Semana Santa aka "Every Day I’m Processioning"

Semana Santa (Holy Week) 2013 - Antigua, Guatemala

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Antigua is world renowned for their Holy Week (Semana Santa) celebrations. And truly, this religious experience is one of a kind. Let’s begin with alfombras (carpets). It is an extremely important tradition in Antigua to create these outrageously beautiful alfombras on the cobblestone streets of this colonial village. The materials commonly used are pine needles, flowers, petals, colored sawdust, fruits, vegetables, candy, and then pretty much anything available to make these carpets bright, colorful, and intricate. See below for some of these beautiful arrangements. 

Huge alfombra in Iglesia San Francisco.

Aaron & a pretty alfombra.

Our host family's 1st alfombra, mariposas (butterflies).

Our host family's 2nd alfombra.

Next we move on to the processions. This is serious business. Each church/village leads a procession. Commonplace sights and sounds during these processions are men draped in purple robes, women draped in black and white with veils, incense, mournful sounding music, and grandiose floats depicting scenes of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Also see below for pictures.

Carrying the cross of Jesus along with Him.

Even children carry floats! This is my host family's grandson in front, Manuel.

Now to tie the alfombras and processions together. Only the individuals carrying these heavy floats can step on the alfombras. This sacred action reminds me of the story when the Lord appeared to Moses and asked him to take of his shoes for “the ground you are standing on is holy.” If you could see the faces of these men and women carrying the floats you would get the idea of suffering for Christ. Draped in long robes. 80+ degree weather. Cobblestone streets. Carrying floats that weights hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds. Parading proudly through the streets the declare their faith and suffer as Christ did when he carried his own cross. It is a deeply moving and breathtaking sight. Check out some of the pictures and videos below, they truly do not do these celebrations justice.

Si Robertson spotted during Semana Santa. Hey! Duck Dynasty anyone?

Parasites Make the Heart Grow Fonder

To bring you all up to date, Aaron & I have been…

• Faithfully going to our internship every weekday (60 minutes of walking each day is rejuvenating!)
• Went to Guatemala City & visited FAFG (working with recovering bodies from the genocide) & the city dump
• Exploring numerous ruins in Antigua
• Enjoying fresh fruit smoothies & yummy piles of nachos
• Hanging out with our host family & attending numerous parades/processions

City Dump

Aaron at the San Francisco ruins.

Ruins!

Yum!

Now, back to the title of this blog. Parasites. Yep. On Monday, Aaron & I both work up early in the morning vomiting. Sorry for the bluntness. In basic terms, it was terrible. After about 4 hours of incessant vomiting and diarrhea Aaron finally felt better (no parasites for him!). But I could not even keep water down. I was so sick I was taken to the emergency room. The verdict: a parasite, an unfriendly bacterium, & severe dehydration. I spent the night in the hospital getting lots of fluids and medicines in the vein.

Now no worries, I am almost all better & it’s Wednesday. But during those hours I was really sick, I experienced an array of emotions. First anger, then sadness, then fear. I knew in the depths of my soul I would be alright, but I felt so bad. Finally after a few hours of sitting in a hospital I felt peace & understanding. Aaron stayed with me, curled up in a little chair all night waking at my every movement. He helped me more than words could ever express. Many Guatemalans face these very same problems on a daily basis and don’t have another person to take of them or can’t afford the excellent help I received. Malnutrition. $2 a day. These two epidemic issues alone cause thousands of Guatemalans to fall into serious illness.

All in all, this experience has taught me the true value of my family, friends, and humanity by reminding me of the fragility of the human body, mind, spirit, and soul. Who would have thought that parasites make the heart grow fonder? Little intestinal blessings in disguise, if you will.

