LIST OF THINGS YOU MIGHT NEED IN GUATEMALA

EASY TRAVEL: Students from the United States, Canada and the Europe do not need a visa or tourist card in order to travel to Guatemala. A valid passport is the only document needed to enter the country.

PERMISSION TO STAY IN GUATEMALA: If you are planning on staying in Guatemala for longer than a month, at the airport or border, ask the immigration officer to give you a 90-day permission. It might help to show your CX confirmation papers. This will save you the hassle of having to renew your permission within 30 days. You can renew your permission by leaving and re-entering Guatemala or through the immigration office in Guatemala City.

VACCINATIONS: It is recommended that those traveling in Guatemala update their tetanus, diphtheria and poliomyelitis shots before leaving. If you plan to visit rural areas, typhoid and gamma globulin are also highly recommended to prevent typhoid and hepatitis A. It is best to complete these at least two weeks before departure. Malaria is not a danger in Xela. For more information on vaccinations, visit this web site: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/camerica.htm

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS: Passport, photocopy of your passport, driver's license or other identification, traveler's checks, $50.00in cash, and your international phone card are recommended.

FOR STUDENTS WHO WANT TO READ ABOUT GUATEMALA BEFORE ARRIVAL, WE SUGGEST THE FOLLOWING BOOKS: Guatemala Country Guide, Inside Guatemala by Tom Barry (Politics, Social, Cultural, Ecological), I Rigoberta Menchú by the Nobel Prize Winner (Indigenous Culture and Struggle), Eternal Tyranny-Eternal (Politics, Social, Cultural, Ecological), I Rigoberta Menchú by the Nobel Prize Winner (Indigenous Culture and Struggle), Eternal Tyranny-Eternal Spring by Jean Marie Simon (Contemporary History & Politics), and Bitter Fruit by Stephen Schlesinger & Stephen Kinzer. Please call the Resource Center in Albuquerque, 505-842-8288, if you want more information (mention CX and have your Mastercard or Visa Ready). If you are an advanced student who wants to study Guatemalan history we strongly recommend buying, Guatemala: Voces desde el Silencio, a Spanish language narrative edited by Mark Zimmerman.

PERSONAL ITEMS: Shampoo, soap, towel, water bottle, sunscreen, swimming suit, sunglasses, mosquito repellent, money belt or neck wallet, a small flashlight, alarm clock, prescription drugs, Pepto Bismol, tampons, and other personal and pharmaceutical items that would be very expensive in Guatemala.

SUGGESTIONS: Bring photos of yourself, family and friends, and a map of where you live to show your Guatemalan family. If you want to bring gifts for your family, simple and inexpensive items such as wool socks, T-shirts from your city or school, pens, pencils, crayons, sewing material, shampoo, towels and kitchen items would be considered generous.

WEATHER: Quetzaltenango is located 2,335 meters (8,000 ft.) above sea level. It is not the tropical area of Guatemala. We strongly suggest you bring warm clothes, hat, scarf, gloves, thermals and warm pajamas to sleep in, and a coat. In the months of January-March, it can get down to 32f/ 0c at night with no indoor heating. In the mornings there is a fog and until it lifts it is very cold. Once the sun comes out, the temperature rises to 70f. April and May are warmer at nights, but you still need a windbreaker and long pants for the early morning. June through October is the rainy season. Bring raincoat, goulashes, and warm clothes as it is still chilly.

PROJECTS AND PART TIME VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES: CX works with a local, semi-agrarian community called "La Pedrera." Community members live at various levels of poverty: None of the houses has running water and most have earthen floors. The majority of people are illiterate and hardly any family makes enough money to send its children to public school. Our project includes the sponsorship program, where we look for people to support the children's studies economically. We provide tutoring and family support with a parents and community support group, homework tutoring and various educational workshops. Regular classes provided at CX include English, math and literacy, We always need part time volunteers with all aspects of the project, as well as grant writing ideas and connections with corporations and organizations. We can use donations of school supplies, books in English and Spanish, math books of all levels, art supplies used clothing, and blankets or money to buy blankets which cost about Q20 or $3.35 a piece. We can use anything that you decide to bring, as the needs here are severe. Clothing. Remember that Guatemalans tend to be shorter and smaller build than people from the US or Europe. We suggest bringing wool, flannel or thermal clothing as the community members live in flimsy houses and suffer from the cold. These items can be easily obtained through church, community or organized collections. We are grateful for any help, ideas, or donations. For more information on community projects, please contact Coordinator at pedrera(at)casaxelaju.com.

Casa Xelajú; receives very often donations for la Pedrera from former students. If you wish to help us taking down to Guatemala these donations, please contact the office in the United States.

HOLIDAYS- NO CLASSES. January 1, Good Friday, May 1, June 25, September 15, October 20, November 1, December 25. Holidays falling on a weekend are celebrated on the previous Friday. In weeks that have holiday, the tuition remains the same.

Updated, November 2004.