Photos and Thoughts

I am sorry it has been quite some time since I have written on the blog. Since returning to the States, I began to realize how many things we take for granted and how extremely wasteful we are. Parts of me ache to return back to Guatemala, but for the moment I suppose a few photos will have to suffice.

Looking up at the volcanoes just outside of Antigua.

A view from the boat ride we had on Lake Atitlan.

Day 21 - Guatemala City

We returned to Roosevelt Hospital to do additional teaching on OB topics. Due to the content presented the previous day, some of the OB residents and MD's were asked to attend the teachings because their practices were not aligning with the types of practices we were presenting. It was interesting going into this teaching session knowing that we might offend these doctors by presenting this information, but we knew that what we were saying would greatly improve the quality of life and decrease the mortality rate in Guatemala. Thankfully, Nancy was a pro at presenting the information in a calm manner and the information was generally well-received.

For lunch we went to the ever-famous Pollo Campero. This is a huge restaurant chain in Guatemala and I hear it is starting to spread to the US, as well. Its food is very similar to KFC's menu here in the States. We were most excited to eat the fried chicken... throughout the trip we played 2 songs quite frequently while we were in the car. One of the songs we loved to listen and jam out to was "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band. It was quite fitting that we were able to eat fried chicken on our last day in Guatemala - very bittersweet. We left our cd in Guatemala with Eric in hopes that he'll learn ALL of the lyrics by the next time we come :)

In the afternoon we visited Safe Passage in Guatemala City. Safe Passage is a non-profit organization that seeks to break the cycle of poverty and lifestyle that surrounds families who work in the city's massive garbage dump. We got to tour not only the outer parts of the dump, but the organization's schools, as well. All of us were deeply moved by the work that these volunteers are doing to help these families. The sight of people digging through massive piles of garbage amidst bulldozers, hundreds of vultures and dogs was heart wrenching. Our tour guide mentioned that injuries in the dump are very common and most of the people working have severe problems with blood borne pathogens and severe respiratory problems. We could smell the methane gas pouring out from the dump from a vast distance and the stench was nearly unbearable. It is difficult for me to explain how devastating these living and working conditions are for these people, more or less how they are treated by socially. While in the States people who work with garbage are paid a decent salary and receive benefits, these people are scorned by society. They actually have to pay the government to work in the dump for a job that pays next to nothing. The programs offered by Safe Passage for not only the children of such families, but now the parents, as well, is amazing. I encourage everyone to check out their website to see the amazing things they are doing and ways you can get involved!!! I know that every single one of us were touched by the experience and know that anyone who gets involved will be touched by their work in a similar way.

That night we were invited to Jeanette & Juan Carlos' home for dinner and the opportunity to discuss the experience of our time in Guatemala. The evening was full of laughter, tears and amazing life-changing stories. While we were excited to come home and share our experiences with our friends and family, I think we were a little hesitant to leave the country we had grown to deeply love.

Survival Guide of Guatemala

1. The Guatemalan Cocktail (see post below)
2. Eric
*Driver, Translator, Bodyguard, Spanish Teacher, DJ, Rodeo Entertainer, Pack Mule, Garbage Disposal, Amigo, Spiderman and Live GPS
3. Bugspray
4. Ear plugs
5. Itch stick
6. Euchre
7. Bottled water
8. Toilet paper
9. Book
10. Hand sanitizer
11. Snacks that don't melt
12. Camera
13. Hanes V-neck white tees
14. Make-up remover towellettes
15. Deodorant
16. Dremamine
17. Spanish phrases
*"Solo estoy viendo" "Buen provecho" "Con permiso" "Esta bien, chica" etc.
18. Melatonin
19. Dinero conversion chart
20. Nail polish
21. Headlamp
22. Roll of vanilla scented garbage bags
23. The braid
24. Anti-emetic suppositories
25. Spanglish

Things we take for granted...