Volunteer Coordinating

On Monday, I experienced my first taste of my social work internship. Aaron and I walked the 30 minutes to San Felipe where Nuestros Ahijados is located. We arrived on site and had no clue what came next. Nuestros Ahijados is currently being “restructured” and the volunteer/internship coordinator recently left. So we were paired with 2 20 year old male social workers who were going to a nearby town Jocotenango to conduct home visits/checkups with the families of the students at the school. Nuestros Ahijados has a school onsite with 215 students. The family pays $2 a month for their child(rens) education and purchases their uniform and school supplies.

We walked another 30 minutes to the town and met with 5 families. 4 out of 5 of the families we met with were single parent households. The mothers worked all day to provide for her children and afford a fairly small casita. 1 woman made tortillas all day. 1 family had cement basin for a stove; ashes from the firewood constantly floated in the air. All of the students were little girls.

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”

― Brigham Young

Upon returning from these visits we spoke with the director of Nuestros Ahijados. He offered Aaron and I internships doing volunteer coordination work M, W, F. I knew that Volunteer Management class would be beneficial! On Tuesday and Thursday we will work wherever needed.

One thing I’ve been reminded of while trying to successfully establish an internship abroad, is that organization and planning are not as important in developing countries. Esta Bien!

The remainder of the semester abroad group arrived on the 25th and I am super excited to be a part of a wonderful group!

The city where we are interning!

Mi maestra de espanol, Marcela!

The view from Crystal's roof in Santa Ana. 

View of Fuego & Acatenango from Santo Domingo Hotel & Restaurant. 

Have a question? Please ask me in the comment section of this blog post. Thanks for reading! :)

Change

“When we are no longer able to change a situation - we are challenged to change ourselves.”

– Viktor E. Frankl

Culture shock and adjustment takes many different forms, similar to the infamous boggarts in the Harry Potter series (you’ll recall Harry’s took the shape of a dementor). See below for an illustration. Ehem…back onto the subject of change. My culture shock has taken the form of wanting to stay inside to read/watch movies. Having had 2 previous cross cultural experiences, I am no stranger to the major components needed to enjoy learning and living abroad: purposefully engaging with the culture, open mindedness, flexibility (time is not always linear & events are not always planned), and positivity. With these in mind, the transition has been smooth with the exception of future worries.

Why does the future always have to be so daunting? 

Graduate school. Student loans. Jobs. Blah, blah, blah. I have struggled growing up in a culture with so much reliance, albeit obsession, with money. This week, Guatemala has been teaching me about changing myself since I cannot change the situation. I do not know what the future looks like for me and my family, but I can change my attitude: from fear to excitement, from negativity to positivity, and from worry to relaxed. This needed attitude adjustment should draw me out of culture shock and help me become fully immersed in the culture.

Well, tomorrow Haley, Aaron, and I are visiting Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados (http://www.ana.org.gt/) to nail down the specifics of our internships. I am thinking I’ll intern a majority of the time at the infant malnutrition home (Casa Jackson). I am contemplating volunteering a few hours a week at the local microfiancing organization here called Namaste Direct (http://namastedirect.org/). Aaron and I did learn this week that no other SAU students will be in the same homestay as us, but we do get to live with people from ALL over the world. So far we have had roommates from Holland, Quebec, and Australia!

Until next time, meet Antigua!

Have a question? Please ask me in the comment section of this blog post. Thanks for reading! :)

Initial Impressions

¡Feliz Año Nuevo! (Happy New Year)

When we departed from our snowy Michigan abode a mere 5 days ago, the butterflies had already built a mansion in my stomach. I had little expectations and many fears.

Reflecting on these nervous moments now I think…Guatever.

Living in Antigua has been a breeze. Every day is a perfect spring day here; 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. The culture is vibrant, the food is delicious, and the people are very kind. Not to mention that the colonial architecture is picturesque. Our host Mama (Marina Moreno) and Papa (Elder Moreno) have welcomed us very graciously into their home. They often say Mi Casa es Tu Casa. I wholeheartedly believe these words so much so that Aaron and I have decided to remain living with the Moreno’s for the entire semester rather than renting our own apartment.

