by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Top Left: my personal handmade chocolate bar. Top Right: coffee bean plants. Middle Left: ripe coffee shell and beans. Middle Right: coffee bean sorting station. Bottom Left: terrace to dry coffee beans. Bottom Right: coffee bean roasters. Along with our coursework...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Waterfall fireworks in the main square. In Antigua, Guatemala, July 25th is the holiday called St. James Day. The tradition comes from colonial times, as apostle St. James was the patron saint of the conquistadors that settled the area for Spain. It is a grand...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
The whole group at the peak of our hike, with Pacaya in the background. During the entire trip, my anxiety was building for our hike on Pacaya, an active volcano thirty minutes away from Antigua. I am not very athletic and legitimately thought I would pass out if I...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Another student brought a nice camera to take pictures of us at sunset. After finishing up midterms for PSC 331 and 332, we traveled as a group for a quick getaway to Monterrico beach. We left early in the morning and drove three hours to Hotel El Faro, located in the...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
A view of Guatemala City at night from the balcony of AC Hotel Our professor and tour guide in front of an ancient, replicated textile at Universidad Francisco Marroquin. Had to take a picture in the Barbie box after eating dinner in Cayala. Inside of the Catholic...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 31, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
View of Lake Atitlán from at boardwalk in Panajachel. Our first overnight excursion was to Lake Atitlán, which is located in the highlands of the Sierra Madre Mountain range in southwest Guatemala. On the way through Guatemala’s winding mountain roads, we...
by Braden Hopkins | Jul 30, 2023 | Arts & Sciences, Central America, Faculty-Led, Summer, _
Sunsets at Casa Herrera One of the main reasons I chose to study abroad in Antigua, Guatemala is the course content offered within my program. I am on a faculty led trip taught by Dr. Chris Hale, an amazing professor from the political science department. I am taking...