Today we met with the comadronas (local midwives) for our reunion. Dr. Chaperone lectured about retained placentas and the women discussed the herbs they use in their practice, then we all sat in the sun and ate tortillas and rice. Placentas, herbs, and rice = all you really need for a great party.
One of the women, Gloria, was incredibly passionate about learning from us and expressing her frustration that so many of the other midwives are resistant to change (she lectured them intensely as they snoozed in their plastic chairs). Hopefully more young women decide to become midwives and can get an education that incorporates both the traditional and Western practices. I know that a lot of efforts have been made to provide education for existing comadronas, without much change in the mortality rates. I think a large part of it has to do with their fear of change and mistrust of new information from outsiders.
Tonight Felix (translator, professional clown, father, non-profit organizer, etc) came up to our room to chat and make balloon animals/bicycles/guns/flowers for us (naturally). We got to talking about the strict rules here and in the program (the "gangs" and dangerous night life are, as I suspected, nonexistant), a four month work-abroad trip he is hoping to be accepted to in the U.S., and recommendations for things to do in Antigua. Like that, he was texting a friend of his who lives there to see what was going and whether he could stay with her. So - tomorrow night four of us are going stealth-mode past midwife security with our Guatemalan tour guide to finally get a taste of this country after dark. Calidad, man.
Jesus Antonio, the health coordinator and an amazing man
Gloria and me
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