Many of us travelled on the same flight from Houston to La Aurora International Airport. Our entry into Guatemala was grand. We were welcomed by Erin Allison and the other organisers.

There was a comfortable minibus waiting to take us to our hotel, Casa Santa Domingo in Antigua city. Six of us, an ‘assorted' group of sisters, enjoyed the unknown landscape, and each other's company.  A few of the sisters already knew each other but the others were meeting for the first time. We easily fell into a conversation that took us from the personal introduction to the introduction of our organisations. We shared our hopes and excitement for the conference and located ourselves in it. Before we went to our different rooms, we agreed to meet at the end of day two, go into town and explore pubs, restaurants, the remarkable history of Antigua; its taste, texture and smell.

WOMEN'S STRUGGLES FOR DEMOCRACY ON THE OUTSIDE

This presentation is based on an airplane conversation between Hope Chigudu, other sisters and a man (fellow passenger) who introduced himself as Tino.

Tino:  My name is Tino. Since we took off, I have been listening to the conversation between you and your friends. I could not help it. You are loud; everyone on this plane has been listening to you. You keep talking about the conflicts scourging the African continent and then your desire for democratic participation. Let me provoke you; if democracy were a woman, or feminist, what would she do?

The year is 2013 and I am still savouring the wonderful time I had in Guatemala, during the Women Redefining Democracy conference in May, 2009. I remember the shining faces of the women I met, their colourful dresses, the dances, the variety of foods, the exchange of information, heated debates over glasses of wine and intergenerational conversations that went on till the wee hours of the morning.

Getting my visa was a nightmare, organizing my travel was energy sucking, the journey was long and draining but it was worth it. If another opportunity presented itself, I would do it again.