Experiencing Guatemala

            Wikipedia does not provide cross-culture experiences. Although Wikipedia can generally acquaint readers on various countries with its extensive information on histories, governments, and cultures, despite all its knowledge, Wikipedia cannot supply a personal and meaningful connection with any country. I learned this truth as I was researching Guatemala, for I was participating in a missions trip group with my church that was traveling to an orphanage in Guatemala during August of 2009. Excited at the prospect of going on my first missions trip, traveling to a Latin American country for the first time, and intrigued as to what kind of place Guatemala was, I began to conduct a modest research project to increase my knowledge of the country. I studied different aspects of the country, looking at everything from politics to crime to cuisine. I felt that if I researched enough, did enough “homework”, I would fully understand the country and would be fully prepared for my trip to Guatemala. However, studying and living are two different concepts, as I soon found out. A concept, an occupation, a country, in order to be fully understood, must be personally experienced. Factual knowledge is one thing, first-hand contact with the object of study is another entirely different concept. Through my experiences with Guatemala, I developed a personal and heartfelt relationship with the country and most importantly with its people. And that is something that Wikipedia could never do.