Nayna in Guatemala

DEDICATION

2009-06-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

Mahatma Gandhiji said:

‘The pure soul knows no fear; We are what we do, and what we do has worth when it benefits the least fortunate amongst us; courage has only a moral dimension; in material things, less is always more.’

I dedicate this year to my parents
without whom
nothing would be possible......
nothing would be achievable......
Thank you
I love you
Always
Naynaxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Last one...for now !!!!!!

2009-06-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

Everything has been said,
Every emotion felt
This year has been an amazing year and as the next phase of my life beckons, I would like to thank everyone who has travelled on this journey with me. All of you have supported me in so many ways and, without each and everyone of you, nothing would have been achieved. You have all helped so many people here, and these are the children who have directly benefitted from your support. They have a special place in my heart .........as does Guatemala.
So, as I leave my home and my family here, I feel sad but privileged and happy to have shared so much with them on a daily basis. I will miss them, and I know they will miss me too...in their own way.

Thank you and love, peace and happiness always
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Nayna
Xxx

In The Clouds.....

2009-06-28T06:07:00.000-07:00

A week in Santa Maria De Jesus......

My final week (for now) beckons......

An amazing experience this week as I joined a team of doctors and medical students from the USA working at a clinic in a village high up the slopes of Volcan Agua. So everyday we jumped into a bus and made our way up to the village arriving early to set up for the day. The clinic gave the team a f ew rooms for consultation, and one room to set up the pharmacy which is where

I was working along with Lesley and the team leader Joanne. While we set up the pharmacy, the other team members got themselves organised. First however was the huge task of organising the patients, and taking down their information, this was done by the medical students as well as our bus driver!!
The suitcases brought by the team contained bags with dental care kits as well as vitamins and other goodies. Every patient received one of these packs as well as any medication needed prescribed by the doctor. We also had lots of goodies to give away to the children, including hats and toys. The pharmacy organised, I looked around and prepared myself for the first patient. Lesley and I were to label and give out the packs while Joanne checked the medication and gave us instructions, which were then relayed to the patients. WOW!!!! Soon we were really busy as families of 5 and 6, mostly women with their children, arrived all at once ready to receive their individual bag of goodies and gifts. I soon found myself counting pills, making up bottles of antibiotics, mixing lotions and measuring medicine and labelling and packaging them ready to hand over. Joanne checked and instructed Lesley and I as the patients presented themselves with their papers. It was non stop as late afternoon descended and the light faded, outside and inside….. we had no light / electricity in the room. We finally packed up around 5.30pm before heading back to Antigua. Exhausted but happy with the way the first day had gone.
We had seen over 135 patients on that first day....…

The people of Santa Maria De Jesus and other villages surrounding it are very poor, living in very basic accommodation , usually in the fields and with no running water or proper sanitation. The families are often large with at least 5-6 children and day to day survival is the priority, personal hygiene a luxury. Medical care is rarely sought as it takes time and is often expensive. The men rarely take time off, working in the fields for over 8 hours each day, the boys always helping, so the majority of the patients we saw were women and girls. It was amazing to see very

young women of 20-22 with 4 or more children with the prospect of having even more. Family planning is not an option for many. Some patients we saw had not sought any medical help for a long time and had to be referred to our hospital here in Antigua, we don’t really know if anything can be done for them or indeed if they will follow up our advice and actually contact the hospital, but we hope as some are really seriously ill. Some mothers returned again and again each day during the week, with a new batch of children. One woman arrived with 7 girls, not all of them ill, but all wanting a pack and a free gift.... who can challenge bad headaches and backaches?
As the week progressed news soon spread that we were giving out free packs and medical care and the queues got longer and longer, the work harder, the hours longer… .

It was tough trying to cope with the increasing number of patients, the noise from the waiting families and children, the babies, the various body odours and conditions ( lots of head lice and scabies), old patients who could not hear struggling just to get a pack. And of course the expectations………. Along with the medical cases we also encountered cases of physical abuse, neglect and violence. It was tough. By the end of the week we had averaged around 156 patients a day, the last day we saw over 200 patients!!
In many ways it was the toughest week but it had its highlights as we saw children laughing, trotting out with their new hats or toys and lotions, new born babies alert and smiling, and all of them thanking us for our care

and generosity.

I enjoyed every minute of it!
My thanks to Joanne for her care, advice and support and for enabling me to have this experience. I never thought I would be a pharmacist… even if it was for a week!!!!… Thank you!
My hero of the week..Lesley…who spoke to nearly every single person who came to the centre providing explanations for the medication and answering questions…..and while being firm when necessary, kept her humour! FAB!!!!
Antigua
I missed seeing my beautiful Perla......

Sadly the final blog entry next week....

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

28th anniversary .....

2009-06-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Obras Sociales Del Santo Hermano Pedro
La Antigua
Guatemala......

Two weeks before I have to leave............

Wow !! What an amazing week this has been as the hospital celebrated its 28th anniversary. Apart from the daily duties, every afternoon there were activities for both patients and
the staff from the different wards.
The first day started with preparing a religious tableau in the ward. This involved buying plants, flowers etc and setting it up for inspection later in the week. It took hours but I think we did well……Yes it’s a competition which everyone takes a lot of pride in. I had a fab time preparing Perla as an angel and two little boys as shepherds… Perla laughed, and one of the boys cried during the inspection…the results are out next Monday!! we hope to get frist prize!!!

In the afternoons there were activities for the more able patients of all ages. It was amazing to see the participation, and the encouragement from staff as patients struggled and raced down the courtyard… some in wheelchairs, some crawled, some hobbled, some raced their electric chairs and some just sat and looked around. We cheered and music played and everyone enjoyed the events. Sandwiches and cakes at the end. It was wonderful to see them all and everyone a winner…. receiving a medal and a prize.
Two of the afternoons I was just rooted to the spot and looked in wonder at the stage as the singing competition started in the main hall. Such emotions as patients struggled with words and made sounds singing along to CDs, again encouraged and helped by staff and other patients. I was humbled by their participation, It was wonderful to see. Later the staff had their turn, and again people just took part and did their best and didn’t care if it sounded terrible, which it did at times, but they just enjoyed it. It truly was about participation. Then the finale with judges and prizes and lots of singing by everyone in the hall…just WONDERFUL…
One of the things which I particularly loved was that the older patients( some from the Psych ward) didn’t care, they just got up, walked on stage and started dancing and no one stopped them, they grabbed the mikes and joined in the singing or started talking… truly a wonderful atmosphere.... areal Fiesta. There was a great moment when one of the judges asked what kind of a time everyone was having and one of the older patients stood up and responded ‘bad..bad…bad..’ Then she got on stage and told everyone the names of the nurses who were treating her badly. She was escorted off the stage amidst laughter and applause as well as surprise!!
Finally, the race organised by the Physiotherapists for the staff at the hospital… It involved a knock out game of football, an obstacle race, a treasure hunt, including a swim in the pool, collecting odd things along
the way and running through the hospital… a real challenge for eight teams of ten people!! It was quite worrying at time as participants slipped, fell and raced through narrow corridors… through waiting visitors to the hospital….. I fully expected there to be some casualties but fortunately, it all ended with smiles and lots of celebrations……..
The hospital has been a very busy place this week, as patients from surrounding villages came in for treatment. The rainy season has started and lots of people are getting sick… and of course there are over a 120 cases of Swine flu currently in Guatemala. Staff have started wearing masks……
Only two more weeks to go before I leave, but I look forward to next week as I have the opportunity to accompany a team of doctors who are going out into the mountains and villages. It should be interesting but I know I will miss the children…..

ANTIGUA

The rain continues to obscure the volcanoes and late afternoon are dark and gloomy, so have spent a lot of time at home or at the market…..BUT did catch the Miss Antigua procession through town this Friday!! Slowly I am preparing to leave… not an easy task…..
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Belize......

2009-06-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

It was strange to be leaving Guatemala after such a long time, But I had no choice as had to leave the country to renew my visa. So on Sunday, at 6.30pm I left Antigua for Guatemala City. There I took an overnight bus to Flores, arriving there at 6.45am (we were later then expected because of a major accident on the highway!) then boarded another bus to cross the frontier before moving onto Belize City…finally arriving there at 12.30pm!!!! I had purposefully not read up on the place, apart from booking into a good and safe hotel, so I was surprised when at passport control I was asked questions in English..with an American accent…..and I was fully expecting to test out my Spanish!!!
First impression was that in many ways it was not unsimilar to a cross between Seychelles and the Cayman Islands. Very flat yet much of the flora very similar to Seychelles. Also the houses reminded me of the old wooden traditional houses in Seychelles, found especially on La Digue and Silhouette. Sadly I did find the countryside a little boring after Guatemala! It is very flat with lots of swamp land and small rivers.
Arriving in Belize I was taken aback by how American/Afro-Caribbean it all was. The majority of the population is from the Caribbean and all I could hear was English patois and Kreole with a smattering of an American accent. All the signs were in English and there were red letterboxes leftover from Colonial days!!!! I got a taxi and headed towards my hotel taking in the town and its sights and people.
The next two days were spent doing a bit if sightseeing……
First stop- Lamanai: An archaeological reserve on a river lagoon. Though most of the site is unexcavated and unrestored, the trip to it by motorboat was exciting… really fast, passing crocodiles and catching glimpses of birds in the trees. Wandering through the dense jungle, there were troupes of howler and spider monkeys above as well as amazing birds and spiders. The temples here are very different to those in Tikal and not as high or indeed breathtaking. Climbing the highest temple, over 34 meters above the jungle canopy, was quite something as it was up the narrow steps at the front of the temple with no support… well there was a rope but I decided to do it unaided. At the top the view was quite spectacular , lush green vegetation with the river meandering through it. And it was very very hot and humid!! The site has many temples as well as a museum which house artefacts found while excavating. This was followed by a quick trip to another mayan ruin, a small site called Altun Hun, not far from Belize City . Again the ritual of climbing to the top of the highest temple……so by the end of the day I was ready to head back to the hotel for a cool drink on the veranda…..
The next morning was a trip to the local zoo, home to a variety of indigenous Belizean cats and other birds and animals kept in natural surroundings. This was followed by a visit to a coastal town called Dangriga. The town again not unsimilar to those one would expect to find in the Caribbean. So had lunch, then a wander through the streets taking pictures of the place and a surprise find… The Kennedy Club… perfect for a local beer!!!
The final day was spent wandering around the shops buying a few bits and bobs to bring home and of course preparing for the long journey back………
Travelling to Belize was a good experience, but I was SOOO glad to get back into Guatemala which is just breathtaking and utterly welcoming and so special…… and in my heart now.
A good nights sleep and a shower and I was back at work.. To see the children and my beautiful Perla!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

DIFFICULT?????

2009-06-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

Nothing prepared me for what I experienced every day this week. In many ways its been the toughest week so far…….
I knew that the children had to have lots of dental work done, from extractions, to crowns to general cleaning and polishing, and all under general anaesthetic. However I had forgotten about how they would feel waking up in pain, in unfamiliar surroundings, unable to communicate…Arriving in the convalescence ward I was shocked to see the tiny bodies all wrapped up, drips digging into their tiny wrists or feet ,and blood dripping form their mouths. The first day I sat beside one of the tiny girls and waited.. For what I did not know…. Soon she started to wake up, she struggled with the drip, the pain in her mouth, blood gushing and crying , trashing about. So I picked her up and cradled her in my arms and rocked her for over three hours trying to calm her down, finally she settled and slept, while I went over to another child and lay down next to him, held him and sang to him to settle him…. Lesley and I did this all day without a break with 6 children. Then late in the afternoon we fed them jelly and soup before they were prepared to return to the ward. This involved more pain as drips and heart monitors were removed. Once ready we carried them to the ward to settle for the night……The next day it all started again. BUT for me it was hard as Perla had to have all her teeth extracted except for her canines, which were going to be coated in metal!! Many of the children had their teeth coated in this way. It was strange to see her so still, her mouth a mess, bleeding… I burst into tears….. I just wanted her to wake up and be normal again…. It reminded me of when Raju had his teeth extracted…nothing prepares you for this sight!! As I got on the bed with her a Faith Healer approach the bed and placed his hand on her head and stayed there for awhile…it was really surprising. At the hospital people come along to do what they can, faith healing, reike, prayers .. Anything which may help and make a difference. I cant imagine that happening anywhere in UK!
Some of the children were so affected by their treatment that they had to stay overnight in the convalescence ward to stabilize before returning to the ward. These were the ones who have respiratory problems. Later in the week it got easier as many of the children just had to have their teeth cleaned with maybe a couple of fillings, but they still had to go under general anaesthetic because most don’t have muscle tone and cant control their mouths. Only two parents came to be with their children. There were other children from other wards who had surgery too, and their mums visited bringing younger children, so when it was quiet, I was holding their other children so the mums could spend time with the ones who had surgery! There was a day when we just had to get out for half an hour as it was just too much.. At least 5-6 children everyday and only the two of us, no parents , no nurses, no one who know them as well as Lesley and I so it was really intense and draining…… But I know that we made a difference, to have a familiar face and voice to sooth and calm is vital after surgery.
At the end of everyday we went to visit the children in the ward to ensure that they were fine. Every morning we went to the ward to see the children who had had their surgery and were really happy to see them almost back to normal and smiling with huge gaps where their teeth had been or indeed teeth coated in metal…..
This has been the most demanding and exhausting week I have had so far and I am glad its over!!! Maybe I will take Sunday off as have been working weekends too…….