Last night we were talking about this Guatemala trip and began making a list of the things we take for granted in the states. Some are funny, some are serious...but they are all true.
1. Free pubic restrooms
2. Bathroom availability
3. Toilet paper provided in restrooms
4. Flushing toilet paper-seriously, no toilet paper can be flushed anywhere in Guatemala!
5. Toilets that flush
6. No squatting
7. Reliable electricity
8. Air conditioning
9. Free drinking water in restaurants
10. No need for the Guatemalan Cocktail (1 Cipro, 1 Immodium, and 2 Pepto)
11. Water pressure
12. Hot water
13. Not sweating while in the shower, sleeping, sitting, reading, etc.
14. IV's in hospitals
15. Clean air
16. Paved roads
17. Minimal speed bumps
18. Driving laws enforced
19. Seatbelts
20. Sidewalks
21. Following a schedule
22. Having a schedule
23. A real sandwich
24. Protein at every meal
25. Cold skim milk
26. Anything cold
27. Season changes
28. Keys without large sticks attached
29. Not living out of a suitcase
30. Clean clothes/clothes that don't smell from other clothes
31. Privacy
32. Garbage cans in rooms other than the bathroom
33. No need for a translator
34. Being able to communicate and eavesdrop
35. TV in English, and visible
36. No harrassment while shopping
37. The ability to wear shorts and tank tops
38. Ranch dressing
39. Peanut butter
40. NO PWD! hehe

Day 20 - Guatemala City

Today was another eye-opening day for us here in Guatemala. We were up early this morning to prepare for a day of teaching at Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala City. Roosevelt is one of the largest public hospitals in Guatemala and the needs of this hospital and the people it serves was evident everywhere we looked. We spent 4 hours covering various OB topics such as labor and delivery and neonatal positioning. I was fascinated watching the reactions of the nurses to the information presented. Much of the information emphasized such as hydration is foundational and basic in the nursing practices in the States - almost something second nature that we would encourage fluids during labor. The nurses at Roosevelt were astonished at the thought of giving a women something to eat or drink during this process. Although I feel as if we left these men and women with more knowledge about effective nursing and medical practices, I realized it meant more to me that we were trying to empower them. While we can present research and show evidence based practices, change will not come to Guatemala´s health care system unless we empower its nurses and doctors from the bottom up and continually remind them of the impact of their professions.

This afternoon we volunteered at a food program in the 12th Ward in Guatemala City. This zone suffers from extreme poverty and an immense amount of crime. While some of us were anxious about going into this zone, it melted away as we were immediately embraced by over 150 children with hugs and kisses. We were able to minister to the children of these families by serving them a warm meal. I was amazed at how long many of them waited for a scoop of rice, a scoop of beans, a tortilla and a glass of fortified juice. The pastor that runs this program told us that for many of these children, the meal we served them was their only meal of the day. I (Elise) was scooping out the beans for all of the dishes. As the bowl began to quickly diminish, I looked up at the ever growing line of children still waiting for food. I began to wonder how many other children in this zone, more or less this city, were in their homes waiting for food and wondering when their next meal would be. There was a picture of us scraping out the last bits of each of the dishes... it may be one of the most disheartening pictures I have ever seen. I can only hope and pray that other programs will continue to faithfully serve the families of communities such as this and how fortunate we were to serve these children today.

