Adios Guatemala!

As we leave the Land of Eternal Spring, I would like to spend a few moments reflecting on our journey these past 12 days. This trip has been an incredible learning experience for both our students and faculty members as we explored healthcare and culture in Central America. As recounted in the posts below, we learned a great deal about the differences in how hospitals operate in the United States and Guatemala, particularly the discrepancies in infrastructure and how patients pay for care. We also saw firsthand the diseases that are prevalent in a developing country and how those differ from conditions in a developed nation. At the Mission, we learned how Guatemalans are bettering their community through a number of grassroots projects, including equitable agriculture, reforestation, and construction of a women’s center. We are very happy to have contributed, even in such a small way as short term volunteers, to the great work being done by the Mission.

One of the goals of the trip was to go outside our normal comfort zones to engage the people of Guatemala and learn from their experiences. Our students really stepped up in this area through the completion of oral interviews in Spanish with hospital staff and patients, as well as keeping a running dialogue with the local people we encountered. I am particularly proud of the professionalism, positive attitude, and openness to learning that our students demonstrated while abroad.

So where do we go from here? In the near term, of course, we are all heading home to reconnect with our families and friends with whom we will share our experiences in Guatemala. Over the long term, I would have to guess that each of us has been changed in some way as a result of this trip. Seeing firsthand the unbridled joy of a Guatemalan child playing soccer in the street, a young man carrying hundreds of pounds of firewood on his back since he cannot afford a car, and farmers working on the side of a mountain because it is the only land available to them are just a few of the snapshots that are etched in my memory. As was mentioned in the previous post, the question is really about what we will do in our own professional and personal lives as a result of what we have seen.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about our Guatemalan adventure. While the trip itself is over, our work with our Guatemalan friends is really just beginning.

-M. Rust

Travel Home

The final countdown! So here we are. It’s 5 am and we once again are being stirred from our less than sound sleep; this time to make our way back to the States. Those of us brave enough to shower commented on how easy it was to wake up when there was no warm water. It was another quick ride through the streets of Guatemalan City to the airport. Someone on the street corner asked me through my window what I wanted and that he could get it for me. I decided to pass. We finally made it to the airport and found our way to check our luggage. Once again we were met with inefficiency at the ticket counter. After about 45 minutes without moving, we were ushered to an open counter and quickly passed all 9 of our group members through. For those of you who caught it, yes we do only have 9 people in our group now. Unfortunately we lost 6 on the bus ride; just kidding they’re on their way to Belize and we are all jealous and wish them the best of times and can’t wait to hear about their trip.

Moving on, we boarded the plane after Dr. Rust was chosen for the random security screening, and then  we took off for the USA. Good times were had by all. It was another uneventful trip as we touched down in Miami and we disembarked on to the land of freedom, opportunity, and water that won’t make your hands dirtier when you wash them. We made our way among the crowd through the checkpoints and customs until we decided we needed to indulge in some good ole fashion fried American food, i.e. Chili’s.  We forgot that people here can actually understand us and we got some odd reactions as Jennie walked up to Dr. Rust and said “Mom wants to know if you paid yet” (referring to Dr. Northrup’s familial role during the trip). I believe the reaction of people at neighboring tables was something in between confusion and bewilderment. Anyway, our new age family found our way to the security checkpoint where Dr. Rust was immediately escorted to the super secret fun room. We are not sure why Dr. Rust was selected for security screening twice over a span of several hours today, but it could be payback for all the work he made us do this semester and during the trip. Just sayin’. We eventually made it back to Boston in the wee early hours of the morning.

All in all I believe the entire group feels that they have had an experience of a lifetime and, for many of us, our eyes have been opened to a world we never knew existed outside the Natural Geographic channel. We all wish to say thank you to Dr. Northrup and Dr. Rust for putting up with us for the 12 days. We might not be the easiest group to handle sometimes, but you have to admit we are the most entertaining. Another big thank you is needed to the people that made this trip possible. Without us there would not have been anyone to go on the trip, but without you there wouldn’t be a trip to go on. Like they said at the mission, it’s not what you do when you’re down there that will change the world it’s what you do when you get back. Fun was definitely had by all. Goodnight everyone we’ll see you soon.

