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orrow so two for the price of one!!! Have tried to load movies but it hasnt worked so will try again next week.Thank you all for your support and news please leave a post if you can.
By the way when I do the create a post it all looks good and then when I post it...I dont know what happens! OK Off to find a meal for the evening and homework before bed.
Take care as you wander through your dreams in the night.
I think of you all
Adios Amigos
Goodnight
Xxx
VOLCANO PACAYA
12th September,2008
This is for you Geography buffs!!!
I have decided to try new things each week, last week was Lake Atitlan, a lake formed from a volcano, and this week Volcano pacaya… an active volcano!!
! 
Guatemal boasts more than 35 volcanoes of which 3 are active.: Volcano Pacaya , Fuego and Santiaguito. Antigua is surrounded by 3 volcanoes: Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. The highest volcano in Central America is in Guatemala: Volcano Tajumulca. Believe me its strange to be in a place where on morning yo
u can wake up to see smoke erupting from a volcano.
One thing that everyone does is hike up Volcano Pacaya (you can do this for about £5) So I joined a group of youngsters and decided to have a go. We Left at 6.00am for the one hour drive there which was beautifl as the sun was rising and people were making their way the market.
VOLCAN
O PACAYA
Volcano Pacaya stands 2552m and has erupted 20 times since 1565, but since the mid 1960’s it has erupted continuously. In 1998 many villages surrounding the volcano had to be evacuated following an eruption and the airport at Guatemala City had to be closed as it was covered in ash.
Upon arrival we were surrounded by children selling walking sticks to assist with the climb as it is a real challenge, some chose to go on horseback but I de
cided to walk. The guide who took us up was really good as he was continuously checking on me, aware that I was the eldest by at least 28 years!!! They say that doing things with youngsters make you feel young but believe me it’s the opposite!!! I never felt so old. BUT on I went slowly and carefully because the tracks were narrow and the drops sheer. For the first part of the climb we travelled through the forest which was steep but manageable with breathtaking views of the three volcanoes in the distance which surroun
d Antigua. After about 45 minutes we arrived at the cone, which is covered in black basaltic rock shed from the crater, it looked like the surface of the moon or mars .We were quite high but not high enough as I looked ahead and saw the crater with smoke belching out of it. I was strangely excited by the prospect of seeing lava, then, ….. I looked down below and saw a steep expanse of lava scree. ‘Ok’ said t
he guide ‘we have to go down and then up’ I was about to ask him how when he answered my question by free surfing down the scree at great speed. OK, I thought, I can do this as I saw the youngsters rushing down, screaming and many falling and tumbling overcome by enthusiasm. Do as they do, so I got my stick and sailed all the way down… and didn’t fall. I have to admit it was a real adrenalin rush. The next stage was difficult, not very steep but challenging as we walked over scree which gave under our feet, makin
g it harder to walk through it. I believe the army and footballers in Brazil train in sand dunes and scree to have strong legs…mine were just tired and aching.
Also, it was covered in boulders which were lethally sharp and getting warm. Close up they looked like hardened crystals of various types of minerals all glittering and shiny in the morning sun. Almost there I thought but no, we still had at least 30 minutes to go to get to the top. As we neared the top I could hear shouts and excitement, this must be where the lava is I
thought…. so glad that I had stuck it out despite being the last one there. When I first saw a slight redness through some cracks in the rocks and felt the heat on my face I was excited and wanted to take a photo and then my knight in a sombrero arrived ( the guide) and walked me to the top. So what do you think it was like????
The first thing that hit me was the heat, I felt as if the skin and hair on my face and arms was on fire and my feet were burning as the heat from the rocks trickled through my trainers. One girl dropped her water bottle and immediately it me
lted. Everyone was jumping from one rock to another, the phrase cat on a hot tin roof and walking on fire came to mind. Despite this we all moved forward to see the red hot larva which was flowing snaking its way across. Then there was a sudden noise as a boulder collapsed as the hot lava burst forth. Scary ?? Oh yes it was, but amazing just the same. A lot of people with cameras on hot rocks is not a good thing as we could 
not stand still for more than 30 seconds in one place. Many lost their rubber soles and had to escape to cooler parts and as for me, I got to go right to the edge of the lava flow for a photo with the guide. I thought I would spontaneously combust but remembered that all I needed to be there was for just a click on the camera and then off I sped onto cooler ground….well couldn’t speed but stepped carefully and quickly and grasped my bottle of water, my mouth was so dry, gulped down with a cereal bar!
