Thursday, May 17, 2018
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
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
Day 2
Today we visited the Hospital in Coatepeque, which is about 1.5 hours away from our base in Xela. We were given a tour of the hospital by Manuel, one of the chief technicians who works on the medical equipment. Manuel took us to areas such as intensive care, pediatrics, and the laboratory. In each area we looked at equipment that was not functioning and talked about the challenges his team are facing in maintaining the equipment. The local media took an interest in our visit and followed us as we toured the hospital. Jeannette stepped up and gave an interview to represent our team and describe the purpose of our visit.
Since we have Pharmacy students on our team this year, we were interested in seeing how medications are handled and dispensed in the hospital. We really learned a lot from our visit to the bodega de medicamentos.
-M. Rust
Since we have Pharmacy students on our team this year, we were interested in seeing how medications are handled and dispensed in the hospital. We really learned a lot from our visit to the bodega de medicamentos.
Tuesday, May 15, 2018
Day 1
Our Guatemala adventure started at 4:00am when our group met at Hartford/Bradley Airport. Two flights later, we were in Guatemala City on a sunny, breezy afternoon. We were greeted at the airport by our host Rosa, translator Archie, and driver Carlos. After loading into our transport, we pulled out into the afternoon traffic in the Guatemalan capital. An hour or so later, we stopped for a bite to eat at San Martin, an upscale restaurant featuring a mixture of local dishes and American classics. Refreshed, we hit the road for our journey to Xela (aka Quetzaltenango). This trek took us to well over a mile elevation, through the mountains and clouds, and back down again to the second largest city in the country. After checking into our hotel, the students made a quick stop at Xelapan for a light snack.
Time to recharge our batteries (literally and figuratively) ahead of our first hospital visit in the morning.
-M. Rust
Time to recharge our batteries (literally and figuratively) ahead of our first hospital visit in the morning.
-M. Rust
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Day 11
Our last day at the Mission saw us work on construction projects in the morning. In the afternoon, we went to the coffee farm to learn about their sorting process for producing the highest quality coffee. Yum yum!
For dinner, we invited some of the long term volunteers at the Mission to dinner at a local restaurant. Our banquet was a nice way to say thanks and goodbye to our friends. In the morning we will start our trek back to our homes. Adios Guatemala!
-M. Rust
For dinner, we invited some of the long term volunteers at the Mission to dinner at a local restaurant. Our banquet was a nice way to say thanks and goodbye to our friends. In the morning we will start our trek back to our homes. Adios Guatemala!
-M. Rust
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Day 10
Today
was the tenth day of the trip, and we woke for an eight o’clock breakfast. We
had eggs benedict, bread, and beans for breakfast. Since we had dish duty, we
set the food, and cleaned the dishes when everyone was finished. Instead of
choosing a volunteering venture for the morning as usual, today was the day we
would go zip lining in Panajachel. We cleaned up and made sandwiches for lunch,
peanut butter and jelly, and cheese and mayonnaise. Then we walked from the Mission
to the dock of San Lucas Toliman, and boarded a boat named Crystal with some
people from the Mission to take us there. Riding the boat on a calm lake made
for some good photo opportunities, and most of us took advantage. It was
another view of San Lucas Toliman that we hadn’t seen yet, from the water.
When we arrived at the dock, we boarded four tuk-tuks that took us to the Atitlan Nature Reserve, where we would zip line. It was a fun cramped ride, with the three wheeled tuk-tuks taking tight turns and weaving through traffic. It had a similar feel to riding a bumper car, but on bumpy roads and scaling steep ascents.
When we made it to the reserve, we were met with a sign that listed the animals that could be found and where. To the bottommost left was a yeti that could be found on the left path 8,700 kilometers away and Nessie that could be found by taking the right path for a similar distance. There was also an assortment of animals that could actually be found there, such as monkeys and butterflies. We then went inside and we all agreed to go on the long zip line that spanned the water. When that was done we had some time before our guides would be back to take us up the mountain. So we all went up to see the monkeys, before coming back down to the reserve to wait. Some of us went to see the butterfly garden and when we returned we met someone else who was going to go zip lining with us, Sam. She is an environmental science major, and came to Guatemala ahead of an internship in Honduras. We adopted her into our group after talking with her while we waited to get ready. Then our guides arrived, and we were put into our harnesses and given the safety explanation in Spanish. There was a glove with a thick pad of leather that we would hold onto the cable as we sailed along it. We would have to clamp down on the cable, and it would slow us down. There was a short 20 foot cable that we practiced on before we hiked up to the zip line.
