Day Seven: More Coffee, and a Meeting with a Deaf Model
Posted on: November 10, 200814 comments so far (is that a lot?)
Good Morning! Do you smell that familiar aroma of coffee? I certainly am, especially when you’re at a resort like the Filadelfia Coffee Resort & Spa! It certainly was a perfect morning for me, as I got to see more of Guatemala’s coffee industry. The resort I was visiting today dates back to 1870, and has been following its traditions for over the last 130 years or so. I had a great breakfast to start my visit off, as I had some French toast, fresh fruits harvested from a nearby local farm, and several cups of coffee, more than I usually have back home! I just couldn’t resist their delicious coffee. Rocio, the estate’s guide, then took me on a grand tour of the coffee estate. It was much more different from the previous coffee farm I visited, Rolando’s Huehue coffee farm. Filadelfia is on rather flat terrain, and less high up in the mountains than Rolando’s, but it’s still pretty high up here, at around 6,500 feet of elevation.
Rocio found a tree with some red cherries, and pulled out a cherry for me. I squeezed it, and found a bean coming out of the outer skin layer. The bean’s interior actually has two skins; parchment and a silver skin. I put it into my mouth, and it tasted so sweet. She explained to me that they need to stop the beans from developing more fermentation by going through several washes before being put out on the brick floor for the sun to dry out. Each of the coffee trees can be harvested up to 8 pounds’ worth, but around 1 to 1.5 pounds are usually exported to the world as top quality Arabic beans. The rest of the beans could become robust beans, bound for instant coffee or the local market. 85% of the estate’s coffee beans usually goes out to the United States, Japan, Europe, and Belize.
I was like, oh, no! You’re drinking low quality coffee at your own home! She laughed, and said it’s pretty common everywhere in the world for those who farm the coffee beans to wind up with the coffee they have. And just like Rolando’s farm, Starbucks is also Filadelfia’s best customer. All the coffee farms make sure all their beans are going to earn a profit, not just being idle since they only harvest once a year. After the tour, I felt wonderful and happy to have had the chance to see the farm, because I actually used to own a coffee shop right after I graduated from Gallaudet University. Having seen the farms while here in Guatemala, I really appreciate the opportunity to have coffee from such fine farms like these, and I just have a better appreciation for coffee overall after today. Indulging in my love for coffee once more, I grabbed another cup of coffee for the drive down to Guatemala City.
After arriving in Guatemala City, we went to meet a Deaf Guatemalan model, Anny. She is one very gorgeous and elegant model! I was very impressed with her assertive facial expressions, and her skill in using Guatemalan sign language. She also has some painting talent! Anny never went to modeling school, but judging from what I saw, she clearly has a natural ability for modeling. Even some of the companies she models for can’t believe she’s Deaf. Anny said that she faced a lot of discrimination growing up as a model, and still does today, but she refuses to give up her modeling career. Celco, a local painting company, usually calls on her to be a model for them, for example.
It was thrilling for me to see her on the billboards, just like other models. Hearing people certainly won’t realize that Anny is Deaf just by looking at the boards, because we the Deaf are invisible and seemingly normal-looking without our hearing aids. We definitely can do anything except hear! She also appeared in some of the regional magazines, too. Anny hopes to bring more Deaf young models here because Guatemala doesn’t really have much in the way of opportunities for Deaf people. I believe she certainly could change history in Guatemala; time will tell. In the meanwhile, I’m definitely rooting for her to be a successful icon for Deaf Guatemalans!
After meeting with Anny, it turned out that more of the Deaf locals wanted to meet me at the mall. So we came down to the mall, and chatted with them about the United States and Guatemala. Interestingly enough, unlike me or others in terms of pagers, they depend heavily on their cell phones for the text ability. They have to pay for prepaid cards every week, depending on how much they use their text. It’s too expensive for them to purchase Blackberry pagers here. It would probably take half of their monthly salaries for pager services, paid per month. Some of the locals mentioned that they had traveled to the States while the others have been dreaming of the chance to do so.
The big problem here is paying the US embassy here $100 for the interview to get the visa. If they didn’t get the interview, they wouldn’t be refunded by the embassy. Moving on, the locals said they couldn’t believe that there are so many Deaf people around the world when they come to check www.deafnation.com, speaking especially of my travels, and the finding of Deaf people in the remote countryside. They were so excited to have the honor of DeafNation doing the first of many stories on Latin America in Guatemala. Then we said our goodbyes, and checked in at the hotel by the airport. Now it was finally time for me to enter the real Mayan world, at Tikal!
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November 10th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
Joel viajando en la Ciudad de Capital Guatemala unos mas grandes de las Ciudad que centro america, tambien visitando conoci modela Anny y tambien publico celco me sorpredi me alegra apoyando a mi pais, anny le gusta en modela asi es la vida sigue pases luchando hasta tu vida y alli sordos en mall siempre en viernes y sabado como famoso en sordos y tambien cafe y lastima no azucar Guatemala es mas popular pero no encontre y Joel y David viajando en tikal, peten, Flores..Dios te acompanen y sigue trabajando y gracias por compartir mi pais Natal…..
