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.