Farewell!

The car turned out to be in bad shape. Every week I had to fix it. It was like bringing an old man up a mountain. He could make it, but he required a lot of patience, too! Eventually, I had to sell the car and take the "chicken buses", instead. But Rodrigo mainly taught me how important patience is in Guatemalan society. Many people deal with problems with their transportation on a daily basis, here. It is a way of life!

        I was thankful for Rodrigo, because he let me explore new villages and meet new people. But traveling to new places didn't always mean I obtained a lot of interviews. One of the challenges I faced was the difficulty of meeting new people and getting the chance to interview them. I was shy, and sometimes Guatemalans were shy too. Sometimes they didn't have an interest in talking about the past. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do a good job. I wanted to be a popular American student that many Guatemalans would want to talk to. I wanted to interview a hundred people or more! One day I realized that perfection is rarely possible! So I decided to let go of the worry of meeting a certian number target and instead focus on enjoying the time I had left. Just then, I found a happy paradox: when I let go of the pressures and let myself be 'me', my relationships with other Guatemalans blossomed naturally! The lesson is: be yourself and good things will come!

            Finally, I want to tell you about my friend María. Toward the end of my journey I met a Guatemalan friend from a Mayan community. She is a brilliant person who studied history just like me. But sometimes it is hard for Guatemalans to have the same opportunities that Americans have.

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