Antigua?
Is still here but I haven’t seen much of it! Next week I travel to Belize to get my visa renewed which means leaving the country for 4 days… in many ways its perfect timing….
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Preparations.......

2009-05-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

The sun finally came out this week and all the children had their breakfast in the garden area. Sadly there are a huge number of flies around at the moment so the children had to be covered in nets to stop the flies getting on them especially around their eyes and mouths; vital as the children can’t flick them away which increases the risk of infections. One day I was feeding a child when a fly flew into her mouth…. Shocked I quickly put my fingers in her mouth and got it out…eugh, not a pleasant task! I also spent one morning putting all the nets on the cots for protection at nights. My new challenge this week was to label small bottles of medicines with black nail varnish… which I did with a small matchstick! I have more to do next week…not an easy task ; give me feeding bottles any day, which I will have as we welcomed another new boy to the ward. Hopefully this one will be able to stay!

Next week all the children are having dental treatment so this week they have all had blood tests and regular temperature checks to ensure they are fine and ready to go under general anaesthetic. Sadly a few of them have infections, including the new boy so they will need to spend some time in their cots, hopefully recovered before the end of next week. It’s also been good to see some parents / families come and visit the children at the weekend, because it was the end of the month and pay-day.
Things will be very different next week as Lesley and I will be needed to be with the children when they have their dental treatment and come out of their surgery…. They need to have familiar faces and voices around to feel safe, as well as lots of cuddling and reassurance before they return to the ward. This as well as some of the daily tasks so a busier week beckons!

ANTIGUA...MARKET......

Walks and talks in the park, and horse and carriage rides through its narrow streets this week as people made the most of sunny days in Antigua. Though we did have 2 more earth tremors this week!!!!!

As for me, I headed for my favourite place.. The local market which has been central to my time here. At least three times a week I wander down past the stalls selling all kinds of household things, struggling through the narrow passages, to be in amongst the colours and aromas of fresh fruit and vegetables. Huge mounds of them everywhere, brought from the farms on the early morning buses to Antigua. Every kind of fruit and vegetable, every colour, texture, shape and size, sown, nurtured and picked by families in and around Antigua. Families gather around and settle for the day hoping to sell and make the money necessary to get by and maybe buy a treat or two on the way back home ……..

People work very hard here, salaries are hard to earn, hours of hard labour on the farm for the equivalent of $1 and hour, and usually huge families to house and feed. Yet they all work together to make it all work and more importantly… be happy with what they have.
Its amazing how little people live on here.
Happiness found in the simplest things. ..

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Sunday already?????

2009-05-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

Regular meetings and assessments for the nurses has meant that Lesley and I have had to work very hard this week to keep everything ticking over. Quite often we found ourselves alone getting everything done and trying to find time to play with the children as well. It was also a week when the children were weighed; this means that once again adjustments will have to be made to the diet of some of them. The hairdresser arrived unannounced and proceeded to cut all the boys hair; it was strange to walk in and see them all practically bald!!
The two new boys settled in well and were just getting used to the place when the older one was returned to the institution he came form in Guatemala City. It seems that the social services section of the hospital made a mistake in taking him on…. So we were sad to see him go, not really knowing what he’s going to, and wondering how the mistake could be made. The younger one is really enjoying the attention and we are enjoying playing with him and getting him used to the other children. He also makes the most beautiful cooing sounds and has a glorious smile…. Not easy to focus on other things while he’s around!
Fortunately we had a couple of days of sunshine so the children could be wheeled out into the garden area. The older, more able boys are getting around a lot now and are starting to communicate more. Attending teaching sessions almost daily is paying off.
We also received some more clothes and while organising them realised how much some of the children have grown, especially Perla, who seems to be getting taller by the day!
Also on the list of jobs was amending the ward information board to include notes about the new boys, which will now have to be amended again!

ANTIGUA......

The volcanoes continue to hide behind heavy grey clouds and rain pours down by mid afternoon. The streets continue to be difficult to navigate, the pavements barely wide enough to accommodate one person with an umbrella!
Political unrest in Guatemala at the moment with assassinations of lawyers and other people has meant that there have been a number of demonstrations. Last Sunday town was practically empty as many people left for Guatemala City to join a demonstration against the government, a handful of people met in the park here to make their voices heard in front of the Government offices. We were advised to stay at home so no pictures I am afraid. Then this week, in contrast, the main street (with the arch) was cut off to traffic as a whole fleet of new BMW’s arrived in town for a photo shoot! Restricted photos but did manage to sneak one in before they left!
On Thursday, we had another earth tremor (5.5) which lasted quite a while, in many ways the most scariest, and I was on the verge of racing out into the street when it stopped. Fortunately no damage…So have gone to the official site and re read the information on what to do in case of an earthquake!
For the first time since I have been here I am very keenly aware of the political unrest, and the unpredictability of mother nature.
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Road Trip.....Grannies Day Out.........

2009-05-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

The hospital has been a strange place this week. Firstly I found out that they are not taking any more volunteers because of the risk of Swine Flu and then heard that the doctor; chief of residents here, has had his life threatened because of his position on the mayors committee… so all on alert!
We also welcomed two new boys from the city, both young and in need of care but oh so beautiful and happy!! So it was fun being with them and helping them settle into life in the ward. Other than that it was work as usual, multi tasking and chasing time to get everything done. Then one day I was asked to help out on a day trip to the zoo in Guatemala City with the grannies! I was excited as I love that place!!
It was quite something to watch as the helpers carried the patients onto the bus. Some of them are so heavy and with no control over their bodies, it was not easy. Then they had to be strapped to the seats with sheets to ensure they did not fall or topple over. Nurses and physiotherapists, as well as some family members helped out , Lesley and I the only volunteers. I was assigned my granny… a lovely old lady who could walk, with help, but could not talk. I watched as we wandered around the zoo. I am sure many of them did not really know what was going on, wheeled around a place so alien to them. I was also aware of the fact that for some of the staff, it was the first time they had been there. My granny was aware and looked and smiled and squeezed my hand as we walked. I talked to her and pointed at the different animals. She laughed, she especially liked the peacocks, as she explained how they open their tails and look beautiful, all using her hands and face. Quite amazing…. Equally amazing was her reaction to snakes….hated them!

By the end of the day everyone was exhausted as we headed back up the hill towards a wet and gloomy Antigua.

OUT AND ABOUT>>> A BIT!!!!!

The daily, heavy rainfall has meant that most evenings have been spent indoors. Clouds hang low hugging the hills, almost always obscuring the volcanoes, completely changing the landscape and the atmosphere of the place. Walking almost impossible as we dodge the umbrellas and the puddles overflowing amongst the cobblestones, cars splashing at will. Every market stall selling umbrellas…

ART EN LAS CALLES…

Luckily Lesley invited me to an Art opening in Guatemala City on Wednesday. An opportunity to dress up and see some modern art and have a glass of wine. It was interesting looking at work of young artists in Guatemala, from abstract to photo-real to huge installations. Took me back to the days in London with Martin.
So we wandered around, met some people and once again headed back to our city in the clouds………..listening to music…… Travis ..Driftwood…..The man who…… Thinking of all our friends and family…missing home…..
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

A lonely, busy week!

2009-05-09T19:23:00.000-07:00

(All the photos are form the past few weeks as there has not been any time to take any this week!!!)

This has been one of the hardest weeks in may ways. Mainly because all my friends in Antigua decided to be away at the same time! At work, a group of doctors arrived from the US to volunteer their time and skills to serving people living in remote villages in Guatemala. A lack of Spanish on their side meant that they needed a translator, so Lesley was whisked away for a week. Fortunately this happens quite regularly and benefits people from remote villages who rarely have access to medical care. I wish more people could dedicate their time and skills, it really does make a difference. Sadly there aren’t any other volunteers at the moment, its a very quiet time here in Antigua. I suspect the numbers will increase as we near the summer holiday and gap year students begin their travels.
Smiles all round as the boy from intensive care finally returned to the ward looking frail but well on his way to recovery. Its always wonderful to have them back and know they survived. Further evaluations of each child’s diet and progress has meant that we have had to change the number of meals and the amount of formulae for a number of children. This takes a lot of organising and I have been dealing with this. The main problem encountered with this is that while the doctors and nurses of our ward know, the nutrition section does not! So much time has been spent rushing back and forth in an effort to get it right! I think we have managed it!
The predictable downpour every day has meant that we have spent a lot of time indoors. Sadly this has also put an end to the possibility of a dip in the pool for some of the more able children. Increasingly I am aware that I am heading towards the end of my time here and am trying
to prepare for it.

ANTIGUA

Quite an extraordinary week this week which started with a huge earth tremor on Sunday morning (magnitude 6.2). I was taken aback as the mirror on the wall crashed to the floor along with a few other bits and pieces standing on my bedside table! Was I scared??? Of course! I have never experienced anything like it and for a minute I was worried. Then later in the day we had electrical storms and torrents of rain which left us with intermittent electricity and water over the next few days. Since when we have experienced storms day and night, oceans of rain and an active Volcan Fuego. Quite an extraordinary week!
Antigua continued to hold events and this week saw the tail end of the Culture and Arts Festival, with performances by students form the local performing arts schools.

Today Sunday, around 5.00am the sounds of fireworks and songs filled Antigua as it celebrated Mother’s Day. Unlike UK its not hyped at all but everyone knows and the celebrations revolve around families, going out for the morning followed by meals together. In the park, mothers posed for photos with their children, clutching their gifts of roses, smiling broadly. Watching them I felt the importance of love and family, and then the loneliness of the children at the hospital. It really is sad to be so close to either end of the spectrum.
With this my love to all mothers and their children.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

'EPIC!!!'

2009-05-03T12:23:00.000-07:00

Another busy week with the mornings spent at the hospital working and playing with the
children. Sadly one of our boys had to be moved to a hospital in the city as he was very ill, he is now in intensive care but hopefully will return to us soon. The nurses have been getting Raju to help with more daily routines like brushing teeth as well as the usual bottle feeding etc. The warmer mornings has meant that some of the older boys have been able to enjoy some of the playground apparatus we have. The boys are heavy so I can’t normally manage them, but they had fun with Raju.

The onset of the rainy season has meant that some of the time is spent indoors…not very exciting but still an opportunity to massage limbs! Also a difficult time when the children are very prone to infections.
However, back to normal next week with the daily routines, more labelling and of course playing with the children.
I have really enjoyed sharing the work I have been doing here at the hospital with both Martin and Raju.
ANTIGUA
Raju climbed Volcan Pacaya this week with some friends…no photos as it was raining but a real adventure with fields of lava, dipping a stick and pulling out lava! And roasting marshmallows over a hot lava stream! His shoes are now in the bin, burned out!
Meanwhile I caught up with a little time with Perla.....
Fortunately there was a procession on Sunday so Raju also had the chance to experience it, as well as the floral carpets and incense!

TIKAL........

Early last Monday morning we left for Tikal with its Mayan skyscrapers pushing up through the jungle canopy. Many steep-sided Mayan temples make up the greatest Mayan city in Guatemala. Here huge temples, over 44m tall rise above the canopies, shrines to the royal dead.. Many have been cleared of trees and vines, uncovered and restored.
The sound of
Howler monkeys fill the air and brightly coloured parrots and toucans fly
from tree to tree as one walks through this incredible site.

The 550sq km park contains thousands of separate ruined structures. Quiet a few of the temples have been restored and secured so that people can climb up them and enjoy and wonder at the spectacular views. The highest one of all is Temple IV, at 70m. built to honour one of its rulers.
So we spent a good few hours wandering around and climbed all the temples we could…some of them were difficult, but well worth it when we saw the views at the top. It was also amazing to see the wildlife: Koatymundis, Spider monkeys, Crocodiles, a Cotuza-paca,,, lizards, the amazing toucans, parrots, woodpeckers, humming birds, ocellated turkey (!!) and vultures… so exciting and amazing!
In 1979 Parc Nacional Tikal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

A truly epic experience I was lucky enough to share with both Martin and Raju.
Now am mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted!!!! A lonely week ahead.......

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

ACTION PACKED.....

2009-04-26T17:44:00.000-07:00

All of the children are back now, so both Raju and I have spent most mornings at the hospital

Its been great to have both Martin and Raju get so involved with the daily life of the hospital and get a flavour of what my work involves. Following on from Martin, I was happy to let Raju complete some of the daily tasks while I enjoyed a few moments with the children and especially Perla…. who has finally lost a few pounds!!! Oh and of course telling all the nurses about my family, now they have met two of them.
A couple of the children who returned late are very ill, malnourished and suffering from skin irritations/conditions as a result of a lack of attention. So we are busy getting them back on form again. We have also had some more volunteers in helping out, playing with the children and helping to feed them which is, as always, really wonderful.

A new batch of clothes and blankets have arrived from USA and so I will be spending some of my time next week labelling them all and organising them. Not an easy task as nail varnish does not write very well on clothes!!! However, this is what they use……

Travelling…..

On Monday Raju and I took a chicken bus to Panajachel and a couple of days at Lake Atitlan. It was a little hazy the day we arrived, but then it cleared up beautifully and we were lucky to get some spectacular views of the volcanoes surrounding the lake. Then it was the tour of the lake with a visit to a couple of villages and of course Maximon..
A wooden image, decked in scarves, smoking a cigar and drinking firewater, his room enveloped in incense and flowers and his minders by his side. The Maximon has been worshipped by the Mayans for centuries, he is believed to bring luck, good harvests, rain, a fair price for maize and success. For a prayer to be heard and answered, offerings must be bought in the form of cigarettes, alcohol, flowers and scarves to persuade him to do goodwill.