The hike was difficult in the thinner air, and it was a workout before we made it to the top. There were several bridges that spanned a small creek that flowed down the mountain side. We crossed the bridges six at a time, and it was quite wobbly if you didn’t stick to the center. It provided a nice view of the waterfall when we made it to that bridge. We took a small break at a rest area, and then continued on for the rest of the way. At the top was an amazing view of the city and lake below. The lake was too large to see across, and so it faded into the distance in cloud and fog. The second line was the longest in terms of time, and some folks would not make it to the end without help. Those who stopped fairly close to the end could pull themselves the rest of the way, but if it was too far, the guide would attach himself to it cable and climb along it, and the person would hold on as the guide pulled them back to land. The third line was the longest cable, but it was shorter in terms of time because it was a steeper and faster drop. Braking was required, and it took more concentration than ones where it wasn’t necessary. The glove would grow a bit warm when applied to the cable. Each ride was recorded on action cameras, so that we could see the view of the lake from the line as we rode above it. The last couple rides were a bit rushed as it started to rain, but we made it all back safely.
When we had finished taking off all the gear, we had some Xela Pan-style bread and quickly walked to the tuk-tuks that were waiting for us below. They took us back to the dock where we started, and again we saw the lake from other side. We walked through the market until three, when we had to go back. The vendors lined the street and we saw some of the same items that were in San Lucas Toliman, and some different wares. There were large bags, Poke ball hackysacks, paintings, and chess sets. Mixed in amongst the stores were a few restaurants. Due to more tourism in the area, the prices varied for particular items and bargaining was important. When we finished, we went to the boat and returned to San Lucas Toliman. Before dinner we played some Uno, and then had a dinner of Chow Mein, salad, and rolls. Tomorrow we have our last full day at the San Lucas Toliman Mission before we return to the US.
-Zeke and Kendall
When we arrived at the dock, we boarded four tuk-tuks that took us to the Atitlan Nature Reserve, where we would zip line. It was a fun cramped ride, with the three wheeled tuk-tuks taking tight turns and weaving through traffic. It had a similar feel to riding a bumper car, but on bumpy roads and scaling steep ascents.
When we made it to the reserve, we were met with a sign that listed the animals that could be found and where. To the bottommost left was a yeti that could be found on the left path 8,700 kilometers away and Nessie that could be found by taking the right path for a similar distance. There was also an assortment of animals that could actually be found there, such as monkeys and butterflies. We then went inside and we all agreed to go on the long zip line that spanned the water. When that was done we had some time before our guides would be back to take us up the mountain. So we all went up to see the monkeys, before coming back down to the reserve to wait. Some of us went to see the butterfly garden and when we returned we met someone else who was going to go zip lining with us, Sam. She is an environmental science major, and came to Guatemala ahead of an internship in Honduras. We adopted her into our group after talking with her while we waited to get ready. Then our guides arrived, and we were put into our harnesses and given the safety explanation in Spanish. There was a glove with a thick pad of leather that we would hold onto the cable as we sailed along it. We would have to clamp down on the cable, and it would slow us down. There was a short 20 foot cable that we practiced on before we hiked up to the zip line.
The hike was difficult in the thinner air, and it was a workout before we made it to the top. There were several bridges that spanned a small creek that flowed down the mountain side. We crossed the bridges six at a time, and it was quite wobbly if you didn’t stick to the center. It provided a nice view of the waterfall when we made it to that bridge. We took a small break at a rest area, and then continued on for the rest of the way. At the top was an amazing view of the city and lake below. The lake was too large to see across, and so it faded into the distance in cloud and fog. The second line was the longest in terms of time, and some folks would not make it to the end without help. Those who stopped fairly close to the end could pull themselves the rest of the way, but if it was too far, the guide would attach himself to it cable and climb along it, and the person would hold on as the guide pulled them back to land. The third line was the longest cable, but it was shorter in terms of time because it was a steeper and faster drop. Braking was required, and it took more concentration than ones where it wasn’t necessary. The glove would grow a bit warm when applied to the cable. Each ride was recorded on action cameras, so that we could see the view of the lake from the line as we rode above it. The last couple rides were a bit rushed as it started to rain, but we made it all back safely.
