Estados Unidos

             I have now been back in Guatemala for four days.  Despite the return of minor stomach issues (soft ice-cream poop consistency), things are off to a positive start.  Funding for new promotional materials has been granted and will soon be printed, the latrine project materials are all collected  and it now only lacks construction and paperwork (although, a ton), I have cleaned and de-roached my house, and the rainy season has been tranquil thus far-- knock on wood.  My trip stateside was simply perfect and provided the reboot I needed to complete the last third of my service.  Here are some photos from my trip.  I undoubtedly have a wonderful family and awesome friends. #winning

Visiting with my Babci (Grandma)

 

 

24th Cumpleaños in NYC

Garett's (mi hermanito) grad party

Syracuse

Oneida Lake- Central NY

Overwhelmed in Wegmans

Perspectiva

 

Living in a developing country for an extended period of time irrefutably gives you a different perspective on life- and the one you left behind.  The faucet has been letting out dark brown water as a result of the heavy rains that are a daily part of life this time of the year.  Despite the fact that upwards of 97% of tap water in Guatemala is contaminated, when your toilet looks like a chocolate fountain it is obvious a brief opening of the mouth in the shower will likely result in hours on the crapper. Yesterday I took a warm shower under the murky water.  I am fairly certain I am at least a tad bit cleaner than before I showered. This may seem to be a negative experience, but having a shower, a warm one at that, is actually a convenience.  We recently went through a three week drought without water here in my aldea.  Likewise, in comparison to the tarp outside my neighbors use as a showering area, I am quite fortunate.  I have experienced a change of perspective in a plethora of areas, from everyday accommodations to larger scale issues.

Later in the week I will be taking a 10+ hour round trip to the capital, Guatemala City, to meet with a doctor.  I won’t deny a 10+ hour trip is exhausting to anyone and I am not particularly looking forward to it or the possibility of pooping myself on the bus.  This access to healthcare, funded by the U.S., gives me a huge advantage over the large majority of Guatemalans. In general, most developing countries do not have organized healthcare.  Unfortunately, many of these countries additionally have the highest child bearing rates; family planning and population control are significant issues to be aided as well. (A topic which could be expanded on exponentially, but requires their cultural perspective to be considered in the solution.)

 

Being away from the United States has made me aware of a sense of entitlement many of us hold.  I highly doubt I would have joined the Peace Corps without medical coverage nor do I feel anyone in the world should be without it.   The harsh reality is a majority of the world is without medical coverage.  In a nutshell, Peace Corps has taught me appreciation. Yes, new medical coverage plans in the U.S. may result in longer lines, but at least there is a line to wait in.  I have experienced a similar change in perspective regarding schooling.  This past week we held  a half-day training with 15+ teachers regarding the implementation of environmental education into their lesson plans.  In the middle of a water classification workshop, a number of the teachers had an extremely hard time with simple math (i.e. 1% of 1,000).  Calculating that only 1% of the earth’s water is usable fresh water was a difficult task for a handful of those who are teaching the kids.  This gave me a differing perspective and deeper sense of appreciation.

Yes, we should always strive to improve our lives, our systems, our regulations, etc.  Yes, long-lines, high-unemployment rates, and not having the highest education system in the world can be frustrating.  But taking a step back and taking a look at life from a global perspective can sometimes make all the difference.  In fact, I could make a lengthy list of individuals who would give it all, even leave their families to illegally flee to the states to send back remittances, to see their children make it through high-school. 

I will be back in the U.S. of Awesome in just two weeks for a visit.  I can’t wait to appreciate a clean/hot/sandal-less shower, delicious food, comfortable transportation, and my loving family and friends.  In the meantime, it is important to be aware of my change in perspective, while continuing to take everything with a sense of humor.  

Toothbrush holders in the  classrooms

Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.-Christopher Morley

27 Month Marathon

 

This Sunday marked the 37^th annual Coban Half-Marathon.  Kenyan Peter Cherouiot took first place with an impressive time of 1:03.51 .  The marathon is the largest event of the year in nearby Coban; thousands of tourists and locals gather to watch, cheer, participate, and celebrate the event.  Work as of late has been a half-marathon in itself, full of projects and traveling.  These have included a world map project with the local school, a flossing lesson, a dental workshop with 450+ children at the Chicoj School, a latrine maintenance and importance presentation, and the construction of two bottle schools.

Salmar- one of the two communities participating in the SPA Latrine Project

Luckily, no teeth fell out and the students were receptive to adding floss into their daily hygienic routines.   Cardboard tooth costumes and all, Luis, Winfrey, and I put on a half-day dental workshop at the Chicoj School, focusing on the functions of a healthy mouth, proper brushing techniques, the negative effects of sugars and candies, and preventing plaque build-up.  Each of the thirteen classes then practiced brushing, which will become daily habit- each class is building holders to store their brushes.  It was refreshing to work with teachers who want to be change agents in bettering the practices of their students.  Each student is paying money, a mini-investment, to promote a sense of ownership and worth in their brushes and toothpastes.  This money is being reinvested into school projects, specifically in this case- world maps.   Special thanks again to Drew University- Luis Pena, Liverpool Annex, and everyone else who has donated to this secondary project.

 Nick- Captain of the project

 

This past week, Nick and I traveled up to northern Alta Verapaz with the PC Security Director to check on the current status of the two bottle schools being constructed in two rural communities.  It was awesome to see the advances in the projects, the communities coming together to build a place for learning (and learn about inorganic trash), and directly spend some time with the families and community leaders.  One family in San Francisco, one of the two communities, provided a feast of tamales, a chocolate drink, and adorned the hut area with palms.  This generosity and showing of respect, especially in a community and area that has so little, was one of those feel-good cliché moments in Peace Corps- but nevertheless brought a smile to my face.  Although the area is currently off-limits, we will be returning for the inauguration of each school at the end of June with PC Security.   Again, thank you to Liverpool Annex, Kayla McAndrews, my Mom, and everyone else who has helped in funding the schools through Hug it Forward.  The communities appreciate it!

 

This week we will be holding a three-day community tourism workshop, mainly with members of Vivienete Verapaz (www.vivienteverapaz.com), our alliance of ten community tourism sites in the region.  Objectives of the trainings and meetings include business plan writing, forming of a mission and objectives, product/service analysis, and marketing/promotion.  Hopefully the event will move us forward in planning for the future, forming a cohesive vision, and understanding how to achieve that.  Only ten months remain in my service here in Guatemala, but like any race, every step counts until the finish line.