Guatemala The Final Day

Well today was it, tomorrow early in the morning we leave for home. Today was the festival of the children, so we went to the school in El Sitio for a presentation. Well as we were leaving for that we got a call that said a boy was having seizures every twenty minutes, so Squid went back in to get some meds he thought would help. When we got to the school, Squid, Cyndi, Luis, QuiQue, and Madre went to the boys house to give him the meds.  Ann, Srta, Mom, Dad, and I stayed to watch the show. There were a few skits, some clowns, and some games for the children. There was a game where one girl and one guy put a balloon between them and hugged each other to pop the balloon. That was the only game we gringos found inappropriate. Then Squid came by to tell us that they needed to get some different meds for the boy that they had to drive thirty minutes away to get. So the program watchers went down to the "gym" and participated in the kid Olympics. We went from station to station doing different activities such as can stacking, soccer kick, blindfolded shenanigans, and much more. I was with the 2nd graders, and the best class energetically won a pinata. My team was cheering the whole time.  Then we went back up and handed out candy bags to the kids. Then we ate lunch and had to walk down to the boy who this whole time was being checked up on by Cyndi. I didn't get to see that much of the boy but he was in bed and didn't look liked he could move. Then we went back to the convent and packed up the meds for our last clinic. This clinic was probably one of the least populated of them all. I went outside after a while and played soccer with the kids. Srta again entertained the little kids but ths time Madre helped. Today was the only day we actually played a real game of soccer. The teams were kinda lopsided so I was the goalie on the less skilled team. I could throw the ball from my goal to the other. I actually scored two goals for my team one from my throw through the goal and the other from throwing it and it bouncing of a kids head into the goal. Then the other team all crowded around my goal and I went down to pick it up and got my finger smashed. That did not go over well with me so I left the game at 4 us 2 them. When I came out later to finish packing up I was told the score was 4 us 9 them, so you could say I was the equalizer. Cyndi says I bruised my upper knuckle and it hurts to touch. So tomorrow is it we leave at 8 in the morning and get into Chicago at 10 in the evening.

Guac day 6

New church on the right, old one on the left

Today we went to more clinics, imagine that. By the way I just added photos to my previous blogs for your viewing pleasure. The first clinic was around and hour away called Xeatzan Bajo. There we set up shop in the old church that was serving as the real church while they built a gigantic new one. However they were building it over the soccer field of previous trips so I had to entertain the kids in the alleyway in between the walls of the new and old churches. Near the end of the clinic more kids got out of school and came to play. We played a game of cabesa ( head) where I would throw a ball at a kid and he would head it back to me. We played that game until it was time for our lunch. We did not make good time for that clinic and left a bit later than we planned. We then traveled ten minutes further away to Chichoy Alto. It started raining, so I did not play with any of the children. Right away Srta and I spotted the gigantic ten feet tall corn. We both got a picture and then went on with the clinic. For this one we all got separate rooms and so there wasn't a lot of communicating between our groups. That clinic just dragged on and the only high point was my glasses with eyes drawn on them with sharpie. There was a few interesting medical things that happened though. One lady told squid that she didn't believe that his prescription would work, so Ann sat down and told that lady whats what. Cyndi gave a man that doubted her a rectal exam. Also a kid came in that at birth did not have one pupal, and as a baby he had a surgery to uncover his pupal. My mom prescribed some +4 in one eye and +1 in the other. Obviously we don't carry those so Dad had to make some of those. Luckily we were able to give him glasses that would work for him. We left that and had a horrible time coming back. It was pouring down rain, dark, foggy, and cold. Lets just say I had a few cups of hot tea when I got back. Oh by the way, Squid got me addicted to tea so we are so getting Mayan cocoa spice tea when I get home.

Guac day 5

Today we went to La Citia and worked a clinic all day, well all day we had patients. The most memorable part of today was playing games with the kids. At first we made bowling with empty vitamin containers. Then my dad and I juggled again. Then that migrated to the courtyard, where we played soccer, football, keep away, and basketball with our five vitamin containers. They had so much fun with those vitamin containers, ( now named vc). Also all of the kids were much better at soccer than our entire gang. Srta and I played some football/ keep away from the kids that I was three feet taller than. Eventually they got our vc and ran up to the mini basketball baskets. I then played a form of basketball with the older kids while srta entertained the little ones. I was tall enough to put my head through the hoops of the mini baskets. I played defensive against a trio of girls and the oldest boy there was hanging out dunking on the baskets. For a reason I cant remember they all grouped around me and asked my dad for a photo. Then we continued our game. Too soon for the kids we had to go, and they kept asking me if I was ever coming back. Also they nicknamed me gigante (pronounced: he-gan-te), meaning gigantic man. Sadly for them I am coming back on friday, but we will not be able to play because they will be putting on a show for us gringos. Tomorrow we will try to be visiting two more clinics.

Guac day 4

Today we went to 2 more clinics! The first one was a lot like the first, pretty busy. The second one was amazing though. We drove up and down mountains on terrible roads to get there and back. Once we got there it was like gringos on parade. At the top of the city, in the church we met the thirty or so children. Most of them had no shoes and clothes in poor condition. We all took a turn entertaining the kids. The first thing I did was juggle vitamin containers with Dad. My best was forty and his was around thirteen. Then we tried to juggle between us. It was really hard to juggle the containers due to their shape. Then I went inside and worked the pharmacy. Barely two minutes into that Mom dragged me out to dance and sing with the kids. I guess I didn't get to work the pharmacy a lot today. We came back to the convent after that and are settling in for the night. Tomorrow we go to El Citio all day for the clinic.

Guac day 3

Today we went to our first clinic! I worked the pharmacy and completely sucked at Spanish. However now I have a list of most of the phrases I will need : ) Mom and Dad gave away only 2 pairs of glasses. We must have seen about fifty patients. It turns out I have perfect vision, I took a eye test and got them all right. We came back to the convent for lunch. After lunch madre decided we were not going out for the second city. It must of been something about the rain and the mudslide we passed by on "the good road" Instead we painted one of the rooms in the convent. That pretty much took up the rest of the day. In that time I made designer pants and shoes, oh and a shirt. Diner followed that, we had hamburger meat (I think), mashed potatoes, and veggie tales. Which reminds me, at lunch Dad came up with a new food that was pretty amazing. It was Madre Augustina's churros, which were filled with caramel, with peanut butter on top. I forgot to mention that Sunday was Madre Augustina's birthday! Although she looks like shes twenty eight, she really just turned forty three. Tomorrow we are hoping to visit more clinics and help more people.

Guac day two

Today we hung out in Antigua, going to markets, exploring ruins, and eating. My favorite thing was the ruins of the convent of the Capuchians. The nuns had rooms that were extremely small. Once we got back to our convent we packed bags for the children, and ran out of the Chinese yo-yos. So about 37 bags went without them. Also we packed up the meds for tomorrow. Although, the madres said we probably wont go out due to massive rain. More than likely we will stay at the convent and paint.

Guatemala day 1

Well today we arrived in guac, (guatemala). The first thing we did was pick up drugs. Since cindy and squid were in charge of that srta, my dad and i browsed through the rest of the store. The first thing we found were the condoms right next to the pharmaceutical counter. Next we found about three security personel armed with shotguns. Throughout the rest of the day i found all sorts of random people with guns. It was a pretty long boring trip to the convent. Once we got there I was introduced the three madres. We then hung out at the convent and repacked some meds. Next we ate an amazing dinner and now im typing this. Everyone is tired and I think we will all turn in early, meaning 10 at home.