Over the years of Hoops Sagrado we've kept a list of dubious quotes that students (and founders of the program) have dropped on occasion. Within minutes of arriving in Antigua at our 200 year old hotel, a new comment was added to the list: "Does this hotel have an elevator?"
The second comment came on Friday when we made our way from Antigua to Xela stopping at the Mayan ruins named Iximché. At the entrance to the ruins, one student stopped to read a sign and noted with some disbelief "This sign is in Spanish."
After several arguements about whether or not Lil'Wayne is the best rap artist ever and after some colorful language was used to tell a story, all while sitting on the steps of a 2,000 year old Mayan shrine, we had about an hour-long discussion about why people hate Americans.
It was actually a pretty enlightening discussion and everyone had something to contribute and pledges were made to keep open hearts and open minds and not be the "ugly American" during our stay in Guatemala.
By the way, some of you may actually be familiar with these ruins because this is where President Bush spoke when he visited Guatemala and then as soon as he left, Mayan priests had a cleansing ceremony.
We arrived at the school in Xela just before dark and everyone soon met their new families and began the process of learning their way around the new hometown.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
We are here!
After a 3:50 a.m. departure from Dulles we arrived in Guatemala City not on time, but early! The flight down was uneventful and our handful of first time fliers and those who aren´t overly thrilled with the idea did great (despite the horrible movie offered by TACA, there were no revolts on the plane). Not sure how much everyone slept during the flight.
As an added bonus to our uneventful flight, all the baggage arrived and everyone picked up their proper luggage (a big improvement from last year).
Tito picked us up in a "chicken bus" and we headed to Antigua. We got settled into two different hotels pretty quickly and then, this being a basketball thing a group of folks headed to a tucked away little court for some afternoon basketball. Others took that time to explore this beautiful city a bit. We met up around 2:30 and had a meal together at one of the many area restaurants.
Now, everyone is off on their own exploring the city some more, or, I´m going to guess, napping and showering.
Everyone seems to be getting along great and making fast friends. We´re meeting up at 6:30 p.m. to go over some of the basics of living in a foreign country for 32 days and then I would imagine, most folks will make it a very early evening.
Tomorrow is going to be a jam packed day. We´ll visit some ruins, explore the city a bit more and then hit the road for the three hour bus trip to Xela where the students will meet their ¨new families¨.
As an added bonus to our uneventful flight, all the baggage arrived and everyone picked up their proper luggage (a big improvement from last year).
Tito picked us up in a "chicken bus" and we headed to Antigua. We got settled into two different hotels pretty quickly and then, this being a basketball thing a group of folks headed to a tucked away little court for some afternoon basketball. Others took that time to explore this beautiful city a bit. We met up around 2:30 and had a meal together at one of the many area restaurants.
Now, everyone is off on their own exploring the city some more, or, I´m going to guess, napping and showering.
Everyone seems to be getting along great and making fast friends. We´re meeting up at 6:30 p.m. to go over some of the basics of living in a foreign country for 32 days and then I would imagine, most folks will make it a very early evening.
Tomorrow is going to be a jam packed day. We´ll visit some ruins, explore the city a bit more and then hit the road for the three hour bus trip to Xela where the students will meet their ¨new families¨.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Meet the 2007 Hoops Sagrado Participants!
Brittney is making her second trip to Guatemala with Hoops. Brittney graduated from Lackey High School in Maryland (before that she had been at Thurgood Marshall Academy in D.C.) and will be attending Trinity University in the District in the fall.
Jonathan Marc learned about Hoops through his Spanish teacher at McKinley Tech where he will be a junior in the fall. He is currently training to become a tour guide at the U.S. Holcaust Museum. This will be Jonathan's first trip outside of the U.S.
Bibi is returning to Guatemala for a second time with Hoops Sagrado. Bibi is an Adams Morgan kid and member of the Teen Learning Center. He'll be a sophormore at DeMatha Senior High School in the fall.
Dontrell is making his second trip to Guatemala with Hoops after taking the 2006 summer off. Trell (as we like to call him) will be a junior at Wilson Senior High School in the fall and is a longtime participant in the Teen Learning Center in Adams Morgan.
Arsenio is making his first trip out of the country with Hoops Sagrado. Arsenio will be a senior at the Maya Angelou Public Charter school in the fall.
