Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Collegiate will travel to Guatemala and visit Lake Atitlan, famous for its natural beauty and colorful Mayan villages... the most beautiful lake in the world!

Volcán Atitlán and Volcán San Pedro

Lake Atitlán (Lago de Atitlán) is a larg lake in the Guatemalan Highlands and this lake does not flow to the ocean. Atitlan is recognized to be the deepest lake in Central America. The lake is shaped by deep escarpments which surround it and by threevolcanoes on its southern flank; Volcán Tolimán, Volcán Atitlán and Volcán San Pedro. Lake Atitlan is further characterized by towns and villages of the Mayan people. Lake Atitlán is about 50 kilometres (31 mi) west-northwest of Antigua.

"At the water" is the meaning of "Atitlan." It is a fusion of simple Nahuatl words that belies the complexity of the entity it identifies. German explorer Alexander von Humbolt is the earliest prominent foreigner generally quoted as calling it "the most beautiful lake in the world." 

The lake is volcanic in origin, filling an enormous caldera formed in an eruption 84,000 years ago. It is renowned as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, and Aldous Huxley famously wrote of it: "Lake Como, it seems to me, touches on the limit of permissibly picturesque, but Atitlán is Como with additional embellishments of several immense volcanoes. It really is too much of a good thing."

The lake basin supports extensive coffee growth and a variety of farm crops, most notably corn. Other significant agricultural products include onions, beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic, chile verde, strawberries, avocados and pitaya fruit. The lake itself is rich in animal life which provides a significant food source for the largely indigenous population.

From Wikipedia.com

Antigua, Guatemala best place to retire south of the border

Guatemala Retirement: Better Than Costa Rica?

Huffington Post  |  By Shelley Emling Posted: 10/23/2012 9:13 am EDT
Move over, Costa Rica. When checking out places to retire south of the border, retirees are increasingly turning to Guatemala -- dubbed Land Of The Eternal Spring -- rather than Mexico, Costa Rica and other perennial favorites.

Here is the link:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/guatemala-retirement-better-than-costa-rica_n_1973454.html

Collegiate @ Peru - Summer 2012

Reflection Paper
by Jaylen - 2013



“No, no, no, my brain isn’t nor will it ever be a sponge. Sorry to disappoint you, Patrick.” The analogy comparing the human mind to a sponge isn’t a very good one; it suggests there is value in memorizing as a method to gain fluency. To blindly accept what is taught as truth without personal verification is to go through the motions of obtaining a foundation for life. One who does this becomes only semi-conscious to the world in which he or she lives. I present myself to you not boasting the achievements of an academic savant, but as a curious intellectual who places value on authentic education.

Intellectual curiosity requires you to be fearless. You must be willing to immerse yourself in a subject to understand it, which at times may seem scary. I was given the opportunity to do this during a recent trip to Peru.

The feeling of being unique in a community is a familiar one to me, for most of my educational career I have been one of few members of my race in my learning community. Even though I was isolated at school it did not prepare me for what I would experience while abroad. Initially the modern streets of Lima gave me a false sense of comfort as the towering buildings and the hustle and bustle of life in a city reminded me of New York, a place I visit on a regular basis. It wasn’t until we reached the ancient capital city of Cuzco, isolated by the mammoth snow capped mountains of the Andes that my differences were made more evident. It was no secret that Cuzco had been the Incan capital as the cultural environment had changed. The colorful wardrobe and customs on the once mighty Incan empire were prevalent in the streets, and I would get puzzling glares from natives for they had never seen someone of my complexion. They would stare, point, and laugh at me, as they avoided me as if I were a leper. But through this bit of adversity, I was still able to function in the community and understand Peruvian cultural practices through my understanding of the Spanish language. Once they realized I could communicate with them, they accepted me. The children, instead of fearing me, would give me hugs and tell me stories about their family and friends. I was even given the opportunity, while in one of their classrooms, to attempt to learn the native language of Quechua. My education, specifically my instruction in the Spanish language, allowed me to have an experience that I can cherish and for which I can be grateful.

Being intellectually curious is more than searching for answers and solving problems for the sake of a grade or performance evaluation, it is having an insatiable hunger that drives you unpretentiously toward the unknown as if it were your next breath. The diverse situations experienced in this journey toward enlightenment are what compose an authentic education. In this age of technology where information is so abundant and readily available, I feel compelled to weed out the superficialities of my education to inform myself about subjects that are meaningful to me.

Collegiate @ Guatemala, Summer 2010

Reflection Paper

by Hayley, 2011

I embarked on a life changing trip to Guatemala, with 16 classmates from Collegiate and Sra. Sharlin, Mrs. Bilderback and Mr. Davies. We arrived to Guatemala City on the fifth of June last summer. Immediately we traveled to our first destination Antigua Guatemala. Antigua is a colonial city, with streets built in a shape that resembles a grid. I shared a room with two of my classmates Amanda and Taylor. Although I had seen both of them often in passing, I wasn't aware that this trip would seal a lifelong friendship between not only us, but the group as a whole.

The first day, we met out tour guide "Tio" Chris, who showed us around the city. He pointed out places we should consider visiting or touring during our free time. We had plenty of freedom and time to visit whatever destination we wanted in Antigua. After lunch, my roommates and I were escorted to the house we would be staying. Our host was a sweet and kind woman named Esfalda. She prepared three meals for us every day. That night, after diner, our group agreed to meet at the central park, where we enjoyed ice cream and coffee at the local Café Barista. After learning something new about each person on the trip, we returned to our houses eager for the days ahead of us.

     The next morning, on Monday, we woke early and boarded a bus for El Cedin (a preschool for economically marginal children in the area). We spent the next four mornings painting, building, and working hands on with the children. I will never forget their beautiful, happy faces.  Directly after each working morning, we would return to our host families and enjoy an authentic Antigua lunch, and rest up for our one on one Spanish tutoring session in the afternoon.

      I began this trip, uncomfortable with my Spanish abilities and terrified to speak Spanish with anyone. However, my tutor, Evelyn, was a young 26 year old who could easily relate to me. She discovered that my Spanish was best spoken during a game of Uno, and played with me for hours. After five lessons of speaking one on one for four hours, I not only became confident with my Spanish but also gained a friend. She taught me about their culture in Antigua and I shared many stories about the U.S. and what it was like to live here.

      After a fun and productive week, we left Antigua on that Sunday and headed to Finca Santa Anita, an organic coffee farm run by ex-guerillas. There we were able to experience the lives of truly self-made men, and discovered how they were able to create a successful living off nothing but a plot of forested land. We packaged the toothbrushes and toothpaste we brought for the families, and then hiked down to a beautiful waterfall where we swam.

      Our final destination was Lake Atitlan, to a little picturesque town named San Juan La Laguna. You couldn't dream of a more beautiful place! Volcanoes and mountains surrounded the serene area, and our eco-friendly hotel looked as if it was built right into the mountain. We shopped, swam, played volleyball, hiked, and drank coffee during our leisure time, and also managed to incorporate painting an entire school during our visit. Although Paris Hilton had visited the lake and did "charity work," our group made a lasting impression on the thankful students of that school. On our final day we had celebrations for Dane’s 18^th birthday. We finished our visit to the lakes with an authentic Guatemalan meal, fireworks and a giant piñata, birthday cake, and dancing with the San Juan youth.

      Although I regretted the final day that our group was together, I knew it was time to return home. Once I exited the plane, I recounted all the once in a lifetime experiences our group endured as well as the relationships we formed. To this day I can gladly say I can count on anyone from that trip if I were in need of their help, or to simply recall the trip that changed all of our lives.