Days 17-19 - Lake Atitlan

Today we left Antigua and drove a few hours to beautiful Lake Atitlan for a weekend of rest and relaxation. After many hours of driving on roads filled with pot-holes and/or made of cobblestone, we could hardly wait for the dinner at the hotel Posada in Santiago. The beauty of the lake is nearly indescribable and the pictures taken can hardly do it justice. We probably spent hours trying to capture the beauty of the flowers, volcanoes, or the lake... it was breathtaking to say the least.
Saturday morning we visited the Stukenburg family who lived near Santiago. This family is originally from Green Bay, but their ministry eventually brought them to Guatemala to work in foster care for children taken from their families by the courts. Many of these children came from parents who were drug addicts, abusive or had simply abandoned them. Some of their stories were horrifying - one young girl was pushed into a fire by her father and was severely burned. With the help of the Stukenburg family, she is now able to walk and laugh as a normal child although she is permanently disabled and may never be able to talk. Currently the family is caring for 14 foster care children, but many more may be on the way. We loved playing with the children for a while and loved that they spoke English! It was refreshing to be able to understand everything being said for the first time since we arrived to Guatemala. We cannot imagine what it is going to be like to return home and be able to understand the language once again. I can only expect it will be a culture shock once again.
We also drove through the community ruined by the massive mudslide in 2004. The devastation the mud caused was still quite evident. Many homes were abandoned and a majority of the buildings still had mud lines on them. It was estimated that approximately 3,000 people died from this disaster. I was reminded once again of how precious life is and how truly blessed we are.
Sunday morning we took a 3 hour boat ride around the lake. It was an amazing to experience nature, sitting in a little boat in the midst of a vast lake and surrounded by the volcanoes and beauty that is Guatemala. I know that I have said it many times before, but the beauty here is just incredible. It is truly a surreal experience and it is hard not to feel that there is something greater at work around and within us.

Days 12-16 - Antigua

This past week we stayed with host families. Many of us were nervous about this experience because we were unsure of what to expect. Looking back on the entire experience, I am glad to say that we were thankful we had the opportunity to see what the typical middle-class Guatemalan lifestyle is like. One word I could use to describe this past week was exhausting. The daily schedule consisted of waking up early for breakfast, walking to school, attending Spanish school for 4 hours and then heading to different locations throughout the greater Antigua area to volunteer. We were split into pairs and were daily rotated through various volunteer opportunities such as working at the clinic in Sumpango or nutrition center in Hermano Pedro Hospital, or teaching in a nearby community. I am just going to talk about a few highlights from each volunteer experience.

Hermano Pedro:
Although this is quite a large hospital, we worked exclusively with babies in the malnutrition center of the hospital. What was shocking to most of us was the regimented schedule of the unit. All of the babies were bottle-fed at 2 pm, changed at 3 pm and given nebulizers at 3:30 pm – there were no exceptions in the schedule. It was disheartening to hold or pick up a child who was dirty or hungry and know that while we could change or feed them when they needed these things done, that these basic needs were not going to be met on a timely basis in the future. For instance, both Shauna and Laura ended up with urine on their pants from two different babies who had diapers that needed to be changed. When they asked the nurses for supplies to change the babies with, they were upset that they were going to do this early because this wasn’t part of the schedule. It was an eye-opening experience to see how little attention these babies were receiving. It was heartbreaking to see some of these children. One little boy I became attached to was nearly three years old, but only weighed 11 lbs. I kept thinking to myself how it is critical to address the children’s physical malnutrition, but their emotional and spiritual malnutrition, as well. It was difficult to leave knowing that perhaps these areas may not be addressed, but we can only hope that perhaps we spread a little sunshine in the unit.

Clinic in Sumpango:
Each of us got to take turns working as a clinic nurse for Dr. Oscar Paredes in Sumpango. The most difficult part of this experience was the language barrier. In our other volunteer experiences we had the luxury of having a translator or were working with infants who could not verbally respond to us – but in the clinic it was quite different. The clinic was always crowded from the minute it opened until we left in the evening. Patients arriving at the clinic presented a variety of different medical problems – infections, pregnancies, chronic substance abuse problems, etc. For instance, Christina saw an ultrasound of a 32 wk old baby, Shauna assisted Dr. Oscar in debriding an infected surgical incision, and quite a few of us gave nebulizers and other medications. One mother brought her 2 month old baby boy into the clinic every day last week for nebulizer treatments. He had a severe respiratory infection and was having difficulty breathing when I first saw him Monday afternoon. It was fascinating watching the mother’s response to having American nurses take care of her son – she seemed to trust us instantaneously despite the fact that we could hardly speak any Spanish. It appeared that many of the other students developed a similar rapport with the mother, as well. I think it is interesting to note how often we are reluctant to have medical or nursing students take care of ourselves or our loved ones in the States, but how quickly we were embraced in Guatemala because of the wealth of knowledge we already have. I was reminded once again of how privileged we are to receive the type of education we do in the United States and how in turn, it is our responsibility to share that knowledge with others.

