Next Week

Next week I am off to Escuela de la Montana. I´ve included some information below so you can see what I am getting myself into. As you will see, I will not have any internet access for that week. But I´m excited to move on and see a new place!

Escuela de la Montaña

Since 1988, the not-for-profit Proyecto Lingüístico Quezalteco (PLQ) has provided socially responsible Spanish language studies in the highland city of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Placing an emphasis on human rights and social justice, the PLQ has developed and supported projects in rural communities and with grassroots organizations using funds generated by the success of the Spanish school. The PLQ started the Escuela de la Montaña in 1997 in an effort to expand its work among the indigenous and campesino communities of Guatemala. The Escuela de la Montaña is unique in offering students the opportunity to live in Guatemala’s mountainous coffee plantation region while sharing daily life with the people of the surrounding communities.

Living accommodations are in the schoolhouse (sheets and blankets are provided; rooms have two to four beds). In addition to six bedrooms, the building has a library, kitchen/dining room and two large porches. The school has running water, indoor and outdoor bathrooms and showers. When the electricity is working, there is even a hot shower! (Bring a flashlight because the power frequently goes out.) The nearest telephone is a short walk away in Nuevo San José. There are two internet cafés about ten kilometers down the highway in the town of Colomba.

The families in Nuevo San José and Fátima provide students with three meals a day in their homes. They have been trained in the areas of health, nutrition and hygiene and have experience cooking for vegetarians. Diets are simple; often black beans and rice supplemented by eggs and vegetables. Every meal is accompanied by corn tortillas. The Escuela de la Montaña provides fruit or bread as well as coffee and tea during the morning and afternoon breaks.

The three-acre grounds include a steep ravine planted in coffee with a small quiet-house overlooking a stream, several barns, chickens, a fish pond, an organic garden and lots of banana and durazno trees. In addition to three affectionate dogs, we also have two cats to keep the house clear of mice. One of the barns has been converted to accommodate meetings, workshops and activities for children and youth. Students are welcome to participate in daily activities such as gardening, maintenance, and feeding and caring for the animals. There may be opportunities for volunteer work in neighboring communities for students with working Spanish who plan to stay for two weeks or more.

The climate is temperate so a sweater or fleece is usually adequate to keep you comfortable. Even during the dry season (verano) from November to April, it rains once or twice a month so bring raingear or an umbrella. You may wish to bring insect repellent (there are mosquitoes but not malaria).