Joshua Ring originally went to Guatemala to help teach English to the teachers there, however he ended up being taught something much more valuable.
“I was all on my own, I did not have anyone with me and the guy I was going to meet at the time was someone I had never met in person I had only met online,”
Guatemala differs from America in many ways, however the thing that stuck out to Ring the most was how good simple foods could be, things like fresh tortillas, and fresh fruits could be so delicious because they were fresh.
“Because of my host family that I was staying with the first time I went, they were so inviting it did not take any time at all to feel right at home with all of my family members.”
People in America, he explained, tend to take things like simple school supplies for granted, however living in Guatemala those items are much further and fewer to get. Being put in a place where things you could get at a grocery store in America were very few, luxury stock was a challenge for Ring when he first moved.
Another thing that greatly differed in Guatemala than living in America was the pace of life. They live at a much more relaxed and enjoyable pace than people usually do in America and it was a pleasant change and was almost like a break.
“I continue to travel to places like that because it’s never enough,once you start having those experiences you want to relive those.”
Moving to a place like Guatemala is a big change that not very many people are ready to make. Ring expressed that he would recommend anyone and everyone to go stay there for at least a couple weeks to see it, but living there is something different. On a personal level living in America is the better option for people who have the means to live anywhere.
“I would rather live here and visit there, than live there visit here,” he said.
Joshua Ring’s main piece of advice to staying in another country is to just go for it. Living in another country will be scary and it’s completely outside of the comfort zone, but it’s a very rewarding experience and if people can stay in another country for even a week, they should.
