.
It was a quiet Christmas here in Xela with my parents and Kate. We exchanged a few small presents, made crepes in the morning and spent the afternoon hanging out and playing card. I've enjoyed my time in bustling and busy Xela. I will soon be heading back to Copan to start working on the Life To Life program and to continue studying Spanish which has begun to slacken with all these English speakers around!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Kids Christmas Party in Xela
The last few days mom, Greg, Kate and Jorge have been all consumed with the preparations for a Christmas party for a temporary state run kids home. I’ve been having a tough time adjusting to the altitude and have needed to sleep lots. I’ve enjoyed cooking the last few days and being able to share the food which is much more inspiring then cooking solo which I did a lot of when I was house sitting.
Yesterday all the hecticness came to a head and the party happened. When we arrived at the massive cement prison-like home in the morning it was like arriving in a zoo of children. The boys’ and girls’ ages ranged from the youngest being about one, to the oldest girl being about twenty-five with some mental challenges. Many of the other children also had mental challenges of various degrees. The eldest was really really sweet. During the bus ride to the place where the party was held she kept singing on the bus and kissing my cheek. The party was held on a beautiful peace of land that is made available to state employees for little holidays or picnics.
From the beginning I noticed a rather cute and sad looking boy that my heart went out to right away. Our guess was that he is autistic and turned out to be the trickiest of the kids. He managed to get through the gates of the compound several times before the guard caught him. He wasn’t able to speak but communicated in a grunting and gesture manner that caught my heartstrings. By the end of the day he only wanted to be in my arms, holding tightly to my neck. It was really tough to let him go.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Antigua and Montericco in Guatemala
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Antigua
I arrived in Antigua, Guatamala last night to find Kate in our hotel! We spent a quiet evening and made noodle soup in the hostel instead of joining the throngs of party animals. I´ve had a really bad soar throat all day and think I´m fighting off an ear infection. Kate is also tired from a hectic few weeks of exams before leaving so we had a chill day exploring Antigua and napping in the afternoon.
I´m really happy to be out of Copan and seeing more of Central America. I really feel that Copan is home now and keep saying ¨well in Copan....¨ Its nice to have a homebase here. Were off to the coast for a few days tomorrow to catch some sun before heading to Xela to meet my parents for Christmas.
I´m really happy to be out of Copan and seeing more of Central America. I really feel that Copan is home now and keep saying ¨well in Copan....¨ Its nice to have a homebase here. Were off to the coast for a few days tomorrow to catch some sun before heading to Xela to meet my parents for Christmas.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Partera's Christmas Party
Mom and Greg left Copan yesterday after spending a week here. We have had sunny days on and off since I arrived here but mostly rain. The day they arrived it cleared up and stayed hot and dry for the whole week! It was so much fun to hang out with them. They lived here two years ago for six weeks so had lots of old friends to visit. I found it to be a nice break from studying and enjoyed the company and comfort after I got my last wisdom tooth pulled and which turned out to be really really painful. I have to go back in a few days to get the stitches out…..
Today we had a little Christmas party at the main health centre for the midwifes in the neighboring villages. There was about forty in total ranging in age from the youngest who was seventeen and had a two month old child to women in their sixties. It was such an amazing feeling to sit in a room with all these women from different generations and levels of experience connected by one strong thread, to help women in childbirth. Many of the women were illiterate. I felt a sense of sisterhood with them, coming together against many odds to share space and time. There constant smiling faces and enthusiastic attitudes was a beautiful reflection of their work. Many of the women had to travel really far. One of them left her house at 3am and walked for six hours to be at the centre this morning.
There was a meal for the women and then presents were handed out that Dr. Carla, Anna, Ariel and I worked on wrapping last night. The presents consisted of plastic thermoses, plates, containers, sets of plastic cups and other odds and ends. Once all of the presents were handed out using a number and draw system the women started to open the present’s tentivley. The next thing I knew the room was filled with glowing and thrilled faces. Ariel and I talked about how different things are here compared to Canada. How if a set of three plastic plates were given to somebody for Christmas it wouldn’t be a big deal at all and laughed at as something that could simply be bought in a dollar store but here it made these women’s days. When everybody started to disperse there were many hugs and kisses and feliz navida’s from the women as they left the centre.
Things with the Life to Life program that I mentioned in a previous entry are starting to shape up fast. The website should be up in the next few days and word is quickly being spread. Different options for renting a clinic here in Copan are starting to be discussed and considered. I’ve decided to return to Copan in January and February to continue working with the program.
Today we had a little Christmas party at the main health centre for the midwifes in the neighboring villages. There was about forty in total ranging in age from the youngest who was seventeen and had a two month old child to women in their sixties. It was such an amazing feeling to sit in a room with all these women from different generations and levels of experience connected by one strong thread, to help women in childbirth. Many of the women were illiterate. I felt a sense of sisterhood with them, coming together against many odds to share space and time. There constant smiling faces and enthusiastic attitudes was a beautiful reflection of their work. Many of the women had to travel really far. One of them left her house at 3am and walked for six hours to be at the centre this morning.
There was a meal for the women and then presents were handed out that Dr. Carla, Anna, Ariel and I worked on wrapping last night. The presents consisted of plastic thermoses, plates, containers, sets of plastic cups and other odds and ends. Once all of the presents were handed out using a number and draw system the women started to open the present’s tentivley. The next thing I knew the room was filled with glowing and thrilled faces. Ariel and I talked about how different things are here compared to Canada. How if a set of three plastic plates were given to somebody for Christmas it wouldn’t be a big deal at all and laughed at as something that could simply be bought in a dollar store but here it made these women’s days. When everybody started to disperse there were many hugs and kisses and feliz navida’s from the women as they left the centre.
Things with the Life to Life program that I mentioned in a previous entry are starting to shape up fast. The website should be up in the next few days and word is quickly being spread. Different options for renting a clinic here in Copan are starting to be discussed and considered. I’ve decided to return to Copan in January and February to continue working with the program.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
My mom and Greg arrived here in Copan two days ago. Its been so much fun hanging out with them and visiting friends that they made here two years ago. Today we went to the mayan ruins which Copan is famous for. They were so beautiful, the land around them so green and well kept. I was really struck with a sense of tranquility and silent peace while exploring.
There was a massive tree and we decided to take a picture of me underneath. After sitting for the photo I felt something bite and jumped up to see I was sitting on an ant hill!! I turned around to see my bum was COVERED in them, my mom just screamed and jumped around and Greg kept saying help her! Mom and I ran around behind the tree and up into the forest so we could try and get them out from inside my pants!! It took a good ten minutes and I have been left covered with red bites all over my back and lower bum...ouch.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
The coolest granny in town
Apparently this sprightly little lady is the grandma of grandmas here in Copan kicking it at the ripe old age of 99. She's somewhat of a clown to the neighbourhood, always rambling one about things that make no sense but who couldn't love a face like that?? She refused to let me take her picture and kept covering her face until Maritza came over and bribed here with a ten limpiras to let me take her photo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)