This week has been a blessing. Since Monday, the days have not only been full of activity, but satisfylingly full of comfort as well. After my break down over the weekend I was able to talk with my American contact here, Sara. She reminded me that not only is there a language barrier, but culturally Guatemalan’s are not the most outwardly affectionate people, at first. Ignorantly I thought they would all be similar to the immediately loving Tico’s. I guess that’s a little bit of my egocentric American side thinking that all Latin American countries are similar ... However, that made it all the more encouraging considering that since then I have had several conversations, and in Spanish, with my house family. Albeit these were short, but there was communication and understanding on both sides! The pinnacle of the week was Friday, when my house mom actually gave me a loving pat on the back – I was amazed. Walked out of the house beaming, feeling like I had just won American Idol, or, well, something much cooler.
Since it’s my weekend on, I am currently sitting in the girls room while they “sleep” during their nap time. However during the week, in between acquiring more responsibility with the kids, interacting with my host family, and a little bit of work in the garden; I have also been spending a good amount of time with my nursing duties. After the kids head to school in the am, I then head to the clinic and remain there from about 8:30 – 1:00. At the moment, my ongoing job is organization of all the medicines that have been donated and have simply accumulated in cluttered boxes. Thankfully organization is one of my strengths, but this also requires googling all the Spanish names to find their match in the American market: fun. It’s coming along. This week however, I took a break from this monotony and put together “Una pequena clinica para tu casa” goodie bags. There seems to be some type of minor gastro-virus going around the different houses, and in effort to stop the late night calls to houses for simply a headache/stomachache, I decided to distribute some of the in-stock meds and supplies for home use. This also gave me a chance to personally meet all the parents and put their faces to the houses, just one more step in the process to settling.
So all in all, a great week. I’m tired for sure. A lot of early mornings and what seems like later and later nights. But, all is well, as are my spirits. I may even be making friends … watched Lost with one of the American volunteers, laughed through a "Biggest Loser: Shred It!" dvd with my house sister Andrea, and may even go running with one of the kitchen staffers in the morning. Things are coming along and I can say with confidence that this is my place for now, and it is good.
Hope you are all surviving the snow! Here are some more pictures to distract you through it :)
PS. If for some reason the pic links don’t work, please let me know! I will also be attempting to change some stuff soon, so bare with me …
PPS. Apparently I have off for about 5 days from March 31st - April 4 ... anybody want a to do some traveling? :)
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