What inspired you to travel abroad?
I had the chance, via my boyfriend who was Guatemala, to discover this beautiful country for the first time. I was so marveled and excited and thrilled by what I had briefly seen, that I wanted to see more, and be, in a way, a part of it. I've always wanted to be abroad, to live abroad, to work abroad, and to be useful! I am from France, and sometimes, I get overwhelmed by how individualistic and "babied" French citizens can be. So, voilà, everything inspires me to go abroad. Still now.
Always the most magical view…
Why did you choose Long Way Home?
I looked online on various platforms to find an organization that would match my interests, e.g. involved with the community and involved in the protection of the environment. Browsing through sites such as Workaway or just Googling "volunteering in guatemala", I found Long Way Home and got in touch with them!
What was your favorite part about Guatemala?
The colors, the silhouette of the landscape, the diversity of it, the food, the culture, the warmth of the people...Everything.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
All of the above. And befriending the locals and sharing their lives.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
We lived together; everyone was very supportive and kind.
Local artist's workshop
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I would have stayed longer. This way I would have been able to become even more friends with the local people.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
A typical day involved waking up with the cat or the dogs, sharing breakfast with the other volunteers and staff, going to work, and then doing a variety of things. These things included polishing glass, building walls, visiting locals, playing with kids, walking in the country side, making food, and taking a shower in our sun-heated shower (pro tip: that's why it was better to take a shower at night—to have let the water warm up all day). We would also sit by the fire and tell stories, and then go to sleep to be super fresh for the next day's adventures.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
I enjoyed walking in the countryside to discover secret places and secret viewpoints. Wandering and wondering in the village. Tasting street food (they say there's a risk of getting sick with some food, especially vegetables because of the water, but I believe my system resisted pretty well! I never got sick!).
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
It was a shared little house, with colourful paintings and a full kitchen. I had my own room because the other bed was unoccupied. I don't know if this is what I liked best about it, but it was funny to sometimes come back to the room, and find a cat poo on the floor. No idea how the little devil sneaked in. He was cute.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
Some wild dogs could become quite threatening at night.
Would you recommend Long Way Home to others? Why?
Yes. Because help is always welcome, and it is fantastic.
Green building
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
Exploring the world, letting go of all preconceived ideas, being with others, breaking all "norms", discovering ideas and people.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I want to go back.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
It's when you actually manage to contribute somehow to the place you go. That you don't just take and that you also give. Some places are more suited for pure tourism—as in being a "spectator". Some other places, I don't think one can go to without giving too. As per this volunteering, you could only want to participate the best way you could and share joyful moments with the people around you.
