Rain, Rain Go Away

Pobre Guatemala was hit with another tropical storm this weekend. Tropical Storm Matthew rolled through the country and hit the eastern coast pretty hard. My site in northern Huehuetenango also received a LOT of rain. The storm started on Friday night and all PCVs got put on STANDFAST (no travel, stay in site for safety) again. Side note: I was told by another PCV that most volunteers will only go on STANDFAST once, maybe twice in their whole service…this was my third! The rain lasted all through Saturday and finally stopped sometime Saturday night. The creek that is about 10 feet from my house was overflowing and I almost left to go stay somewhere else but once the rain stopped it went back down a little. However, with the constant downpour and soggy ground I literally did not leave my house for 2 days. I must be getting accustomed to being bored and alone because this weekend really didn’t seem that bad to me. I am learning to pass my time doing completely useless tasks…and I can always sweep the floor!

Other than the ridiculous rainy season that will not cease I am preparing for International Child’s Day which falls this Friday. I met with the COCODE (town council) this afternoon to discuss some ideas. They had previously asked me to think of “something dynamic” to do with the kids. I took that as the kids will be playing some games and having fun. Wrong. I presented my ideas of games- potato sack races, wheelbarrow races, tug of war, musical chairs- to the group. Another side note: 99% of these meetings are spoken in Q’anjob’al; they only speak Spanish when speaking to me which means I never have any clue what is going on. I am constantly interrupting and asking for a translation. So I present my ideas and I think they understand in general but then go off speaking in dialect for another 20 minutes. I finally find out that the COCODE members are going to do a lip-sync (which is SO popular here) and they are going to play the games in front of the students. The lip-sync, not a bad idea. Having the kids sit and watch other people, other adults, play the games they want to play…bad idea. I finally agreed to run a potato sack race and musical chairs with 10-20 student volunteers in front of the rest of the school. This is just another example of how there is no concept of participation here. Guatemalans are just so used to sitting and watching things without ever getting involved. It was very important to me to get at least a few kids involved. For me, these kids should just have fun and be kids. Guatemalan children have an incredible amount of responsibility, probably more responsibility than I will ever have in my life. Most wake up early and help with chores and animals, then head to school, then return home for more chores and often to care for a younger sibling. I just want these kids to be kids for a day! I am hoping the day is a success. If nothing else, the town leaders recognize that International Child’s Day is an important day so that at least makes me smile.

In a follow-up to my last post, I had a completely full day today which makes me appreciate all my down time. I finished my home visits (yeah!), went to the town with my community leaders to ask for a nurse and then had the almost 3 hour long COCODE meeting. I am thankful I do not have days like this every day. It is very draining to be present physically but unable to understand the majority of the conversation. I am going to start using more of my down time to really study my Q’anjob’al!

Finally, I will leave you with a pic of little Lubu, who is getting bigger by the day! She is patiently waiting for any invader. In the spirit of Merle’s Door (great book for any dog lover), I have been letting Lubu run wild with the other street dogs. She always comes back and I think she is happier, but a little more aggressive. It is a fine balance to raise a dog in Guatemala.

A Whole Lot of Nothing

I think I have been putting off writing a blog entry this week with the hopes that something interesting and exciting would happen that I could write about. Bad news- nothing happened! Last weekend I got to meet up with some of my friends from training who I hardly ever get to see because they are in a different department and that was a whole lot of fun. Too much fun to be exact. We danced and had drinks and stayed up all night! It felt so good to be surrounded by the people who really get me here. It was interesting to see how everyone is changing and evolving during our time here.

On Monday I was in Huehue, the department capital, for a meeting with Casa Materna which is a part of Project Concern International. The NGO is going to be sending technicians to a bunch of the aldeas in Santa Eulalie, including mine. They will be setting up improved, healthier kitchens and water systems, creating a school garden and providing the kids with food. This is all very exciting news for me! The NGO also bases its philosophy on the fact that education is the only true route to real change so the technicians will be giving health talks to all the students. I only stayed for the morning part of one day of the three-day training so I am not sure exactly what else the program includes. Either way it will be great having some Guatemalan support in this endeavor to improve the health of my community.

