Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)

My time in Guatemala with Dragons was deeply impactful. The connections I made with locals have shaped the way I think about the world. From my more traditional, indigenous-rooted host family living in a more isolated town near Lake Aititlan to my more modern host family in Quetzaltenango, I was able to connect with people who were different from me while discovering the humanity we shared. The program was thoughtfully planned, and the instructors were knowledgeable and supportive, and I know the friends I made on the trip will remain some of my closest friends throughout my life. Not only did I improve my Spanish, but I also learned more about myself and the world around me.

My summer in Guatemala was an amazing experience. The Program Where There Be Dragons provided fantastic opportunities with many learning experiences and awesome instructors. The living situations were at times difficult, but I also think that enhanced our full cultural immersion. I loved this program and would recommend it to any teen interested in learning more about not only spanish, but themselves.

Over the course of 6 weeks, we trekked for 4 days, learned Spanish at a Guatemalan school, and learned about everything from a Guatemalan weaving to their Mayan ceremonies. Academics: Over the course of 6 weeks, we did not simply walk around Guatemala, but actually were taught the sad yet very interesting history between the United Fruit Company and Guatemala. We also learned about being social activist and also worked at a microcooperative. Cultural Immersion: The cultural immersion was okay, but I felt that there could have been more Spanish spoken. However one of the leaders of the group was someone who actually lived in Guatemala his entire life and so it was immersive in other ways than language. We also were at a homestay program which was really fun.

Dragons programs provide a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The focus on self in the global context provides students the opportunity to see tremendous growth within themselves as they encounter difficult situations and are immersed in a world that is so wholly different from what they know. Where There Be Dragons causes students to recognize their role in the world and take in the interconnectedness of the globe. As they observe the culture around them there is an opportunity to reflect on your own culture and lifestyle and really question the place you want to have in the world. Dragons inspires students to become agents of social change and to continue to engage in and question the ever-changing, globalized world. Academics: We each had independent study projects which we focused on throughout the trip. In addition we had several speakers share their experiences with environmental concerns, wars, government and immigration. Living Situation: We stayed in a variety of places which gave us a true feel of all aspects of the country. We did two treks, one in which we slept in tents, the other we stayed in a family's house as a group. We stayed in an old abandoned church one night over the trek and then a few hotels in between homestays and treks. We stayed with families in a very very remote village with only one room per house, families in a city apartments and families in a rural village. Overall the living situation was diverse, varied and provided a great cultural perspective over the entire course of the trip. Cultural Immersion: The only time of the trip that intense cultural immersion wasn't the focus was the first few days when we were establishing ground rules, and developing our own community. Even during this initial period we had dinners with families and helped locals collect macademia nuts. We got exposed to many different portions of the country and got glimpses to the way that people live throughout the country. We also got to spend time in nature and see the environmental portion of a country in order to better understand the cultures and traditions. We got to help prepare foods, go to the market and work with community started service projects. Finally we did a language school and spent individual time with teachers in two towns. Program Administration: Every instructor and administration person is personable, efficient and dynamic. They are all focused on creating the best possible experience for students and are committed to providing the most diverse and inclusive program.