July 20 — ENMU briefs

Students visiting Guatemala

Students from multiple Eastern New Mexico campuses are participating in a Spanish language immersion trip to Guatemala this summer.

Seventeen people went on the trip, which began July 3 and will end July 28.

Participant Mackenzie Morris, a pre-physical therapy major with a Spanish minor, said the school participates in many such language immersion programs. This year Guatemala was chosen due to lack of regular tourism, which has led to English being one of the less common of the more than 24 languages in the country.

While the main focus is for students to practice and test their Spanish skills, they have also had an opportunity to learn about the people and history of the country.

“We are learning about culture in Guatemala and about the Mayans. They practice very traditional things and the people cherish their land. They grow crops and sell them for only a little bit of money; it is not a wealthy country at all,” Morris said.