Standing at
this place I was forced to wonder what on earth was I doing here as it might at any moment react and send me into oblivion!!! But that’s the risk one takes to see something spectacular and alive and amazing.
Getting back in the bus on our way back I felt a real sense of achievement and free surfing down the scree was amazing. It was truly brilliant adrenalin pumping stuff and made me forgive the volcano for giving me such a hard time on the way up!
WORK>>>>>
Friday 11th September, 2008.
Somew
here I heard that to think about something is often worse than the real thing…. Well in some ways its true and in others its not. For me the family, house and amenities have been much better than I expected , the Spanish School is intensive and challenging but necessary . However the main purpose of being here, to work at the hospital is very different. I don’t think that anything prepared me for my first visit there. The hospital is a huge old building with many sections, each section cordoned
off with metal grill bars and padlocks. It operates completely through donations and relies heavily on volunteers to assist on a daily bases. The hospital caters for very disabled people ranging from babies to 75 yr olds. They are severely mentally and physically handicapped. On my first day we had a guided tour (my teacher from the Spanish school accompanied me) from the first moment we entered the main building I was shocked, we walked through the various sections: eld
erly men, elderly women, young men, young women, children and babies. Each area had huge dormitories, very difficult to describe with many ‘patients ‘ in bed staring, and generally not aware of their surroundings. A large kitchen and dining room and the nurses areas. It did not smell of hospitals as we know it but very strong human odours, which at times were very overpowering, and the constant sound of people making noises. One of the areas I was not prepared for was the psychiatric section. I was not ready to be jumped upon by an old lady shouting Spanish, the nurse had to lead her away. Then it was the children’s are
a, what do you imagine it to be like? images of clean areas with vibrant murals? cute things and maybe some laughter? well imagine again. The older ones were in wheelchairs and the toddlers were in metal cots, hardly moving and clearly not aware of what life is. Already I was acutely aware of how lucky we all are. Walking around brought back memories of the pictures from Chechnya all those years ago and other areas of the world where people are suffering, It was difficult, especially when the 
nurse said that the children needed a lot of love and physical stimulation, many are not hugged or kissed and all their contact is functional……..I knew then that it would not be easy, but also that what I was going to do was very important not just for me, but also for all my family and friends who have supported this venture. I thank you for your care and will pass it on through the work I do.
Feeding the children is not easy as they have very little control or awareness, p
atience and gentle words of love eventually gets the task done. Even though working with children is my choice, I am acutely aware that I have to be where I am needed so who knows? Currently there are 3 of us volunteers , the others are medical students!!!
It’s a lot of adjusting and it will take time I know, but I can do it.
VOLCANO PACAYA
12th September,2008
This is for you Geography buffs!!!
I have decided to try new things each week, last week was Lake Atitlan, a lake formed from a volcano, and this week Volcano pacaya… an active volcano!!
! 
Guatemal boasts more than 35 volcanoes of which 3 are active.: Volcano Pacaya , Fuego and Santiaguito. Antigua is surrounded by 3 volcanoes: Agua, Fuego and Acatenango. The highest volcano in Central America is in Guatemala: Volcano Tajumulca. Believe me its strange to be in a place where on morning yo
u can wake up to see smoke erupting from a volcano.One thing that everyone does is hike up Volcano Pacaya (you can do this for about £5) So I joined a group of youngsters and decided to have a go. We Left at 6.00am for the one hour drive there which was beautifl as the sun was rising and people were making their way the market.