Schools in Sumpango:
We worked in numerous schools in the Sumpango area teaching about basic sanitation, CPR, puberty, blood typing and basic microbiology. I think after all of our teachings, we have come to appreciate all of the work teachers do to put presentations together and how much energy is necessary to keep an audience´s attention. Some of us were able to use information from previous classes we never thought we were going to use... somewhat of a coincidence to say the least. One thing was for sure - we never knew what to expect, but that´s what everyone says makes our adventure that much more exciting.

Day 11 - Antigua

Sunday we spent the day shopping and enjoying Antigua before meeting the families that would host us for the week. It was difficult for us to be split into separate homes after living together for the last week and a half – we can’t imagine what it is going to be like when we actually go home. We were split up and dropped off at 4 different homes in Antigua for a few hours before we went to Nelly’s house. Nelly is a friend of Nancy & Karen’s that works in the local market who invited us to her home to teach us how to make authentic tortillas. She had a traditional Guatemalan outfit for us to wear when we made tortillas to help us to get the full experience. She made us REAL hot chocolate, as well. After this evening, many of us decided to purchase these special pots in hope to recreate this drink back home… if we get anywhere close to making what Nelly did, you will understand our love for this Guatemalan drink!

Day 10 - Antigua

This morning we returned to the Sumpango dump to check in with the families we had given water filters to on Wednesday morning. After reviewing some basic material, the families said that they were using the filters and were completely convinced that this new water was going to make a difference in their lives. Not only were we relieved that they were using the filters, but thankful that they also knew and valued the importance of having agua pura (filtered or purified water). It was wonderful to reconnect again with the people of this community.
In the afternoon, we spent our time exploring the streets of Antigua, shopping and enjoying the sunshine. This evening we got dressed up and had dinner at a 5-star restaurant in the city. The restaurant was part of an old monastery that had been destroyed in the war. The grounds were adorned with endless candles, flowers and fountains – it was truly picturesque. We were entertained throughout our multi-course dinner by a mariachi band. Yet again, I cannot wait to post photos of this gorgeous restaurant when we get home! It was a fabulously relaxing and elegant evening that I know none of us will forget.

Day 9 - Antigua

We visited a nearby village, Santa Maria, this morning. This community is home to a school specially designed for disabled children – New Life School. We were invited to teach at the school by Nancy & Karen’s friend Amy, who is an occupational therapist at the school. Yet again, we taught these children about hand washing, first aid and germs… we were definitely getting pretty good at teaching these topics by this point in the trip. These children were inspirational for me – their disabilities did not hinder them from experiencing anything. For instance, one girl was severely crippled and confined to a wheelchair. I was nervous that she wouldn’t be able to look into the microscope because of her physical limitations, but a few of the students were able to maneuver the microscope into place for her to look at bacteria for the first time. I will never forget the look on her face when she first saw the bacteria – instantaneously my fatigue disappeared and I was reminded yet again of why we are here in Guatemala.
After lunch, we were invited to two separate indigenous homes. This is a rare opportunity and definitely something a tourist would not be able to experience that’s for sure. The place I visited was home to one of the children who received OT at New Life School. This little girl had microcephaly and a seizure disorder, rendering her nearly completely disabled and dependent on her mother for all cares. The family was extremely poor – they had to walk long distances for clean water, food was scarce, and money was hard to come by. As I was sitting in this family’s home, I was yet again blown away by how privileged we are in the United States and how many things we take for granted such as having clean water and the opportunity to send our children to schools. I continue to find that while we teach and bring supplies to the Guatemalan people, that they give us much more than we could possibly give them in return.