We also met a woman who belongs to a tribe where the women wear special head-dresses, an image of one is used on the back of a coin here in Guatemala.

The highlight of the stay was a trip to the Nature Reserve to see the spider monkeys, flowers and fauna and of course a go on the ‘Cables X-tremos’. Yes both Raju and I donned our gear climbed quite a way up and then zip lined over the tree canopies for over an hour! An amazing and exciting time with spectacular views over the forest and valley.
Not an experience I will forget easily.

.....yes we are the dots zipping over the tree tops......

And we celebrated Lesley's birthday with cake and ice cream with the kids and a few drinks in the evening!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LESLEY!!!XXXX

Next week its Tikal!!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

CALMNESS RETURNS

2009-04-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Semana Santa over, Antigua finally regained its natural, calm and beautifully peaceful atmosphere. Work at the start of the week was fairly easy but then later in the week, the children who had gone home started returning and by this Friday the ward was almost full….just the way I like it. This also meant that we had to weigh and check all the children and get them adjusted to being back at the hospital. New regimes are being set up as diets and schedules change for many of the children who have progressed in thier ability to take in food. Perla is finally off three bottles a milk a day to just one, with puréed vegetables in the morning and ‘rice attol’ in the evening. This is really encouraging, and strange for me as I now feed her with a spoon!!!
Some of the others have been taken off their drips and we are trying to get them to feed from a bottle…not an easy task, though possible with a bit of patience!

It is really great to have them all back again, though work for me will not be quite back to normal for at least another two weeks!

Anigua.

Have really enjoyed just being around Antigua as it was Martin’s final week. Then on Friday it was a trip to the zoo in Guatemala City and lunch before dropping Martin off at the airport.Thenon saturday I was off to the airport again..excited as Raju arrived for two weeks!!!!! YEAH!!!!

Apologies for the short blog, but it has been very quiet and am exhausted but more next week!
Here are some pics of the courtyard outside my apartmento!!

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

SEMANA SANTA FINALLY!!!!!!!!

2009-04-12T14:49:00.000-07:00

After all the hype, Semana Santa finally arrived. From the beginning of the week town was filled with tourists and local people on holiday, all booked up for the weeks events..or rather processions, as everything revolved around these leaving the churches at various times of the day.
At the hospital we fed and changed the children and then rounded up as many volunteers as we could to take the children out to the various churches to see the processions. Some people also came in just for the day to help out which was really good as it meant that more children could get out.

So in the blazing heat we pushed the children along the cobbled and uneven streets to the various churches, often bringing the traffic to a standstill, as it was busy, there were a number of traffic police who were very willing to help us cross the streets and navigate the crowds. Later we bought ice creams for all the children and the helpers. This week the time just raced by as we were out quite a lot if the time, enjoying the sun and the carnival type atmosphere.

A big week this week as Perla was baptised, AND surprisingly her mother arrived with her new born child. It was quite strange to meet her after such a long time, as she has never visited Perla since she was admitted. I was asked to be her godmother but I declined as I will not be here, so one of the young nurses volunteered, which is great and quite common at the hospital as many of the children don’t have families. So armed with a couple of presents we arrived at the hospital on staurday night at 7.30 to attend her baptism…Not unsurprising I was overwhelmed when I saw Perla all dressed up in a beautiful white dress…. Yes I shed a tear or two she just looked beautiful…. There were four other children from the ward who were also being baptised… After the final sermon, in the quiet church with everyone thinking about what Father Jose had said, all we could hear was Perla laughing and one of the other children humming a song. I must admit we had a giggle.

Next week it should be back to work as usual as the other children return and we get back to normality..of a sort! I am looking forward to it!

PROCESSIONS…PROCESSIONS…PROCESSIONS!!!!!!!

I am totally overwhelmed by what I have seen this week. Semana Santa is everything I have read about! Every major church in Antigua and a couple of surrounding villages has a procession throughout the week. Every church has an anda; a large processional platform carrying the figures and decorated, carried by lots of people and paraded through every street in town. Every street makes a number of alfrombas; carpets made from various materials like flowers and coloured sawdust as well as fruit and vegetables. The andas are carried by men in full length purple tunics until 3.00pm on Good Friday after which they wear black. They carry the figure of Christ. The women dress in black and white and carry the Virgin Mary. In front of the procession is a group of men filling the streets with incense, so much that its often difficult to see the other side of the street, the smell lingering for hours afterwards. Following behind each anda is a brass band playing throughout the day and night. The streets are lined with men and women in purple or black robes ready to exchange places with the ones carrying the andas, so many people have the opportunity to participate. For these processions people pay for the privilege of carrying the anda and have to hire or buy the uniform, consequently its mainly the richer people who participate.

On Good Friday we were on the streets outside one of the main churches ready for the procession of Jesus and the cross at 3.15am. It was spectacular with Roman soldiers on horses and chariots , as well as soldiers and children carrying banners. All the streets were covered in amazing alfrombas, all made during the night. Then at 4.00am the anda came out of the church and started its journey through the streets of Antigua. It did this till 5.30pm in the evening. In other parts of Antigua other andas were also being carried along the streets. Saturday all the processions were for the Virgin Mary.
There was also a procession of tableauxs illustrating the twelve stages of the cross, following the same pattern as the previous day but without the soldiers etc. One of the things that has surprised me is the music which is played throughout the day and night! Often I would wake up in the night to hear the sounds of the drums and trumpets! Quite surreal!

Today, Easter Sunday, the main procession left from our hospital cathedral. Today celebrates the Resurrection and also stands as the day of the poor. Today anyone can carry the anda and there is no charge and people can wear what they like. It was spectacular with lots of music, fireworks, clapping, singing and rejoicing as people celebrated the Resurrection. The children and other patients from the hospital lined the streets as the anda went by. Two hours later the streets were clean as people headed back home after a spectacular few days.

Everyone present in Antigua during Semana Santa engages emotionally regardless of their religion- or lack of it -or point of origin or perspective. Quite simply, the energy created through the shared focus and will power of thousands of participants, involved in a centuries old cycle of suffering, pain and final redemption is impossible to ignore or remain unmoved by.

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

SUNDAY PROCESSIONS.......

2009-04-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

People from over the world, and the country descend on Antigua on Sundays just to see the processions from the different churches. The procession usually starts around 11.00am and passes though the all the streets till late in the evening. People following the sound of the band as it makes its way back to the church. During the day the town is filled with men in purple robes to take their turn in carrying the figure of Christ, while the women dressed in black and white prepare to carry the Virgin Mary.

Included in the procession are roman soldiers and a big band playing very sombre and serious music. Selected men and boys walk through the streets with incense, and the streets are filled with smoke and a very strong smell of incense which lingers the whole day. Following right behind all this is a team of cleaners and a bulldozer, ready to start the clean up. The next morning the streets are clean and no one would believe the activity of the previous day. I have never seen anything like it and its only a small lead up to the major ones on Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Otherwise known as Semana Santa!!!I can’t wait!

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE!!!!!!!.....

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

BIRTHDAY BREAK!!!!!

2009-04-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

Amazingly Martin arrived just in time for my birthday on the 31st of March. So, armed with a
huge Chocolate cake and ice cream, we headed off to the hospital early Tuesday morning….. It was wonderful as the nurses sang happy birthday, gave me a beautiful birthday gift and we all ate cake, chatted and laughed and Martin caught his first glance of Perla… and as expected he is smitten!

The Sunday before we had the procession from our hospital… The carpets in the street were just being completed as we moved all the children outside to enjoy the procession. While we were waiting for the procession we bought all the children ice creams, and it was wonderful to see ordinary people also waiting coming over to help feed the children. It was hot and sunny with a real feel of carnival. Families walked through the streets looking at the carpets, chatting, eating and buying toys and balloons from the vendors…

I have not spent much time as usual at work as have been showing Martin around town… But he has come in and helped out at the hospital and of course spent time with Perla. Today we took her out into Antigua so she could enjoy an ice cream…..
I was surprised to find that it was a lot quieter today, and then found out that some of the children have been taken away for Easter week by their families, friends or god parents. So more time to play with the ones that are left.

Next Saturday its Perla’s baptism and we are going to the church and will pay towards it…..

Holiday!!!!!
Antigua is really busy with tourists and preparations for next week. So we spent a few days in Anitgua before heading off to Panajachel and Lake Atitlan for a small break, my first holiday for a long time. Two hours of breathtaking scenery as we wound up higher towards the lake which is a volcanic crater. Had a really restful time enjoying the views across the lake and of course the nature reserve with its Spider monkeys.
Back in Antigua on Sunday, we enjoyed Sunday brunch at the Hotel Santo Domingo…just prefect!!!
More next week…..

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight!!

Xxx

PS apologies for the late postings this week!!!!!

Time racing ahead.......

2009-03-28T16:50:00.000-07:00

Once again this week has passed by really quickly with lots going on….

This week the children all had their hair cut, one of the mothers is a hairdresser and she offered to cut every child‘s hair, which was very kind of her. The boys had the customary crop all over while the girls had their hair trimmed. This of course lead to news of some of the children having head lice…so much time was spent doing a hair check! Then each child was bathed and hair shampooed ready for another day… The older ones who can communicate a bit were very happy with their new look, though not so happy to have their heads scrubbed with special shampoo!

One day was particularly difficult as many of the children had to have their ears syringed, not the best of task to assist with but necessary, as many have a build up of wax. For most its incredibly painful and I suspect many have damaged eardrums which makes it worse. So a lot of screaming and crying that day as the nurses, Lesley and I frantically tried to calm them all down. Not an easy task…both emotionally and physically!!

Our new arrival has settled but still very weak and fragile, she weighs practically nothing and she is also blind, but seems ready to smile when stimulated by movement, which is a joy to see. However she does have very bad teeth and there is talk of removing them all so new healthier ones can grow. I have spent quite some time with her this week cradling her.

Apart from my usual tasks this week I had to make wallets to hold the medical dosage information for each child. This is not a throwaway society so everything is recycled and used in a different way. The plastic wallets I made were made from old X rays!! Discarded X rays are left in a solution to remove the impression and ‘wipe them clean’. They are then washed and dried and then made into relevant sized wallets or folders, using insulating tape, these are used in all the wards. So I spent one morning just making 7 wallets to keep the dosage records in. I am really impressed by the way we have to adapt and recycle and be creative as everything is not available, It makes me really think about all the wastage in UK and developed countries………

This Sunday is an important one for the hospital as we will be making our own sawdust ’carpet’ in the street outside the hospital and we will be taking all the children out to see and enjoy the procession going past the hospital….photos next week…..

Perla is really growing now and beginning to finally fit into bigger clothes! So surprising and wonderful to see.

ANTIGUA....

Wow the town is really gearing up for Semana Santa as visitors arrive everyday and the streets and buildings are cleaned and decorated with purple banners. Many people come in for the weekend to see the Sunday procession through the town. La Merced changed its carpet again and I am just amazed by it every week ....this time they used a lot of fruit and vegetables as well which was interesting to see.

A new Café Barista has just opened in Parc Central, and restaurants are hiring bands to play in the evenings. New lights glow in the streets and outside shops and restaurants, similar to Christmas time. Music fills the streets and brass bands play around the park in the evenings... Clearly the next few weeks will be an opportunity for everyone to make lots of money as thousands of tourists will descend on the town for its world famous Semana Santa week….
And on Monday I will be at the airport awaiting Martins arrival…….exciting times!!!

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

A new arrival and more.....

2009-03-20T18:28:00.000-07:00

It was lovely to see the children again and they too were excited to see me back. A busy week to get back on my feet again to!

Our new 6 year old who joined us last week from the nutritional project is finally feeling settled. And one of our boys who’s been in the project since before Christmas has returned having put on sufficient weight. Both of them are currently high priority and on their own timetable for feeding . The girl has to have 8 bottles a day with 4oz in each, while the boy has to have 6 bottles with 7oz . (Normally each child has 3 bottles a day each with 8 oz in each.) This means more bottles to prepare and ensuring they get fed at the right time, difficult when there is so much to do! In addition, as the weather is improving we are also giving the children water at 10.00am and 5.00pm. A number of the children are currently being fed through tubes in their noses or stomachs, so the ‘food’ has to be liquidised and sieved twice before it can be used. That is now on my list of jobs to do too !

This week I helped a doctor who was in to check the hands and feet of all the children to check for any kind of infection or fungal growth. While doing this, I was quite shocked to see the state of the feet of many of the older children, which are so distorted and deformed. Normally I see them with their socks and shoes on and we are always focusing on other things. Now I also see the need for the contraptions which are strapped onto their hands and feet to help realign them. BUT its very painful and the children often spend hours crying with pain, sometimes I want to rip them off but then have to remember why they have them. Luckily most of the children are clear of infections.

I think that the nurses were also glad to see me back so that the routine and morning schedule that Lesley and I have set up was back on track! Along with the usual washing and drying, I also washed a whole set of new syringes we received. They had to be sterilised as they will be used to give the children medicine everyday.

Sometimes when I think about the jobs I do, I realise that though they are simple and basic I am really enjoying them. BUT the time spent with the children is the best, I love it!

I continue to encourage Perla to say hola…it’s a slow process.

ANTIGUA

The highlight of this week was the Santana concert at the main stadium in Guatemala City. It was spectacular with amazing lights and the sound in the warm night air was fantastic. Everyone in the crowd was involved and we danced and sang along to the famous songs, finally I understand many of his lyrics! It was strange however to note that they didn’t have any programmes, T shirts or CDs on sale.....just the trademark hat that Carlos Santana wears. The band played for 3 hours non stop and we didn’t get back to Antigua till almost 3.00am. It was difficult to be at work at 8.00am the next morning but I managed it!

