In the summer of 2017 I, Breanna Caal, went to Guatemala for the first time. To fully
understand the story I must give some background information. My older brother, David, older sister Dianna, and I had never been to Guatemala. Also, Dianna and I had never been on a plane before. Guatemala is the country where my parents grew up and met each other. Our parents decided to send us for two reasons: to go to an orphanage called Casa Bernabe and to meet some family for the first time, but I will be focusing on Casa Bernabe. My parents decided that my siblings and I were getting a little too comfortable with our lives here in the United States and wanted us to get a taste of what life is like outside of the United States. Now onto the story.
Our plane landed in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Tuesday, July 4, and my Uncle Maynor, his family, and my Tia Ana with her son (my cousin) picked us up from the airport. It was our first time seeing Uncle Maynor in years and our first time meeting Tia Ana. We spent our first two days with Maynor and the other two days with Tia Ana. On Saturday we went to Casa Bernabe for a week. Casa Bernabe is one of the biggest orphanages in Guatemala and has been around since 1982. I was sent to work in the baby house and being there really changed my perspective on my whole life. It really blessed my heart to see how grateful the children were and they were always so happy with the little they had. They were also the most polite and disciplined kids I had ever met. I was amazed at how they were always willing to help and when I saw a four year old folding her own clothes. Although I was happy at the opportunity to meet these amazing kids, I was heartbroken to know that some had been abandoned or taken away from their homes.
understand the story I must give some background information. My older brother, David, older sister Dianna, and I had never been to Guatemala. Also, Dianna and I had never been on a plane before. Guatemala is the country where my parents grew up and met each other. Our parents decided to send us for two reasons: to go to an orphanage called Casa Bernabe and to meet some family for the first time, but I will be focusing on Casa Bernabe. My parents decided that my siblings and I were getting a little too comfortable with our lives here in the United States and wanted us to get a taste of what life is like outside of the United States. Now onto the story.
Our plane landed in Guatemala City, Guatemala on Tuesday, July 4, and my Uncle Maynor, his family, and my Tia Ana with her son (my cousin) picked us up from the airport. It was our first time seeing Uncle Maynor in years and our first time meeting Tia Ana. We spent our first two days with Maynor and the other two days with Tia Ana. On Saturday we went to Casa Bernabe for a week. Casa Bernabe is one of the biggest orphanages in Guatemala and has been around since 1982. I was sent to work in the baby house and being there really changed my perspective on my whole life. It really blessed my heart to see how grateful the children were and they were always so happy with the little they had. They were also the most polite and disciplined kids I had ever met. I was amazed at how they were always willing to help and when I saw a four year old folding her own clothes. Although I was happy at the opportunity to meet these amazing kids, I was heartbroken to know that some had been abandoned or taken away from their homes.
Once a child in Casa Bernabe turns 18, the program allows them one year to decide whether they want to leave and try to make a career or stay in Casa Bernabe as a helper. In the baby house, there were two girls, one 19 and one 18, that helped the couple that was in charge of the house. I was sitting with the eighteen year old at 10 p.m. waiting for the parents to come back from a dinner provided by Casa Bernabe. As we were sitting there I asked her how long she had been there in Casa Bernabe. She responded to me and said, “ Since I was five.” I was left speechless because I ,obnoxiously, had assumed she was a missionary as well. That little amount of words had a huge impact on my mindset. After that week in Casa Bernabe I learned to be more appreciative of the life I have and even more of appreciative of my parents and what they have done for me. It also opened my eyes to how many people don’t have the same opportunities or luxuries as I do.
I really enjoyed and connected with your story. Your description of the orphanage and the children was very eye-opening and it must have been hard to see what they have had to go through. Your helpful and courageous actions are truly inspiring. -Alanah Arteaga
ReplyDeleteThis was actually a good read. I have learned something new from this story from your life. Thank you for sharing. - Edmund Yim
ReplyDeleteYour personal narrative really showed a lot about the type of person you are and I think that is really important when telling a personal narrative. I liked reading your story because it opens your eyes and makes you realize that not everyone in the world is not as fortunate to have a privileged life as some others have. It is really important to appreciate all that you are given in life.
ReplyDelete-Alana Robinson, Period 4
This is a really motivating and interesting story. I can only imagine how it was like to see all those people in the orphanage and feel the need to help them. Super inspiring and great experience.