Day 8 - Antigua

In the morning, we had a tour of Hermano Pedro Hospital, a facility that operates completely on donations in downtown Antigua. Portions of the hospital are home to many disabled children and elderly individuals whose families are unable to care for them. Another wing of the hospital was a designated center for malnourished babies. Many of us were quite anxious to see this area and the babies because we had plans to volunteer here the following week. It was hard to see the condition many of these children were in and know there was not much I could physically do for them. We left feeling anxious to return and get our hands dirty.
Later in the day we traveled to a nearby village, Rajon, to teach about 300 children about hand washing, first aid, and germs. One word to describe the experience was overwhelming. While it was an amazing opportunity to reach so many children at one time, at times it was difficult to spend an adequate amount of time helping each individual child. Their sheer enthusiasm was contagious. One little boy ran up to me (Elise) and gave me a bouquet of flowers while another group of girls ran up and held hands with Melissa. Despite their poverty and poor living conditions, these children continually showed us the meaning of joy. They absolutely LOVED getting their photos taken and seeing themselves on the digital cameras. This quickly turned into one of their favorite games and I am sure there will be many pictures later posted on the blog from this day.

Day 7 - Antigua

Today we went and bought 35 water filters from an organization based here in Guatemala called Ecofiltro. Christina and I (Elise) were fortunate enough to have a tour of the production of the filters. It was amazing to see the time invested in making a product that is changing the health of thousands of people worldwide. You can find out more about this organization online if you are interested.

Later that day we took the filters to a garbage dump in Sumpango - a community just outside of Antigua. We spent time teaching them how to use the filters and the importance of using clean water. Yet again, all of us were blown away by the living conditions of these people. We were invited to the home of one of these families that lived about 2 miles from our meeting. The group volunteered to carry the water filters to the homes of these women. Wow, we were exhausted by the time we traversed the rocky and torturous terrain - then we remembered that these people have to walk this distance with heavy loads multiple times every day. I was reminded yet again of how blessed I am to not have to carry such burdens. We were shocked by the living conditions yet again - dirt floors, a lack of water, etc. We shared an emotional connection with these individuals that continues to move all of us in ways we did not expect.

Day 6 - Antigua

Today we left Chiquimulilla and traveled to Antigua. Shortly after arriving to the hotel, we took a tour of a coffee farm and got to see firsthand all of the steps involved in coffee production. The instructors had a previous connection here with a corporation called "As Green As It Gets" - a nonprofit organization that basically functions as a fair trade organization. We hiked up the side of one of the volcanoes with two small coffee plants. Suzanne was bold enough to plant one of them herself and later joking noted that perhaps she had missed her calling in life... after all, it was quite an exhilarating experience. We got to enter two different homes of coffee farming families and view the entire coffee making experience from planting a seed to planting the tree in the ground to grinding and sorting the coffee beans. All of us were blown away by the time that is invested in making a single pound of coffee. If anyone is interested in buying from this corporation and its farmers (the coffee is AMAZING!!!), you should check out their website. They can ship to the States.

Day 5 - Chiquimulilla

Today we spent the morning teaching kids about basic sanitation - brushing their teeth, washing their hands, looking at bacteria under a microscope, etc. The community, San Antonio, was full of families displaced by the civil war. We were overwhelmed with how we were instantly loved and embraced by the children of this community. As soon as we climbed out of the van the children swarmed us and gave all of us hugs and kisses. Even though we gave these kids small gifts such as toothbrushes, it wouldn't have mattered. They loved being held and taking pictures with us, playing as children for once. I was moved by the spirit of the community despite their lack of basic necessities such as clean water and food. These families have nothing - no doctor or nurses within an hour or two of driving, one bathroom for the entire community and sleep on dirt floors. Yet in spite of their needs, these children have a passion for life, a deep passion and find joy in the simple things in life. We all felt a deep connection with these children and probably learned more from them than we probably taught them.

