Queridos missionaries,
No entienden español? Do you know about the history of the country? The practices of the Mayan culture? Wanting to help is great, but what skills are you bringing that can “help” the Guatemalans? If you’re building a school – great – but are you a carpenter or a grade ten student on spring break? Are you working at an orphanage? Noble – but are you a social worker, do you have experience with children of any sort? Are you telling people about your Lord and Saviour? Well, it’s fine to teach people about your culture – if asked – but have you asked them about theirs? Have you asked them whom they pray to? Why they pray to them? Or have you shown up to this country whose language you don’t know, whose practices you are not familiar with, lacking skills and bringing nothing but your Western ways and hegemonic perceptions?
Sincerely,
An Ex-Missionary Girl
Querido Privileged Tourist,
You’ve been here for three months now, what have you learned? You’ve learned to order food and drinks in Spanish. You’ve learned the best restaurants, with the best nachos, and the best crepes in the country.You’ve learned to walk confidently in the streets, ignoring the many comments made to you by the ever-forward guatemaltecos. You’ve learned how to make excellent small talk with the other privileged tourists -What’s you’re name? Where are you from?How long have you been here?How long are you staying?Do you like Guatemala? You’ve learned to the cheapest, yet safest way to travel and the best tourist destinations. When asked if you like Guatemala you say – “yes, the landscape is beautiful, the culture is so wonderful, the colours of the textiles are vibrant and the food is delicious.” But have you really experienced Guatemala? Have you experienced poverty, corruption, or inequality? Have you experienced the strength of community, a Mayan ceremony or a Ladino fiesta? Have you truly engaged with Guatemala – have you truly gotten to know this magnificent, complex nation?
Sincerely,
A Privileged Tourist Girl
** Amy Kipp, estudiante de la Universidad de Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canadá.
Cada dos años, la Universidad de Guelph en Canadá envía un grupo de estudiantes a Guatemala. La mayoría de ellos están estudiando desarrollo internacional, ciencias políticas, y estudios de género. En este semestre tuvimos la oportunidad de aprender mucho acerca de la historia y los desafíos contemporáneos de Guatemala, así como conocer diferentes partes del país. Aunque fuimos testigos de mucho dolor y sufrimiento, y siempre estuvimos incómodos con la profundidad de desigualdad que encontramos por todos lados, todos los estudiantes se enamoraron de Guatemala. La asignación final de la experiencia era una carta para Guatemala, para describir sus pensamientos, sentimientos y las preguntas que quedaron pendientes. Se seleccionaron algunas de las cartas para poder publicarlas en Brújula, proyecto que conocieron los estudiantes durante su estadía en Guatemala. Candance Johnson – Associate Professor, Departemnt of Political Science.
Fotografía: www.4.bp.blogspot.com