Kendra is making her second trip to Guatemala with Hoops. She will be a senior at Ursinus College in the fall and is serving as a counselor on this year's trip.
Nadia will be a senior at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School of Public Policy in the fall and found out about Hoops through the Latin American Youth Center. Nadia applied for the program because she believes visiting Guatemala will help her understand more about who she is.
Jordyn is obsessed with basketball. "Basketball is my life, my passion and my heart," is a line from her application essay. Jordyn will be a freshman at Paul VI in the fall.
Brandon is making his second trip to Guatemala with Hoops, but this will be his first time with us for the full month. Brandon will be a junior at The Field School and recently recieved honors from the Field JV Basketball team.
Odinga is an amazing photographer who is looking forward to turning his talents toward Guatemala. He is a first-time Hoops participant and will be a senior at Coolidge Senior High in the fall. Odinga is part of the Latin American Youth Center in Columbia Heights.
Mindy is making the summer trip to Guatemala for the fourth time and serves at the unofficial team mom (she always has band-aides).
Sam is making his fifth trip to Guatemala with Hoops Sagrado. A junior at the University of Massachusetts, Sam will serve as one of our counselors.
Ernest will be a senior at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania in the fall. This will be Ernest's second trip to Guatemala with Hoops and his first serving as a counselor.
Sandra was born in the U.S. to Guatemalan parents. This will be her second trip back to Guatemala, but her first time leaving the capital. Sandra said she applied for the program because she wants to learn more about her Mayan heritage.
Victor will be a junior at McKinley Tech in the fall. He has a life-long passion for basketball and has done a lot of volunteer work with children in D.C. This is his first time out of the country.
Akasha was on her school basketball team and played in the Jelleff League. This will be her first trip out of the country. Akasha will be a ninth grader at Georgetown Day School next year.
Jackie will be a senior at Cesar Chavez School of Public Policy in the fall. Jackie lived in El Salvador until she was six and will spend her mornings in one of the villages teaching English. Jackie hopes to be an immigration lawyer some day.
Ronald comes to Hoops through the Teen Learning Center in Adams Morgan. This will be his first trip outside of the country. He will be a junior at The Field School in the fall.
Johari is back with Hoops for a second summer. He just turned 15 and will be starting 10th grade at School Without Walls in the fall.
Stan is making his third trip to Guatemala with Hoops. Stan is graduating from Michigan State University in December and will serve as one of our conselors.
Aniekan is a mural artist in Washington, D.C. This will be Aniekan's fifth trip to Guatemala as an adult leader. In addition to working in one of the camps, Aniekan will paint a mural at one of the schools. Last year he painted a mural in Xejuyup.
Jerren is an Adams Morgan resident making his first trip out of the country with Hoops. Jerren is 16 and will be a junior at Bell Multicultural High School in the fall.
Bryan is the founder of Hoops Sagrado. Bryan founded Hoops in 1999 as a way to combine his passion for basketball, with his love of children, Guatemala and the Mayan culture. In addition to Hoops, Bryan is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Adams Morgan, rabid Portland Trailblazers fan, a husband and a dad the two greatest kids ever!
Jonathan Marc learned about Hoops through his Spanish teacher at McKinley Tech where he will be a junior in the fall. He is currently training to become a tour guide at the U.S. Holcaust Museum. This will be Jonathan's first trip outside of the U.S.
Bibi is returning to Guatemala for a second time with Hoops Sagrado. Bibi is an Adams Morgan kid and member of the Teen Learning Center. He'll be a sophormore at DeMatha Senior High School in the fall.
Dontrell is making his second trip to Guatemala with Hoops after taking the 2006 summer off. Trell (as we like to call him) will be a junior at Wilson Senior High School in the fall and is a longtime participant in the Teen Learning Center in Adams Morgan.
Arsenio is making his first trip out of the country with Hoops Sagrado. Arsenio will be a senior at the Maya Angelou Public Charter school in the fall.
Kendra is making her second trip to Guatemala with Hoops. She will be a senior at Ursinus College in the fall and is serving as a counselor on this year's trip.
Nadia will be a senior at Cesar Chavez Public Charter School of Public Policy in the fall and found out about Hoops through the Latin American Youth Center. Nadia applied for the program because she believes visiting Guatemala will help her understand more about who she is.
