Trials and errors: Lessons in flexibility by Lujain Al-Saleh

You cannot completely prepare for everything and it is incredibly rare when everything goes according plan. These are just a few of the lessons I have learned throughout my time in San Pedro la Laguna, Guatemala. It is quite funny that I mentioned this concept of flexibility to one of my mentors a few days before my trip to Guatemala. I talked about how even though I was preparing for the trip, I knew that things would most likely change or may not for necessarily to plan. I thought that I was prepared for flexibility. Then I realized that it is not really not something you can prepare for (at least that is my opinion). And it was quite difficult for me to come to terms with this realization. Flexibility is something that you learn through action and by doing...not by thinking. I could talk about flexibility as much as I wanted to, but that wouldn’t make me any more flexible in any way. It has been less than a week here and I already feel like I am becoming more comfortable with being flexible and knowing that my plans may change.

This was not the case when I first arrived. Although I was preparing for the tul restoration project through the SAS 190x seminar and throughout my spring quarter, it felt as if nothing was flowing according to the plan within the first couple of days. I was not receiving responses from the organization I was working with, I was having a difficult time communicating my goals and the project in Spanish, and I was not really sure where to begin. Although I participated in the Ecological and Social Issues at Lake Atitlán in Guatemala last summer, it was surprisingly much more difficult for me to adjust and adapt to everything this time around. I think

that a big aspect of this challenge was that during my previous studies, I was with my professors and fellow students the majority of the day and time. My schedule was generally planned for me and so I was able to just “go with the flow.” I was flexible, but that was probably because it was not on my own terms. Things are a little different when you are the primary person planning a project. Projects take time, they may need some changes, they may not always go according to plan. I could really go on for days.

 

Eliska in San Juan la Laguna

On the first day, Eliska, my mentor and UC Davis Professor of Wetland Ecology said to me, “remember that things often don’t go according to plan. You need to be flexible and have other plans.” And Eliska is completely right.

This project has really helped me to better understand how complex the project, development, and research process really is. It is not simple or easy.

I am going to get a little cheesy here, but I see the whole process as similar to life in general. Life is hard and there is not simply one linear pathway to follow. It is full of speed bumps and roads that do not always make sense. However, it tends to make more sense and piece itself together overtime. It is important to not forget that.

 

The San Pedro Spanish School

Since my time here, I have been taking classes at the San Pedro Spanish School in order to better communicate myself to the organization and people that I will be working with. As of now, the Ninos del Lago program at the school will be joining Atit’ala in the nearby town of San Juan la Laguna to start the tul planting project on July 4-5th. San Pedro (and Associated) Spanish Schools exists to support & contribute to an empowered community of dignity, prosperity and well being. By studying with us you're directly helping to provide Health, Nutrition and Education to the children of Lake Atitlan. Each week that you learn Spanish and increase your abilities and opportunities, a child in San Pedro gets a week's education and/or nutritious food, which dramatically transforms their life.

I developed a lesson plan on the significance of tul and Lake Atitlán for the students. There are about 14 students ranging from 10-18 years old.

Tomorrow, I will develop a plan with el Centro de Investigación Científica y Cultural to conduct interviews, surveys, and a focus group with various members of the community. The primary goal of the surveys is to better understand the challenges that local community members face in the towns of San Juan and San Pedro la Laguna along with the recommendations they have for leaders that are directly involved in efforts to restore and improve conditions at Lake Atitlán.

I have been here now for a week and already feel like I have learned so much. There are so many

organizations in the community and around the lake that are working to do amazing things...and I just feel blessed to be a part of it.