Cross-Culture

Living in Guatemala for 5 months gives you an excellent opportunity to learn about another culture and how to live in it.

Antigua, Guatemala is an ideal place for learning about culture. Right in Antigua you have the Spanish/European cultural with its courtyards and fountains. This is where you can hang out, explore all the cafes and enjoy the shear beauty of the place.Then in our village of San Pedro, which is more typical of Guatemalan ladino culture, you can see more of the middle class and how the average person lives. You will live with families in this village and really get a chance to build relationships. The third tier of Guatemalan society is the indiginious culture of the Mayan people. There are several villages close to Antigua that we ministry in and we see especailly when we go up to the mountians for our missions trips.

Some of your experiences in cross-cultural living will include having your own Spanish tutor for the first week in  language school. You will also live with a Guatemalan family for 5 of the weeks. You will make Spanish speaking friends through going to church and by being involved in various ministries. Then just daily living gives you many opportunities to interact with people. Taking the chicken bus into Antigua or getting coke in a bag at the tienda or baking at the panaderia, or shoping for souvenirs at the market will give a totally unique experience and a window into the culture. Everything is a cultural experience and you will become very comfortable with the generous and warm Guatemalan people and their culture.

Courses are designed to integrate with these adventures to help you make sense of what you are experiencing. You are required to keep a cultural journal and assignments in Anthropology, Communications and Missions let you write about what you have seen and learned.