Author:  Nate

Day 11

Last Day: Reforestation

Woke up to a surprising oatmeal, beans, and bread breakfast with a side of houseflies. After breakfast, we hiked up Mount Everest (okay, maybe it wasn’t that high) to visit a Mayan Alter. Once at the top we entered the Mayan sanctuary and found our way to the altar.
The altar was a giant rock covered with the residue of candle wax. The candle wax had five different colors each representing something significant. We walked around while our guide explained the plants in the area. At the end of this adventure, some of the group went to see houses that WNEC students contributed to in previous years. The rest of the group went back to the hotel and finished up last minute packing.

After some hamburgers with some tasty potatoes our three hour bus ride began. The bus ride would have been longer, but the driver took the stop signs and lights as more of a suggestion. Luckily for us most of the roads were paved and if they weren’t we just went into the other lane.
We arrived at the hotel and parked in the lobby; the parking lot is in the lobby of the hotel. The rooms resembled your average regular hotel rooms, but with twice as many beds. The temperature inside each room is approximately 150 degrees, and (for the most of us) the rooms lock from the inside. Also interesting to note that some rooms come without bathrooms and were missing some lights.

After telling the drivers we would spend any sum of money for a good meal we arrived at a classy meat house. The man in a suit made us feel completely under dressed; needless to say we were doted on hand-and-foot. After difficulty with the menu, meat sample platters flew everywhere. A Mariachi Band transitioned from dinner to dessert with their tasty licks and hard lyrics. Everyone soon became bloated and gassy which lead to a fun ride home. These feelings have become common and expected over the past few weeks. After parking in the hotel lobby we retired to our rooms and listened to the fiesta outside our doors. Sleep is on the way.


Authors: Jeana, Ashley, Nate

Day 10

Thursday!! We knew it was going to be a good day when we arrived at breakfast to find that there were eggs for us to eat in addition to the beans and bread served daily, of course. It then proceeded to get better upon departure from the mission, when we boarded a quaint little boat. It was a refreshing hour-long boat ride to the other side of the lake…refreshing in the sense that we were showered by the contaminated water.

Once we docked the boat and climbed ashore we were delighted to hear that we would finally be able to ride on the Tuk-Tuk’s up the mountain to the zip-lining site. The driver explained that the Tuk-Tuk’s were actually motor taxis but then nicknamed Tuk-Tuk’s mimicking the sound they make when driving with passengers in them. The Tuk-Tuk fortunate enough to carry Dr. Northrup and Nate up the mountain almost didn’t make it to the top.
Once we arrived, we had to get suited up in very flattering harnesses that made some look as if they were about to run inside a burning building to rescue people. Then it was further up the mountain we went, this time by foot. By the time we were a third the way up, everyone was drenched in sweat and it was time for a rest. We were lucky enough to catch a glimpse of some wild monkeys in the tree as well. Finally, we arrived to the top of the trail all out of breath and ready to catch some wind on the way down. The first guide attached himself to the line and lunged out of sight to get to the other side to tell us when to slow down. We all stood in awe as the second guide called us over for our turn. Lindsay was the closest to the line and therefore volunteered herself to be the first across. She made it safely and we all breathed a sigh of relief. We each in turn traversed the first line and were taken aback by the beautiful view. Each line was shorter but faster than the next and made for a thrilling time. The longest was about 1,100 feet long and about 300 to 400 feet high. Fun was had by all. It was a relaxing and peaceful time until the suspended bridge. We then put on a show of typical American athleticism and made a nice showing to all the people watching, giving them a good laugh. It was then back to the Tuk-Tuk’s for another ride back in to the city. This time it was downhill so instead of the smell of the clutch and transmission, brake fumes filled the air and accosted the nostrils. We finally made it back and found our way through the sea of the most aggressive maître-des just begging for our business in their restaurants. We found our way to our desired eatery and sat down ready to indulge in the offered cuisine. We all had a nice chat as we waited for our food while being approached by the random necklace or scarf and shirt salesperson that wandered in to see the group of “gringos”. The food came and we devoured our respected meals and laughed heartedly at the stories of the days past. The women of the group went out to do shopping things as the guys stayed behind at the restaurant to enjoy a cold beverage. The shopping was wrapped up and we headed to another little town located along the steep banks of the lake. Once off the boat we made our way through the little kids up to the shops where the bidding wars began. No one was seriously injured and we regrouped back on the boat and made our way through the pea soup fog to the San Lucas shore. The night then played out as usual with some dinner, some wi-fi and some fun. Not bad for the last full day in San Lucas.

