Summary
Director
Itinerary
Prerequisites
Homestays
Languages
Cost
To Apply

Dates: January 3-29, 2000

BE part of an intensive, hands-on learning experience among Mayan peoples of Guatemala.

EXPLORE the impact of global development on the local culture and environment.

LIVE with local families, participate in seminars, and conduct group field projects.

UNDERSTAND local perceptions of sustainability and implications for the U.S. and global community.

PARTICIPATE in projects aimed at preserving the environment.

Program Summary:

Through lectures, discussion sessions and individual and group field study, students explore the transformation of material life around Lake Atitlan and its environmental impact. 

The students are presented with conceptual tools to compare and contrast the local understandings of change and degradation of their environment with those of 'experts' and outsiders. Models such as the community economy (born out of household practices and meanings) and the market economy are explored as interrelated, overlapping and contrasted models used by people to organize and give meaning to their material life with varying effects on their heritage, and specifically the environment. 

Field work allows the students to explore the limits and the possibilities of these models and provides an added angle on issues such as local perceptions and definitions of change, a desirable social and ecological state or condition, sustainability, the cost of transformation, and issues around the notions of 'development' and 'progress'. 

The majority of Lake Atitlan population is part of three Mayan groups and there are considerable Ladino and foreign communities as well. Family stays with Mayan groups around the lake will provide close contact with people who use different models to give meaning to their surroundings, their life projects and their lives. 

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Program Director:  

Alberto Rivera-Gutierrez brings a fascinating combination of academic study and on-the-ground experience to his role as primary faculty of the Guatemala program. Rivera has earned a M.A. in Hispanic Linguistics and a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Minnesota. He is currently project director for the Sustainable Tourism Development Program in Guatemala, while also serving as faculty member in the Department of Ecotourism at Universidad de Valle in Guatemala. He is co-author of Conversations in Colombia and another article entitled 'Sustaining the Community, Resisting the Market: Guatemalan Perspectives.' Rivera has taught with HECUA programs since 1982.

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Tentative Itinerary: 

3 days in Guatemala City - Lectures on the peace process, the government's view on sustainability, city tour and visit to museums

4 days in Panajachel - Lectures on metaphors, models, community and market economics

5 days in towns around Lake Atitlan - Family stays

7 days around Lake Atitlan - Groups projects

2 days in Panajachel - Seminars and workshops, group presentations

2 days in Guatemala City - Wrap-up and evaluation 

Prerequisites: 

Completion of freshman year in college by January 2000, and one year of college-level Spanish language study or the equivalent (two years strongly recommended). Open to all majors.

Homestays: 

You will stay with a Mayan family for five days as part of the learning experience in the Lake Atitlan area, sharing meals and many aspects of daily life. 

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Language:

Lectures, discussions and student presentations will be in English. Guest resource persons may speak Spanish, in which case summary translation will be provided. Readings will be primarily in English and assignments will be written in English. Group field projects will require the use of Spanish to interview and gather information (students of varying language proficiency can help one another in the small groups).

Cost: 

The comprehensive fee is $2,275, which includes round-trip airfare from Minneapolis/St. Paul, airport transfers, ground transportation to Panajachel and Lake Atitlan, planned group excursions, five-day family homestay, lodging with continental breakfast, six lunches, ten dinners, and administrative costs. 

Additional expense to the student will include the home school's J-term fee (varies per school), passport, travel insurance, occasional meals and local transportation, and personal expenses (sundries, gifts, free time entertainment).  

A $400 deposit will be required to hold your place in the program (non-refundable, due within one month of acceptance into the program), to be credited toward the comprehensive fee. All deposits must be in by October 19, 1999. Final fee payment due November 15, 1999.

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To apply: 

Students must submit a HECUA J-term application form and $25 non-refundable application fee directly to HECUA. Students applying by May 3, 1999 will be given admissions preference and will receive notice of acceptance by mid-May. Applications will continue to be accepted while space is available up to the final deadline of October 4, 1999. Apply early, as space is limited.

 For more information or to request an application:

Fill out the HECUA Inquiry Form!

 

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