Little by Little

The remnants of Tropical Storm Agatha and the Pacaya Volcano eruption are constant reminders of the hold that mother nature has on us all. This past week I was able to take some time off with my San Antonio group and help dig out houses that are still filled with mud. Our Spanish professor, Edwardo, has between 2-4 feet of mud in his house, depending on the room. The house was 8 feet under at one point, and it’s taken over 3 weeks to get to where he’s at now. We put on our work gloves and dumped out bucket after bucket of mud, rocks, and common household items. I don’t think the amount of damage that I saw with my own two eyes had yet sunk in until I really just stood and looked around after working for a few hours. I saw each individual cup and plate, coated in dried mud; the muddy and damp chairs, now rotting, filling our nostrils with a smell you can only imagine. I was exhausted after my two short days of work; I can’t imagine working like that day in and day out, throwing out all of your possessions, finding heirlooms, sometimes bodies.
While Guatemala is, as a whole, still recovering, as Peace Corps trainees we are still working hard giving presentations and learning about our future role as volunteers. I went on FBT- field based training- June 6-12 in San Marcos San Lorenzo. Six other trainees and I were driven 6 hours to give several charlas and learn what other volunteers in our program are doing. We were the lucky group that was able to visit 2 volunteers and see how differently they worked, yet how successful both of them were in their own ways. I personally gave 2 presentations on nutrition/micronutrients, 2 on acute respiratory infections, starred in a radio sociodrama, and acted in several skits. We put on a 4 hour HIV/AIDS workshop for a group of 65 high school students, where yours truly was in charge of, along with other things, the condom demonstration, as well as teaching the students how to put a condom on a banana (there are definitely pictures). I was also able to experience a Mayan Chuj - it's basically a sauna. A few of us girls got undressed and stepped in, while a little old Mayan woman kept coming in a throwing water on the hot rocks to make it nice and steamy. I could definitely do that again = )
Last week our San Antonio group assisted another town with a shortened version of the HIV/AIDS workshop, as well as put on the presentation to a group of 245 students in San Antonio. Overall it went well, although there were a few eye-opening questions that really shook me up. Following the workshop, we saw a man have an alcoholic seizure. We were unsure of what to do because we were informed that if we attempt to help in situations like that we will get kicked out of the Peace Corps. Two of the girls went to the health center to get help, where they told them that the guy is a drunk and there’s nothing to be done; needless to say it was a rough day.
Today is Michele’s birthday, so yesterday we went out to eat in Antigua to celebrate. It was nice and relaxing. Today I gave a hand-washing charla in the morning, and did work for the rest of the day. I leave for IDA – individual directed activity – on Wednesday and come back Saturday. They basically tell us where we’re going and who we’re visiting and say “good luck!” It’ll be another nice change. I’ll get back just in time to rest up for my little brother’s 7th birthday party on Sunday. Today I helped my host mom fill the party bags for all of his 70 friends that are coming over.
I find out my site on July 1, and I am super excited for this day!! In my interviews with Basilio, the housing director, I told him I don’t have any preferences in regard to weather or location, or anything else for that matter. I’m just excited to finally find out where I’ll be exactly for the next two years – where you all will be visiting me!!! I love my host family and my training group, but I’m beyond excited to cook for myself, have my own space, and be an adult again. I was recently able to talk to Megan Bender, who just returned from PC Uganda, and she explained that training is pretty tough for several reasons, and that it gets a lot better after. It was VERY nice to hear that!
I’ve been here about two months, and reflecting on my journal entries and interactions with my lovely group, I can definitely see myself experiencing the ups and downs of moving to a new place and living in a new culture. I’m struggling with the machismo and with women’s roles in Guatemala. I’m struggling with my American perspective of a different kind of corrupt government. I’m getting used to the constant sound of fireworks and church bells. I’m loving black beans and avocados. It’ll be a while until I’m fully settled in, but I’m getting there. Lots of love and support stateside- it’s appreciated!!!

New pictures from FBT on flickr!