Seattle Program > Social Justice & Education > Culture

As GV students prepare to travel to Guatemala, what do they need to know to have a rewarding cultural experience? What are their questions and concerns? What can they do to make the most out the two weeks they are in Guatemala?

At Culture Nights, students practice greeting each other like Guatemalans, shaking hands and kissing on the cheek, and introducing themselves and starting a conversation in Spanish. They learn social skills, how to behave in their home stays, and how to make friends with their Guatemalan peers.

At the retreat, 2nd-year GV students (Youth Board) who have already been to Guatemala talk about how to act and be polite in the Mayan villages and how to dress to be respectful and appropriate. They share their personal experiences with their work teams and host families and what are the do's and don'ts at the work sites and homestays.

With this cultural preparation, students are able to bridge the barriers of language and culture and build strong relationships with our Guatemalan partners in the short time they are in Guatemala. Regardless of how much Spanish students have when they go to Guatemala, with hard work, a willingness to step out of their comfort zone, and a positive attitude, GV participants can create incredible friendships and strong bonds with the people they meet and work with in Guatemala.