Karin Laudin shares a typical day with us on her project in Antigua, Guatemala:

My alarm clock goes off at 6.15. (I hear the roosters crowing long before). I am first into the  shared bathroom at 6.30. I head downstairs for breakfast with the family and other volunteers at 7.00. At 7.30 I leave the house and walk a block to the corner to catch my bus (camioneta): either to San Felipe or to Jocotenango, both about 10 minutes away. I get to the school gates at 8.00 although the students and teachers have been there since 7.30. Generally I assist the teacher in the classroom – this is varied and depends on your abilities/interests and the school time table. Mostly I have helped teach English and the teacher and pupils are grateful to have conversations with English speakers. There is a break at 10.15 and at the school project the students receive a nourishing drink and snack. The concrete playground becomes a football pitch, often with several games at once. The girls play twice a week and the boys three times a week (shared field). Classes begin again at 10.40 and I work until 12.00. School continues until 2.30-3.00 so you can arrange what times suit you. I get the bus home and get off at the market place. It is a site of colour, chaos and fascination. I walk 2 blocks home and am grateful to enter the shade and coolness of the house. After lunch, there is time for a brief siesta. I have the afternoon available to revise Spanish, attend my Spanish class or relax as I choose. Late afternoon is a beautiful time in Antigua – the sun casts a warm, golden light over the buildings. It’s pleasant to walk or sit in the park and watch the world go by.

Supper is at 6.45 and this is a sociable, relaxed affair. It’s great to exchange news and views with your host family and co-volunteers. We practice our Spanish and it’s fun to be communicating in a new language. After 8 p.m I may go to the internet cafe or visit friends or, of course, do some Spanish homework.

If you’d like to find out more about our projects in Guatemala, click HERE