That evening our host family made a special dinner for us. They decorated the dining room with candles, flowers and streamers. All of us were in awe by the sight of the room... it was clear they were trying to demonstrate their appreciation and love for us. Not only were we moved by their sincere kindness, but two of our hosts thanked us for our passion to serve the Guatemalan people. We videotaped this portion of the evening and hope to better summarize this later on with a short video clip when we return home. Simply, there are no words to describe how deeply their words and actions touched our hearts. There was not a dry eye in the room that evening. Dinner that night was simply amazing and will be something none of us will forget.

Day 4 - Chiquimulilla

Today we went back to teach the midwives about various OB topics such as nutrition, the labor process and complications. The electricity had gone out the night before and we began our presentations without our powerpoint presentations or fans = a mess. There was no air conditioning in the places we were visiting/sleeping and therefore the small room in the clinic filled with 30 midwives and 11 of us suddenly seemed quite small and incredibly hot. Overall, the women were very receptive to the presentations and asked lots of questions. Eventually the power did come back on and we were extremely grateful, especially for the fans. We also revisited the skills of taking a blood pressure and pulse with the women. Each student was assigned to work with 3 midwives and ensure that they knew how to perform these skills. This was obviously much easier said than done. Between arthritis in their hands, poor vision, or their hands being so small it couldn't fit around the pump, it was difficult to get any of them to get an accurate pressure. After diligently working with each of them and allowing our arms to become numb and somewhat bruised from the cuffs being blown up to 260 mmHg at times, we realized that the women could not read the numbers. While their mechanical skills and knowledge proved to be quick, once again the lack of education was their downfall. Many of the women were determined to master this skill and one of them even said - "I really want to learn blood pressure. I will practice really hard at home until I get it." Their persistence and lots of prayer will hopefully allow them to one day master this skill.

In the afternoon we visited the ocean. I can't wait to post pictures on the blog from this day because no words can do it justice. The waves were unbelievable... the tide would literally pull your feet out from underneath you if you were not careful and at most we were only in knee deep. The real adventure was getting to the beach itself. We had to get into a boat to transport us down a canal to a small island where the black sand beach was located. Now, when I say boat its not the typical boat you're thinking of... I'm talking about a bunch of wood nailed together haphazardly, a bunch of tin nailed to some rusted posts for a cover and a small motor. Picture National Geographic or Crocodile Hunter at its best and you'll be somewhat close to what we were traveling in. As I can say, it was an experience. It was a great afternoon to relax and spend some time together playing in the sun... just what we needed to be rejuvenated in this busy time in Guatemala.

Day 3 - Chiquimulilla

Today we traveled to a nearby community, Tecuaco, to teach Guatemalan midwives how to take a blood pressure and pulse, as well as basic techniques in infant CPR. Although all of us knew that these were going to be a difficult skills to teach in Spanish, what we were not prepared for was the educational level of our audience. None of us expected to teach the women how to read a clock or how to count past 45. Basic knowledge we learned in grade school in the States was something we took for granted. We quickly realized that perhaps anything was possible and we needed to be prepared for anything... let's just say that you can never know what to expect in Guatemala. After many hours of powerpoint presentations and student demonstrations, we still felt like we had not made any progress in helping these women to learn these skills. Despite our frustration, there were many moments throughout the day that kept our spirits lifted. Many of the midwives were able to share detailed stories regarding complicated births or how they had been called by God into this line of work. Regardless of their skill level, it was evident each one of the women was passionate about being a midwife and all that the job entailed. It was a privilege to learn from these women through their stories and various experiences. I can only hope that I will continue to be as passionate and knowledgeable about nursing as they are about being midwives thirty or forty years from now.

