After six-months in Belize as a volunteer, I was able to acquire a position in Guatemala with an actual paycheck. Aside from the obvious benefits of this upgrade (no more paying for Belikin beer with my savings!), I am slowly making the transition to life with a refrigerator, toaster oven, functioning internet, and electricity. I knew that I might experience culture shock upon my return to the United States, but I never thought that I would be overwhelmed with the transition from Golden Stream, in the rural jungles of Belize, to Nebaj, Guatemala in the highlands.
First of all, Golden Stream was filthy hot. By 8 a.m., I would have sedentary sweat – the inexplicable kind of sweat that forms while doing nothing more than breathing. Conversely, Nebaj is cold and rainy. After one night of shivering in bed, the question “I left Chicago for this?” has already crossed my mind.
In the jungle, nightly entertainment included stream swimming in daylight, reading books, or playing games. Bedtimes at 7:45 p.m.were not unheard of, and often times I felt like I could have been channeling Laura Ingalls Wilder. With my newly acquired electricity and “big city” life, my evening options have been expanded to things like TV shows online (hello The OC re-runs), trips to a local comedor or café for a cerveza, and cheese (yes, cheese is an activity).
This brings me to the most fundamental difference: food. A refrigerator and toaster oven have opened all sorts of doors for my culinary arts, but not without an initial crippling shock. I staggered around my new mercado as a bewildered gringa, not really knowing what to do with such different produce. Where are the plantains and sweet pepper? I fell into a panic when offered yogurt and milk while visiting the nearest store for groceries. These are things I can buy now. I will never have to eat another bowl of oatmeal for breakfast again.
Despite all the differences, the similarities of such disparate regions are uncanny and beautiful. The shy kindness and giggling of Mayan niñas and the carefully-made, colorful outfits of Mayan women are something familiar and comforting. Even hundreds of miles apart, transcending political boundaries and languages, these similarities are what remind you that we’re all cut from the same cloth… and that tortillas are good everywhere.
To check out my new organization, Limitless Horizona Ixil, visit our website at www.limitlesshorizonsixil.org. For more information on how life really was in the jungle, peruse previous entries from Belize.
Latest posts by bridgeterin
- When Your Own Hypocrisy Becomes Too Much - November 29th, 2010
- Partners in Poverty - August 31st, 2010
- Cooking in the Jungle: Meals Without an Oven or Refrigerator - April 8th, 2010
- When Doing Good Makes You the Bad Guy - March 25th, 2010
- "Don't get your reading material from the dump." - March 11th, 2010
- Scorpions, Tarantulas, and Rats, Oh My! - February 11th, 2010
- Yeah, Yeah, Right Now…Project Management Abroad - January 28th, 2010
- "Are You Peace Corps?" - January 14th, 2010
Hey Roxanne,
Thanks for the comment! Good to hear that I’m not the only one… maybe we’ll have to meet up in the capital to swap jungle stories.
Bridget, I relate to this very strongly, having gone from the Amazonian jungle in Colombia to Guatemala City! Best of luck in your new position from a fellow LaVida blogger; looking forward to the rest of your posts.