Don’t Worry You Guys, I’m Still At It: From Guatemala

Hey there, fellow travelers! I’m coming to you from Escuintla, Guatemala. I know it has been a while since my last blog post, and for that, I sincerely apologize. For a little over four months now, I’ve been knee-deep in lesson planning, teaching, and dealing with a myriad of issues that have been making my volunteer experience somewhat unpleasant. Today is the last day of a week-long break from school. This break gave me the opportunity to travel to Guatemala City and explore a bit. I returned to Escuintla a few hours ago, and am already feeling a bit down. But fear not, my passion for travel still burns bright, and I’m determined to keep going.

Volunteer Teaching In Guatemala

As I mentioned, I am currently volunteering as a conversational English teacher in a small city near the western coast of Guatemala called Escuintla. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, and being able to volunteer abroad in a different country is an experience like no other. I normally teach in a paid capacity, but I wanted to try volunteering to see if I could do it and for the life-changing experiences I’ve heard other people talk about.

I love my students! The children and adult students are incredible, and their enthusiasm for learning is truly inspiring. It’s because of them that I haven’t packed my bags and left this place a long time ago. I like Escuintla and have no problem with the city or the people. My issues stem from my host. I’ll explain later.

But, as much as I love my students, there are a number of issues, unrelated to the students, that have been weighing heavily on me during my time here. There have been days where I’ve questioned whether or not I made the right decision. At the end of the day, it’s my dedication to my students that keeps me going. Seeing their faces light up when they finally grasp a new concept or overcome a language obstacle reminds me of why I’m here in the first place. Despite the challenges, the moments of connection and growth that we share make it all worth it.

Stay Tuned

I’ll delve deeper into the issues I’ve been facing in future blog posts, but for now, I just wanted to take a moment to update you all and let you know I’m okay just in case you were wondering. Life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but it’s the ups and downs that shape us and make us stronger individuals.

Thank you for following along on my adventures, and stay tuned for more updates from my time here in Escuintla. You can also check my social media accounts. I make a quick post every here and there with a few hightlights from my time here.

Until next time, happy travels!