Jordyn is obsessed with basketball. "Basketball is my life, my passion and my heart," is a line from her application essay. Jordyn will be a freshman at Paul VI in the fall.
Brandon is making his second trip to Guatemala with Hoops, but this will be his first time with us for the full month. Brandon will be a junior at The Field School and recently recieved honors from the Field JV Basketball team.
Odinga is an amazing photographer who is looking forward to turning his talents toward Guatemala. He is a first-time Hoops participant and will be a senior at Coolidge Senior High in the fall. Odinga is part of the Latin American Youth Center in Columbia Heights.
Mindy is making the summer trip to Guatemala for the fourth time and serves at the unofficial team mom (she always has band-aides).
Sam is making his fifth trip to Guatemala with Hoops Sagrado. A junior at the University of Massachusetts, Sam will serve as one of our counselors.
Ernest will be a senior at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania in the fall. This will be Ernest's second trip to Guatemala with Hoops and his first serving as a counselor.
Sandra was born in the U.S. to Guatemalan parents. This will be her second trip back to Guatemala, but her first time leaving the capital. Sandra said she applied for the program because she wants to learn more about her Mayan heritage.
Victor will be a junior at McKinley Tech in the fall. He has a life-long passion for basketball and has done a lot of volunteer work with children in D.C. This is his first time out of the country.
Akasha was on her school basketball team and played in the Jelleff League. This will be her first trip out of the country. Akasha will be a ninth grader at Georgetown Day School next year.
Jackie will be a senior at Cesar Chavez School of Public Policy in the fall. Jackie lived in El Salvador until she was six and will spend her mornings in one of the villages teaching English. Jackie hopes to be an immigration lawyer some day.
Ronald comes to Hoops through the Teen Learning Center in Adams Morgan. This will be his first trip outside of the country. He will be a junior at The Field School in the fall.
Johari is back with Hoops for a second summer. He just turned 15 and will be starting 10th grade at School Without Walls in the fall.
Stan is making his third trip to Guatemala with Hoops. Stan is graduating from Michigan State University in December and will serve as one of our conselors.
Aniekan is a mural artist in Washington, D.C. This will be Aniekan's fifth trip to Guatemala as an adult leader. In addition to working in one of the camps, Aniekan will paint a mural at one of the schools. Last year he painted a mural in Xejuyup.
Jerren is an Adams Morgan resident making his first trip out of the country with Hoops. Jerren is 16 and will be a junior at Bell Multicultural High School in the fall.
Bryan is the founder of Hoops Sagrado. Bryan founded Hoops in 1999 as a way to combine his passion for basketball, with his love of children, Guatemala and the Mayan culture. In addition to Hoops, Bryan is an Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner in Adams Morgan, rabid Portland Trailblazers fan, a husband and a dad the two greatest kids ever!
Monday, July 16, 2007
Three more down and one more to go
After a day at the passport office, three of the students without passports finally got the coveted little blue books. According to officials at the D.C. office, the last remaining passport was FedExed from the Charleston, S.C. office today for an arrival by 10:30 a.m. tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. We're not completely in the clear until we get that phone call tomorrow morning confirming that the passport is in-hand, but things are looking up.
Another one down, four to go...
One of the five "missing" passports arrived in the mail on Friday and the remaining four students are all down at the passport office today. Keep your fingers crossed that all goes well!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Four Down, Five to Go
We picked up four of the nine "missing" passports yesterday so now we just wait for our letters from Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton's office and then off to the passport office. Keep your fingers crossed and send us your good travel karama.
Monday, July 9, 2007
10 Days to go and Still Waiting for Passports
With less than 10 days to go till our trip, we're getting excited and a little bit nervous. As always, there are tons of things to do prior to the trip, but this year, we've got a slightly different situation.
We are still "missing" nine passports. We're scheduled to pick up four of them tomorrow from the passport agency but five are stil in the pipeline and we've had to enlist the help of our Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Hopefully her staff will be able to help us get the ball rolling so everyone who is scheduled to head to Guatemala with us, can actually head to Guatemala with us.
We'll keep you posted.
We are still "missing" nine passports. We're scheduled to pick up four of them tomorrow from the passport agency but five are stil in the pipeline and we've had to enlist the help of our Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. Hopefully her staff will be able to help us get the ball rolling so everyone who is scheduled to head to Guatemala with us, can actually head to Guatemala with us.
We'll keep you posted.
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