Authors: Christine and Nate

Day 9

It was the best of times; it was the first of times. While the native Guatemalan can split a rock in about four easy swings in less than ten seconds, a group of ten of us succeeded in splitting zero rocks in two hours. We were told the rock (Jennie’s rock) was too tough, but now looking back it may just have been a nice way of saying “you guys are pathetic.” The work took place on a hillside and involved two pick axes, a sledge hammer, a mini sledge hammer, one mini wedge, and something that involved creating the hole for the wedge. While Dr. Rust observed from the lovely shade of a lime tree after giving out surveys for the hospital, the students demonstrated their rookie skills at breaking rocks in the hot Guatemalan sun. Fun was had by all.
Next was lunch for which we had to serve and clean up for all of the groups. After this we heard stories from Chona, a woman who works in the kitchen of the mission. She shared with us the history of the Mayan culture, as well as stories from the civil war that happened around 30 years ago. Her personal stories from the civil war were shocking and moving. Chona also sold us hand woven items made by the women in the parish that were widowed by the war. Gifts were bought by all.

Dinner was then served, after which we moved to Hotel Toliman for the second consecutive night in order to update everyone at home. Later at our hotel, a skills competition was performed with a Nerf football and an empty water bottle as a target. Remarkably, although Jeana’s aim was poor, no one was injured in the effort…except Nate. But don’t worry Mama K, he walked away with a bruise. Twas the grandest affair on the promenade of Hotel Inquitio. ...P.S. Jennie loves Pitbull.

Authors: Lindsay, Andrew, and Nate

Day 8, Part 2

Tuesday!!! (The better adventure) Our morning started out just as the other group’s with roosters at 4 am, a pack of wild dogs at 5 am, and birds chirping the rest of the morning. Our zoo-like awakening was followed by a plethora of breakfast food…and by plethora we mean bread, because the eggs were quickly consumed by the others and the beans….well, they were beans.

At 9 am we parted from the mission with Dr. Paul, Maya (a college student who annularly volunteers in the area), and one of the lead health promoters in the program. It was a lengthy and beautiful walk to the clinic. A separate portion of the clinic, the Bodega, contained an abundance of medical supplies and medications. Of course, two pharmacy majors were instantly intrigued upon entering the medication supply storage! We packed several medications used to treat common health conditions in the area, and then walked a short distance to the center of town where we boarded an already-full bus. Because, it was only 5 more passengers, and in Guatemala there’s always room on the bus for more. And if we thought it was packed to capacity when we boarded, you can imagine our surprise when we picked up 3 more passengers! During this ride we were exposed to the native Mayan language for the first time. Eventually, after many stops along the way, we departed the bus at one of the villages that we had heard about the night before. Previously, the land was comprised of only coffee Fincas. It wasn’t until the price of coffee declined that the opportunity for the parish to buy the land was presented. The Parish aimed to give the land to people greatly in debt, who were unable to own their own land, and also to provide the materials necessary for them to build a house with access to a fresh water supply. As a result, the overall health in the region was greatly improved, and subsequently the health promoter program was introduced to the area. It was this program that we were fortunate enough to participate in today.

Upon arrival at the village, we met the other lead promoter who served as a guide throughout the day because she knew which villagers were seeking medical attention from the doctor. We spent the day shadowing Dr. Paul as we were openly invited into the homes of these villagers. First hand, we witnessed several different medical conditions: some were very heart-wrenching, some were rare, and others were common conditions of the area. Though endless walking, profuse sweating, and standing on our feet all day may seem unappealing, it was all completely worthwhile and made for one of the best, if not THE best, days of the trip so far. We are so thankful to have been given this amazing opportunity because the experience we gained was invaluable!

PS. We rode our first “chicken-bus” today on the way home, and it was one of the best/cheapest roller coaster rides we’ve been on, to say the least…BUT we survived to tell the story!


Authors: Briana and Christine

Day 8, Part 1

Staying in the hotel in San Lucas is a chicken-eat-chicken world, where the chicken eats other chickens and if you don’t make it to breakfast five minutes early, bread will be the only thing on your plate to start the day. Early in the day we learned the ins and outs of the mission. First up, we learned that every group staying at the mission takes turns washing the dishes.
To put this into perspective, the dishes occupy about eight full drying racks of plates, bowls, cups, and utensils. Jeana, Hannah, and Ashley were the brave three to begin the dirty task. Then the gang packed into the back of a pickup truck and we were off onto our tour of the mission’s projects. Our new friend Jango, a black lab puppy, accompanied us on our journey and was a big player among the ladies.