VOLCAN
O PACAYAVolcano Pacaya stands 2552m and has erupted 20 times since 1565, but since the mid 1960’s it has erupted continuously. In 1998 many villages surrounding the volcano had to be evacuated following an eruption and the airport at Guatemala City had to be closed as it was covered in ash.
Upon arrival we were surrounded by children selling walking sticks to assist with the climb as it is a real challenge, some chose to go on horseback but I de
cided to walk. The guide who took us up was really good as he was continuously checking on me, aware that I was the eldest by at least 28 years!!! They say that doing things with youngsters make you feel young but believe me it’s the opposite!!! I never felt so old. BUT on I went slowly and carefully because the tracks were narrow and the drops sheer. For the first part of the climb we travelled through the forest which was steep but manageable with breathtaking views of the three volcanoes in the distance which surroun
d Antigua. After about 45 minutes we arrived at the cone, which is covered in black basaltic rock shed from the crater, it looked like the surface of the moon or mars .We were quite high but not high enough as I looked ahead and saw the crater with smoke belching out of it. I was strangely excited by the prospect of seeing lava, then, ….. I looked down below and saw a steep expanse of lava scree. ‘Ok’ said t
he guide ‘we have to go down and then up’ I was about to ask him how when he answered my question by free surfing down the scree at great speed. OK, I thought, I can do this as I saw the youngsters rushing down, screaming and many falling and tumbling overcome by enthusiasm. Do as they do, so I got my stick and sailed all the way down… and didn’t fall. I have to admit it was a real adrenalin rush. The next stage was difficult, not very steep but challenging as we walked over scree which gave under our feet, makin
g it harder to walk through it. I believe the army and footballers in Brazil train in sand dunes and scree to have strong legs…mine were just tired and aching.Also, it was covered in boulders which were lethally sharp and getting warm. Close up they looked like hardened crystals of various types of minerals all glittering and shiny in the morning sun. Almost there I thought but no, we still had at least 30 minutes to go to get to the top. As we neared the top I could hear shouts and excitement, this must be where the lava is I
thought…. so glad that I had stuck it out despite being the last one there. When I first saw a slight redness through some cracks in the rocks and felt the heat on my face I was excited and wanted to take a photo and then my knight in a sombrero arrived ( the guide) and walked me to the top. So what do you think it was like????The first thing that hit me was the heat, I felt as if the skin and hair on my face and arms was on fire and my feet were burning as the heat from the rocks trickled through my trainers. One girl dropped her water bottle and immediately it me
lted. Everyone was jumping from one rock to another, the phrase cat on a hot tin roof and walking on fire came to mind. Despite this we all moved forward to see the red hot larva which was flowing snaking its way across. Then there was a sudden noise as a boulder collapsed as the hot lava burst forth. Scary ?? Oh yes it was, but amazing just the same. A lot of people with cameras on hot rocks is not a good thing as we could 
not stand still for more than 30 seconds in one place. Many lost their rubber soles and had to escape to cooler parts and as for me, I got to go right to the edge of the lava flow for a photo with the guide. I thought I would spontaneously combust but remembered that all I needed to be there was for just a click on the camera and then off I sped onto cooler ground….well couldn’t speed but stepped carefully and quickly and grasped my bottle of water, my mouth was so dry, gulped down with a cereal bar!Standing at
this place I was forced to wonder what on earth was I doing here as it might at any moment react and send me into oblivion!!! But that’s the risk one takes to see something spectacular and alive and amazing.Getting back in the bus on our way back I felt a real sense of achievement and free surfing down the scree was amazing. It was truly brilliant adrenalin pumping stuff and made me forgive the volcano for giving me such a hard time on the way up!
WORK>>>>>
Friday 11th September, 2008.