The weather continues to be warm and the blossoms on the trees are spectacular. The fountain in central park is adorned in roses and flowers as the whole community enjoys its colourful ambience. School children walk and sit in the park at lunchtimes walking and talking, making plans. Volcan Fuego has been strangely quiet this week.

Today I went to La Merced church to see the new carpet. Its amazing to see what they can do with coloured sawdust and fruit and vegetables. Again so different to the one last week. I also saw a carpet in another church which was lined with bread in the shape of crocodiles and turtles! Sadly we are not allowed to take photos there!
The whole of Antigua is being painted and prepared for Semana Santa, its biggest festival. I am really looking forward to it!

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Estuve enferma......

2009-03-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

A difficult week this week as I have spent most of it in bed with a bad bout of flu… picked up from some of the children I think… Went in on Thursday to be met by a new arrival… a child of 6 years, just come down from the nutrition ward. She is really tiny and still very weak with the most rotten teeth I have ever seen. .....we think she should still be in the nutritional project! Apart from that the warm weather has seen us out in the open area again enjoying a bit of sun..I was very happy to see my little Vampira!!!!!

ANTIGUA

Friday again and a trip to La Merced church to see the new ‘carpet’…once again stunning and different from the one last week. Antigua continues to be interesting even though I don’t quite feel 100%. Back to normal next week!

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

STOP PRESS....

2009-03-08T14:31:00.000-07:00

Tears of joy and happiness all round as Perla uttered her first words..

HOLA!!!!

Yes all these months have paid off, she is actually trying to talk....no one knows how much she can do but we will see.... Am soo soo happy!!!! WHOO HOOO!!!! Xxx

Summer Sun...

2009-03-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

This week, despite being cold very early in the morning, it has been sunny and hot during the day. I was really surprised one morning this week to find the children in their shorts and T shirts, they look so beautiful and relaxed and happy in them. And Perla has grown sooo much. Daily we have been able to get out into the garden and catch up on some sunbathing.. sadly the swimming pool is still not quite ready for a splash. ..maybe next week. This week we also celebrated the birthdays of all the children born in the first three months of the year with chocolate cake and ice cream! One of the youngest girls turned four this week.

We have tried to keep up with the daily tasks of cleaning and washing and of course for me; painting more bottles, and help organise a group of young Christian students from USA, who are volunteering for a week. As they don’t speak Spanish I have done quite a bit of translating again which I am really happy about. Its great that the nurses ask me to come over and explain,( it reminds me of my early days here) I am quite enjoying the challenge. Also as they have been singing and playing with the children I have spent time massaging the arms and legs of many of the children to keep the circulation going and to help their muscles. This is really important for the children who don’t move very much and have restricted movements in their limbs.

Sadly its also been a week when a lot of the children have been unsettled and sick with colds and coughs, so we have been cuddling them and gently swaying them to hopefully relieve some pain. Also a lot of multi tasking!!!One of the boys had to go to Guatemala City for more tests and is looking very ill indeed. His organ systems are failing slowly. We are keeping an eye on him and his monitors.

We also had the first weigh in of all the children after the Christmas break as nearly all are back now. Surprisingly while many have lost weight a few have gained. The gain we have found out has been due to the fact that the parents, frustrated at not being able to feed the children properly, have added sugar to a lot of the feeds to just get them to feed. This has also meant that the children have found it difficult to adapt to normal feeds again. One of the things noticeable about the children with teeth is that most possess rotten teeth. All very noticeable as I walk around brushing their teeth after breakfast.

Bob in Antigua,

Last Sunday was spectacular with crowds gathering in and around the park ready for the procession which would pass through the town and stop in front of the cathedral. Brass bands played, balloons added colour to the streets and street vendors encouraged sales, children ran around and parents and families waited for the highlight of the day; an outdoor service in front of the cathedral.. There was a wonderful hustle and bustle in the place as the street in front of the cathedral was being prepared with the making of a spectacular carpet from coloured sawdust. We stood and watched as the design unfolded under the watchful eye of the workers. Such care and dedication to create something spectacular. What would happen to it we asked? The answer: the procession would walk all over it and later a team of people from the church would come and clean it up. Ready to prepare a new one the following week!

Later as we watched, the Service in front of the cathedral began, complete with singing and orchestral music. Incense lingered all around us and groups of men in purple robes made their way to the front of the procession, and silence descended as every eye focussed on the very powerful image of Christ and Mary. I looked around, the whole of Central Park was full of people. Quite extraordinary!

Friday we went to see the spectacular carpet in one of the four main churches in Antigua. Looking at the amazing artwork I was reminded of the Rangoli patterns made during Diwali. It is truly spectacular. Every Friday a new carpet is ‘laid’ in the. Church, it stays for three days before they demolish it in preparation for the next one! This will continue every week until the end of Semana Santa week.

Wow!!! its been a fantastic whirlwind of a week with Bob here.

We have walked a lot, tried to see as much of Antigua as possible, continued to be amazed by the volcanoes and I have been wined and dined on a daily basis.

Thank you Bob!! Now its back to normal life for both of us. He’s thinking of visiting again! That’s Antigua!!!

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Easter preparations begin......

2009-02-28T10:47:00.000-08:00

Easter is one of the biggest celebrations in Guatemala and especially Antigua, so work has kept me really busy. In preparation the wards are being cleaned and some areas painted, as well as that we have been tackling jobs which normally would not be done…eg. cleaning the bins, cleaning out the stores and re organising some of the toy boxes…not an easy task. Lesley has been away translating and I am the only extra pair of hands they have had this week, so I have been rushing around quite a bit, as the nurses ask me to do anything that needs doing! Nappy changing is now also on my list of jobs of the day!! As I said I am now one of the team!!

Tuesday was carnival, so some of the children were taken to a fiesta in the hospital, where they were all dressed up in various clowns and angels and princess’s costumes and there was a party for them. Sadly I could not attend as had too much work to do!
Ash Wednesday was really strange for me when I walked into the hospital as all the people waiting for appointments as well as the staff had a grey-black cross marked across their foreheads, from the ashes. Most had been to church before starting the day. Most of the people in Guatemala are Catholics and very religious. In the ward the children were all dressed in their best before we wheeled them into the church for Mass. Later, they all returned with similar crosses on their foreheads.
One of the children returned this week from his home and again it was very sad as he was just crying all the time. It took him a couple of days to settle. We are still awaiting the return of two more.
Some of the more able boys have now started school; four of them have one teacher who takes them for a couple of hours a day. The teacher is sponsored by ex volunteers and coordinated via a local group of Christian missionaries. In other wards some children go to a local school for a couple of afternoons a week. I was really surprised as yesterday the teacher(Guatemaltecan) asked me to translate for her as she needs a special wheelchair for one of the girls from another ward so she can go off -site to school. So off I went to the guy who organises wheelchairs and surprised
myself by being able to do it!!!
The swimming pool is being cleaned so am hoping to help out in the next two weeks..

Needless to say that I have been absolutely exhausted this week and have had little time to enjoy my little Perla… who has spent half the week away at either church or a fiesta…maybe next week….I miss her ‘vampira’ smile!!

ANTIGUA....

Lent started on Ash Wednesday and from now until Easter Sunday, there will be a vast bustle of activity as Antigua hosts the biggest Easter attraction in Latin America, so preparations are already under way for the climax of Semana Santa (Holy Week). This week-long event is a spectacular display of religious ritual and floral design, (rivalled only by a similar event that takes place in Seville, Spain). The cobbled stones and church altars are covered in carpets of flowers known as alfombras, made up of coloured sawdust, flowers, petals, corozo, berries, fruits and vegetables, with elaborate designs made using stencils.

In the three main churches in Antigua every Friday during Lent, they prepare a scene related to Christ’s death and resurrection..called a Velacion with a unique carpet design within the church. Every church is responsible for arranging and organising its own floats and carpets so preparations for Holy Week have already started.
Town has been busier than ever as more people visit the city to shop and also catch a glimpse of the preparations…..even Volcan Fuego has been busier than ever, puffing out grey blue smoke on a daily basis!
Last Sunday I once again visited the Mayan market held every weekend in Antigua and Lesley showed me a lovely new café hidden on the way out of town. Perfect for a cup of tea and scone with lemon cream!!!!

This weekend my friend Bob arrives from England and I am really looking forward to a familiar face and long chats in the many cafes and restaurants around town.

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Warmer weather......

2009-02-22T02:22:00.000-08:00

This week we decided to improve the ward by putting up some more posters on the walls to try to stimulate the children a little more as they spend quite a bit of time inside. So armed with some quetzals(local currency!!) we went off to the market in search of the usual Disney characters, as well as Kung Fu Panda and Spiderman…… very popular with the older boys. There was quite some excitement as the more able children returned to find new stickers on their cots and the walls. Sadly most of the younger ones are unaware, but we know and we hope that it will help. Strangely enough, after my comments last week about the one and only CD, the hospital received a donation of CD’s and DVD’s from the USA. The CD’s are being used in the wards, but the DVD’s will be used in other wards with much older and more able children, as well as in the school within the hospital.
This week I had quite a strange experience with a couple of the children. Usually the children are fed in their chairs but if they are unsettled or unhappy we take them in our laps and feed them. So one morning I picked up a little boy and as I settled him in my lap his mouth started searching for a breast, I was surprised as it had never happened before. I later found out the reason why. Many of these children, when they go home during the vacation, go to very poor families. Often the families have at least two or three much younger children. Consequently the mother breast feeds them all, because its much cheaper to feed the mother than all the children as well.

The children have been much more settled this week. The onset of warmer weather has meant that we have been spending quite a bit of time out in the garden playing with them and getting the older ones to try and walk a bit in their walkers, or try to crawl across the floor. Though most just want to cling onto my legs and get a free ride!! The physiotherapy pool is being prepared, it is being cleaned and the heaters checked as the temperature has to be just right to ensure the children don’t seize up while in it. Hopefully we will be able to use it next week. … and yes I have been asked if I can help with that as well which of course I will!!
This week, we have also been cleaning and sorting the store cupboards, where one of the nurses discovered new bowls, curtains and blankets, so I have once again spent quite some time labelling everything in black nail varnish. The older, more able children have sat and watched, so I have now started to call out the letters and encourage them to try to repeat and recognise them. The aim of every day here is to try and stimulate the children as much as possible and enable them to make connections at all levels.

I have also been going into work at the weekends and assisting with the usual daily routine jobs and have some time to chat with the nurses. Which we all enjoy, as I get some help with my Spanish and they laugh and giggle and have fun as I struggle...

I mean its easy to mistake bibs(baberos) with drinks(bebidas) !!

Lesley leaves on Sunday to spend a week in the villages translating for a team of doctors from the USA. She is leaving me in charge!!!

Ermita De La Santa Cruz
Antigua

This week Antigua has been hosting The Piaz International Festival of Culture, held every two years since 1991. It is now one of the most important cultural festival in Central America. The programme includes, dance, music, opera, theatre and more. It is held to promote and contribute to the cultural development of Guatemala and the performances are held in some old ruins just outside Antigua. Having read about it, I bought a ticket to go and see a dance performance. I took a tuk tuk to the ruins and was not disappointed by the setting…the old crumbling church ruin surrounded by trees set against the blue skies was perfect, just as the sun was going down and the evening light was changing, a slight chill in the air. It reminded me of my desire to go to the open air Opera performance in Verona.. Within minutes the place was full as many people from all over Guatemala and surrounding countries took their seats to see the dance performances by a group of international stars. The performance was ‘Forever Tango’. It was enjoyable though a little too long for me……..as I left and searched for a tuk tuk to take me safely home, the sky was darker and the stars twinkled as the dancers prepared for their final late night show, which would undoubtedly be much more dramatic!
There have been many groups playing marimba music in the streets watched and applauded by passers by on their way from one place to another. The warm evenings has meant that more people have been out and about in the park to enjoy the dusk drawing in and the tress fill with the constant chatter of birds. It has also provided an opportunity for various brass bands to serenade the families and couples enjoying the evening air and the constantly changing landscape of the volcano .
As we move into March, the city prepares for its most famous event; Santa Semana week, and I prepare to visit Guatemala city to see SANTANA in concert at the stadium… who would have
thought!!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight

Xxx

LOVE IS IN THE AIR......

2009-02-13T12:46:00.000-08:00

HAPPY

VALENTINES

DAY!!!!!

A week of love…..

The weeks seem to be passing by so quickly at the moment. I cant believe I have been here for six months now.

This week we had 3 new volunteers and I spent quite a bit of time with them talking to them and showing them round! Like me when I first started, they are absolutely surprised by the place and compare it to Europe! ( they are from Holland and Germany). They have many questions and are constantly questioning routines and management of the children, I have to remind them that they cannot compare Guatemala and this hospital to those in Europe. One other volunteer, a nurse in Holand, made it for 3 days and then left as so often happens. But its good to get some help as we are almost full to capacity and there is much to do. This week two of the children have been unwell and have needed extra attention, while others have been suffering from a fever…maybe a reaction to the injections they had last week. And they all need a lot of love and attention at the moment…

The onset of much warmer weather has meant that the children get to sit in the sun and the trips to the park have started. This week I went off with one of the older children for a walk around the park to enjoy the sun and the water in the fountain together.

