and the packing begins...

Since returning from vacation at the beginning of July I have had two days off and absolutely no time to worry about my upcoming trip to Guatemala. Thankfully enough, my mom has. Worry plaugued her when she noticed we only had a half hour to get from one plane to the next while in San Salvador... so she called the airline and got our flights changed, ensuring that Kelsey and I will safely and surely make all of our connections. 

Stress becomes my being the day before I leave home, therefore I have decided to gather and pack everything ahead of time. Who knew that trying to pack light would be such a difficulty for this girl....

takin' the time to discover

http://www.guinness-travel.com/yaluOneDay.html

Zip-lining, horseback-riding, hiking, blackberry picking and more in one day? Yes please!

We work in the orphanage from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM... what will we do with all our free time?!

Espanol

We know all the Spanish we need... No entiendo Espanol, Un momento por favor! .... As we look to our Spanish/English dictionary! 15 days!

Map of Guat

18 days prior

Hello friends! As promised to my mother, I have created this blog so that all of you at home can check in on me and how my trip is going in Central America. 

I am taking the opportunity in this first post to give you all an adequate introduction as to what I will be doing in Guatemala-- and do not worry, I will not leave the other 4 w's out(who, when, where and why?). Here goes...

Who? The organization I will be volunteering under is International Volunteer HQ, a program based out of New Zealand that is dedicated to creating opportunities for individuals to volunteer abroad. The partner organization that will be taking care of me in Guatemala is called Maximo Nivel. Travelling and volunteering with me is a co-worker of mine, Kelsey Medlicott. Whenever I say "we" in this blog, it will most likely be regarding the two of us, since we will be experiencing everything together!

What? While in Guatemala I will be working in an orphanage placement-- helping in schools, on the streets and/or in orphanages. A lot of the country's children are/have been part of broken homes and have been abandoned and uncared for. Not only do I want to help in any way that I can by getting these beautiful kids off the streets, I want to do what I can to help show them the dignity and honour that they were born with. 

When? Leaving Winnipeg at about 5 am on August 5th, arriving in Guatemala at 3:30 pm. We are scheduled to leave Guatemala at 1 pm on August 18th, arriving home at 8:00 am on August 19th. This means, we will be out of the country for 14 days, 13 nights.

Where? Antigua, Guatemala is where we will be staying and working. Included above this post is a general map of the country. Antigua is in the highlands of Guatemala. We will have a lot of spare time to explore the country-- safety first, of course. :)

Why? As many of you know, I have always had a heart for others and hope to dedicate my life to caring for them by becoming a doctor. Giving my time and effort to show love to the people of this world is what inspires me, and this summer I am REALLY craving some inspiration. Not only do I hope to make some great connections during my trip, have some wonderful experience to put on my resume and medical school applications, I also am looking forward to all the ways that this experience will change my heart for the better. 

Every opportunity I get while in Antigua, I will post and fill you all in on my experiences, adventures, struggles and my safety. 

peace and love,

Meg <3