GUATEMALAN TIES

Families traveled with Guatemalan Ties in June 2007.  You are invited to watch video highlights of their journey.

A second group traveled in July.  Check out highlights of their experiences!

June 22 - July 3, 2008

June 28 - July 9, 2009

Highlights:

• Visiting people and places important in the life of your child
• Ties Program "Talk Times"
• Child Friendly & "Adoption Aware"

The Ties Program looks forward to returning to Guatemala, The Land of Eternal Spring, in 2007.    Together as a group of families, you’ll climb the Maya temples of Tikal and walk the cobblestone streets of Antigua.   From the breathtaking beauty of The Highlands to the tranquility of Lake Atitlan the sights you see will linger in your mind long after returning home.  And “going to market” will take on a whole new meaning after shopping in Chichicastenango on market day..

But your best memories of the trip will come from the people you meet along the way.  Sharing a park bench with someone in the Central Plaza or negotiating a sale with an artisan is what makes the journey interesting.  Your family is sure to remember the students we play with at school, the weavers in Santiago Zamora, and the families who open their homes to us.  A Guatemalan national guide will travel with you throughout the journey.  This person’s insight, warmth and knowledge is sure to enrich your experience.  These encounters and others seem to instill a new sense of pride in the children for their heritage. Plus the friendships that grow between families makes it that much more fun.

Guatemalan Ties also includes time in Guatemala City.  Many parents have shared stories with their children about being here.  Revisiting memorable places such as the hotel where you stayed or a favorite restaurant makes that time (an important part of your family history) so much more real for your child. Reminiscing with the children about that time is an important part of this journey.  Your family may also wish to reconnect with your child’s foster mother or caregiver.  The Ties Program is happy to assist in arranging these visits for families.  Guatemalan Ties is a journey forward and a journey back. 

READ WHAT FAMILIES HAVE TO SAY:

“A great way to visit our child’s birth country!  So well thought out that everything felt easy and stress free and truly enriching.  Having other adopted kids to travel with enabled a potentially difficult trip to feel light and fun for the kids.”        ~Karen Levine

 "A fabulous way for adoptive families to develop an understanding of the reasons and circumstances that resulted in their becoming a family."   ~David Johnson
 

"I really liked the people I got to meet on this trip."   ~John Benish, age 11
 

"It was exciting learning about my culture!"    ~Zoe Kunze, age 9
 

For more information, contact Bea Evans.