EL SALVADOR– Dustin Stiffler is a 2010 graduate of Galway High School and is currently a junior at Siena College. Dustin is pursuing a major in sociology and a minor in Spanish. Beginning in the summer of 2012, Dustin had the incredible opportunity to study abroad in the Central American countries of Guatemala and El Salvador.  Dustin was able to stay in each country for several weeks, allowing him to learn about the culture, customs and lifestyles of the native peoples. Additionally, Dustin will be spending his spring semester studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, starting in February. Below are questions that I have asked Dustin via Email correspondence, concerning his travels to the Central American countries.

Question #1: What has been the greatest change for you, living in Central American countries, in comparison to living in the U.S.?

Living in Central America is much different than the United States. Safety is always a concern; gangs are prevalent, especially in El Salvador.  El Salvador is the second most dangerous country in the world.  Also, one isn’t able to just turn on their faucet and fill up a cup of water to drink.  Water is either boiled, filtered, or purchased for drinking purposes.  Food is another part of life that one must be careful about.  Street food will most likely get you sick, and lettuce is something that should be avoided in restaurants as well—it’s very hard to clean.  Simple things like drinking water that most Americans rarely ever have to think about is something that Central Americans must be concerned about on a daily basis.

Question #2: Is there anything about Central American culture that really surprised/stunned you?

The colorful history of both Guatemala and El Salvador, I would suggest that many Americans should read up on the history of Central America, because the United States has had, and continues to have, a strong presence in Central America, something I didn’t know before coming here.  Both men and women prefer to dress well, rarely wearing shorts and other casual clothes.  It is not uncommon to see young boys even wearing dress shoes and dress pants on a daily basis.  There is a little to no culture of owning pets in Central America.  Dogs that one sees are often strays; they are street dogs that are malnourished and receive no medical attention. One of the most surprising aspects of Guatemala and El Salvador is the strength of the citizens of each country to persevere through the structural oppression that has existed for decades.  With recent histories of civil wars in the 1980s, characterized by massacres, corruption, and military confrontation, it has been amazing to see the strength of the peoples we have met to live in a positive manner towards peace in their countries.

Question #3: What are some differences between El Salvador and Guatemala?

While both El Salvador and Guatemala are developing nations, they are also very different.  El Salvador uses the United States Dollar for its currency while Guatemala uses it own, the Quetzal.  El Salvador also does not have an indigenous population.  Guatemala still has a thriving indigenous population, with many Guatemalans dressing in indigenous clothing.  On the contrary, El Salvador is very westernized.  For example, my group and I are living just a few blocks from the largest mall in Central America, where one can find multiple Pizza Huts and stores carrying American brands, and a Wendy’s, Burger King, and McDonald’s are just down the street as well.  While Guatemala has been affected by globalization as well, the presence of the United States is nowhere near as striking as in El Salvador.

Question #4: How do Central American values/morals differ from those of North American?

Central Americans are very connected to their families.  It is not uncommon to have three generations living under the same roof, or just next door.  Discrimination, such as racism and sexism, exist in Central America, just as it does in the United States.

Question #5: Although you say you did research before your departure to Central America, how was your first impression compared to how you visualized Central America to be?

I actually didn’t do much research prior to arriving in Central America.  I attempted to read a book about the history of Central America over the summer, but didn’t make it past Colonialism.  However, it is hard to answer this question, because I had tried to make no judgments of Central America before arriving so that expectations would not be set high or false.

Question #6: How was the adjustment to simple living for you? Any likes/dislikes?

The adjustment to simple living went well.  “Live Simply,” is one of my favorite sayings, so when I was given a room in Guatemala at my host family’s home that had a bed, a small nightstand, a lamp, and one shelf to put my clothes, I found it sufficient.  One of the biggest changes for me and the rest of the group was the access to internet.  Most of us did not have any internet at our home stays, and the internet at our school was inconsistent at times as well.  This lack of access to internet spoke to the dependence that we have come to create in the American society. It wasn’t easy to get on Facebook whenever we felt like it or simply surf the web.

Question #7: You’re very descriptive when it comes to the Central American food. What have been your favorites and what would you have rather not consumed?

Hard question.  I love food, and I love trying new foods.  Eggs, beans, and tortillas are staples throughout Central America.  My favorite meal in Guatemala was probably the deep fried chicken we were served at a women’s weaving cooperative we visited near the city of Chichicastenango.  It rivaled Hattie’s Chicken Fry in Saratoga.  While it was not a traditional meal, it surely was delicious.  As for traditional Guatemalan food, it was probably the envueltas that we were taught how to make when we stayed in the rural indigenous community of Chuitziribal.  These are often vegetables, in our case wiskeel, carrots, and cauliflower, that have been covered in an egg-based batter and then pan fried.  The envueltas were accompanied by rice and fresh brewed chamomile tea.  In terms of Salvadoran food, I have enjoyed pupusas, which are essentially cheese, meat, or bean filled tortillas.  My group and I also were treated to a meal of pastels, enrollados de pollo, and potatoes last week.  Overall, food is often fresher here than in the United States.  Most ingredients are purchased the day they are used, and most meals are made from scratch.

Question #8: Climate wise, how does Central America compare to New York State?

Guatemala was a change in climate compared to New York for the time of year that we were there.  We stayed in the city of Xela, which is a mountain city that it’s at about 7,500 feet in elevation. It was cool during the night and mornings, sometimes getting as low as 40 degrees, but could get up to about 80 degrees during the day.  Being there at the end of August and into mid-September, it was a little chillier than I was used to.  There were some mornings you would wake up and be able to see your breathe.  Here in El Salvador, it’s hot and humid.  Perpetual sweat is something that is inevitable.  Temperatures are usually high 80s and it often rains at night.  This time of year is the wet season in Central America.  In Guatemala it regularly rained in the afternoon; here in El Salvador it regularly rains at night.

Question #9: How much Spanish do you use on a daily basis? How helpful would you say your high school Spanish classes have been for you?

In Guatemala, taking a Spanish class for five hours per day from Monday through Friday and living with a host family, I would estimate that I used Spanish about 75% of the time.  Unfortunately, now that we are all living in one house together that number has decreased drastically.  I would say that I use Spanish about 30% of the time.  My high school Spanish classes were extremely helpful.  While I was not used to the amount of immersion that I received in my Spanish classes on campus at Siena, or here in Central America, the classes I took in high school surely gave me the knowledge of the Spanish language that I needed to know for entering into a college Spanish class.

Question #10: Is there any advice that you would have like to known before you began your Central American adventure?

At the moment, I can’t think of any advice that I wish I had known before coming to Central America.  With any experience, I try to always have an open mind, and be respectful of others’ values, thoughts, opinions, and cultures.  I feel that the Center for Global Education at Augsburg College did a good job of preparing me for this experience.

If you want to learn more about Dustin’s adventures in Guatemala and El Salvador, visit his blog at: http://dstiffler.wordpress.com/.

Here are some pictures from his adventures: