People who don’t travel cannot have a global view, all they see is what’s in front of them. Those people cannot accept new things because all they know is where they live. – Martin Yan
Tuesday, March 27, 2012 (DAY 23)
Months ago, when I began the first steps in pursuing this dream I spoke with many travelers. Almost in unison and utter agreement, the consensus with extended travel is the achievement in reaching the nine week mark, because this is where you feel as though you can live this unique lifestyle for the rest of your life. The passion and sincerity–visible in the eyes and faces gave me hope that I too, can live out experiences and not just the routine of life. I feel as though I have grown more in the past twenty-three days than I have in the past twenty-three months. I am more thankful and appreciative of what I have and even more so, of what I can live without.
Today, I met a new coworker that has more love for America than many I know back home. An illegal immigrant of close to a decade spent in San Antonio, Texas before being deported back to Guatemala, he is the first that I have ever met in my life knowingly. I could not feel more humbled as I am able to place a face to this topic, and while I still understand the need and concerns for border security in the global spectrum, it does make me understand why people risk so much for hopes of a better life, especially after witnessing the extreme difference in the wealthy and the impoverished. At the age of fourteen, Angel left his family and traveled across Mexico alone on a series of buses over the course of forty-five days. I can’t even imagine how difficult and terrifying this must have been. When I was this age my priorities and concerns were girls, sports, and the upcoming weekend plans. Paying Q 6,000 ($800 USD) to a coyote, this small kid was lead through the desert, unsure if he would live to see the next day. Reaching the land of opportunity, he worked a series of difficult jobs sending money back home every chance he could to afford his family access to basic services that I know I took for granted growing up. I’m not trying to persuade anyone on this topic, I just wanted to share his story since it was very incredible to hear firsthand.
Months ago, when I began the first steps in pursuing this dream I spoke with many travelers. Almost in unison and utter agreement, the consensus with extended travel is the achievement in reaching the nine week mark, because this is where you feel as though you can live this unique lifestyle for the rest of your life. The passion and sincerity–visible in the eyes and faces gave me hope that I too, can live out experiences and not just the routine of life. I feel as though I have grown more in the past twenty-three days than I have in the past twenty-three months. I am more thankful and appreciative of what I have and even more so, of what I can live without.
Today, I met a new coworker that has more love for America than many I know back home. An illegal immigrant of close to a decade spent in San Antonio, Texas before being deported back to Guatemala, he is the first that I have ever met in my life knowingly. I could not feel more humbled as I am able to place a face to this topic, and while I still understand the need and concerns for border security in the global spectrum, it does make me understand why people risk so much for hopes of a better life, especially after witnessing the extreme difference in the wealthy and the impoverished. At the age of fourteen, Angel left his family and traveled across Mexico alone on a series of buses over the course of forty-five days. I can’t even imagine how difficult and terrifying this must have been. When I was this age my priorities and concerns were girls, sports, and the upcoming weekend plans. Paying Q 6,000 ($800 USD) to a coyote, this small kid was lead through the desert, unsure if he would live to see the next day. Reaching the land of opportunity, he worked a series of difficult jobs sending money back home every chance he could to afford his family access to basic services that I know I took for granted growing up. I’m not trying to persuade anyone on this topic, I just wanted to share his story since it was very incredible to hear firsthand.
It is approaching 10pm, and, for the first time in almost a month, I find myself behind the wheel of a vehicle. Surprised to learn that many of the staff at the Finca both young and old has never learned to drive, I am asked to drive several of the women that work in the kitchen home. A bit excited I grab the keys to the van that are on a hook in the office and climb into the driver’s seat. Out of habit, I reach over my left shoulder for my seat belt. Flailing my right hand around wildly, soon I am reminded that this is Guatemala and seat belts are about as common as Starbucks. My two passengers next to me begin to laugh, knowing what I was looking for but enjoying the entertainment they don’t say anything. I have to laugh as well as I place the key into the ignition and start up the engine. I flip on the lights and begin backing out of the single stall carport. Turning the wheel to the left and placing my foot on the clutch as I forcefully shift into first gear, I inch forward ready to be on our way. Not quite, I’m about to drive over a large rock onto the grass, and this brings another series of laughter. I quickly realize that power steering is unheard of and have to stop and reverse before I can crank this beast of a steering wheel as hard as I can to the left before the wheels move. Finally, we are ready to shift back into first gear and be on our way. The first series of bumps and I realize that shocks are also nonexistent. Curious, I look down to read the odometer and there are more than 250,000 miles on this thirty plus year old van that somehow continues to keep running. Returning from the short twelve-minute drive, I approach the closed gate of the Finca where Ricardo is there to open it as he holds his rifle in place over his shoulder. Yes, it feels somewhat like a compound as a group of men patrol the property all night with guns, unfortunately there is no sniper tower, sorry Andrea, but I guess Happy Acres will not be in Poptun, Peten, Guatemala.
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