammar and tenses but I still was able to communicate effectively. One situation in particular that impacted me was an interaction that I had with a shopkeeper in a women-owned weaving shop. She walked up to me and began to touch the tattoo that I have on my left arm, and she asked “ En Espanol”. I realized that she wanted me to translate my tattoo. She pointed at each word and I translated that word into Spanish. This was a really cool experience for me because it showed me the importance of cultural exchange. For the most part, Guatemala is a pretty conservative country so it is possible that she had never seen an actual tattoo. Her kindness, curiosity, and patience during this interaction is something that I will never forget. 

This experience was transformative for a multitude of reasons. It allowed me to improve my Spanish-speaking skills and to become more comfortable with using my Spanish in a social setting. This program pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me refine my Spanish skills. Improving my Spanish skills is important to me because after I graduate from Ohio State I would like to attend law school and pursue a career in Human rights. I think that being able to speak more than one language will broaden the number of people that I will be able to help in my legal endeavors. During my project, working with Constru Casa allowed me to contribute to a cause that I am very passionate about. I am a strong advocate for Human Rights and I feel that this opportunity provided me with the experience needed to be more knowledgeable about the ways in which historically disenfranchised groups are marginalized and oppressed on an international scale. 

Currently, I am the President of an organization, called Ladies of Leadership on campus, our mission is to create and cultivate safe spaces for women of color on campus to feel empowered and supported. I was able to align these values with the work that I performed with Constru Casa in helping the local family to feel empowered and supported as well. This project allowed me to learn more about the issues that individuals with marginalized identities face in other parts of the world. In past courses focused on political upheaval in Latin American countries, I have learned about the relationship between the Guatemalan government and its indigenous communities as well as the role that the United States has played in the displacement of indigenous communities. This was truly a transformational and life-changing opportunity that I will never forget. I was able to be a part of a cause that I am passionate about and learn skills that I can use to better myself as well as communities around me. Thank you STEP for pushing me one step closer to becoming the true globally competent leader I aim to be!