Working Like a Local/ Global Business

Heyy friends and families,

This is Grayson and Johanna, your first student Líders del dia (LDD), or in other words, the leaders of the day. We’ve had an eventful day today. In general, we continued our lessons about coffee from yesterday and then actually worked like a local in the fields. Our partner, Miguel, showed us his workers’ everyday work life. We even learned that they make around $600 pesos a day, which is roughly US $10.17 a day. Experiencing the work that they do every day was enlightening, especially because we got to how hard they work even in the heat. At the end, we even planted our own coffee plants! Jo and I even have a picture that you can see at the bottom!

We then learned the process of coffee making in factories, specifically touring at Café Monto Alto. Our tour guide, Melvin, was very knowledgeable about the work that went on inside the factory, explaining in detail every step of the coffee-making process. We even got to taste the delicious coffee at the coffee shop, run by the third-generation owner. While we were riding back, it started raining. Instead of the rain being a burden, it was a refreshing touch to a long workday.

We then stopped at the supermarket where students were able to buy snacks and other things of that nature. I, Johanna, even got a fresca for $100 pesos!

To debrief, being the first leaders of the day was a little overwhelming at first, but we quickly got the hang of it and set a great example for the future leaders of the day. We had to do headcounts for all of the students, determine the seating arrangements for meals, gather the students all together, and set an example of how to be a leader. It’s a thankless job, but it taught us the importance of responsibility and taking care of other people’s needs before your own. We have definitely grown from this opportunity.

With love,
Graycie and Johanna

P.S. (Jo): To my family, I’m doing fine! I am, in fact, not going crazy without my phone. Thanks again to my mami for driving back to the airport to give me my 3ds. I’m reading the comments you send us, Love you!

P.S. (Graycie): Thank you mommy and family for the comments and all the love you sent to me. I miss you guys already and I hope you don’t leave for Ghana without me. Surprisingly I am not that anxious to have my phone back and it is nice to socialize with people without the social media. Love you guys!!!