New rocking chairs arrived at the beginning of the week so the children have been falling asleep in our laps and many of the older children have been totally relaxed by the rocking movements. Necessary as many are still adjusting to being back. I spent some time with the older children holding them and gently rocking them, while singing along with the only children’s CD they have here. This boy cries practically all the time and yet loved being held and rocked, it wasn’t easy but he soon fell asleep. Another much appreciated donation to the hospital.

Another person, a missionary, is also organising quilts for the children’s beds , so Lesley and I spent one morning measuring and noting all the different size quilts we will need for the children in both the wards…almost 60 children.

My usual duties continue, along with more bottle labelling as more children arrive.

Today ( Friday) there was a party for valentines day!! Again, the ward was decorated with hearts and balloons and we had cakes and ice cream for the children as well as games and a piñata, which was enjoyable to watch!
Some visitors came by and gave all the nurses and Lesley and I chocolates as a thank you for the work we do....especially for Valentines day!!

For me this has been a special week as the nurses invited me to their special lunch and included me in the ‘secret gift’ for each other. I really feel (officially) a part of the team now, and was so happy. We enjoyed lunch while the children relaxed after their cakes and ice creams. There was much chattering but a lot passed me by… they speak so fast, but Lesley told me later that they feel that I am a part of the team and am always ready to help where ever it is needed.
I left the hospital exhausted and happy at the end of the week,with a huge grin on my face and walked back to my place with Lesley ……

ANTIGUA....

Volcan Fuego

I continue to find Antigua’s volcanoes fascinating as they look different everyday. Most days they stand stoic against clear blue skies and on others they are obscured, almost non existent, by the low lying clouds which race across the sky. This week Fuego, at a height of 3,763m, was fuming and was amazingly dramatic early one morning. Fuego has had frequent dangerous eruptions in recent years though generally not without warning!! Its last major eruption was in 1974. This is the one which has its red volcanic rock glowing at night as one head back towards Antigua. All the three volcanoes form a majestic backdrop to the tiny town of Antigua nestled in a valley below. Some days the sky is so clear that its possible to see its contours and vegetation.
So one morning, hot and fuming with passion, it stopped people in the street as they looked up in wonder and hoped that that was all it was going to do!

Guatemala really does enjoy every single day of celebration, there is always something going on……and this week it’s the preparation for Valentines day!!
Piñatas being delivered to shops, big and small ones…great for hiding gifts for that special person, piñatas in the windows with hearts, flowers and lights and special valentine dining offers encouraging everyone to celebrate love!!!

Horses decorated with special ribbons and bows, horse and carriages get a face lift, and are adorned with roses and red and white ribbons awaiting the arrival of couples over the weekend from many places….
One afternoon as I walked through the park there was a huge crowd and lots of talking and laughter and soft music playing. Walking towards it I saw that there was a wedding in the park, a gloriously happy couple who were still at school!! I looked on as they posed with their school friends…..amazing. I wasn’t prepared to question it, but to just enjoy it and share in its moment.
This weekend beckons with many activities in and around the park for everyone to enjoy. I shall go and watch and listen and think of all my loved ones all over the world.

Celebrate and be happy…….
You know!!
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

The Roller Coaster Ride continues........

2009-02-06T13:11:00.000-08:00

This week has been much more difficult as we felt the full extend of the problems that arise when children go home for a while. Prior to leaving for their holidays all the families were given one set of medication and if the children needed more the parents would have to provide it. This is all the parents have to do in terms of contribution/ responsibility. However, as all of the children come from very poor families, the cost of the medication is way beyond their means, and so many of them went weeks without medication. Hence this week we have had to deal with many seizures and dietary problems. I have found the seizures the most difficult to deal with. The children are so frail. Others have sores on their bodies because at home they were probably just left in one position and bed sores developed easily, and without treatment for weeks, they just get worse. Some children have returned malnourished and are back on special diets to get their weight back up, and others are being monitored to ensure they are where they should be chemically.

We also had a new addition to the ward / family, as one of the boys from the nutritional ward was transferred down to us. One of ours is still there but making little progress now…..

This week the children were also inoculated against the cold, as they are all very prone to infections. I was quite anxious as I was expecting lots of crying but I was absolutely amazed as not one of them cried. I went in with Perla, and watched her flinch and then just carry on as normal. When I said I was surprised…I was told it was all relative. Many of these children have experienced so much pain or are doing so on a daily basis that a needle is nothing. I felt really sad.

So lots of cuddling and hugging this week for all, as they sat in their chairs with jumpers and woolly hats that had been donated to the hospital!!

Luckily for me this week, distraction came in the form of new bottles. So I was given the task of labelling once again, and as I was doing this for our ward, the sister from the next ward asked if I would do theirs too. So Lesley arrived with bottles and a huge list of names!! Of course I said…not realising that I would have to sit out on a table in the cold for the next two hours, hands freezing painting names on bottles with black nail varnish. After I finished I had a huge cup of Chai tea at a local café to warm me up. I needed it!!
As always I have continued with my usual duties, giving me some time to think about everything. When you have to fold hundreds of sheets and clothes, and wash as many dishes and bottles, there is plenty of time to think. I can only hope that most people know and appreciate just how lucky they really are……..

ANTIGUA......

Antigua's three volcanoes early one morning...........

Its been unusually cold this this week, and so have wandered the streets of Antigua clad in jumpers and scarves, hands deep in my pockets to keep warm. However the natural beauty of the place has been enhanced by the colourful purple blossoms of the Jacaranda trees, the ground below covered in a carpet of fallen blooms. It remindes me of Nairobi. One day, in amongst this beauty I saw a crowd of people walking in the street all clad in black leaving a trail of incense behind them. It was a funeral. Here everyone walks in the streets to the funeral and to the cemetery, bringing the traffic to a standstill. Its amazing to see all the car and tuk tuk drivers wait patiently and respectfully watching the procession and allowing it to pass peacefully. Not a horn is hooted or a shout heard.......
This week I also had the chance to hear about, and meet, a woman from USA who has just spent two years in Guatemala going through the process of adopting a Guatemalan child. There are a lot of Americans here trying to adopt, but lately its become very difficult. In the past there have been many reports of children being kidnapped and taken across the border and sold. So the government has introduced new procedures to make it more difficult. This means that the child and adoptive parents have to have a DNA test at the beginning of the whole process and at the end. Before leaving the country they have to have the test again to ensure that the right child is leaving the country with the right parent. The government also insists that the child’s birth certificate shows the name given by his/ her natural parents. The adoptive parents can then change the name in USA if they wish, which most do. It is a long process costing thousands and thousands of dollars and a minimum of two years. I listened with interest as she explained her ordeals with lawyers and red tape at both ends, but her endurance and patience shone through. She is now awaiting an interview with the US department before leaving for USA with her son.
I said good bye and wished her luck.

As I walked through the park that evening, I looked at all the families and the small, beautiful children. Laughing and crying, talking and sulking, running and falling, eating and drinking, they were all enjoying life in the company of their families. I sat on a bench, watching them and thinking about mine…so far way and so much older..but still children, and more importantly, and hopefully as happy as I am just thinking about them........

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

An Emotional Week.....

2009-01-30T16:34:00.000-08:00

Wow!! Its been a real roller coaster emotional ride this week as the children returned from their homes one by one. Much of the beginning of the week was taken up with preparing the ward, I put the wall displays back up, relabelled each and every cot with each child’s name, and prepared the daily activities board with Lesley. As the week progressed, everyday the ward was filled with sounds of crying and utter unhappiness as many of the children said good bye to their parents and families. We looked on helpless, we had been happily awaiting their return and had not given much of a thought to their feelings…. some however were glad to come back. As each child arrived the nurses bathed them and weighed them and checked them to ensure they were fine. Some had lost weight, some had blisters and sores on their bodies , and some had put on weight and had obviously been spoilt at home. Overall I got the feeling that all of them had loved being with families. There is nothing like unconditional love.
So, much of the time this week was spent playing and hugging and loving the children which was just wonderful, many falling asleep on our chests after bouts of crying, getting them adjusted to being back.
As I walked in one morning I heard my name being called by one of the older children, a huge grin across his face, proudly showing me his haircut!! He was happy to be back. I felt happy as I started the day greeting each child and then feeding them. The amount of work has multiplied which means we are busier than ever. But am still enjoying the washing up, preparing the feeds as well as helping with the laundry…tons of it!! Hopefully next week the children will be more settled .
The hospital is also in the process of setting up a sensory room and I have the opportunity to be involved in that… am looking forward to a new challenge.

Big day today as I noticed that Perla has started to coordinate her eye movements!!!!!

Zootime!!!

I have now had the chance to visit Guatemala City twice, thanks to Lelsey. One day we headed off for a day in Guatemala City. First stop: Guatemala Zoo. A queue of children and families waited patiently as we waited in the small area leading into the zoo. The zoo is quite small but well organised. It relies on contributions and sponsorship to keep it going, and they have really tried to make it interesting for the visitors. Meandering down the walkways, I felt happy and was glad to be near animals again. Memories of being in Africa and Borneo came flooding back. Though nothing can replace seeing animals in their natural environment, I smiled as I watched the excited children, eyes wide open and pointing at every animal, mimicking their calls or just looking; mouths wide open. It also started the debate on the pros and cons of having a zoo.
I still maintain that nothing can beat the wonder of a person when they see a new life form for the first time. I have constantly been reminded of this on all the trips I have been on with children and young people……
I saw my first, quite beautiful, birds of Guatemala and Central America.
Second stop: A shopping precinct and ‘Cemaco‘. This was a real eye opener, as I had no idea that such a place could be found here…this is where the wealthy and the many ex pats living in Guatemala shop!! It was like being in a store in Europe as I walked past designer shops and coffee shops before entering Cemaco and its ‘everything you could want for your house’. Lesley and I walked up and down every aisle until I found what I was looking for…… a salad spinner!!!!
Later we headed back to the car park and made our way up the winding road heading back to Antigua ,and as we climbed higher we could see the lights of Guatemala City in the valley below, shimmering and sparkling in the distance. The sky an almost mirror image above…………

The volcano on my way to work this morning.....

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Promoted????.....

2009-01-24T15:18:00.000-08:00

That’s how I felt this week when I was allowed to prepare and administer the drip feeds for some of the children..all of course under the watchful eye of the sister. There are a few children who cannot eat so the food has to be pumped straight into the stomach, or through a tube in the nose, so for me it was quite something to remove the syringe and replace it with the nozzle of the ‘bolsa’ and then remove it when they had finished. I felt good about this I must admit, then it was back to routine tasks; the washing up, laundry and preparing feeds. On Sunday the children return to their respective wards as most will be back by then. So we have been preparing both wards for that. Another task this week, Lesley decided, was to rewrite the ward board with information about each child and organise the files. So I was happy helping with that as well as writing dates of births of each child in their files. I did some more bottle writing, and rumour is we are getting a whole batch of new ones very soon so you can guess what I will be doing! Next week work will be very busy as we get our 43 children back and the other ward gets its 22.

Good news this week as one of the children who was very sick is off the drip now and almost back to normal . I visited the other child who was taken to the nutritional ward as his weight was dropping just before Christmas…he’s put on 2lbs… so we are all very happy. Hopefully he can return to the ward before long. After all the jobs were done I had some time to hold and play with Perla and the other children.

Had a real laugh this week when Lesley found Perla wearing a ridiculous pink cap with blond locks coming out of it!!!

IXIMCHE
This week I visited Iximche; the first capital of Guatemala City. We headed off out of Antigua onto the Pan American Highway… running from Tierra Del Fuego in Argentina at one end to Anchorage in Canada on the other ( with a few breaks I think). Through breathtaking landscape we climbed up over 2000m, to get to Tecpan, and Iximche. Iximche was founded in 1470 by the kaqchikeles (one of Guatemala’s Mayan tribes). It is set on the banks of a volcano with views across the land and surrounded by pine forests. In its heyday it is believed that 10, 000 people lived there. The city was the capital from 1524 -1526 when after some rebellions, the Spaniards finally burned the city down in 1526. Though not so very popular with tourists, it is a beautiful site with many interesting ruins, arenas and remnants of ‘palaces’. Though all overgrown and empty, I felt some peace and tranquillity within it, and it is very easy to imagine the life of the people there during that time. From that height it was possible to see the small pueblos surrounding the site as well as the majestic Volcanoes which continue to dominate the landscape. Rumour has it that after

President Bush visited the site, holy men of Mayan tribes came to perform a special ceremony to cleanse the site!! People still return there to carry out rituals and ceremonies to assist them through their lives.

As for us we enjoyed the tranquillity and headed back down to the third capital of Guatemala: Antigua, ( Ciudad Vieja being the second, and Guatemala City the current and fourth capital) passing the now familiar site of workers from the campos returning home after a hard day in the fields, and later young men and women beautifully dressed will go and sit in Tecpan’s central park and find love………..

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Busy Week

2009-01-17T16:06:00.000-08:00

Clear blue skies have greeted me in the mornings on the way to work this week, this has also meant that its been very cold this week. Many of the children have been suffering from colds and minor chest infections, as such most of the time has been spent inside. Two of the boys had to go to Guatemala City for tests and scans. I have been doing my usual duties on a daily basis but this week Lesley set me another challenge. Every day we have to make up a certain number of bottles for each child, and each child has his or her own formula made up which we bring down from the nutrition unit. The bottles have to filled exactly and ordered and refrigerated for the remainder of the day. Each bottle has to be labelled clearly to avoid mistakes………many of the bottles have been here for a long time and the names have worn off. So this week I had to clean quite a few of the bottles and relabelled them with black nail varnish, a very long task requiring patience and a steady hand. So I spent quite some time doing that…..I just wished I could have started with a whole bunch of new bottles as the thinners to remove the paint also practically removed the skin from my fingers!! They do look better though., despite comments about my OCD!!
We await next week when many of the children will begin to return and we will move back to our ward. I am really looking forward to it.

