Hi Gannon!

This is Madi and Sae, two of the students on the ABST to Guatemala 2026! Today we started our morning off at construction and we helped with small but meaningful tasks, observed skilled workers in action, and asked questions about the tools and techniques being used. The experience not only gave us a deeper appreciation for the effort behind every structure we see but also encouraged us to consider new possibilities for our own futures! 

For our second half of the day, we got to enjoy a cooking class at the Centro De Mujeres, the women’s center! Our cooking class was an unforgettable experience filled with culture, connection and incredible food. We had the privilege of learning from a group of amazing women who generously shared not only their recipes, but also the stories and traditions behind them. Beyond learning new cooking techniques, we gained a deeper appreciation for diversity and the way different traditions can unite us around one table. It was an afternoon full of laughter, learning and flavors we will never forget.

Before bed, we came together for a reflection that tied our whole day together in a different but meaningful way. Instead of just talking about what we learned, we experienced it again through a team challenge using toothpicks and marshmallows. Our goal was to build the strongest structure possible, but it quickly became clear that success depended on more than just stacking materials. We had to listen to each other’s ideas, adjust when things collapsed, and think strategically about our design. Even though our materials were small and simple, the lesson was the same, strong structures require strong teamwork!