In this blog, Nick Sargent shares about his trip to Guatemala, from visiting Sargent’s team members to seeing the many beautiful sights, it was a trip to remember!
“At the end of January, my wife, Kris and I enjoyed a week in Guatemala visiting some of our temporary visa workers and their families. All of our foreign workers come through temporary seasonal visas (H2A and H2B). We employ about 175 local workers each year as well as 10-12 from Central America. I would love to share some of our experiences from our visit.
“My son Max has taken it upon himself to learn Spanish fluently so that he can lead these crews efficiently; they’ve all grown to be great friends. Last winter, Max went to Guatemala for 2 weeks and loved it. This winter he extended his stay to 5 weeks and we had the opportunity to travel there as well, learning much about the culture in Aguacatán (Awak-a-tan), Guatemala. Aguacatán is a small, remote pueblo in the mountains, with about 20,000 people. Food and supplies are “traded” through a system that, although using money, is similar to bartering. Some families grow produce, some fruit, some farm chickens, etc., and then they all come together on Sundays for a massive market where nearly any type of food, clothing, or commodity can be found. This market was amazing, bustling with many smiling people. Without our local friends accompanying us, we would have been completely lost.
“There are so many wonders, including mountain rivers and overlooks, and most impressively, Mayan ruins. This area is the heart of the Mayan culture with 16 dialects of Mayan still being spoken daily. All that said, the true highlight was meeting the families of “the guys.” We met the families of all 7 Sargent’s team members from Aguacatán. We’re grateful for the amazing hospitality and delicious food prepared by our hosts. Speeches were given about the value of our relationships, both in work and as amigos, and true respect for the Guatemalan and American cultures. It was heartwarming and in truth, the best interests of both nations are enhanced by these relationships.
“After 4 days in Aguacatán, we left for the more “touristy” areas of Guatemala. Those being Lago de Atitlan and Antigua. Lake Atitlán is a huge volcanic crater that has become a lake surrounded by 9 volcanos. The natural beauty was remarkable. Boat rides and some nightlife were in store and much fun was had. In Antigua, we visited the artifacts and museums of this historical city where the Spanish and the Catholic Church set up their capital. We also climbed the nearby volcano.
“I came home with a new appreciation and love of both the culture of the United States and of Central America. I hope you enjoy a few pictures we took along the way.”
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