A free clinic for pregnant mothers was being held simultaneously with the teaching sessions today, as well. Each one of us was rotated into one of two exam rooms to help with the expecting mothers. We were able to take their blood pressure, pulse, listen to fetal heart sounds and monitor for proper growth. From all of the donations we were given, we were able to supply the women with vitamins, a toothbrush & paste, and a hat for their baby. This was an amazing experience for all of us to not only practice our Spanish, but to connect with the women of this community in a unique way. I will never forget the countless expressions of pure excitement and awe when the mothers would hear their baby's heart for the first time. This was truly a priceless experience. For many of these women, this was probably their only wellness visit they will receive from a nurse/doctor since a majority of births in Guatemala take place in the home with midwives. Considering the heat and lack of transportation in the area, we were blown away by the number of women that came to the clinic. In approximately 4 hours, we saw about 60 women and ran out of all of our supplies. This was an awesome opportunity to serve the community and were blessed to have experienced it!

Day 2 - Chiquimulilla

Today we went to El Centro de Salud, the local public clinic, to teach the nurses & doctors there about different OB topics. To help them better understand these topics, Karen had a friend of hers make us a uterus. The uterus has straps that wrap around the abdomen and expands to 10 cm to allow a baby to be born. Karen graciously wore this and allowed all of the participants to practice various birthing maneuvers on the uterus. Although this was quite amusing, and yes we did take TONS of pictures and videotaped it as well, it proved to be a crucial learning tool. We also reviewed concepts on infant CPR. The doctor who ran the local clinic gave us a tour and allowed us into the maternity ward to see the new moms & babies. We learned that these moms are only allowed to stay for 24 hours post-birth, no families are allowed in to support the women, and if any complications arise they are sent to a nearby hospital. Often the transportation needed to take them there is not available - a common theme in the Guatemala system is its inability to meet the needs of its people. A nurse from a nearby community said that she is responsible for caring for its 2,000 inhabitants. All of us have and continue to be blown away by the vast medical needs of this country.

We discovered the swimming pool at the hotel next door today, as well. This easily has become our favorite activity to escape the heat and humidity of Chiquimulilla. Last night Suzanne said that the thermometer read 86 degrees at 11 pm at night... the typical day is over 100 degrees and the humidity is almost unbearable. Thankfully the beauty of the landscape and its people have more than made up for the weather conditions.

Day 1 - Chiquimulilla

Since it has been quite some time since we were able to update the blog and there has been an enormous amount of things I want to share, I have decided to split this time into various entries and comment on highlights from each day.

On our first day, we traveled from Guatemala City to Chiquimulilia to stay at the home of Dennis & Elvira. They took us into the heart of the city to see a local grocery store and explore the local market. Many of the girls commented feeling like we were a parade as we walked through the vendors. It was quite obvious that a bunch of "gringas" were in town - this is slang in Guatemala for white people. Our translator Jeanette bought us an unusual fruit in the market called licha for us to try. The covering of the fruit had to be popped off to be edible, but the fruit has a large seed in the middle of it, as well. Suzanne bit into the fruit and caught a good portion of the seed... quite the memorable moment.

The evening was an eventful one for myself (Elise). I ended up getting extremely sick later that evening and needed to be rehydrated. Nancy, Jeanette, and Dennis (our host) ended up taking me to the local public clinic for help... this was quite the experience. Although I was shocked by the lack of basic supplies the clinic had (it did not have an IV), I was more overwhelmed by the experience of being a patient in a foreign clinic. Since they were unable to rehydrate me at the clinic, they took me to a private hospital in the city. Here they started an IV and gave me other medication. While in the moment this was a terrifying experience and I do not wish this upon anyone, looking back I am grateful for what it has taught me. I have learned firsthand the importance of helping patients to feel safe and cared for, despite their level of understanding our language. I know that this experience my career as a nurse, especially with non-English speaking patients. I returned home a few hours later and since then I have been feeling much better!!! Suedo viva (rehydration salts) have become my new best friend.