Out and about….Santa Maria de Jesus….
This week I took a bus (chicken bus) to Santa Marie de Jesus about 20 minutes away from Antigua. At an altitude of 2080 metres , it is a village of unpaved streets and bamboo fences. Families live in small houses often with just one room, some with their animals. Most of the people work in the fields, growing mainly maize and vegetables. The hills are a patchwork of fields of different colours and products at different stages of cultivation. The corn fields ate yellow and ready to harvest. Many of the houses are still very old and built with bamboo and wood and don’t have water so the town is full of water points and in the centre there is a ‘tanque’ where all the women go to wash their clothes, it reminds me a lot of India, the similarities continue to amaze. Most of the people wear the traditional clothes of the Mayans, often made by themselves and usually blue in colour. As evening approached it was amazing to see all the families returning home after a hard day in the fields, often working for 10 hours at a time. Men, old and young walked up hills carrying wood and products as well as food for their animals, women and children helped, often leading horses and donkeys, as they made their way back, their feet squelching in their Wellingtons. Sharp knives and scythes in their sheaths strapped across their men’s chests or around their waists. The sun in the summer and the harsh winds and cold of the winter having left traces of their presence on the faces, life expectancy for most; often not more than about 45 years. Small children, already armed with the knowledge of cultivations and the wrath of time of the different seasons laughed and joked as they too helped their families, having attended school for just half a day. Carrying wood and food home being far more important than books.
As I walked through the streets back to wait for the bus to return to Antigua, I could see small spiral of smoke rising form the houses and the smell of fresh tortillas being roasted over an open fire. Gentle tones of ranchera music cascaded into the streets. Young couples arrived at the bus stop, all dressed up to go to Antigua for the evening. Going in the opposite direction, a bus from Antigua arrived bringing back family members who had travelled to Antigua to sell their products. Dropping off passengers and their wares, it began its journey down into the next town, a group of young children running behind desperately trying to catch a ride on the ladder at the back of the bus.

You cant help but smile and will them to get on and have their 2 minutes of fun. The sun going down, the top of Agua obscured by clouds and the night chill drawing in, I returned to the comfort of my home in Antigua.

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Almost back to normal......

2009-01-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

10th January….Perla’s Birthday
Christmas and new year festivities over and the hospital is almost back to normal. During December, most of the clinics were closed for painting and decorating, and cleaning but they are all slowly opening up now and so in the mornings when I go in, there are long queues of people waiting to be seen, mostly very poor people who cannot afford to pay for treatment.
Often travelling for hours by bus from the farms and fields as there are no free medical services facilities in the small villages and towns. Sometimes doctors go out to the villages to set up temporary surgeries, these tend to be few. Its difficult for the people of the villages, living hard and challenging lives, struggling to stay alive.

Our ward is still fairly quiet as the children who went home for the break don’t start returning till the 15th of January, so we are preparing the ward for their return, cleaning and spraying etc…Despite their absence its been hectic this week, as we have had a group of physiotherapists from the USA in to work with the children and to give advice to volunteers to enable them to help the children more. So lots of new activities and ball games and advice on how to hold the children, and help them develop control over some parts of their bodies, its been interesting, but like so many initiatives, there is insufficient time to actually follow through and see some results. This is mainly because the hospital relies heavily on voluntary contributions and volunteer practitioners and so, often this is in short bursts But as we all know, every bit helps and makes a difference……

Perla had her 6th Birthday today, so I went into work and bought cake and ice cream for the staff and children to celebrate. As she can’t eat solids, she licked some cream from the spoon, winced a bit and then smiled to reveal her two canine teeth!!! You cant help but smile when they smile or even laugh, though this happens rarely with some of them. One child smiled today…it’s the first time I have seen him smile since I have been here, I just got up and gave him a huge hug…what a highlight to the day!

Around Antigua…..

I was really surprised to come out of my house and see a huge queue in the street with lots of police and blocked streets. They must have been there very early since it was only 7.30. The queue was outside the national registry office. Apparently at the beginning of every year people have to register the usual births, deaths and marriages, but also their children if they are starting school, or leaving school or indeed changing schools. Each child has to have an official paper from the office stating the names of the parents and a stamp. Before, this could be done in the small villages and towns, but now the rule has changed and it has to be done in the main city of the Department, and Antigua is the main one for Sacatepequez. Hence people coming in early to get registered and get back to work. Primary education is compulsory until 16, but only about 35 % of the children make it to secondary school, most have to work., so only 60-65% of Guatemalans over 15 are literate, of this 70% are women!

I finally got to visit some of the small villages around Antigua and see the difference between them and Antigua, which in comparison is a modern city with all possible amenities. I also visited a coffee farm and a music museum, both very interesting and enjoyable… and a chance for me to practice my Spanish. I am amazed by the similarities between the Mayan Indians here and those of the North American Indians as well as Indians from India. Not just with music, religion and customs and philosophy, but also with the importance of spirituality in daily life.…..No wonder it feels like home ….

Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

2009... A new Year.....

2009-01-04T14:40:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A change this week as I started work with some of the older children from the other ward we have merged with. Its been quite something to adjust to it and gain confidence from them, in many ways it’s like starting all over again. At first I was somewhat reluctant as they are so set in their ways that anything or anyone new destabilizes them. I have found it quite challenging to work with them, feeding them is usually not that much of an issue but brushing teeth etc is really hard and they are so strong! Needless to say I have been pinched and almost bitten a couple of times! I also think they find it hard to adjust to the little children from our ward, as they cry a lot, especially in the morning when they are hungry.
Most of these youngsters have been here for years, their stories not being un similar to the younger ones. Most of them come from Mayan families who traditionally work the land and have many children, both to help with the land and bring in some extra cash. When a disabled child is born its very difficult for the family to cope as everyone has to work. The mothers work in the fields with the children strapped to their backs until they get too heavy, then they have to address the issue as its impossible to know what to do with them. Food is scarce so these children don’t get much and often end up malnourished. Despite trying, its almost impossible for the family to keep the children and so have to abandon them, or get them placed in hospitals like ours. I am convinced its not easy for the families, but I feel they have no option as they have to consider the rest of the family.
I believe we all have to make choices , often very difficult ones……….

2009 ARRIVES
The week started with a demonstration in Central Park, The vendors form the market were demonstrating about the possible changes to the traffic system which would make it difficult for them to load theirs goods on and off cars and trucks. It was a comparatively small demonstration, but still required the presence of many police and soldiers. It is, I think the first time I have known some form of unrest here, but it was very peaceful. The situation was resolved late afternoon as it was announced that everything would be left as it was. The people’s voice was heard!!!! So the outcome was celebrated with dancing and music in the streets………..

Every celebration here involves fireworks!!! So from Midday new year’s eve the fireworks started as people filled the streets of Antigua to join in the celebrations. Huge firework displays had been organised at various points in the city to ensure a 360 degrees display for everyone to enjoy. Around 8.00O clock some of us walked down 5th Avenue to see all the shops lit up, marimba bands playing in the streets, and a display of ‘Baile de Gigantes. Huge paper mache figures dancing through the streets. Families gathered around, children on their parents shoulders hanging on tight, many with headbands lit up with large sticky out micky mouse blue ears or devils horns!! Very strange indeed. We walked along making our way to Central Square for more celebrations before heading off to Lesley’s house and the roof top, where we drank wine and tea and awaited the midnight hour. We were not disappointed as all around the city beautiful fireworks lit up the sky, all different and spectacular. In the distance the small villages in the mountains had their own displays which could be spied through the clouds. Drifting though the night sky were glittering paper balloons sent adrift with hot air from lit candles, twinkling in the skies, left to drift across the mountains and soar up into the sky with hopes and wishes for the new year. Car alarms went off nearby as bomberos went off with their ear splitting bangs! And as if on cue Volcan Agua gave out a huge burst of fire and smoke, hopefully just a small reminder of its existence, joining in the celebrations. Around 1.30 the displays came to an end and I made my way back through the busy smoke filled ,and still celebrating streets and back to my flat and my own hopes and wishes for the new year.........
Enjoy

Adios amigos

Goodnight

Xxx

Back Again.....

2008-12-28T09:39:00.000-08:00

After a rather long and incredibly difficult journey back to Antigua, I was really happy to walk through the doors of Obras Sociales del Santo Hermano Pedro and walk the familiar corridor to the children’s ward. I was amazed by how quiet it was despite being 7.30am. The decorations were up, and sparkling and twirling in the morning sun and breeze, a small nativity scene greeted me as I walked through the ward doors, a small candle illuminating the family. In the past few weeks the two adjoining wards have been combined into one as quite a few children have gone for the Christmas break. So this time I walked through unfamiliar doors into another ward and was really happy to see some familiar faces. And you know who I was looking for…. and there she was wide awake and ready for her bottle. Perla in her pink and red pyjamas. Rolling up my sleeves I started the usual days work (after giving her a big kiss and hug)…feeding, washing dishes, and now preparing the bottles for the day and, after all that was done, I changed Perla and sat with her to catch up and sing some festive songs…….. also caught up with Lesley and all the news about the children. Perla was supposed to go but was not collected. I felt very sad for her even though I know she does not realise it.
One of the children we were worried about was moved to Intensive care and is now doing much better and has put on 1 lb. Another however has developed some additional problems so needs a lot more attention. There are only a few nurses on the ward and I am the only volunteer so we are kept pretty busy. Christmas day was like any other as we went about our daily work, BUT the radio played Christmas carols and some of the children were taken to the cathedral for mass. Some families came for a few hours to visit their children. The rest of the week went by in a whirl as I adjusted to being back…….

Home again!!

Paula and I in the park...Christmas Day and Night!!

Central Park during the day and at night...

Christmas Day 2008!!

I have spent some time settling into my new home and making it mine with my things I brought back from England!! Christmas here is big. On Christmas Eve the whole centre of town was lit up and everyone was out and about. Firecrackers had been going off all day to celebrate and then in the evening there was a most amazing firework display till 1.30am. Everyone was aghast as they looked up at the sky being illuminated with a thousand and one colours and lights, small children smiled, some cried and some blocked their ears to the booming sounds echoing through the valley, but all enjoying the fiesta. Santa walked amongst the families providing an opportunity to have a picture taken...no gifts exchanged hands here. As the impressive show finished we all walked back home through the streets littered with torn bits of paper from the fire crackers, as well as discarded food and drinks containers. The strong smell of phosphorus hung in the night air. It was time to go home and open presents and prepare the Christmas dinner. I thought of you all, probably getting ready for Boxing day breakfast. I missed everyone.

The next day, Christmas day, I was told to go home before 12 noon. The reason being that at midday on Christmas day every family in every street lets off hundreds of firecrackers, and yes it was amazing and very noisy for two hours!! Once again streets were littered as I ventured out in the afternoon, men already sweeping the streets and the park. Many places were open for coffe and cake and lunches for tourists and residents alike, but not a turkey in sight!!

This weekend its being at home and catching up on household chores. Next week beckons with the promise of a new year with many new beginnings and so much more……..
WISHING EVERYONE PEACE, LOVE, HAPPINESS AND JOY FOR 2009 AND BEYOND…..

Enjoy
Adios Amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

INTERMISSION

2008-11-29T06:15:00.000-08:00

SAD WEEK...

Work has been relatively quiet as all but 16 children have now returned to their homes. Two more are expected to go including Perla, but its not certain. One child has had to return to the special nutritional unit as he is losing weight far too rapidly and cant be fed by mouth. Each and every cot is being cleaned and disinfected, as are all the mattresses and wheelchairs. Carpets are being taken out and washed and cupboards and drawers fumigated. Next we will wash and sort out all the toys and books and try to get some order into the place.
I feel sad as the end of week approaches.

BUT, I will be back in a couple of weeks and I look forward to that…….

New home…

Well its certainly been a very busy week since I last wrote. I finally moved into my flat and then spent two days just trying to buy all the things I need in the house…like cutlery and plates, and of course food now that I finally get a chance to cook my own food!!!
I have also had two crazy worries: firstly at the beginning of the week being told that the time for my connecting flight is insufficient as there is only 50 minutes between landing and take off!!! You can imagine my concern. So I rechecked the next day and the next to be told yesterday that it has changed again, and now I have 2 hours for a turn around so no problems…but…..
Last week I had to send off my passport for a renewal of visa and it was meant to be back today and its not! So again frantic calls and visits beckon, I should have it tomorrow!! By the way I could not have sent it earlier as they don’t process visas until the week they expire!
Hopefully by Saturday all will be fine and then it will just be the anxious waiting for the taxi on Sunday morning to get me to the airport on time.
All being well I should be in London on Monday, 1st December in the morning ready to see everyone. I expect to be away for two weeks before returning to Antigua to continue my work.

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT, KIND WORDS, GENEROSITY AND LOVE AND CARE THROUGH THESE PAST FEW MONTHS.

Despite being away from everyone I have never felt really alone, knowing that you are all with me providing support and strength.

To be honest I never really liked the idea of a keeping a blog, but now I am just so happy as you have all been able to share this journey with me. Thank you Raju for convincing me and setting it up and everyone who helped answering all the practical and technical questions, and there have been many!!!!
So until I return .
Take care and stay safe
Enjoy
Adios Amigos
Goodnight

Xxx

Changes.....