The first stop was the newly opened Women’s Center, which took nearly ten years to complete. It offers a place for women to meet, talk, learn new things, and escape from the pressure of everyday women’s work. The second stop was the health clinic that was established by the mission. It was surprisingly much cleaner and developed than the regional hospital and clinic we had previously seen. They were much more equipped with tools, medical equipment, and surgery materials. The last stop was the reforestation program and the coffee farm. After an unusual steak, pineapple, and tomato stew, the group headed back to the coffee farm to begin our first dose of volunteer work. A few people shoveled dirt and picked weeds among the homes of thousands of biting ants. Many new friendships were made with the volunteer students from Saint Mary’s College of Minnesota. A few others were assigned the task of building the infrastructure of Guatemala. Nick and Nate cut pieces of metal, Jennie and Ashley bent them into (imperfect) rectangles. Laura got to cut wire into predetermined lengths, Nick and Nate then assembled all the pieces into the final product (which they completed in half the time it took the Saint Mary’s group). However, fun was not had by all; mainly Jennie who received a blister the size of a kidney bean. After yet another interesting meal consisting of bread and soup, we headed to a local hotel to use their wi-fi. Random drinks and desserts were ordered in order to prolong our useful time of internet access. Hopefully none of you were worried while we were out of contact!
PS….. Nate says HI MOM!


Authors: Jennie and Jill

Day 7

We started off our day by having breakfast at 8:30 a.m. at the usual restaurant across the street from our hotel. We then met with Victor and his sister Amalia. We shared with Victor our opinions about the overall successes of our trip to Xela, including visits to the two hospitals. The Guatemalan press arrived and recorded video of Victor explaining why our group traveled to Guatemala and visited their hospitals. Professor Northrup explained to the press how we compared Guatemala healthcare conditions to those conditions in the U.S. He also expressed to them, given the fact that health funds are low in Guatemala, that we as a class would like to write proposals to various foundations in the U.S. We hope that such foundations may consider our proposals and hopefully provide support to the Guatemalan heath care system. After the “press conference” came to an end, it was time to say our final goodbyes to the very welcoming Victor and Amalia. Amalia took all of the students e-mail addresses and sincerely expressed how she would like to stay in contact with us. Victor explained that we are all now considered to be his friends, and he would love to have us visit again. Professor Rust then thanked Victor for being so helpful and welcoming. Without all of Victor’s help this trip would not have been possible. Dr. Rust then welcomed Victor and his family to visit the U.S. whenever they wished in the future. He left off by saying, “Mi casa es su casa.”
After our goodbyes, we grabbed our bags and checked out of our hotel. We then put our entire luggage on top of the bus that would be taking us to San Lucas (this includes my spider-infested bag). Since it is the start of the rainy season, our luggage was covered with a tarp to prevent our belongings from getting soaked and we hit the road. After a quick stop at the local mall to grab some last minute items, we were on our way to San Lucas. This ride consisted of extremely winding roads up and down several mountains. It felt like we were back in Springfield riding a Six Flag’s roller coaster! Eventually along the way we stopped to eat lunch at a local restaurant.
It was after our meal that we expressed our appreciation to our translator Jairo and gave him a thank you card that included a group photo. We all felt it was necessary to show Jairo how thankful we were for his help. Although this is his job, we felt Jairo went above and beyond to make our trip more productive. Professor Northrup insisted that Jairo was better than any translator he had worked with before. With this being the first time out of the U.S. for many students, Jairo made the beginning portion of our trip very pleasant with his knowledge, skill, and sense of humor.

We then boarded the roller coaster…sorry…bus for about another hour and a half of driving. We then arrived at our hotel in San Lucas and ate dinner at the mission. At the hotel we met with Dr. Bruce Clemens and his students from Furman University. Bruce’s long time friend and fraternity brother, Paul Wise, who graduated from Cornell and works at Stanford, came to speak to us later in the evening. He spoke about the current conditions in Guatemala and the health programs he helped put in place, including the health promoters who monitor progress in the local villages.


