AAHH!! whose talking sh+T about Guatemala!?!?!?
im from there!!!
Funshine, dont worry about being an ignorant american...most are but what counts is that you actually want to experience life outside the great usa..
Anyways, plug for my country....it is absolutely beautiful...i mean it. ive been very lucky to have traveled all my life (i lived in pakistan and england and have traveled to india, thailand, malaysia, singapore, greece, spain, france, scotland, nepal, and alot all over central america...costa rica, nicaragua...dont mean to show off but seriously guatemala is very unique) i love guatemala with all of my heart and seriously wish that the political situation was better there so that the country would pick itself up. it has so much history...which the US had a large hand in by the way...and the people there are amazing, they love tourism and really go out of their way to make anyone feel comfortable. it is a great place to go learn spanish (like lulubean said, antigua is one of the best places to learn, personally i know thats where the u.s. state dept. and some of the top diplomats go to learn). the nightlife is great (but i wont lie, it is dangerous...and if you make a big deal that youre a foreigner and make an ass out of yourself, you can get in trouble real fast. but if youre just out for a good time, youll find really fun, not to mention, good looking people all over) some good places to visit: the city, xela, tikal, amatique bay, antigua, amatitlan...you will see landscapes like youve never seen before...its gorgeous.
as for volunteer work. i was lucky to have connections through my pediatrician who got his md at Umiami and he really hooked me up. i got to see a lot down there...and do a lot...i got to put in stitches, watch tons of surgeries, help give shots, intubate...it was really crazy but thats when i knew i had to become a doctor. i couldnt wait to go to "work" every day...and the people that i was working with made it all better. they really value education down there and are so incredibly grateful to have competent people come and help them out. thats why i think a lot of schools have made missions that concentrate on guatemala...
oh man i could go on forever...anyways i encourage you to explore traveling. i think it is the single most important thing people can do other than get an education. its expensive but the stuff you learn from different cultures/people you can never be taught in a few college courses...go out and have fun!!!