2008-11-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

Strange times

After the party last Friday this week has been really strange. Arriving on Monday morning I was surprised to find that only one of the children’s family had come to pick her up. The nurses spent one hour with them explaining about her medication and food requirements. They seemed strangely uninterested in the whole episode, I suspect they were worried about the next few weeks. I asked the nurses and they said maybe more families will come during the week.
Tuesday and 5 more had left some of the younger ones who don’t need a lot of attention, just adequate feeding and a lot of loving. I raced over to Perla’s cot to find that she was still there. I was told that she probably wont go, although she does have a family on the register. I felt quite sad at this revelation.
Sadly I had to have a day off this week as was suffering from a cough and a slight fever. I was packed off home by the nurses.
Friday morning and back at work, it was fairly quiet as many of the children had left over the past two days. It was strange not to see all the usual faces and hear the usual sounds and greetings. I was feeding a young boy when his family arrived. The mother had a baby on her back and two toddlers walking behind and another girl holding the grandma’s hand. I was amazed. The nurse introduced me to the mum and I handed over the bottle and walked to another child. After 5 minutes she came over and told me that he was not feeding. We told her that he took at least 40 minutes to finish one bottle!! So I took over while they consulted with the doctors and nurses before leaving. Some of the families live very far away and on farms in basic accommodation so I can understand their anxieties. We are all concerned about the children but also know that we have to let them go and hope that all will be fine.
The boy I am looking after is doing much better now though he has his ups and downs, he will not be going home as he is far too ill and is still being feed through a tube.

The weekend beckons and I suspect more will leave over the weekend. Its just not the same with so many away, I dread to think what next week will be like. On the other hand,, I did get to wash the whole playground with cold water on a cold and windy day…… despite my cold there is always work to be done!!
I wonder what next week will bring?

A PROBLEM.....

These past few weeks I am beginning to realise that its going to be very difficult to keep the blog interesting!!! Like everything else, after the dust has settled and new experiences arrive less frequently, it’s a real challenge to keep the momentum going. However I will try my best to keep it interesting with photos.
Next week is an exciting week for me, firstly because I will move into my own apartment and secondly I will be heading off to UK for about 2 weeks before returning to continue my work.
I have decided to find my own place because I need to be independent. The house I live in at the moment is quite a way out of town and in a rough area and the family, though very hospitable and friendly need their own space too. So have found a place right in the centre of town. It is safe , I will be able to cook my own meals and more importantly it is much cheaper.
This week I discovered a mayan market held outside a church ruin and had my first experience at Cine Lounge where I devoured a huge plate of nachos before going in to watch the latest Indiana Jones movie…..
Maybe there are more things to discover around Antigua after all.

The evening light at the moment is amazing and tonight walking home from town I took these
pictures of the volcano….its truly beautiful.
Enjoy
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

FUN AND GAMES.....

2008-11-14T12:08:00.001-08:00

Fue muy divertido.

Monday started with much excitement as we prepared the older children to attend a dance extravaganza!!! A group of dancers had been working with some of the staff and the more older patients at the hospital to put together a show. So we all lined up around the hall and as the first notes of the music started, everyone started to clap and cheer. Laughter filled the room as a group of older children in wheelchairs were wheeled onto the dance floor with their nurses and physiotherapists all dressed up in jeans, shades and leather jackets, yes it was time for Rock and Roll!! Lots of old rock and roll music, and of course Grease and to top it all an Elvis impression and a finale to Jailhouse Rock in Spanish, it was just fantastic. Then we all got onto the dance floor with our children in their wheelchairs and had a few turns and shakes around the dance floor It really was a lot of fun BUT I forgot to take my camera! Sorry no pics of Elvis in Antigua.

The other exciting news this week was that one of the children who had been taken to ICU returned needing a lot of care. So one of the tasks I was given was to give him his medicine in the mornings and then keep an eye on him during the day. Its hard to try to communicate when the only way he can communicate is through sounds of distress. So I talked to him and held his hands and stroked his head and arms etc until he was relaxed and able to sleep intermittently. I remembered how important it is to have someone near, some physical contact, when we are ill or unwell. This child has just half a kidney!! Its been a few days now and he is much better, and he is able to sit in his wheelchair and be out in the garden for a few hours each day. This makes us all very happy.
Its also been a week for cutting nails and checking for nits…not great but better than cleaning ears.

Today we had a party for all the children in the ward. .
The nurses all dressed up as clowns and we all entertained children from three wards, with music, pinayatas and of course cake and juice and finally small presents for each of the children. It was a really great day and the sun shone and music blared in the small garden. Visitors to the hospital watched from behind the gates and two families arrived to take their children home. By lunch time everyone was really exhausted. I think its great the way all the staff dress up and dance and entertain the children whenever possible.

From next week some of the children will start going home to their families for the Christmas period . Though this is good it is also a time of high anxiety. Some of the children who have been fed through tubes have had the tubes removed and we have been bottle feeding them in preparation for their trip home. This is not easy as it inevitably takes a very long time to get just one, or even a half a bottle of milk down. This can be a problem for the family. In the past many children have returned underfed and some with broken bones or other problems because the family just cant cope with them. An anxious time indeed.
Though many are signed out to be with their families, we don’t know how many families will actually turn up….. We hope that many will.

They wll go home with presents

A Quiet Time in Antigua........

The Famous Fountain and Cathedral in Antigua.

CAFE SKY.......Last weekend I decided to stay around Antigua and visit some of the places around here, and catch up with some friends who have now left after 2 months here. I also went to the movies and saw Burn after Reading, the new Coen Bros movie, and that old classic Meet Joe Black.
A stroll around the market and a visit to Sky Café for some lovely views of the town on the roof top while sipping a cool drink!!!Also found some second hand book stores which I think I will be visiting regularly.
This weekend I will be in Antigua again catching up on the usual household chores, trip around the market and of course learning Spanish.
So till next week….
Adios Amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

GOOD NEWS.....

2008-11-07T12:54:00.000-08:00

Some good news arrived today; the heart surgery that one girl had to have recently was successful. The parents came in all smiles and thanked all the people who had helped them…..a few weeks ago when I heard about it, I used some of the money donated to me for Guatemala to help the family and make it possible for the little girl to have the operation. She is making a good recovery and should be back to normal very soon.
I have also contributed a sum of money to buy food for groups of very poor people, some of whom live in the streets. We shall be giving out the food on the 14th and 28th of November to help them through the next few weeks. Finally, because of your support, I have decided to buy Christmas presents for the children in the ward at the hospital and buy some food for their Christmas party. Most of them will be at the hospital over the Christmas period, we are hoping that some of the families will come to collect their children for a short visit home. I will also be working during this period as some of the nurses will be on leave.

A BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS.

The week has passed by very quickly again with much to do. Apart from the many of the now routine duties, I also accompanied a nurse and some children to church for mass. Many of the children have to go to mass regularly and so the volunteers help wheel them there. The ceremony lasted an hour and it was amazing to see some of the children who are normally very loud and uncontrolled, sit so very quietly and almost still during the service!! Though it was not without the odd scream or laughter! The new children have settled in well now and are a part of the family and luckily are putting on weight, today it took me almost 45 minutes to feed one of them, but he finished it all, we were all so happy at his achievement. The trips to the park have commenced again as the afternoon sun is quite strong and warm, this is great as the children really love it as do we!!

The weekends are really important here to get some time to relax after a week at work. Travelling in Guatemala is very cheap which has made it possible for me to visit many places. For example a return trip to Monterrico is £7.00. This weekend I may go to Copan in Honduras for the day with a friend; the return trip is £12.50. I also need to renew my visa before the 24th of November.

Hence the time to relax and get in some hiking or sightseeing!!

El Dia de los Muertos November 1st -2nd.

A cold chill blew as we boarded the bus for Santiago to witness this colourful and lively celebration. When we arrived in Snatiago the town was buzzing with people walking towards a cemetery high on a hill, running the gauntlet of store holders eager to sell kites as well as goods to make the most of this opportunity. The smell of food cooking on open fires greeted us as we reached the cemetery. Above us we could see some kites already air borne and swaying gently in the wind. This is a special ‘Day of the Dead’ where families decorate the graves, starting at 4.00am, and giant kites are set free in order to make a contact between the living and the dead. The kites being the vehicle of contact between the dead and the living. Tradition has it that kites are flown to clean the path for the souls as they visit the homes of their living relatives and families on the earth.

For me it was amazing to see the colours of the flowers and the decorations on the grave, quickly followed by the site of people sitting on the gravestones and tombs eating, drinking and talking, it had the atmosphere of a festival which of course it is! People selling food, eating and drinking, children playing with small kites of all sizes and colours. Then turning a corner we saw a huge kite, with amazing decorations and colours. (People start working on the kites months before the actual day, each outdoing the other in terms of size and colours.) The amount of work gone into making one of them must be incredible, the structure, the designs, the colours and then the huge flags for the top of each one. On the ground nearby a group of people were putting the finishing touches on another huge kite.

The size of the bamboo strung together to hold the shape was like huge scaffolding. Looking around we saw the main place from where the kites were being flown so we headed towards it, carefully stepping over the ropes holding the kites to ensure that we wouldn’t trip or indeed be picked up and dragged across the ground…..
Lifting a kite is quite something, at least 5 men hold the kite and as many young men are on the ground holding the rope, it soon becomes a tug of war against the wind. The most extraordinary thing is that people trample all over the graves as they are pulled backwards and forwards in an effort to keep the kite flying or indeed keep it from getting tangled up with other kites. I could not believe it as I am sure it would not be allowed anywhere else. Dust swirled around us as the youngsters clung on to the rope being pulled this way and that, the dust rising from the graves.

The sound of clapping filled the air as a kite lifted high and then just as quickly it turned into groans and shouts as everyone tried to evade it as it plummeted to the ground, enveloping families and groups of children… and us. Young men desperately tried to keep control of the rope and people jumped around trying not to get entangled in the mess. Once settled the task began again as the kites were repaired and taken to the main point. It really was spectacular. Apparently this goes on all night so that the spirits can return to the sky after meeting with their families.

By mid afternoon, four giant kites were up and on display and many others swayed in the sky guiding the spirits.. As dusk drew closer people wrapped up warm and tight against the evening air, children donned their multicoloured coats and hats and snuggled against their mothers. Music played and the festivities continued as we headed back through town to board our bus. Looking back I could see the twinkling lights of the lanterns and candles flickering on the hill and the gentle swaying of the kites slowly disappearing behind the dark clouds.
Enjoy
Adios amigos.
Goodnight

Xxx

WINTER CHILLS.......

2008-10-31T16:09:00.000-07:00

The past few days the weather has really changed. Its very cold with clear blue skies and a cold wind that rips through in the mornings. The sky is always striking blue and at night crystal clear so we can see the stars. It is time for winter clothing and to wrap up warm as I walk to work and stare at the sharp image of the volcano, if I reach out I am sure I could touch it!!
Sadly this also has an impact on the children because they are not allowed to go out much. However by late morning the temperature usually rises and we have a little stroll in the small garden adjacent to the dorms to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. This week I have continued to help with some of the other duties, like washing and preparing all the bottles for the day for all of the children., folding what feels like hundreds of clothes and sheets. This week also had me doing the worst job so far….cleaning the children’s ears!!! Won’t say anymore about that.

But there is always an opportunity to spend some quality time with some of the children.
Since the last time they were weighed, some of the children have lost weight, not good, and some have put some on , so the number of bottles per child per day has to be adjusted. For some of them it’s a worrying time. One child was taken into intensive care yesterday. We continue to have students helping out which is a great help. It has also been a week of getting to know two new children who have joined us. Both very scared and unsettled being away from the family. This one is …10 years old! She has a fantastic smile and is finally starting to take milk. One afternoon this week the children had a little party…getting the sweets from the pinayata by hitting it!! I wonder who invented that one? It was really great to see the children and other patients from other wards laughing and enjoying just being out.
On Thursday , Mallory, Timo and I decided to take three of the children to a café by the park. I think it’s the first time that they had been in there, but the people in the café were really kind and once again congratulated on our work.
Its not work we said…it’s a way of life!!!

MOUNTAINS AND SPRINGS.......
Last Saturday some of us woke up very early to meet the challenge of a 4 hour trek up a mountain. But first we had to get to the foot of the mountain in a pick up… well an animal pick up. Which for 45 minutes was fine as we hurtled, standing up, up and around some very unmade

and at times quite scary roads. My friend Romana and I clung to each other at times to gain

some balance…..great for me as she is very tall.

The climb was a challenge as it had been raining so it was very slippery and the steepness was a challenge even for the young ones. Once again I was aware of the age difference but managed to get to the top to view some spectacular landscape and lush greenery. We were very high up so it was amazing to see the clouds once again hugging the sides of the mountains, and in the forest, mist and clouds meandered through the very tall trees as the winds blew across the land. Spectacularly, running through the valley is a river which suddenly ventures underground leaving natural limestone bridges with cool pools of clear blue and green water on the surface…a perfect place for a dip after the huge climb. Sometimes I look across the landscape and realise that in so many ways it is just so different to other places, every place has a sense of the original Mayan culture resonating through it in so many ways. It certainly inspires me to travel through Latin America.
After about 30 minutes at the top we slowly started our descent back to the limestone bridges, where we all rushed into the clear waters and cooled off under the small cascades of flowing water, what a relief. We all talked and laughed until it got too cold, then we rushed out dragged on our clothes and climbed back onto the pick up for the rickety drive back for a hot cuppa.
Later we all enjoyed our ride back to our houses in Antigua and made plans for the following weekend when we would board a camianeta and head off to see the giant kite extravaganza, the day of the dead.

