I recently attended a Guatemalan festival, which was located at a church in Downingtown. This gave me the opportunity to experience Guatemalan lifestyles and learn some of the history behind the country. I had the chance to involve myself in another culture other than my own by staying local and not having to travel across the globe to experience it. .
At this festival, I was informed about the country itself. Most people speak Mayan language, but most of them are very familiar with Spanish. Also, it is a highly populated country located in Central America. There are people living in poverty in some parts of Guatemala. In tribute to those people, everyone who attended the festival donated clothes that were brand new and some even donated money. This was a very nice gesture to help the less fortunate.
There were tables set up in the church, which each displayed different ways of experiencing Guatemalan lifestyles. This gave everyone the opportunity to observe, participate, and receive information about certain activities. For example, I learned about the frequently occurring volcanic eruptions and earthquakes that destroy parts of the country. At this particular table, I was able to make a volcano erupt. Another display consisted of crafts such as weaving. This was to experience the traditional crafts of the Mayan people. Also, the music that was playing for us in the background was the Miramba. It was interesting to listen to the music from other cultures. .
I thought the most interesting part of this was trying all the different types of food that was served. This included tamales filled with meat and wrapped in cornhusks, rice, beans, and vegetables. This gave me the opportunity to live in a different culture for a few hours and experience their lifestyle. Attending this festival was a great learning experience.