Authors: Jeana and Hannah

Day 6

Finally it’s Sunday, our first free day! It began like every other day, although we did get to sleep in, with breakfast accompanied by Pepto. Following breakfast we all headed back to the marketplace to continue bargaining for souvenirs and gifts. Even with most of the shops closed today we all still managed to spend mucho dinero.

By noon we were all starving and very excited to see our surprise lunch at a Uruguayan steakhouse! Over lunch we met up with people who helped make this trip possible on the Guatemalan end.


We were all excited to learn we could finally eat salad! We were also served delicious soup, which we drank out of a mug, and buttery garlic bread that was all served with the salad. If lunch had stopped there we would have all been satisfied, but then came the main course. The majority of us had steak, potatoes, vegetables and sausage, and many of us had to loosen our belts as the meal progressed! In the end we were all disappointed that we couldn’t take the leftovers back to the hotel because we had no refrigerator.

After stuffing our faces we all walked back toward the hotel, where some went back to their rooms and the rest of us thought it would be a good idea to pile ice cream on top of the dinner. Once we were done stuffing our already stuffed stomachs we took a walk over to the cathedral. Inside we were amazed to see such grand architecture. Many of us were also surprised to find multiple flat screen TVs in the cathedrals along side traditional décor.

The day concluded with a small dinner, which many of us only picked at because we were still full from lunch. The rest of the night was spent packing in preparation for the long drive in the morning to San Lucas Tolimán.

Authors: Alicia and Laura

Day 5

People say a class is like a family. Well let me tell you we are probably the weirdest family I have ever seen. Let me set the scene for those of you who weren’t lucky enough to join us. Today started the way every other day started: Roosters at 4 am, trucks at 5, and some guy hammering a piece of metal for probably no real reason. The group stumbled over to breakfast and we were met with some tasty ham and egg tortilla-rolled-and-grilled things with some mangos. Immediately after the tables were cleared, out came the Imodium and Pepto-Bismol dessert that usually follows the meal.
We all congregated at the bus and awaited the tour of the city. The tour started at the city center where our guide explained how the European history has influenced the construction and design of the city. We drove along to go see the city cemetery. Unlike the cemeteries in the US, this one was filled with bright colorful tombs and large monuments that seemed to celebrate life rather than mourning death. Atop the hill, the limits of where the tombs ended and the city began could not be determined. I now want to be buried in a huge pyramid like they had there. We then hopped back on the bus and waved goodbye to the random man standing there with a machete and headed to the vista that overlooked the entire city. After a steep climb we arrived at the top recreational area and proceeded to pull the typical American tourist move and take as many pictures as possible. The view of the city was beautiful and fun was had by all.
We then headed to the sketchy concrete slide that was built into the side of the mountain. Jennie and Andrew were the Guinea pigs who experienced the first descent/atomic wedgie. Our guide then had the brilliant idea to sit on a soda bottle and go down that way. This reduced the coefficient of friction (that’s +1, Dr. Rust) but in turn increased the overall speed of the slide to almost painful consequences. I mean Dr. Rust got air for crying out loud. We wrapped up the fun and waited at the bus for Dr. Northrup to join us from his nature walk. We were then on our way back to the hotel to change for the hot springs.
The trip to the hot springs was something like driving up Mount Washington on a car with square wheels and with a driver that can’t quite reach the brake. A few tidbits from the conversation went along the lines of “Oh **” (and other phrases that can’t be printed here) and the uneasy groan while staring down the 2000 foot sheer drop off as the bus careened around the hairpin turns. Perhaps a bit of an exaggeration; fun was had by all. We eventually made it to the hot springs which were located at some 10,000 feet above sea level. Exiting the bus invited an immediate dizzy feeling followed by a headache due to the thin air. However the area was beautiful, despite the last year’s landslides, and had a feel of the Jurassic Park movies. We had a little hike to the baths and dinner where everyone once again enjoyed their medicinal cocktails along with the tasty food. Once the food was done it was time for the hot springs. The main pool had become too hot to bathe in so the 16 of us proceeded to the smaller, cooler secondary pool. Everyone already in the smaller, cooler secondary pool then proceeded to leave. This is not the first time this has happened. After a good soak, everyone began to dry off and get dressed except for Nick, Andrew, and Dr. N who decided to brave the literally scalding main pool. Fun was had by all, except them.
The ride back had the usual downhill rollercoaster feel except this time with great views. Many pictures were taken but none did any justice to the scenery. We safely made it back to the hotel where I now write to you about our adventure. The rest of the night is still up for grabs but if it’s like any other night I feel it will include some cultural food, a lot of Pepto, and a great time had by all.

