Day 3

Our group made the trek to San Marcos today to visit a hospital that we haven't had the chance to see on previous trips. It was a little over 2 hour drive from Xela, and we arrived in the late morning. We toured the hospital with the technical staff, allowing the students to compare and contrast with the conditions we saw in Coatepeque the previous day. It was particularly interesting to see some differences in the physical plant and credentials of the healthcare workers between the two hospitals. It was also neat to see some of the technical solutions the maintenance staff has come up with to address resource shortages in the hospital.

After touring the hospital, we stopped by the repair shop to see some of the equipment that was not functioning properly. Kayla, Tyler, and Emily helped troubleshoot an infant incubator that had an error message related to air circulation. They were able to trace the problem to a flow sensor that was likely faulty, and recorded the part information to help find a replacement.

Once we returned to Xela, the students were able to visit the central market to look for souvenirs and fine tune their bartering skills.

We also visited the cathedral located in the town square, and wandered through the municipal building to see their stunning courtyard.

-M. Rust