Stephanie Wegmann

Stephanie Wegmann is an Ambassador who studied abroad in Guatemala.

Briefly describe a specific cultural experience you had on your trip that made a lasting impression.

This may be cheating, but I'm going to attach one of my blog posts because I think it gives the experience the most justice...

This morning our group visited the city's basurero, or garbage dump. As I have mentioned before, sanitation is a major problem in Guatemala. Today we were given the opportunity to really examine the issue first-hand. All of Xela's garbage is taken to this basurero. It's located about 15 minutes outside of the city near the base of Santa Maria (the volcano I climbed last week). The sheer amount of garbage is absolutely indescribable, but what's worse is that hundreds of people spend their days in the dump, digging through the trash for food, drinks, and recyclable materials that they can turn in for a miniscule amount of money. 15% of Guatemala's population (about 2 million people) is classified as being in 'extreme poverty'. I think today was our first true glimpse of this extreme. The basurero is both a human and environmental tragedy. In order to search through the bags of garbage more efficiently the people light them on fire; This melts away the plastic, making it easier to identify glass and aluminum. Because of this, the entire place is literally steaming with toxic fumes. Breathing is nearly impossible without a scarf or sleeve to cover your face. Health studies have stated that being in this particular basurero for one hour is the equivilant of smoking 40 cigars...this leads to obvious health problems for the people who spend the majority of their days digging through the trash here. I have one particular imaged burned into my memory: there were these two girls, probably each around ten years old, chatting with each other while up to their thighs in waste, opening one garbage bag after another, carefully pulling out any plastic bottles and putting them into an oversized Purina dogfood bag. Watching people, especially these beautiful little girls with all the potenital in the world, digging through garbage is one of the most dehumanizing things I have ever witnessed. We brought 50 lbs of rice and beans with us and handed them out to the people as they scavenged, but it seemed like an awefully small consolation. I don't think tthat he majority of the people in the United States, myself included, realize the level of poverty that exists in Central America, so close to home. It's absolutely devestating, but recieves next to no attention. Prior to this trip my entire human rights focus honed in on Africa. While there are obviously immense problems in the continent, I am able to recognize now that the poverty in Central America is on par with that in Africa. Today was a reality check for us all.

Why did you choose the program in which you participated?

I chose Guatemala primarily to learn Spanish in an accelerated environment. Also, as a Peace Stuides major I found the nation's history of conflict and array of cultures to be fascinating. Ultimately, Guatemala was something completely new, and sounded like a challenge.

Describe your overall study abroad experience.

My study abroad trip was an incredible bonding experience, with both persons from my my own culture (CSB/SJU students), and also with my Guatemalan family and friends. The trip was filled with some of the most beautiful and horrific sights of my entire life, both of which I grew immensely from. My study abroad experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will treasure forever. While it had it's challenges, I would choose the exact same program and do it all over again in a heartbeat.

How has the trip affected you? How are you different for having completed the experience?

In immersing myself in Guatemalan culture, I have in fact learned more about my own. Living there for an extended duration of time has given me a much clearer perspective of U.S. culture and behavior. I have been faced with the reality that many of the things I disliked most about Guatemala; the violence, social divisions, etc.; are actually a direct result of my own country’s foreign policy and manipulation. I knew that the United States was a super power, but had no idea to what extent its behavior affects Latin America and the wider world.
As someone entering into the Foreign Service as a representative of the United States abroad, this trip has proven the immense power and influence of U.S. Foreign Policy and its impact on the everyday lives of the local people. Knowing this, along with the U.S.’s unpleasant history in the region, will make me a better and more watchful diplomat. Having been exposed to our world’s complicated web of cause and effect, I know I am much more mindful of my everyday actions and their effects. Whether it’s questioning the working conditions of the laborer responsible for harvesting my banana or telling my kids not to do drugs not only because of health reasons, but because of the systematic violence and lives lost in the process, I pay much closer attention to the ramifications and interrelatedness of my actions. While this trip was far from easy, I am ever grateful for it. I arrived in Guatemala speaking next to no Spanish, completely unaware of the nation’s history or its relation to the United States. While nowhere near fluent, I am now confidently proficient in Spanish, and fairly well versed in Guatemala’s history over the past century.

What advice do you have for future Study Abroad Students?

I would tell students to go into the experience expecting one of the most rewarding challenges of their lives; to go in with an open and curious mind; and to really take advantage of the unique opportunity to see their culture through the lens of another.
(and then of course there's all of the advice specific to Guatemala...favorite restaraunts, shopping, parks, etc.:)