When we had finished taking off all the gear, we had some Xela Pan-style bread and quickly walked to the tuk-tuks that were waiting for us below. They took us back to the dock where we started, and again we saw the lake from other side. We walked through the market until three, when we had to go back. The vendors lined the street and we saw some of the same items that were in San Lucas Toliman, and some different wares. There were large bags, Poke ball hackysacks, paintings, and chess sets. Mixed in amongst the stores were a few restaurants. Due to more tourism in the area, the prices varied for particular items and bargaining was important. When we finished, we went to the boat and returned to San Lucas Toliman. Before dinner we played some Uno, and then had a dinner of Chow Mein, salad, and rolls. Tomorrow we have our last full day at the San Lucas Toliman Mission before we return to the US.
-Zeke and Kendall
Day 9
We
started our day with breakfast which consisted of beans, oatmeal, bananas, and
bread. Today marked the five-year anniversary of the passing of Father Gregory
Schaffer, who was a vitally important leader of the San Lucas Mission. A
children’s mass began at 8am and immediately following was a procession through
the streets of San Lucas and to the final resting place of Father Schaffer. We
left shortly before the precession began and went to see Father Schaffer’s
grave, which was front and center within the cemetery, and extremely well-kept.
We then watched as the procession made its way into the cemetery; Professor
Northrup, Kendall, and Zeke took part and walked with the children. We then had
the rest of the morning to spend at the lake, visiting some local shops, and
even playing a few rounds of UNO. We were on dish-duty for lunch which was beef
soup and macaroni salad.
After lunch we went to the women’s center to take part in a few of their cultural classes that are offered weekly. We started out by listening to beautiful melodies played on the Marimba, and then were able to learn how to make tortillas. The dough was pre-mixed and we learned the correct technique for shaping the tortillas, which was much easier said than done. After tortillas, we headed up the hill to the pila, otherwise known as the washing center. Several students brought articles of clothing to be hand-washed; we learned the most efficient way to scrub and then rinse the clothing. We definitely were overshadowed by the women who were there washing their own clothing, and they even lent a hand to some students who needed some extra help scrubbing their clothes. It made many of us realize how fortunate we are to have the easy access to washers and dryers while at home and while at school.
Once
the laundry was rung out, we headed back down the hill to learn how to balance
the banos (buckets) on our heads. Most Guatemalan women will carry up to 50
pounds on their heads at any given time, but we only tested the buckets with
roughly 10 pounds. It took a lot of practice to balance the bucket just right
on our heads, and everyone was able to take a few steps on their own before
having to catch the bucket from falling. What was even harder was learning how
to carry wood using a modified backpack in which the wood was carefully
packaged. We learned that many families travel two to three times a week to
gather wood, and some men carry up to 150 pounds of wood at a time. Some
students were up to the challenge of picking up the wood using the backpack,
and while it wasn’t easy at first, it definitely was rewarding when we were up
and standing.
Finally, to end our day at the women’s center we had the opportunity to support the local women by purchasing items that they made in the store. We wrapped up our day with dinner and even got to venture out for some ice cream!
-Lucia
After lunch we went to the women’s center to take part in a few of their cultural classes that are offered weekly. We started out by listening to beautiful melodies played on the Marimba, and then were able to learn how to make tortillas. The dough was pre-mixed and we learned the correct technique for shaping the tortillas, which was much easier said than done. After tortillas, we headed up the hill to the pila, otherwise known as the washing center. Several students brought articles of clothing to be hand-washed; we learned the most efficient way to scrub and then rinse the clothing. We definitely were overshadowed by the women who were there washing their own clothing, and they even lent a hand to some students who needed some extra help scrubbing their clothes. It made many of us realize how fortunate we are to have the easy access to washers and dryers while at home and while at school.
Finally, to end our day at the women’s center we had the opportunity to support the local women by purchasing items that they made in the store. We wrapped up our day with dinner and even got to venture out for some ice cream!
-Lucia
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
Day 8
Today
was our first full working day at the Mission. After breakfast, we split into
two teams to work on different projects for the morning. One group went to work
on a wood house on the outskirts of town, while the other group helped build a
stove for a family’s home in San Lucas.
After lunch, we again worked in teams, with the majority of the group heading to the reforestation project with the rest continuing to work on the housing project. The students did a lot of hard work today, and are definitely rock stars!
-M. Rust
After lunch, we again worked in teams, with the majority of the group heading to the reforestation project with the rest continuing to work on the housing project. The students did a lot of hard work today, and are definitely rock stars!
-M. Rust
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