Guate

I was off to the airport once again (the 4^th of 8 flights I would take during this 8 day vacation). I got ridiculously early to the gate and patiently waited for my 2 friends. I had heard enough horror stories about armed crime in Guatemala City (see - Recent Crime Incidents Involving Foreigners) and literally had no arrangements for my 4 days there. If my friends didn’t show up, I would have to fend for myself (keeping in mind my limited and broken knowledge of SPANGLISH)! Needless to say I was more than a little nervous. While I waited, I contemplated my spontaneous decision to agree to go to Guatemala…

Just over a week ago, the Saturday night during the Lauder dinner at Wharton welcome weekend, two of my new classmates (known as “Photo Freak” and “Wifi Freak” from this point on) invited me to join them on a trip to Central America – specifically Panama, Cuba and Guatemala. They were leaving Monday morning (a little over 24 hours from when I heard about this trip) and I spontaneously agreed to it. The next day it hit me – if I went to Cuba then I might not be able to get back into the US (considering the US/Cuba relationship is not the greatest). So instead I decided to go to Panama on my own and later join my friends in Guatemala.

And now I wondered if I was a little too quick to agree to go to Guatemala with complete strangers! Back at the gate, I was one of the last people remaining as I waited and waited for my friends to show up. Finally, I had no choice but to board the plane. I was coming up with my contingency plan - get out of Guatemala City and head straight to Antigua. Antigua is considered a safe zone – a cozy and historic town with lots of tourists. Aright, I could do this... and then I looked up to see my friends waltz onto the plane. WHEW! I don’t think I’ve been happier to see people I barely knew.

Upon landing in Guate, “Wifi Freak” had arranged for a private car to pick us up and take us around the city. Equipé, brother – you know who you are, thanks!! (I’ll explain what “Equipé, brother “ means and how the names of “Wifi Freak” and “Photo Freak” came about later). In the evening we did go to Antigua, which would be our home base for the next 4 days. I was safe and sound in Guatemala.