#2 Settling in

Hard to believe that I have called Xela home for 5 days already. The work, the cultural exposure, and the language absorption make the hours fly by, while also providing the mental stimulation and overload that causes me to collapse into my bunk each night.

The schedule each day is precisely structured with free-time at a premium. Early breakfast provides the calories via huevos, tortillas, and beans which will sustain us as the mornings are filled with our various volunteer placements. My work at the clinic is amazing! The women are phenomenal and I have surprisingly been able to share meaningful and delightful conversations with them in Spanish. I decided that I had had enough of being the only one frustrated with the language barrier and therefore have started teaching two of the young ladies English (turnabouts is fair play!). Stomachs ache with the laughter that is shared and tears stream down our faces as they declare . . . “English be too hard, only want fun made of you, not me!”

The enfermeria is closed on Wednesdays to allow us to visit others in the town. Miles were covered as we made our way through the maze of shacks and homes that make up La Esperanza. Leading the way is the head nun who is probably 60, looks like 80 and has the energy of 20 . . . not unusual. Trying to keep up are two nurses with your’s truly bringing up the rear. After visiting, treating, and praying for an elder man who had recently fallen off his bicycle and broken his ribs, we made our way through shady alleys to a small garden where we bought native plants to be used in the clinics natural-medicine plot. As we walked, Ianafresca (the nun) picked up a large tree limb and stripped of the branches. I asked Irene why she was doing this, and was told that it was to beat away any of the chuchos (street dogs) that may attack. Just a little different than making the trek to CVS for a prescription.

We return to our home base in the afternoons for Spanish lessons, trips to cultural museums, speakers discussing history and society in the region, and phenomenal field trips. After piling into our van on Tuesday, we climbed a spectacular mountain passing farmers tending to their fields which were perched at ridiculous angles. As clouds welcomed us to the summit (over 8,000 feet) we spent hours soaking in the volcano-heated springs. The heat, the minerals, and the cool mist provided for a euphoric feeling which seemed to take over my body and provided for a level of relaxation that I have never experienced. Leaves the size of golf umbrellas provided protection from both sun and rain as we marveled in this natural phenomenon.

As the work week comes to an end, Ali and I have planned to travel to what many call the 8th wonder - Lago Atitlan - for the weekend. More to come from this adventure upon our return.