Last Week in Guatemala

Hello all,

So this was my last week and today is my last day.  Tomorrow morning I leave for the US to join the rest of my family in Denver.  So what has been going here during this week?  

Monday- Well this morning it was the full group together in the morning.  We checked in on what all of the different groups were doing.  I do not currently remember what we talked about, but it had something to do with Guatemala of course.  Then in the afternoon was Spanish class which I like.  

Tuesday- In the morning we went to Hermano Pedro.  Today was very interesting because this week there is a team from the US here to do cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries.  One of the kids that I have been working with was able to receive her surgery today.  Not all of them who need it will be able as you have to weigh at least 10 lbs to have the surgery.  In the afternoon it was Spanish class.  My teacher and I walked to La Merced, which is a very large and old church.  It is connected with the ruins of its monastery.  We went to visit the ruins first as there was a funeral finishing up in the church.  I got some amazing pictures from the top of the building.  Afterward we went in the church, which was gorgeous, but I did not really take pictures because there was Eucharistic Adoration going on at the time.  Afterwards we walked back and had an enjoyable rest of class.  That evening I was working on my part of our groups presentation to show Nancie tomorrow.  

Wednesday- In the morning we went to Hermano Pedro.  Today and yesterday there were some many parents visiting their children, which was amazing.  However, only one parent can visit at a time for only two separate hours.  Another child got surgery today, and another will tomorrow.  Today the head nurse asked me to help feed some of the kids in one of the back rooms, which they are there because they are more severe.  I really felt that this showed that we had gained their trust to help with this.  We then went and showed the draft of our presentation to Nancie, who thought it was very good, which relieved us all.  In the afternoon we went for our large group meeting.  We had a very interesting guest speaker and then watched a very serious hour movie called “Killer’s Paradise” about all of the murders of women and how it is rising and they are not being investigated at all.  This evening I worked on my final Spanish homework and then on editing our presentation.  

Thursday-This morning was back to our large group for a final lecture.  We kind of wrapped up everything we had discussed and learned and pushed the thought forward.  I then rode back on my last chicken bus, which now seem like such a normal way to travel.  Just stand on the side of the road where you know the bus you want goes by and get on the very full bus.  In the afternoon it was my last Spanish class.  We spent the first two hours just talking, which was great.  After a break we looked at my homework(which I did great on) and then talked for the rest.  I had a wonderful Spanish teacher.  After we were all done, we had a small Spanish graduation.  We each got diplomas, a bag and cake.  It was really great.  Then after dinner I went to meet with my group to finish up our presentation and make sure we all knew who was saying what.  

Friday(today)- So this morning my small group went for one last time to Hermano Pedro to the Infant Nutrition Unit.  It was a bittersweet morning.  It was good to be at Hermano Pedro, but sad to say goodbye to the children that I had been working and playing with for the past month.  Though today we did have a different experience, with being allowed to take the kids outside on a little patio for about 10 minutes.  It was hard to say goodbye to the nurses and the children.  Afterwards, I met with Nancie for a little bit and then went to pick up all of my laundry, which I had a lot.  Everything clean for packing.  Then we had lunch and started giving nervous about presentations.  After lunch the group got together at the NAPA-OT office for dour presentations.  My group was to go last.  All of the presentations were very interesting and well done.  It was great to learn all about what the other groups had been doing and had found out. Then we all did online surveys for the program.  Erin and I then went to get a delicious looking cake to give to our family from us and Linda as a thank you present.  We came back and I packed up all of my stuff in about 30 minutes.  Now we have only about 20 minutes until the fiesta.  I am sure the rest of the night is going to be really fun and probably the next time I am online I will be in the USA.  I am getting picked up to go to the airport at 6am in the morning tomorrow.  

Hasta luego,

Teresa