Authors: Nate and Nick

Day 4

Friday!!

Getting up this morning was torture; 6:45am breakfast! Breakfast today consisted of scrambled eggs, and tortilla chips, but this time we had the option of having cereal with warm milk again or cold milk. Then we were off…on a lengthy 2 hour bus ride down through the mountains to a regional hospital. Our tour there was like nothing we had seen before, even far from what we had witnessed in Xela. We met the administrator and he kindly showed us where the restrooms were...as usual, no tp. We toured the hospital, stopping first in the emergency room, where we saw a blood trail leading from the outside into the emergency department. Then, the heat kicked in and made for an exhausting yet informative day. We saw the maternity ward, pediatrics, radiology, men’s and women’s medicine, and the trauma ward. Pediatrics was emotional – a lot of mothers beside the bed of their sick child. After a few hours in the desert-like hospital DRENCHED in sweat, we boarded the bus once again.

We located the nearest Pollo Campero for lunch, which was nicely air-conditioned, followed by a short trip to an ice cream shop. Then it was off to the bus once again for a sticky and slow, 3 hour ride home all the way back up the mountain. Driving in Guatemala is like nothing you have ever experienced in your life. Nothing. The picture shows some of the scenery we saw from the bus on the way to the hospital.

After a short break, we gathered for dinner at our usual restaurant where we were offered chicken, steak, fish, or a hamburger. Needless to say, most of us opted with the hamburger con queso. We then retired to our rooms for a relaxing evening after an exhausting day. We are all beyond stoked for the hot springs tomorrow; it is hard to foresee us ever leaving them.

Authors: Briana and Christine

Day 3

Thursday!!!!!! The day began with a delicious pancake breakfast. Although the options dwindled for food, the quality remained the same. I think this is because taking orders at the beginning of the week was such a project that they took away our independence to make things easier, which is understandable. We ventured to the regional hospital via a typical Guatemalan transport bus.
Upon arrival we immediately stuck out like a sore thumb, yet again, with our cameras flashing a mile a minute. After establishing groups we headed into the hospital to complete the surveys of the patients. I went to the maternity region of the hospital where the women were very helpful and understanding. The nurse bringing my group around was a huge help with the more difficult parts of the surveys that I could not explain well. The patients responded very well to her and were more willing to fill out the surveys with her presence. Towards the end of the day I became much more comfortable with interviewing the patients. Overall this was a great experience.

We came back from the hospital, had lunch in the mall, cleaned up quickly, and then continued the day with local shopping. Before shopping some of the group needed to convert more money so we went to the bank. Through all of the confusion we all found it a harmless experience except for Lindsay. After being sick all day, sitting in a chair for 30 minutes listening to a woman on the phone with her friend proceeded to run across the bank after realizing how long she was taking. The nice man with the shotgun eventually let us out. We snapped some family photos in the town square, and fun was had by all.
The market was another experience all in itself. At the first store I showed interest in one scarf and before I knew it my entire outfit was changed in the matter of seconds.
Walking around I began to realize this was a high pressure sales situation. The store owners were very nice, and the less interest you showed the lower the prices became. From what I heard the majority of the group purchased many items for under $50. It’s only a matter of time before we find out the true quality of the craftsmanship. After a dinner of chicken fried steak, the stomach issues began just in time for a long bus ride the next morning. :)