November 11th, 2008 at 2:27 am
It was pleasant to me to know you David and Joey. I am here for have a good travel wishing of return its native country him, hope that it has enjoyed in my native city and that it can tell him to its better experience with its family and her friendships. Here in our country we give Welcome him for when they return again. we will be waiting for by far pleasure to them…
kindly
Juan Sazo
November 11th, 2008 at 2:33 am
In the photo there is a group of deaf people there, the one that appears the photo who I am this bent with the white shirt. That they have a good day and Good return to its Native City! That it accompanies them to God
Kindly
Juan Sazo
November 11th, 2008 at 8:27 am
Hola(Hello in the English) Joel Barish. Espero te guste tikal y sus alrededores, lo mas importante es que estes viendo la realidad de algunos sordos aqui, ellos son los que mas posibilidades economicas tienen ya que en los departamentos y municipios de aca hay mucha pobreza. Ademas de esto todos estan en grupos diferentes no hay union cada uno pelea por su lado logrando pocas cosa. AHORA ESTAN LUCHANDO EN CONJUNTO TODOS LOS DISCAPACITADOS PARA LOGRAR ALGO CON RESPECTO A UNA LEY QUE LOS APOYE Y LES BRINDE ALGUNA AYUDA ECONOMICA PARA SALIR ADELANTE. ALGO IMPORTANTE CREO QUE ES EL APOYO Y ORIENTACION PARA QUE ENCUENTREN UN TRABAJO QUE LES AYUDE A SALIR ADELANTE CON SUS VIDAS Y SER PRODUCTIVOS PARA SU PAIS.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:28 am
En este momento estuvo fantastico, vi en este sitio web, me gusto bastante, y tiene una nueva experiencia, alli unos diferentes fotos que nos ha mostrado y nos compartimos los grupos sordos guatemaltecos y me alegro bastante por ti. Gacias por todo Joel. y espero que todo salgas bien!!!!!!
Espero que le disfrutes de su viaje en Tikal, Peten……. animo!!!!!!
Que Dios los bendiga
At this time it was fantastic, I saw in this place web, I like enough, and he has a new experience, there some different pictures that it has shown us and we share ourselves the deaf Guatemalan groups and I am happy enough for you.
thank your for everything Joel. and I hope everything comes out well!!!!!!
I wait that you enjoy him their trip in Tikal, Peten. …… I encourage!!!!!!
That God blesses them
November 11th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Joel and David had a great a time and met people deaf and met Anny (Model).
I am exciting you both have a experienced in Guatemalan.
Joel y David tenían bueno y también resuelto del tiempo y de la gente encontrada Anny (modelo). Soy emocionante usted que ambos tienen un experimentado en guatemalteco.
November 11th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
I want to congratulate Anny, she is very strong-minded to not giving up her model career. She is very gorgeous model as Deaf Guatemalan. I would love to see any ladies as an International/American who want to be a Deaf model, so let’s do it like Anny.
It makes me wondering what is it all about Tikal, can’t wait to read this update blog.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
I WANT TO TO TELL TO ANNY THAT CONGRATS, I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT!!! I AM REALLY PROUD OF HER BECAUSE SHE IS SO PRETTY DEAF’S MODEL!!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF HER!!!! I HOPE YOU ARE FINE AND STRONG GIRL AND SMART GIRL!!! =)
I’M REALLY EXCITING ABOUT THAT!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
November 28th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Thank you, Joel, for your journal! This is very fascinating.
I have to tell everyone that Guatemalan Coffee is my #1 favorite coffee in the whole world!! I bought some bags of coffee during my last trip to Guatemala in 2002 and have ever since been addicted!
December 5th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Wow, I learned something new. Super educational and positive. Joel has always been knowledgeable on all tours without doubt or confusion. He is an expert on diversity, I don’t see many people like him. I hope one day HD DEAFNATION TV WEEKLY “Like Dirty jobs with Mike Rowe.” That would be great.
December 9th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Hola, mi nombre es Lilly de Valiente, tengo una hija sorda de 14 años, actualmente vivimos en El Salvador pero pronto viviremos en Guatemala, me gustaría conocer a algunos sordos pues quiero que mi hija pueda tener amigo allá muy pronto, ella tiene una condición la cual le impide entender la palabra escrita, pero fuera de eso es magnífica para el dibujo, la computadora y muchas cosas mas. Me gustaría conocer a Any, sé que para mi hija sería un modelo y una gran motivación.
Saludos desde El Salvador!!!
Dios les bendiga.
Lilly
December 10th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Hello
I know eh anny and learned much of their ability, talent, strength, energy and transmitting it can not be overcome so easily besides being beautiful jajajaja, excellent reportage and will continue
saludos desde guatemala
March 24th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
hola
como esta tu:
yo saber no sorpresa guatemala verdad wow sordos mundo apoya ayuda cosa buena exlente ok
anny saldu
April 15th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Buenos dias, que Dios les bendiciones por a ustedes. mucho gusto en conocerte. mi nombre es: Gustavo Orellana.
mi trabajado: mi la iglesia de Sordos El Manantial, Estoy un es pastor sordo: Gustavo Orellana, para que el enseñar a los sordos cristianos y no cristianos,para la palabra de Dios sobre de Santa Biblia,los historias de cronologia, las manos de señas con la palabra de Dios en Santa Biblia.
Dios te bendiga.
Cristo te ama mucho.
Pastor sordo: Gustavo Orellana.