Safe Arrival

We arrived safely in Guatemala about 9:30 last night (mountain time). Passing through customs went smoothly, although instead of a typical greeting with "holas" and smiles, we were greeted by individuals wearing masks who thought that perhaps we were bringing in swine flu. Yet, overall I was surprised with what ease we passed through our security checkpoint. When they asked us if we had medication in our luggage they only seemed concerned about vitamins... interesting.

Our driver Eric picked us up at the airport in a rather interesting van - the back flew open on our way to our destination for the evening. I think all of us were glad he was the one driving considering that there are no driving lanes here in Guatemala City. Another driver, Byron, drove all of our checked luggage - this was quite the sight to see as the weight of our bags literally bottomed out the van in the driveway of the retreat center we stayed at last night.

Showering this morning was another adventure. I (Elise) woke up this morning before the rest of the group and decided to shower with the soap that was in the bathroom. About halfway through my shower I realized that the "soap" wasn't lathering... turns out I was washing with antibacterial hand gel. Well, I figure the bugs won't get to me today.

Although we initially were exposed to a little of Guatemala last night, we could not experience the beauty of the landscape that surrounds us due to our late flight. At breakfast this morning, quite a few of the girls kept saying... "Wow, we're in Guatemala!!!" It's been quite the culture shock and we are already blown away by the beauty of the country and its people. Already this morning we've been busy taking pictures of the exotic flowers and the volcanoes in the distance... and this is just the beginning of our time here in Guatemala.

We will be leaving Guatemala City shortly to travel to Chiquimuilia for our first teaching session with some Guatemalan midwives. I am unsure of how much Internet access we will have in this area, but I will be sure to update all of you as soon as I can. Much love from Guatemala!

Photos of the finished project

Suzanne, Jessica and I wearing the army bags.  You should have been there to see us trying to put them on - let's just say we almost fell over...

Laura, Christina and I amidst the army bags, proud of all our hard work.

A few of the "army bags" we are bringing to Guatemala... 

Karen wearing the "uterus" - this is going to be an amazing teaching tool.

Busy working...

Additional photos from packing day

Just a small portion of all of the school supplies donated. 

I am basically not trying to freak out about organizing all of the medication... this wasn't even 1/3 of what we got.  It was pretty amazing!

Suzanne still smiling amidst the chaos of packing.

Melissa and Shauna playing around with the baby hats.

Christina and Elise unpacking hundreds of bottles of Tylenol.

Laura and Jessica organizing and packing 75 donated glucometers

Suzanne busy packing school supplies - gotta love Crayola.

Packing Day

Today was packing day :)  

We started sorting supplies around 9 am and finished around 4:30 this afternoon after hours of organization and packing our massive "army" bags.  It is difficult for me to even begin to describe what a huge undertaking the packing was.  

All of us were blown away by the generosity of those who donated supplies.  There were so many donations that some of them will be taken to a donation center in Madison to be eventually used overseas.  The pictures posted are just a small snapshot of the endless piles of toothpaste, medications, dressings, gloves, etc. that were collected.  Thank you to everyone who donated!  The countdown to our departure is t-minus 2 days!!!  I will post additional photos and update the blog with information after I get some of my initial packing done :)

La Pluma

This is an awesome video shot at Safe Passage, the garbage dump in Guatemala City.  We will be visiting this area during our trip.

      La Pluma - Hope for Guatemala

T-minus 1 Week

It is t-minus 1 week until our departure for Guatemala and all of the adventures this trip will bring us.  I have to admit it has been quite difficult to prepare for final exams with all of time I have spent anticipating and preparing to leave.  I will be making additional postings as the week progresses.  If anyone wants to still donate supplies/money for our trip it'd be great if they could be put in the Nursing Lab by Monday, May 18th.

We will start packing at 9 am in the Nursing Lab in Sonderegger on the 18th if anyone would like to join us!