Somew
here I heard that to think about something is often worse than the real thing…. Well in some ways its true and in others its not. For me the family, house and amenities have been much better than I expected , the Spanish School is intensive and challenging but necessary . However the main purpose of being here, to work at the hospital is very different. I don’t think that anything prepared me for my first visit there. The hospital is a huge old building with many sections, each section cordoned
off with metal grill bars and padlocks. It operates completely through donations and relies heavily on volunteers to assist on a daily bases. The hospital caters for very disabled people ranging from babies to 75 yr olds. They are severely mentally and physically handicapped. On my first day we had a guided tour (my teacher from the Spanish school accompanied me) from the first moment we entered the main building I was shocked, we walked through the various sections: eld
erly men, elderly women, young men, young women, children and babies. Each area had huge dormitories, very difficult to describe with many ‘patients ‘ in bed staring, and generally not aware of their surroundings. A large kitchen and dining room and the nurses areas. It did not smell of hospitals as we know it but very strong human odours, which at times were very overpowering, and the constant sound of people making noises. One of the areas I was not prepared for was the psychiatric section. I was not ready to be jumped upon by an old lady shouting Spanish, the nurse had to lead her away. Then it was the children’s are
a, what do you imagine it to be like? images of clean areas with vibrant murals? cute things and maybe some laughter? well imagine again. The older ones were in wheelchairs and the toddlers were in metal cots, hardly moving and clearly not aware of what life is. Already I was acutely aware of how lucky we all are. Walking around brought back memories of the pictures from Chechnya all those years ago and other areas of the world where people are suffering, It was difficult, especially when the 
nurse said that the children needed a lot of love and physical stimulation, many are not hugged or kissed and all their contact is functional……..I knew then that it would not be easy, but also that what I was going to do was very important not just for me, but also for all my family and friends who have supported this venture. I thank you for your care and will pass it on through the work I do.Feeding the children is not easy as they have very little control or awareness, p
atience and gentle words of love eventually gets the task done. Even though working with children is my choice, I am acutely aware that I have to be where I am needed so who knows? Currently there are 3 of us volunteers , the others are medical students!!!It’s a lot of adjusting and it will take time I know, but I can do it.
These photos are from a booklet about the place, not by me.
It is a long weekend as Monday is Liberation/ Independence Day so there will be lots going on in town…..everywhere is adorned in blue and white….the national colours……
Its 10.30pm, I have washed all my clothes by hand and cleaned my room, I am ready for bed and tomorrow is a holiday!!!!!!!
Sleep well
Adios amigos.
Goodnight
Xxx
Its 10.30pm, I have washed all my clothes by hand and cleaned my room, I am ready for bed and tomorrow is a holiday!!!!!!!
Sleep well
Adios amigos.
Goodnight
Xxx
6 comments:
I'm proud of you Nayna. For the way in which you pioritised experience over fear atop the volcano. For the way in which you are approaching the heartbreaking hospital work, surely a test of anyone with compassion. And finally for the way in which you have commited yourself to this work and this life, for a time, leaving behind material comfort in order to have a positive impact on the lives of those who should, though their lives, should make us feel particularly thankful for our own. I'm proud of you.
Dearest Nayns, now I understand when people say they've had a life changing experience. This must truly be that. It's chastening to read your words. Makes my life trials of shed building and decorating the house pale by comparison. I'll try never to complain again or take life for granted. Buena suerte y cuidados. You are extremadamente especial amiga! xxx
Dear Nayna,
Have found your site and now big difficulties to react. This is a test.
Love xxx
Catharien
Nayna
What fantastc experiences. I agree with all Martin has said. But you know how to torture me by posting those geology photos! I want to visit you soon to witness the geological marvels. Tell me when you are ready.
Raju
Dear Nayna
hello how are you. nice to speak to you on the phone. Read your blogg and seen your photos of volcanos with raju. Very sad to see the photos of children and old people. Take care.
mum
Dearest Nayna
Yes there is much to be grateful for here in our western lives. Each time you write I feel more aware of the enormity of your decision to do this and how wonderful it is to hear you rise to the challenge and beyond it. You are a marvel Nayna Kennedy. And yes I’m proud of you too and proud to know you. I know that the folk and especially the children at the clinic will be changed for having your smile, touch, warmth and care for this time. With love Lxx
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