ReplyDeleteLoved to read this short excerpt of such a life changing experience you had. I would love to learn more details about your trip, the children, and Guatemala. -Briana Kiphen
ReplyDeleteYour story is really inspiring because it shows me that I should never take anything for granted and live everyday like it's my last. It's heartbreaking to hear or see other parts of the world that have young kids or adults that don't have the things we do. The piece overall is amazing.- Caleb Leyva
ReplyDeleteWonderful story. Your experince and interactions with those less fortunate at the orphanage provides an in depth message of how life is to short to go unappreciated
ReplyDeleteI am glad to hear that even out of the United Stares there are also individuals that are willing to aid other individuals. Also to hear that it is a big orphanage, Im glad to know that children in the orphanage could also help the kids once they are older with a place to live too. - Amy Lau
ReplyDeleteI loved this piece and I'm glad it had such a positive impact on you. I've always wanted to go on one of these trips with my church and I think your experience really motivated me to do just that; it was such an eye-opener. The detail you put into your experience is really impactful to be grateful for what you have.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your experience. In America I think a lot of people don't really grasp the idea of how truly fortunate we are to be living here mainly because most people haven't had a first hand experience like yours and I think everyone should :)
ReplyDeleteThat was a really motivational story. I never really thought about how people in those situations lived and it really amazes me to see how appreciative they are of the little things they have in life. - Brandon Porter
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this peice. I respect your parents for the decision they made sending you and your siblings to Guatamala.The moral of the stoy is also great and it reminds me to be grateful for what I have.-Jesse James Jauregui
ReplyDeleteReading your piece hit close to home. My parents had to struggle growing up to become what they are now. They often tell me that this "pretty" life we have here in America is not the same throughout the world. Our blinds need to be taken off. You are so fortunate to have learned a lesson like this at a young age.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your honesty as you explained the lessons you learned from your trip and how you took the opportunity with an open mind a grateful heart. Also I like how the place that changed your life for the better, was significant to your background before you even visited. Overall, great job. - Taylor Clayton
ReplyDeleteAre luxuries synonymous with necessities? Are they something to be grateful of, or do they strip us of our humanity? And do our luxuries come from those struggling outside of our country? Something to consider. Other than that, I enjoyed the piece and thought it was very insightful and well written.
ReplyDeleteI very much enjoyed this personal narrative. It provides insight as to how much opportunity we have here in the United States and just how easy we have it and how hard others have it also. Very powerful. - Gianni Castro
ReplyDeleteYour story was very inspirational and motivating. I believe that everyone should help other people in need and who are less fortunate than us. I can see through this short story that you care about others and really got to see how different Guatemala is compared to the US (even though you focused on a small part of your trip). Truly inspiring thank you for your experience.
ReplyDeleteSarah Skibby
This piece actually made me connect to a time in my own life where I went through a very similar scenario of witnessing homeless children go through many things that made me wonder if I can endure the same hardships if I was put in their shoes. Glad you were given the opportunity to open up and converse with the less fortunate.
ReplyDeleteTalk about a personal narrative! I knew you were a kind hearted person, but show the enormous amount of love you have in your heart. This piece shows me how different countries can be, even when they are in the same world. I hope this inspires others to go out and see what they are taking for granted!
ReplyDeleteTom LeMelle
Period 2
I enjoyed reading about your experience from Guatemela, I found it very inspirational. I also admire how the appreciativeness of the children impacted your life and caused you to be more appreciative. It seemed like a very humbling experience -Justin Hamel
ReplyDeleteThis piece of writing really made me appreciate my parents and the stuff they provide for me. We people grew up always wanting more and more as we grew up not realizing that the only thing we really need to keep us going in this world is our parents. - Juan Zermeno
ReplyDeleteBreanna, I'm happy you had such a beautiful trip and it seems like one more people should experience! I can tell that these kids truly changed your view on things, and it was changed for the positive. This is a beautiful story and I'm glad you chose to share it.
ReplyDelete-Savanna Saikali
This story is a eye opener for me for so many reasons. I respect your parent's decision for letting you go and I respect you for willing to go see how everyones life is very and completely different COMPARED to others in the world. I feel like often many of teens forget that we have so many opportunities to go to school and the ability to get our drivers license or even to our iPhones. I completely agree with you with being more appreciative for your lives and parents.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very nice piece. I am glad that this experience opened your eyes, and probably many others too, to what other people are going through in other parts of the world. People should realize how fortunate we are for every little thing we have! - Tatiana Nunez Per.3
ReplyDeleteThis story was very eye opening and made me to take a step back and have a little more perspective about the things happening around you. Many times we go about our daily lives and complain things that many people would love to have to opportunity to have and would never complain about. -Jenna Jensen
ReplyDeleteI liked how you constantly described how the events made you feel and how those events developed your character and mindset as the piece continued. You were truly able to show your sympathy and compassion for other through this, great job!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got to experience a moment that changed the perspective in which you see and appreciate life and it's opportunities and comforts. Although I can't personally feel what you felt this summer in Guatemala as I'm someone who learns through first-hand experiences, I can definitely relate to your feeling of appreciation and gratitude as I've seen the hardships myself in some poor villages in China, my home country. - Kenneth Chen
ReplyDeleteThis story really mad me think about how privileged I am to be able to live a normal life with parents that love me. I'm sure this experienced impacted your life in an amazing way and changed your perspective of life. I respect your parents for giving you the opportunity to see how others' lives are. I believe they are doing their job right as parents.
