We arrived in Guatemala City last night, by way of Dallas. Our hotel, Chalet Suizo, is a small, simple place with a courtyard in the center for parking, twin beds and shared bathrooms in the hall. We were picked up at the airport in two large vans, one for our luggage complete with Jesus stickers on the rear window and one to pack in all the girls, everyone chattering and taking a million photographs. Our driver, Julio, pointed things out along the way - a huge decorated Christmas tree with the national beer logo (a rooster, naturally) on top, a replica of the Eiffel Tower, statues, and city courtyards. It was awesome driving in at night because everything is still lit with Christmas lights... so gorgeous.
We had our lunch in "the library", a large common room/mess-hall at the parish, where we will be served all our meals while we are here. Dish-duty is split among the various volunteer groups and today it was SF, so we set to washing the dishes, cleaning up the food, and wiping down the tables. It feels like summer camp. There are two or three other groups here currently, but as far as I know, we are the only ones doing medical work right now.
After lunch, Chris sat us down to discuss the parish, their values, and the work they have done, as well as some basic information about the community/culture and expectations for us within it. I like that they focus on working alongside with people and learning from them, rather than coming in from the perspective of trying to "fix" things from a superior, privileged, Other standpoint. At the same time, it felt somewhat of a practiced and old speech for him and I got the feeling he was tired of giving it.
After breakfast this morning, we snuck up to the roof of the hotel... Clothes hanging out to dry, stacks of mattresses, tile rooftops, overgrown weeds, views of the city, and the sun already shining everywhere. Then it was back into the vans for a gorgeous (and hot) drive to San Lucas Toliman, where we are staying for the next two weeks.
We got into San Lucas around 11 and were briefly welcomed and given some ground rules ("Be in your rooms by 9pm! Don't walk to the lake after dark. Just don't.") by Chris, one of the long-term volunteers at the parish. Then we had some time to un-pack and relax at the hotel until lunch. The hotel is amazing - epic views of Lake Atitlan and the mountain range surrounding the area (including 3 volcanoes...steamy). Big fluffy clouds roll in over the hills, but the skies above are crystal clear and the sun is scorchin'. Everything is green and lush. The buildings are so colorful - turquoise, orange, blue, pink... The result is a vibrant and gorgeous environment. There is something so beautiful in the decay, too. Chipped wooden doorways, dirt roads, stray dogs, and rusted metal rooftops. It's hard to remember that so much poverty and hardship exists against such a truly breathtaking backdrop.
We had our lunch in "the library", a large common room/mess-hall at the parish, where we will be served all our meals while we are here. Dish-duty is split among the various volunteer groups and today it was SF, so we set to washing the dishes, cleaning up the food, and wiping down the tables. It feels like summer camp. There are two or three other groups here currently, but as far as I know, we are the only ones doing medical work right now.
After lunch, Chris sat us down to discuss the parish, their values, and the work they have done, as well as some basic information about the community/culture and expectations for us within it. I like that they focus on working alongside with people and learning from them, rather than coming in from the perspective of trying to "fix" things from a superior, privileged, Other standpoint. At the same time, it felt somewhat of a practiced and old speech for him and I got the feeling he was tired of giving it.
I'm feeling a little uncomfortable and conflicted about being a part of a trip hosted through a church. I'm so far removed from anything religious and tend to view organized religion and some of the work done in it's name with a skeptical eye. Like, "Hey Guatemala! Wassup? Need some schools? A hospital? Not even remotely a big deal! All you have to do is pray to our God on the regs and we will totes help you, ya dig?" At the same time, they are doing some incredible things for the community and seem to be a respected part of it. At least, they make sure to say they are... all. the. time. I just feel like it's such a fine line when people come into another country with "the answers" to "their problems". Like I said, they do address this issue upfront, which gives me hope that I'm not implicitly part of some Master Plan to bring the world to Jesus or that we are giving ourselves some huge pat on the back, while the people we think we are serving roll their eyes. In a world that is increasingly more interconnected and a global economy where it seems we step on anyone's back to save or earn a dollar, there HAVE to be people working to build systems that honor basic human rights, so I'm not arguing for apathy by any means. I'm babbling and don't know how to word what I am trying to say ... How do the so called "privileged" developed country citizens do this in a way that still respects and integrates the culture, customs, lifestyle, and values of those they are trying to fight for?
Anyway, after our church schpiel, we were piled into the back of two pick-up trucks and taken on a tour of town and the various project sites the parish has built here. Our first stop was a women's center, which is still under construction. Women in Guatemala continue to have fewer rights than men so the center aims to be a place where women can learn skills in the hope of providing them with more independence and education. In the future, they plan to build a second level that can house women who are victims of domestic violence. Like everywhere else here, the center is in a beautiful setting - alive with plants everywhere, green and lush and gorgeous. With that said, the center is a long walk from town, which brings up the question of how it will be accessed and who it will serve. The skills they claim they want to teach the women (woodworking, weaving, etc) are already common knowledge among most women. Although there is potential for it being a positive place for displaced women to find community and resources, I'm not really sure if the idea is fully realized yet.
Our next stop was a small hospital. I can't describe how simple this space is compared to what we know in America. The closest big-city hospital is at least two hours away. They perform surgeries, host eye clinics, provide care for diabetic patients, deliver babies, etc. There is one ultrasound and one x-ray machine. It's bare basics... and very humbling. It made me so appreciative of the medical services we have come to expect stateside.
Next we were taken to a site where they process coffee beans. The parish has done a lot to support the local economy and coffee-growers, purchasing their beans at a price high above what they were previously able to sell them for. Fair trade, holla. Our tour guide, Julio, explained that they are in the process of some coffee experiments, one of them being wine made out of coffee - can anyone say the new Four Loko?! Cha-Ching. We tasted the current batch - it was sort of a sweet plum flavor, sticky, with a coffee aftertaste. HELLO. I'll take two, sir. Unfortunately, it's not for sale yet, but look for it at your local fraternity soon.
Finally, we came back to the parish, where several schools have been built. Education is offered for a low price or provided free if families aren't able to pay (there aren't "public" schools in Guatemala - you have to pay a tuition, which comes to around $200/year, but is largely unaffordable for many people). Adults can also attend the schools to learn to read and write. A sweet basketball court and soccer field are also "on campus" for improvement of sports skillz.
I am definitely at the point in the trip where my eyes don't feel big enough to take everything in and my chest is barely containing my heart because it's so gosh-darned full. I'm very happy to be here.
This is too good
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-Sandra