The Spanish lessons at Centro Linguístico La Unión are superb. Aaron and I are both taking elementary Spanish lessons from 8AM to 12PM every Monday through Friday. I can honestly say that I learned more Spanish in 5 days than I learned using Rosetta Stone for 6 months! My maestra (teacher) Marcela is very enthusiastic and a wonderful teacher. I look forward to spending the mornings with her as she laughs at me for saying “Tengo hombre” (I am man) rather than “Tengo hambre” (I am hungry).

It is truly surreal that I began my college journey 3 ½ years ago with no international experience or desire to travel abroad. Here I am now 5 months away from graduation with 3 international experiences under my belt and an intense passion to practice international social work/development. I am grateful to Spring Arbor University for cultivating this desire within me and offering numerous opportunities to explore the world.

I am thankful and grateful to:

• My Mom & Dad for raising me to value diversity, making college mandatory, and investing in my degree.
• My sisters for being extra sassy, supportive, and loving.
• My husband for encouraging me to face my fears and talking me into working in developing nations. 
• My home church, Metro South Church, for taking me on my first international mission trip.
• My best friends, Selena & Andrew, for being constant encouragers, listeners, and wonderful friends while I stressed about living abroad.
• Diane Kurtz, Carol Haavisto, and Jeremy Norwood for sharing their own international adventures, life experiences, advice, and knowledge with a young couple. 
• The Social Work Class of 2013 and department for equipping with tools and relationships that I will utilize for the remainder of my life. 
• God! For everything that is and is to come in my life and the world. 

Continue to follow up on my adventures here! Until then, enjoy these photos of Antigua.

Santa Catalina Arch

This distinguishable landmark in Antigua was built in the 17th century. 

Volcán de Agua

This volcano is pictured in numerous photos of Antigua. It is the closest volcano to the city and has been inactive since the 16th century.

El Mercado

Our first journey into the massive main market in Antigua. We only explored a small portion for fear of getting lost and  missing dinner with our host families. 

Gracias por leer! (Thank you for reading)

Have a question? Please ask me in the comment section of this blog post. Thanks for reading! :)

'Twas the Night Before Departure

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”

–Shel Silverstein

World history trivia. Maps. National Geographic. These things that may appear boring to an average child, provided endless imaginary playgrounds, adventures, and fairytales for me. A magic carpet ride through the Taj Mahal. A tea party under the Eiffel Tower. A stroll through Machu Picchu.

As high school approached these far off fictional lands became a reality. How could I get to the Great Wall of China? When could I see the pyramids of Egypt?

Soon enough I began applying for college. At this point I was sure of only two college criteria. First, I wanted to stay in Michigan. Second, I wanted to work with diverse cultures. I quickly discovered Spring Arbor University (SAU). This liberal arts university fit both of my criteria and even aligned with my spiritual beliefs. I continued to learn more about SAU and loved the Cross Cultural Studies (CCS) program. CCS is a required study abroad cultural immersion experience. So I applied to SAU and was accepted. My freshmen year at SAU I got a job at the CCS office and my passion for international education has since blossomed.

Here I am 3 years later and embarking on an adventure of a lifetime. I will be spending January – May of 2013 studying in La Antigua, Guatemala. A mere 8 hours separate me from the Land of Eternal Spring and I couldn't be more excited!

Please continue to check back for more updates, photos, and videos. I appreciate all the support and prayers from my family, friends, SAU, the CCS office, and the Gilman scholarship.

For those who worry because you love me, here is mine and Aaron’s flight schedule.