I have been getting letters regularly which has been amazing! Keep them coming please! Getting mail brightens my day! Actually getting the post office man to actually be in his office so I can pick up my mail brightens my day…getting letter brightens my week!!! In a letter I received this week from my dear friend she commented on how reading my blog is seems like I am always: kicking ass and taking names” but in her letter I wrote of some struggles and it is good to know I am being challenged. For everyone else who has not received a said letter I will make an effort to be a little more open. I have really hesitated putting the negative stuff on here because I do not want to seem like Debbie Downer. I also so not want people at home to worry about me too much. With that said let me write some negative…

I have no functioning latrine and no health post!!!! First, the latrine. I was supposed to have a latrine BEFORE I arrived at site but fijese que I still do not have one. After the new one filled with groundwater I was told Peace Corps would send me the materials so I could construct an above ground composting latrine but I still have no materials thanks to the terrible weather we have been receiving. I shall just keep waiting… Second, the lack of health post in my town. It is very frustrating that I would be assigned a site that does not have a health post/center. I have nowhere to go work, no home base, nothing. I see all (minus one) of the other volunteers and they work with their health post staff in the schools and in the communities and have a group of friends. I do not. I have to work out of my house which means I am home WAY too much. It is also almost impossible to get people to meet to schedule my work. No one really understands my role here and thus they struggle with having me work. I FINALLY met and scheduled my October charlas this afternoon which was a huge stress off my shoulders. Now if only I were sure those charlas will actually happen…vamos a ver.

On another note, I have been here 5 months now! How crazy is that! 2 months in site! Time really does fly by fast here even if the days only crawl by ever so slowly.

Dia de la Independencia

Yesterday was Guatemalan Independence Day. The party really started on Tuesday night. The community had a big dance and party at the school but I was SOOOO tired and did not go. I also did NOT want to deal with the disgusting amount of bolos (drunks) that were roaming around. Here, a holiday for a man means gets obliterated by dawn and stumble through the next two days. Okay that may be harsh judgment of the alcohol problem here but I get endlessly harassed by the drunks and it is starting to take its toll on me.

Wednesday morning featured a parade with all the elementary students, middle school students and a band. The band was made up of middle school students and they had been practicing for at least a month for many hours a day. I was pleasantly impressed with their music. The parade also had a giant green dragon and I am still baffled by its significance. The students all danced their way onto the school basketball court. There was lots of music and dancing. The girls who were voted by their classmates to be the “senoritas” for the year were presented in their beautiful gowns. Also, since the independence of Guatemala from Spain is tied with the nations of Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua there was also a presentation of each of those nation’s flags. Finally the Guatemalan national Anthem was played (which I am told was voted the 2nd most beautiful national anthem in the world) and the real fun began. Three groups of about 40 students presented what was called “gymnasio” (gym) which was kind of like watching a giant aerobics class. It was meant to be dancing but I am not sure if I would define it as that. The presentations were accompanied by loud, obnoxious American techno music which made me laugh…”what is love, baby don’t hurt me, don’t hurt me…anymore!” Love it!

Other than the crazy aerobic dances there was a LOT of marimba to go around. The traditional Guatemalan musical instrument is famously made in my municipalidad so it was played all day and all night! And no independence day is complete without fireworks, or “bombas,” as called here. They do not so much go off and explode with beautiful colors and just explode and make a loud bomb noise. I still jump! All in all it was an interesting day to watch and see the wonderful Guatemalan pride.

Just some pics...

Some sheep on the road, very common occurrence


The road to Cathaleen's site, about an hour walk from my site


A giant tombstone in a graveyard on the side of the road


Lubu waiting to go outside


This is what happens when we go on walks...not very successful


Lubu curled up in her box


Ready to make her escape


My happy little doggie!


Cathaleen with Lubu and her sister, Puchica.

STANDFAST!!!

All PCVs are currently on the alert of STANDFAST which means no traveling out of site due to safety reasons. Guatemala is experience torrential downpours right now and has been the last week. More than 30 people have died because of the storms, mostly due to landslides on the roads. The main Inter-American Highway was closed due to a massive mudslide. The geography of this country is basically mountains with a lot of low vegetation which is the perfect formula for mudslides. A few of my friends are stuck in various cities and unable to return back to their sites because their roads have been closed due to the storms and mudslides.