ReplyDeleteThis story was absolutely beautiful and truly put my life into perspective, so I can only imagine how this trip could have affected you. The way you combined story telling and depicting your emotions was very impressive. It truly made me feel like I was on the trip with you.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to this story extremely well as I also lived in another country briefly, Pakistan. There, it changed my whole outlook on my life the way yours did on your own trip. The story itself is beautifully written and powerful.
ReplyDelete-Behrouz Khokhar
Your piece was something that was felt so real to me. My mother also decided to send my brother and I to the place where she grew up so that we could learn about our culture and grow to be more thankful for everything we had; she grew up in the Philippines. What I experienced and learned from that trip is just as what you were describing. -Jobelle Dauz
ReplyDeleteReading this piece helped me to understand you as a person more. The way you wrote the narrative shows how much of an amazing storyteller you are. Your examples helped to convey your story eloquently and smoothly. Though not being there myself, I feel as though I was there experiencing the same thing as you were. Really well written piece.
ReplyDeleteThis was a very well-written and humbling story. Nowadays, it is so easy to forget what others are going through. So it's important to humble ourselves and put ourselves in the shoes of the less fortunate. Thank you for sharing this.
ReplyDelete-Unity Montalvo period 4
Thank you for sharing your story of gaining a new perspective on life while in turn helping others also gain a new perspective. Not only that but, it's nice to know that these children had somewhere to go even though it might not have been under the best circumstances.
ReplyDelete-Caitlin Fanning
To be able to experience this kind of journey is truly amazing, especially since it helped you gain a little more perspective on how different other people's lives can be. I hope that you continue doing journeys like this so that you can not only help them but also help you and all of us to gain more of an understanding on how we can help them.
ReplyDelete-Sasha Hodder
This really puts emphasis on how we take our privileges for granted and nothing is ever enough, we never take time to stop and look at what we have and just be grateful for it.
ReplyDelete-Kylee Klein
I loved this story. How lucky you are to be able to visit such a beautiful place and have the opportunity to help people that are less fortunate than you. That says a lot about you as a person. Your story was simple but beautifully written and full of a lot of emotion. So nice to know that you got a lot out of the trip and that it was so eye-opening. - Aaryn Cranon
ReplyDeleteThis really hits home. Often times we become so complacent with the lives we live, unknowing of how much the world moves outside of our comfort zone. It's amazing to see how people are able to do so much with so little, yet still remain positive. It's inspiring.
ReplyDelete- Shane Njoloma
I genuinely loved this piece. It made me think about the country that my parents grew up in and how i never really thought about the people back home. After reading this i began to think of how fortunate my generation is, i want to go back home and try to give back one way or another. Reading this has shown me just how thankful I should be for the things that I have. Just remember to never feel entitled and to be thankful for all that you are given.
ReplyDeleteOverall this was pretty good, however this narrative could've hit home a lot more with a stronger use of imagery. You could've put in a little bit more emotion and visualization for those of us that have never been to Guatemala, adding to the experience. Not to bad though, nice job. -Oscar Bustamante
ReplyDeleteThis was an awesome piece, this made me reflect on the luxuries and privileges that I myself have, and gave me insight to a life and reality beyond the ones that I know here in the United States
ReplyDeleteBreanna,
ReplyDeleteThis has to be one of the most beautiful stories and experiences to read & hear about. I can relate so much and am so ecstatic that this was something that you felt you wanted to write about. I agree completely on how much both people in this world, as well as country, take for granted. I encourage you to go back as well as continue to do great things here and give back! It is definitely one of the most rewarding and best feelings.
This was such a heartwarming peace to read and honestly an eye opener. We don't realize how blessed we are until we see the struggles that others put up with. LOL honestly right now i feel like i'm
ReplyDeletethe biggest brat and this piece helped me to be more grateful of the life i was blessed with. I am happy you went through this experience and that it helped you grow as a person. Thank you for sharing!!
Reading this touched my heart you did a great job on telling your story and giving details.When reading this it makes you realize how much you have in life.
ReplyDelete