Reflection

It is weird to think that I have been home for about 4 months now. It has been 4 months since we traveled to Guatemala. It has been 4 months since I met those people and had those amazing experiences. It is odd to think how my life has changed. Sometimes I wonder, has it? Have I changed because of this experience beyond just being in a new place? Have I grown or has anything become clearer or less clear? When I went to start this blog, I did not think that I had changed much. I felt that I was the same person I was when I went on this trip, and in many ways I still am. I am still who I was. I still hold many of the same ideals, I still have mostly the same interests, and essentially I am who I was. But then, putting this blog together and looking at the pictures and reading my journals through the trip and thinking back I realize that even though I am mostly who I was before, something changed.

For one, I thought a lot more about this election then I ever thought about any other election. The biggest change was that I really took foreign policy into consideration as I was determining who would get my vote. Also, human rights were a huge part of this election for me. I realized that there were many prejudices still around today; many that I thought were nearly gone. So, I focused on who would stand up for human rights in this election because I've seen that they are still out there and because I've seen what oppression looks like in the faces of the Guatemalan people. I don't want anyone to go through that, not here, not anywhere, and that influenced my decision.

Another way that I have changed is that I realize that my life has been in many ways re-prioritized. Things that used to matter don’t matter so much anymore and things that were never a big deal mean so much more to me. Possessions do not matter nearly as much to me as before. It’s hard to want things you don’t need when you’ve seen people with nothing. Also, relationships mean more to me than they ever did. I always knew relationships were important, but I never knew they were all you really have.

Another thing that has changed is my appreciation for what I have. I have been so blessed in my life. I have always had everything I needed and tons more. I have people who love me, food, shelter, and I live in a place that guarantees that I will have the rights that I deserve. How could I ask for more?

I want to touch a little more on the last part. I really am so blessed to live in the United States of America. Sometimes I get really down on this country, especially the government, but really this is one of the best countries in which one could ask to live. I must explain, because it may even seem in my blog that I get down on the US. One of the things that struck me most in Guatemala was how the Mayan people have such large numbers, but almost no power. One of the hardest things for me to see and hear through our trip was how many of the Mayan sacred places are gone. When the Spanish were moving into Guatemala they brought Christianity and they built churches on many of the Mayan sacred places, mostly on purpose. Then, they would not let the Mayan people worship in the church because it wasn’t Christian. This was very difficult for me to hear because my religion means so much to me and I know how hard it would be for me if I did not have the right to worship in a place I considered sacred. Another reason this was difficult for me was because I realized that people from my religion had done this. Something I considered so horrible was done by people I have a faith in common with and done in the name of that faith. I was glad to hear that some of the churches have started letting the people worship within their spaces. I was also given a better appreciation for living in a place that protects my right to worship and that I will hopefully never have to worry about something like that happening.

So, yes, I have changed from this experience. More than I probably realize.