Occasions pop up in life that surprise you and add to the special memory library tucked away in your heart. The sixth-grade class and I experienced one of those times. Through a missionary friend, a possibility developed for us to meet the president of Guatemala and his wife. My mind asked a myriad of questions. Would he receive us? What would the security process be for us? Could we even get close to him? After my initial reaction, we began to make plans to meet with President Alvaro Arzu and his wife, Patricia, at the Artisans’ Market.

President Arzu presented himself as being dedicated to public service and visited the market to encourage and endorse the hand-crafters and vendors. I couldn’t imagine us getting very close to him, but we had to go. This situation fit into our study of current events, and it was important for the class to see the man who presided over Guatemala.

Being a typical teacher, I researched about the president and found out that he was born the same month and year as me. (I won’t tell you how old we are .) Arzu took the office of mayor over Guatemala City for a term and then, in 1996, he became the 32nd president of the Republic of Guatemala for one term. He is known for helping to bring an end to the long civil war that ravaged Guatemala. After his presidency, Arzu appeared to have the favor of the majority of people, who voted for him as mayor, over Guatemala City, four more times. He continues to serves in this position at the present time.

On the day of market, we headed out. “Hey kids, listen up. I don’t know if we can take pictures or not, so wait until we have permission before you use your cameras. Stay close to me and be obedient to what the security guards say.” I had no clue what to expect. My only comparison were televised events with US presidents. In that scenario there would be a lot of security and media, with common people lost in the background. But a surprise awaited me.

The kids, chaperones, and I entered the market area, abounding with beautiful handcrafted items. Displays of textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and coffee filled the market. The kids went from one place to another looking at the array of items for sale. The crowds were sparse, but we spotted the place the media had set up for the president. I looked for the dogs and the security guards and didn’t see anybody that looked the part.

We talked about the handicrafts, and the importance of the income for the families and the country. The items displayed were traditional in style, color, and usage, a representation of the different tribes in Guatemala. We suddenly noticed a commotion by the gate, and in came security men, in their dark suits, around the president and his wife. I could hear the students’ whispers that went from, “Wow” to “It’s really the president.”

Because of the small crowd, we stood right up in front of President Arzu as he gave his speech of endorsement. Afterwards, we received permission to talk to the president and his wife. We took full advantage of it and were allowed to take pictures. Both the president and his wife asked the kids questions about themselves and the school. We all felt a peacefulness over the whole setting. We never dreamed we would meet with royalty, and that day became a topic of conversation for a long time. My students glowed when they saw themselves on the news that night with the man who presided over Guatemala.

The Artisans’ Market is right by the entrance to the La Aurora Airport. It’s one of my favorite places to go when I want to purchase typical items. For any of you visitors, it is a must-see. You won’t be disappointed.