Saying Goodbye

It is impossible to imagine four weeks have passed in this incredible country. During my last twenty-four hours in Guatemala, I enjoyed a fantastic going-away party and very tearful goodbyes. 

During our final day of classes, we received graduation certificates and gave farewell speeches. Afterwards, we gathered for Gallos and guacamole, reminiscing over the four weeks that had passed since our first day in the school. After the beers were gone, we parted ways, promising to meet up again later in the evening. 

That night, at dinner with my host family, my host father pointed to a Da Vinci painting hanging above the table. “Do you know what painting that is?” he asked. 

I nodded. “The Last Supper.” 

He spreads his hands magnanimously. “Like this for you,” he said. “La Ultima Cena.” 

My Canadian housemate turned to me and asked in Spanish, “Are you sad to leave?” 

I looked around at my host family, those smiling, affectionate abuelitos, and the other students who shared the house. “Yes,” I said, surprising myself with tears. “Muy triste.” 

After the tearful dinner, I rejoined my friends in town. We made a tour of the Antiguan hotspots – places like Café Skye, with its panoramic view of the city, and the salsa bar, locations we had visited before, all worth a last visit. We laughed together, sipping mojitos and cuba libres, and when locals invited us to dance to the regueton beats pumping from the stereos, we didn't hesitate. After all, it was the last hoorah. 

The next morning, I met up with my two best friends from the program, girls in my Spanish class with whom I had conjugated verbs and laughed over Spanish foibles. We drank café lattes in our favorite restaurant and compared notes on the previous night's adventures. We giggled until it was time to go, turning suddenly serious. One friend handed me a bag full of my favorite Guatemalan candy. “For the plane ride home,” she said. 

We stood on the cobbled streets and hugged a final time. I tucked the candy into my bag and raised my hand as they walked away, not trusting my voice to say goodbye.