Mayan Traditions, Class, and Hot Springs.

February 11, 2009. 11:15 de la noche.


So I just wanted to update on the last two days, because they have been jam-packed. Yesterday I really enjoyed my class a lot. I was all there, not daydreaming about anything or thinking about other things. I was present with my teacher, and it really does make the experience better for both of us. I love how, when doing practice exercises, answering questions, etc., we launch into huge conversations that just go from one thing to the other. For example, we were doing a worksheet that asked me if I remembered my first boyfriend. I said yes, and she asked me at what age. From there we talked about trends in ages of first relationships in both the United States and in Guatemala. Then we talked about sex in relationships, and young people having sex before they receive any sex education. From there we talked about abortion and how it is illegal in Guatemala because it is against the church. 99.5% of people in Guatemala are religious in some sense. There are also seven women for every one man in Guatemala, which is attributed to the losses that occurred during the times of violence here. I don’t know, I just really feel like I learn a lot from Ailsa, and I’m so thankful that she happened to be my teacher for these past three weeks.

After school, we drove and then hiked up a mountain to attend a traditional Mayan ceremony. It is really beautiful, and I really respect the Mayan people and traditions. I feel like they have something right. The man leading the ceremony told us that a Mayan person has not an ounce of hatred in his heart. They are so connected to nature and the world around them…it’s the kind of thing I’ve always aspired to have…that connectedness. It really frustrates me that these traditions are disappearing. It makes me angry at the Church, but then, so many people hold onto the church to help them continue through the hardships in their lives. Anyway, it’s also interesting to note that the Mayans believe in one G-d. I have a lot of notes on Mayan traditions, so I’ll review those and add to this. To prepare for the ceremony the man made the Mayan cross, which symbolizes balance, on the ground with sugar. He then placed different items such as chocolate, candies, limes, a type of plant, and some spices in such ways that resembled the balance and the cardinal directions. The ceremony had different parts…first the part to give an offering and ask to be cleansed from any wrongs you committed, then to thank the Creator for everything you have, and finally to ask for things you want to achieve in the future. After that, we were all cleansed with sage and a Quiche prayer. The entire ceremony was done in Quiche, the local Mayan language. It was a very moving experience, and I really felt more peaceful and calm afterward. I think it’s one of three of the most spiritual moments I have ever had. The first was in the sweat lodge with Gabe, the second was davening in Kol Rina, and this is the third. Beautiful.

Today was an alright day of class. I kind of felt like it dragged a bit, but it’s okay. Towards the end, we looked at some photos I have on my computer, because my teacher loves to see what my life is like. I came across my Nicaragua photos from last spring, and I was very surprised at Ailsa’s reaction. She kept repeating how sad it was that these people were so poor, that they had to live the way they live. I guess I didn’t expect someone with so little herself to have that much compassion to these people that maybe have even less. People never stop surprising me.

Afterward, we went to Fuentes Georginas, which are hot springs at the top of a mountain. It was beautiful, and it was completely in the clouds. It’s a cool feeling up there among the clouds. It’s weird to look down from that high up and be above where the birds are flying. It’s so beautiful though. This country just unfolds more and more beauty for me to see everyday. I love it. The water was so hot, but I think it’s what I needed to relax (I also found out today that Hebrew U. never received my final paper for one of my classes, which I KNOW I turned in, so it was quite frustrating).

After the hot springs I went to a forum on Palestine-Israel, dismantling myths. It was put on by the Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People. I tried to go in with an open mind, but the propaganda that’s thrown at a room full of people just makes me nauseas. They had photos from Gaza, although it’s hard for me to trust any photos that I’m shown, since I know how much they are changed for propaganda, etc. They also had a photo of the Israeli flag fade into a flag just like it, except with a swastika. The conversation was all in very fast Spanish, but I tried to follow it as much as I possibly could. They talked about Hamas, and how it was democratically elected, and now people are trying to bring it down, and they compared it to the ten years of democracy in Guatemala in’44-’54 before it was brought down. I have to disagree with the democratic nature of Hamas’ election, because I think it was more a plea for something new than anything else. People were tired of the corruption of the PLO and wanted a change, and Hamas was there offering help and charity work, so they won. I think most people that voted for Hamas don’t even really like Hamas. The men said that Hamas is legitimate in it’s terrorism because it’s a resistance movement against the Israeli occupation, so what else are they supposed to do? They also then mentioned that they themselves are definitely not Hamas supporters.

I don’t know…I guess it just kind of scares me that this kind of thing is going on in Central America. I’m all about learning facts and figures, but when it’s a one-sided, propaganda-oriented event, it kind of makes me sick. But I guess I was expecting to feel this way. What I wasn’t expecting was the respect I felt for the three Muslim men that spoke to the crowd. I felt almost proud of them for telling their stories and sharing their opinions with so much passion.

I’m just really conflicted.

And I’m going to sleep.

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