Authors: Ashley and Nate

Day 2

Wednesday! After finally getting to sleep after too many hours of traveling, we woke up to roosters (which Jenny can imitate), and had our first Guatemalan breakfast! It consisted of eggs with ham or tomatoes, a ham and cheese tortilla, hot plantains, and refried beans. And of course we can’t forget the corn flakes served with hot milk. After breakfast, we met Victor, a director of a local university, who gave us a presentation about Guatemala and its economy. We learned statistics about the region in which we are staying and information about his university.
At around 10 o’clock we headed to one of Guatemala’s Regional Hospitals. Outside we saw people sleeping on the ground and had to enter the hospital through a locked gate with guards. With the help of a few nurses, we navigated our way through the crowded hallways that were filled with waiting patients. We then split into two groups and were allowed to tour the hospital where we saw many patients in different situations. Some of us were even allowed to observe minor procedures being performed. During and at the end of the tour we handed out surveys to the administration, doctors, and nurses.
At the end of the visit we were able to experience public transportation which involved a 15 passenger van that was filled a little beyond what people in the U.S. would consider as “full” – one of the men who solicited for passengers stood in the open sliding door while we drove a few miles.
We traveled to the mini- mall for lunch, which was very Americanized to our surprise (Burger King, Subway, Dominos, etc.)
At night we went back to Ut’z Hua for dinner and then out to celebrate our first working day!

Authors: Andrew, Lindsey, and Laura

Travel to Guatemala

Day 1: Today we traveled from Western New England College to Guatemala with a few stops along the way. Most of the group met in the Sleith parking lot where we transferred luggage and said farewell to our families. We drove to Boston for dinner – amazing how quickly students fall asleep when the van gets on the highway. We detoured from our trip to Boston with an excursion into Cambridge where we had a terrific meal at Fire & Ice, followed by ice cream at Lizzy’s, and a return to Fire & Ice for karaoke – Dr. Rust is a country music maniac, who knew he was the next Garth singin’ “I’ve got friends in low places”, Dr. Northrup and Nick imitated ZZ-Top with “Sharp Dressed Man”, Ashley, Jill, Lindsay regaled Backstreet Boys with their rendition of “I want it that way”, Nick and Nate celebrated a 9th inning come from behind Red Sox victory with “Sweet Caroline”, Briana and Christine gave us a fantastic rendition of “ Broken”. Later, Briana fell asleep during the rock fest.

We left karaoke at 1am and went to the airport via the long-term parking. Arriving at the airport, most of the students were quite fatigued so they slept wherever they could find a comfy spot. Around 3 or so the other students rolled into the airport and we queued up for check in. The cost cutting measures at the airlines are working well. Only one agent trying to check in several hundred patrons… WOW is all I can say. Eventually we got the attention of a supervisor who arrived around 4:15 am and we were completely checked in at 4:40. Security was a breeze because most of the airline passengers were still queued for check in. We got our requisite Dunkin Donuts breakfast and boarded the plane. The flight to Miami was turbulent but otherwise uneventful. Most of us slept. After a short layover in Miami we embarked for Guatemala City. That flight was even shorter and we arrived and promptly headed to the money exchange service. This was the students’ first encounter with non English speaking people. It was a good experience for them. After immigration and customs, we found our guides who brought us to Quetzaltenango. The ride was long (about 4 hours) and winded through a high mountain pass.
We saw a lot of the rural areas along the way. Students asked the guide, Jairo, about abundance of single the cows, the prevalence of painting on utility poles and rocks. It turned out to be a lot of political advertizing for Guatemala’s next major election.
We arrived in Quetzaltenango (Xela for the local people) and settled into our hotel. It is luxurious compared to where Dr. Northrup has stayed before. At dinner, the students were able to sample some platos typicos (typical food). Some liked it (some did not), but at least they all sampled the local food for a good overseas experience.
All-in-all the day was long, but a very good start for the students’ Guatemala adventure.

One Week to Go!

We are just days away from our travel to Guatemala, so things are definitely getting exciting. Around this time next week we will be heading to the airport to begin the journey south to our Guatemalan destination. It has taken a lot of planning and hard work to get this trip together, so I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge some of the people who have helped make this happen.

Our project builds upon the great work that was started at Western New England by Dr. Bruce Clemens, who is now at Furman University. Bruce had organized several trips that took our students to Guatemala as part of his ILP 235: Global Sustainability Management course. His expertise in all things Guatemalan was an indispensable resource that helped make our efforts fruitful. My co-instructor for the new ILP 296: Global Health & Technology course is Dr. Steve Northrup, who had participated in previous WNEC trips to Guatemala. Without Steve's leadership and experience, this trip would not have been possible. Additionally, there is a long list of people at Western New England that have worked behind the scenes to make this trip a reality. We appreciate all of your efforts.

Finally, I would like to acknowledge the students in ILP 296. To put it simply: without you there would be no course. Thank you for accepting our challenge to help and learn; we hope you enjoy the trip!

-M. Rust