After being in self-isolation with no flight home, local student Aaron Doerksen safely returned home from Guatemala.

He was there with Canadian Mennonite University’s outreach program (Outtatown), including about 40 other staff and students.

Doerksen says the airport arrival felt very different. “My family brought us some Tim’s so they put in on the ground, and they backed away when I got it.”

"The Canadian Embassy in Guatemala had to find flights for us. Because the borders are shut down it took them forever to find it, but we made it here eventually so it’s good," says Doerksen.

Although it sounds simple, they had to wear masks and gloves from the moment they left their residence and all the way back to Canada.

"It took forever. We landed in Montreal, then Toronto to Thunder Bay, and then Winnipeg, so just a bunch of one and a half-hour flights."

He says they were all itching to get home but managed to keep spirits high their last few hours together.

Once they arrived in Winnipeg, it was an unusual family reunion.

"We got down the stairs and then saw my family, but none of us can be anywhere near each other so it was just super awkward waving at them and telling them about everything. The mood was so weird but it’s so good to be back."

"Being away from my family for so long, I’d love to give them a hug and everything, but for another two weeks that isn’t possible."

Doerksen says one of his highlights from the trip was being surrounded by a beautiful environment and colours every day.

Related story: Winkler Student Waiting To Return From Guatemala