We put the FU in FUn

     Today we visited the nature preserve in Panajachel.  On our hike through the preserve to reach the start of the zip-line course we were able to see monkeys and coatis, which are a kin to anteaters.  While the monkeys would not come close enough for us to feed them bananas, the coatis were very curious and they took bananas right out of several people's hands.  As for the really FUn part of the day, the zip-line course was absolutely amazing.  The views of lake Atitlan while riding the zip-lines were truly incredible, and fortunately visibility was very good today.  I believe all of the students enjoyed their experience riding zip-lines, as no one needed to be pushed or accompanied down the zip-lines. 

    
     After we finished the zip-line course, we got the opportunity to hear a man named Alberto speak to us.  He is actually the owner of the land that the nature preserve is located on, and he had much to say in regard to environmental protection and the developments on environmental issues in the area.  Alberto told us about how the lake has changed in recent years, such as experiencing a boom in algal growth and the loss of reeds along the edges of the lake.  While he may have presented somewhat of an idealist point of view, I personally believe that Alberto made some excellent points.  For one, he said that "third world" countries such as Guatemala act as a mirror for ourselves as United States citizens.  More specifically, he pointed out how one may not realize how different life is in one's own country until that individual experience a truly foreign place.  I really like this point because I had never thought of things in exactly that light.  I never realized that going to some place where everyone is different from you can actually teach you more about yourself than about the foreign culture you are visiting.
     When we left the nature preserve we stopped briefly by a local town named San Antonio.  We spent only 30-40 minutes in San Antonio to shop.  Rather than shopping however, myself, as well as Michael and both of our professors walked around town.  It is remarkable how different nearby towns can be here.  San Antonio is reminiscent of a Brazilian favela as all of the buildings were built on top of and very close to each other.  The town was literally built on the side of a mountain, and it was not a tourist hot spot in the least.  San Antonio lacked the multitude of shops present in other cities and we didn't see a single dog or chicken roaming the streets (which is quite unusual here).

     In all, today was both very fun and quite educational.  I feel that we all learned a lot while still enjoying ourselves, which is what a May experience should be.  It continues to amaze me how much I learn, especially about myself, by simply observing what this place has to offer.

- Kevin