It is all crazy to take in because the last two days here in northern Huehuetenango have been two of the nicest days since I arrived! The sun has been shining, I haven’t needed to put on three sweaters and I don’t wake up shivering! I am receiving all of these concerning texts and calls from the Peace Corps Office warning us of all the danger with the storms but I am sitting here enjoying a break from the cold and the rain. What is this?!?! However, I should take the warnings seriously. This country cannot handle any more storms. Tropical Storm Agatha did too much damage back in May to have another big storm hit. The infrastructure is simply not sound enough to last another big storm. The bad thing is that it is only the beginning of hurricane season. To everyone in the states that is hearing the news of the damage just know that I am safe and sound!

Check out these sites for more info:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/laplaza/2010/09/flooding-guatemala-mexico-mudslides.html


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-11193592

STANDFAST!!!

All PCVs are currently on the alert of STANDFAST which means no traveling out of site due to safety reasons. Guatemala is experience torrential downpours right now and has been the last week. More than 30 people have died because of the storms, mostly due to landslides on the roads. The main Inter-American Highway was closed due to a massive mudslide. The geography of this country is basically mountains with a lot of low vegetation which is the perfect formula for mudslides. A few of my friends are stuck in various cities and unable to return back to their sites because their roads have been closed due to the storms and mudslides.

It is all crazy to take in because the last two days here in northern Huehuetenango have been two of the nicest days since I arrived! The sun has been shining, I haven’t needed to put on three sweaters and I don’t wake up shivering! I am receiving all of these concerning texts and calls from the Peace Corps Office warning us of all the danger with the storms but I am sitting here enjoying a break from the cold and the rain. What is this?!?! However, I should take the warnings seriously. This country cannot handle any more storms. Tropical Storm Agatha did too much damage back in May to have another big storm hit. The infrastructure is simply not sound enough to last another big storm. The bad thing is that it is only the beginning of hurricane season. To everyone in the states that is hearing the news of the damage just know that I am safe and sound!

Time

How is it already September? Where did August go? It is a weird feeling how time creeps by everyday but then somehow the weeks just fly by. I was talking with a friend yesterday and we discussed how we already cannot wait to be done with service. We both love it here, mostly, but at the same time our other lives remain on this awkward pause. We cannot really move forward or back but only finish our two years here as best we can and attempt to maintain our old relationships back in the States.

Anyways, 6 weeks in site and I am getting things going with my work. The 5 volunteers in my municipality are going to start on building an extra room with “eco-bricks” (plastic bottles filled with trash) for the much too small Health Post located in the main town. It is going to be a lot of work but I am so excited about the project! This country is much too beautiful for all the trash it has everywhere so this can be our little part to clean it up!

I have been continuing with home visits this week. I actually really like them! I walk around with a male and female community leader and we visit anywhere from 10-25 houses each day. My community has 6 sectors so we go sector by sector. I introduce myself to the family and give a little information about my job with the Peace Corps and my goals for the next two years. Some people are very receptive and excited to have m and invite me in for food. Others, not so much. Some families only want me to give them money or a project. I get a little annoyed with these people thinking every American is soooo rich, but that is the perception I must fight. I just focus on the interested families and hope they will follow through with their word and come to my charlas.

On a much darker note, I received some terrible news yesterday. I usually try not to put the “bad stuff” in my blog because I do not want people to worry about me, but this has affected me very deeply and I feel I must write about it a little bit. I found out yesterday morning that two of my good friends here in Peace Corps Guatemala were in a deadly car accident. They both survived but 3 people from their Health Post died. I saw a picture of the van in the newspaper and it was disturbing. I do not know how anyone walked away. One of the volunteers did walk away with only bruises, but now has the memory of seeing coworkers dead. The other volunteer was not so lucky and now has numerous broken bones. That volunteer had to be medically evacuated back to the States to receive better treatment for the injuries. I was very shaken up by this whole event. I had just seen these two people a few days prior. I think it hit me that Guatemala is not that safe and I sometimes forget that. There are WAY too many car wrecks and the roads are not properly maintained here. This could have happened to any of us. But more importantly, my two friends could have been sitting in different seats and not been so lucky to escape with their lives. I have made amazing friends here who I connect with and feel so at home with in the land so far away. I had to take a step back and remind myself that the people I am here with are truly making this experience doable and enjoyable. I appreciate my friends here, and at home, so much. I would not be who I am without them. Thank you God for sparing their lives! I can only hope for their quick recovery and return to country 