Architectural Projects
A trip to Guatemala: A country of color and love.
By Florence von Pelet
During BlogTour Milan I had the pleasure of getting to know talented interior design partners Kelly Kole and Joann Kandrac of Kandrac and Kole. One evening, over a glass of wine, Kelly briefly mentioned her annual mission trip to Guatemala which caught my attention. Kelly told us about her previous trips and how participating teams build a home for a family in need. She suggested I should join and I agreed almost immediately. With the support of previous BlogTour sponsors DXV, Mr.Steam and BLANCO as well as industry partners MODENUS, Flying Camel, Whitegood and O’Reilly DePalma we were able to make this once in a life time experience happen. Words almost fail me in trying to describe this unforgettable opportunity.
All images by Chasen West for Kandrac & Kole
After a three hour flight to Guatemala I found myself surrounded by a team of vibrant, funny and genuinely kind women and our token male, photographer Chasen West. Kudos to him for the amazing images! Paula Greene of Catalyst Resources International, our host for the next week greeted us with open arms, laughs and her sweet adopted son Sam.We boarded our van and headed to the compound just a short distance outside of Guatemala City. I suppose I didn’t know what to expect but I certainly didn’t anticipate any of my surroundings. Guatemala is a country of beautiful rolling mountains and volcanoes, lush foliage and a never ending array of color. The home of Paula and Fontaine was absolutely beautiful with its friendly yellow walls, beautiful contrasting ironwork and open dining area. We settled in quickly as Paula had plans for us to visit the city of Antigua.
After a quick lunch at a local restaurant, we ventured out into the breathtaking city of Antigua, a quiet oasis at the foot of three volcanoes both active and dormant. The colors were stunning, the gardens lush and the people more than friendly.
After a long day of travel, shopping and a superb plate of nachos, we retired to our bunks and were fast asleep with the best rest I’ve had in a while. Early next morning we woke to fresh eggs, pancakes and coffee prior to our travels to the village. Spoiled much? Oh yes.
Our first venture into the village was a 45 minute ride up the windy roads of the mountains of Guatemala with postcard worthy views. We arrived in a small village consisting of a small street with one or two tiendas (stores), and various colorful yet small tin roofed homes. We made our way by foot through a small passageway of mud and brush to be welcomed by a pack of very excited Guatemalan children, all crying “Dolce, Dolce!” (Candy).
The family we were to build a home for included a loving mother, three beautiful girls and two sweet boys. Their father had traveled to the U.S. seven years ago for a job opportunity allowing him to send $100 back home monthly. After a few months of what seemed like a miracle, the father vanished and the money stopped coming. The struggle is more than real for the single mom who graciously accepted us into her home. The family of six sleeps on one mattress in a single room home with dirt floors and a rusty tin roof. By then we were ready to build a home that the family deserved. The story is all too common in Guatemala.
For the next few days we were on a mission to build a home for this family. We started out with a simple slab of concrete and after three days erected a safe home with four beds. We could not have completed such a feat without our go to handyman and native, Diego. Diego supported us throughout the entire building process from framing to building walls.
Throughout the day we had the opportunity to connect with the family and neighborhood children and learn a little Spanish, discover new hairstyles, and share many laughs, a real Guatemalan cultural experience.
Three days of sweat, laughter and an innumerable amount of nails our team built a two bedroom home, with a front door and lock. We celebrated with a touching dedication to the family. The experience from building the home to forming friendships was beyond anything we could ever expect. Sadly, problems in Guatemala run deeper than shelter with water often being polluted or unavailable, education being limited or non existing and violent crime continuing to run rampant. So it was all the more inspirational to see the upbeat demeanor of the people. Guatemalans never showed an expression of sadness or frustration, on the contrary, the smiles were warm and heart felt and the welcome we received was genuine.
On our final day, after a splendid evening dancing with a mariachi band, we packed our bags and made the two hour trip to Pana Jachel a stunning city overlooking Lake Atitilan and the monolithic volcanoes, Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro. Our lunch spot offered captivating views and perfect tranquility. Pana Jachel was a charming village brimming with color, artisans and native coffee shops.
This journey provided us all with an inside view of a wonderfully traditional culture that exudes life and love. It was an honor to build a home for such a loving family that welcomed us and taught us the value of love, tradition and happiness. Something, perhaps we should all learn to embrace.