AMERICAN AIRLINES     31DEC DETROIT MI     MIAMI FL       630A    945A
AA 873               MONDAY DETROIT METRO  MIAMI INTL
G ECONOMY                   TERMINAL N
           NON SMOKING      FOOD FOR PURCHASE             NON STOP
                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         3:10 DURATION
                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800
                            SEATS 25F/25E/26F NO SMOKING CONFIRMED


AMERICAN AIRLINES     31DEC MIAMI FL       GUATEMALA CITY 1245P   225P
AA 983               MONDAY MIAMI INTL     LA AURORA
L ECONOMY
           NON SMOKING      FOOD FOR PURCHASE             NON STOP
                            RESERVATION CONFIRMED         2:40 DURATION
                  AIRCRAFT: BOEING 737-800
                            SEATS 25A/25B/26A NO SMOKING CONFIRMED

Buenos noches!

Have a question? Please ask me in the comment section of this blog post. Thanks for reading! :)

Preface & Pleasantries

I have approximately 10 seconds to make a strong enough impression that you will continue to read my blog; I genuinely hope these next 10 seconds are worth your while. First and foremost, the basics. My full name is Katie Anne Gibson (maiden name – Ledl). I grew up in Lincoln Park, MI, a bustling suburb in the metro Detroit area. I am the daughter of two loving parents, James & Laura Ledl, who just celebrated 33 years of marriage, love, hardships, happiness, and unforgettable journeys. I am also the proud sister of 3 of the most beautiful women on earth: Olivia, Sarah, & Molly. Of course I should mention that Molly is my twin sister and we are the best of friends. Here I must also give a shout out to the Central Michigan Cheerleading squad, of whom Molly is captain, “Fire Up Chips!.”

I graduated from Lincoln Park High School in 2009 and immediately began pursuing a bachelor degree in social work at Spring Arbor University in Jackson, MI. The summer after graduating high school I met a handsome man named Aaron Gibson at the youth group we attended. Needless to say we hit it off! In 2010 we got engaged and we married June 3, 2011. He is a strong, compassionate, and visionary individual and I am delighted to experience life with him. 

Recently, in January of 2012 I traveled on a 3 week cross cultural trip to the lovely nation of Cambodia. It was my first experience in the developing world and completely fell in love with the simplicity and the Khmer people’s values. I captured the essence of Cambodia in the following excerpt from my personal journal: 

“Cambodia is a beautiful country featuring numerous opposites: peace and violence, oppression and acceptance, corruption and justice, beauty and suffering, poverty and wealth, and injustice and hope. I am constantly torn between love for the gentle Khmer people and contempt for the capitalists, corporations, and corrupt Cambodian government that continues to fail them, exploit them, and push these simple people deeper into chaos and perpetual poverty.”

The foreigners we met with were kind, courteous, and genuine. I really felt immersed and integrated into the culture. My experience in Cambodia encouraged me to seek out more international educational opportunities (hence studying abroad in Guatemala)!

In Guatemala, I hope to be be working with Asociacion Nuestros Ahijados (God’s Child Project) participating in an intensive social work internship. God’s Child Project is a holistic humanitarian and educational development organization dedicated to “breaking the chains of poverty through education and formation.” Their services include: assistance for women, education, health, nutrition, outreach, human rights, and shelter. More information on God’s Child Project can be found at http://www.godschild.org/.

I am currently completing my final year of my undergraduate social work degree. On May 11, 2013, a mere 2 days after returning home from Guatemala, both Aaron and I will graduate with generalized Bachelor of Social Work degree. In the future, I plan to specialize in macro social work particularly international or intercultural social work. I hope to be accepted to the University of Michigan, School of Social Work and begin graduate level courses Fall of 2013. Go Blue! :)

Likes: humanity, reading, world maps, exercising with my husband, Death Cab for Cutie, nature, supporting worthy causes, The Civil Wars, biking, Amnesty International, kayaking, Copeland, traveling the world to purposely learn & be immersed in other cultures, National Geographic, blankets, Sevenly, chocolate, autumn, Warby Parker, collecting copper pennies, & planning. 

Dislikes: laziness, meat, all social problems of the world, hopelessness, putrid smells, wastefulness, spiders, arrogance, & extremely loud noises. 

Have a question? Please ask me in the comment section of this blog post. Thanks for reading! :)