The night sky on our way home...

Adios amigos
Goodnight.
Xxx

early morning skies....

2008-10-23T14:41:00.000-07:00

Sunflowers and lilies for all of you from me .

With much love and look forward to seeing you all soon.

Enjoy!!!

xxxxxx

The rainy season continues......

This week another group of students arrived to help out with the children. Sadly the rain continued so often they were left frustrated and bored as they couldn’t really do much. So we encouraged them to massage the children’s arms and legs or read books to them. And for the more able we have some educational toys so it was time to count, and recognise colour and try or make basic sounds. But 4 hours is a long time to try to keep it all going. So finally some of them decided to help with the cleaning too. There was more to do then usual as the barber arrived in the middle of the week. So first, all the boys were taken one by one, to have their head shorn. The shorter the better as it makes the hair nit check easier!! It was quite amazing the difference it made especially as we decided to get some gel and give them all a new look. Which they loved. As for the girls, only the very young ones had their hair cut. This week also saw the arrival of a new child. She is ten years old and looks about 5. Malnourished, with rotten teeth and ulcers and a skin infection which is contagious, so we have to be very careful when we handle her to ensure we don’t pass it onto the other children. After two days she finally smiled and began to feel a little comfortable around us. Once again I was left to wonder how this could have happened. I believe she was carried on her mothers back without much attention or care or an acknowledgement of the fact that something as wrong with her. it’s a completely different world and life here for so many. One of the days was a public holiday and they were short staffed in the physiotherapy section, so I decided to help out with the older children. Activities like threading beads and shapes through string, so easy for us, are enormous tasks for many of them. But once again such joy when the mission is accomplished despite the length of time taken. Other activities included colour and shape puzzles and rolling on balls. It was also a time to check on the developments of the bones of the hands and feet which haven’t developed properly. The contraptions they have to have on are often painful and uncomfortable, strapped on tightly to maintain position and shape of the limbs. This is hard for them to bear and the children then cry intermittently for the rest of the day. It takes a lot of willpower to stop myself from just taking the things off and giving them some relief. But I have to remember that its for their benefit. Many of the problems are also caused as a result of oxygen deprivation at birth.
Three of the children had birthdays so we celebrated them all together with cake and ice cream, a favourite with children all over the world. For a few weeks now we have had Mallory with us which has been great . She is a natural with the children and 100% supportive of everything. Its great to have her with me.

Continual rain has also meant that the TV has been on in the wards all week for the older children. Frankly there is nothing like Tele Tubbies and Thomas the Tank Engine in Spanish to get the brain going in the morning……or indeed bring on another anxiety attack about my Spanish.

Morning Skies……

To escape the rain some of us decided to take a drive down to Monterrico again to find some sun. Alas Saturday was a bit of a washout.
Sunday dawned clear and bright as we walked down the street down to the jetty at 4.30 am to get a boat at 5.00am for a 2 hour trip through the mangroves. There was a slight chill in the air as we boarded the boat and it was almost time for sunrise. The silence was unbelievable as was the light at that time of the day.

I sat on the damp wood and remembered all the other times I have taken trips on the river

This ,however, was not a trip to see wild life but to look at the views and the volcanoes in the morning light. And it was amazing. I was unsurprisingly drawn to the amazing skies , the dramatic colours and clouds as we travelled down the river. As it grew lighter the mountains

revealed the strong contours of their height and the delicate clouds which floated past. Then just as the mist was clearing a sharp intake of air and a gasp, as I pointed at one of the three volcanoes which surround Antigua, it was pumping out hot pink smoke!! This was quickly followed by the numerous clicks and whirrs as all the digital cameras came out and people tried to capture the moment. The boat became unsteady as everyone jostled for the best view. I just watched as it slowly disappeared behind some clouds. Once again it was time to scan the horizon for more photo opportunities….
Later the sun came out so it was time for a little relaxing and a snooze in the hammock and then, lunch before our ride back to Antigua.
I am loving my work here and also am grateful that I have met some good people, and I am sure you are thinking how exciting it all is…. Well for us it is, but for everyone here its very normal!!

However I look forward to the next few weeks as we prepare for November 1st and 2nd…..The big kite flying extravaganza and of course the famous Day of the Dead!!
Other normal celebrations!!
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

2008-10-17T13:12:00.000-07:00

WET ...WET...WET...

Monday dawned cold and wet and the beginning of another week of rain. Bad news for us as it means that the children wouldn’t be able to go out, not even in the small veranda and garden adjacent to their dormitory. So it was time to tackle other jobs while the children stayed in their cots. I decided to help in the kitchen with the washing up, washing down the trolleys, after breakfast and help sort out the washed clothes, sheets, and blankets, and there are many!! The children are constantly being changed out of their wet clothes and nappies made of odd bits of cloth. I enjoyed doing this as it felt normal and a slight change from the usual day and an opportunity to use a little bit of Spanish. The week was also different because we had a group of schoolchildren helping us out. In many schools here, for the last week of term the students have to do a week of community service, and this week is the last week of term….schools break up till January 15th. Yes only one holiday per year. So the place was full of teenagers navigating themselves around children in wheelchairs and walkers, the nurses and the cots…… They were really good and didn’t seem at all phased by the kids in the hospital which I thought was amazing. Maybe we are too shielded from these situations. I thought it was a really good idea, maybe other schools should consider it!! Oh and they all wanted to hear me talk because they loved my English accent!!
One day it was quite sunny so we took the children swimming again and they really had a great time again splashing about or just floating , the physiotherapists get in as well to help with some exercises. This is always followed by a rush to get them into dry clothes before they run the risk of getting sick.
Two of the children this week were ill. One was Perla who vomited all over me and then had to be confined to her cot wrapped up in blankets and another boy who had too many convulsions in the night. Many of the children have respiratory problems so they are always linked up to one machine or another. I also had a chance to spend some time with Alex who despite being given 6000 calories a day does not put on any weight His body cant work with proteins. He is fed through a tube in his nose, he is absolutely gorgeous with huge eyes.
Apart from the time of the first holy communion, I have only seen two parents visit their children..Lesley says that she has never seen Perla’s parents….this I find disappointing.

Another week just raced by and I continue to build relationships with the children and the nurses who now ask me to help and do things as well as chat with me, oh but they speak so fast… and oh my Spanish is so slow and confused!!

Another weekend in Antigua and as I walked towards Central Parc on Saturday I heard the roar of motorcycles and whistles and the sound of motorbikes whizzing around. It was the regular meeting of bikers from in and around Antigua…brought back memories of Easy Rider. The Bikes were amazing lots of chrome and mirrors reflected the sun ( a perfect day for a rally) and there , hanging around outside the cafes were the men and women in the leathers and bandanas and huge chunky silver jewellery. Men with long hair and beards and mirrored ray bans perched on their noses. The parc was buzzing with people sitting and chatting and just watching everyone encased in their own moment and conversation. I was drawn to it all and stood there watching and taking photos and hoped and wished that someone would offer me a ride but alas……….

Then it was the usual wander around the market and streets.
Rain also means lots of low clouds during the morning giving Antigua a different look. Antigua is at an altitude of 1530 meters so maybe the clouds aren’t really that low!!! But I never cease to be amazed by its beauty and its ability to generate a sense of wonder and contentment.
Thursday 16th October after lunch I sat on my bed and at around 1.45pm I felt the bed move and the room shake….. I experienced my first earth tremor. Once again those words…
‘Nothing to worry about, its normal!!’ Not for me I said as I grabbed my phone and woke Martin from his slumber . It may happen again they said!!

I later reakised that it was from an earthquake in Mexico!!
Don’t worry all is well..
Sleep well
Adios amigos
Goodnight
Xxx

Que Pasa en Antigua.......

2008-10-09T15:18:00.000-07:00

This week I had the opportunity to explore working with slightly older children which proved to be different and equally demanding. All of the older children are physically disabled, and some more mentally disabled than others. So it was good to be able to talk and receive verbal responses to questions and comments. Of course as is always the case, some of them are very demanding, or cheeky !The day always begins in the same way with quite a lot of time given to having breakfast. Then my first new job….making them gargle followed by washing their faces after their teeth (those that have them) have been brushed This involves huge amounts of water and towels and water all over me as many cant actually do this and just spit everything out. Then its time for some form of physiotherapy. One day I went into the room to watch them exercise the children. Not easy when they are paralysed and many don’t actually like being moved about so they cry all the way through. Some of the children can go into walkers so we put them in them for a little while. Its amazing to see the amount of concentration that goes into moving one foot in front of the other, especially when the rest of the body is not coordinated, and there is no sense of direction. Yet such a sense of pride and joy when they manage even a few steps. Words of encouragement and exaggerated applause ever present. With some we give them crisps or biscuits to encourage hand , eye and mouth coordination. (I long to find packets of Hoola Hoops to put on their fingers but alas….) This I find very difficult at times as I see them struggle for ages only to have the crisp fall to the ground at the vital moment when the mouth opens and the food is released from the fingers. But we persevere because we know that eventually they will achieve. As you can imagine the place is quite messy when they have finished.

Imagine my happiness when I heard a little boy named Henry calling me in the morning when I arrived at the centre. So of course I reacted every time he called me, not the thing to do apparently because as I encouraged him I became aware of the jealousy that was beginning to rear its ugly head in some of the other children. So now I have a rota for when I can be with each one, to ensure that everyone gets some individual attention. We also continue to take the children to the park and with the older ones we can play with the water in the fountain and every day I buy some biscuits for the children to enjoy. They marvel at the trees and the sunshine and the people that give them attention and ask us about the work we are doing. I have found that people here really appreciate what we do as they often come and say something encouraging to us.
Later after returning from the park and with lunch ready to be served, I sneak off to see the babies and of course Perla. I feed her and play with her before heading home for my lunch. (I have a lunch break from 12.30 to 2.00) Work days always pass by very quickly….

There isn’t time to do much for me during the week as I always feel quite tired so it was good to spend the weekend in Antigua. Of course there was the usual outing to the market followed by long walks around town taking pictures.

During the weekend some of the streets are closed off so its very relaxed, also lots of the houses and hotels have their gates open so a perfect opportunity to take a sneak look at the many beautiful courtyards.

It was also time to visit the famous cross with great views of Antigua and the volcanoes…but it was a cloudy day!! It has rained a lot recently and the temperature has dropped so it gets cold at night
I also caught two movies…Cinema 2000 has 3 shows a day each with a different film, its free to go in as long as you have a drink or something to eat, a great idea I think and always very popular. It was also the last weekend for a couple of people I have got to know quite well so we all had breakfast together on Sunday, sat and talked in the park before heading back to our respective homes for the usual Sunday ritual of cleaning, ironing and preparing for the week ahead all topped off with a couple of hours of Spanish… which is coming along slowly. I doubt I will be fluent…too many verbs etc but I hope to le to be able to get by. One thing which I know will be difficult is that people stay here for short periods of time so friendships are always short term. But many good friendships are forged along the way. Of course I miss everyone and look forward till we are all together again.

As I prepared for bed I opened my first edition of Love in the time of Cholera in Spanish and found the line…
‘ Luego miro a Florentino Arizo, su dominio invencible, su amor impavido, y lo asusto la sospecha tardia de que es la vida, mas que la muerta , la que no tiene limites.’

Adios amigos

Goodnight
Xxx

WORK & MONTERICCO

2008-10-01T16:21:00.000-07:00

PERLA & I
Much excitement this week as some of the children were being prepared for their first holy communion. Staff decorated the children’s play area with white balloons and paper chains. Music blared through the rooms and garden. Soon the parents and families started to arrive with the white dresses and black suits to get the children ready. I wandered around looking at the children and being amazed at how different they looked. Some of the children have very short cropped hair so until this day I did know who was a girl and who a boy…I am still learning their names. Then we wheeled them all to the church for the service which was very different. Currently there are 5 of us: Lesley who is a doctor and who has been here for 6 years, she’s from England, Karina from Norway who is here for 8 weeks , Timo and Anna from Germany. Timo had the chance to join the army or do voluntary work so he chose the work and he’s here for a year as is Anna a school friend of his. They are all amazing and we have a good time together. Also present at the service were some of the older more able children in their wheelchairs, so the service was punctuated with untimely laughter, clapping and shouting and sometimes crying…..
After wards we all went into a courtyard for a party. Families had brought cake and sandwiches for the children and music played. We took the children onto the dance floor and whirled them around in their wheelchairs. They laughed, twirled, ate and made merry until it was time to go back to the ward. Families sat with tier children and it was lovely to see siblings lovingly caress their brothers or sisters.
Within an hour the place was back to normal and the children ready for their afternoon nap. The excitement too much for many of them as they snored and gurgled in their cots while we cleared up any debris.
Of course as expected I have fallen in love with a little girl named Perla. She is 5 years old but looks three as she was malnourished and is unable to do anything, but she has the most beautiful smile and has won my heart. The others I love too but Perla is special …….
One day this week was spent cutting the children’s nails and massaging their hands with lotion…guess how long that took!!!
The weeks pass very quickly and I always look forward to going to work and have even extended my hours! Slowly but surely I am talking with the nurses and they are also responding to me.
This week some of then money donated to me went towards an operation for a child whose family could not afford it. So thank you all once again. Many of us got together to raise the money.
MONTERRICO
The weekend beckoned, I had decided to stay in Antigua and then an opportunity arose to visit Montericco so I decided to go with two friends from Germany. Actually we were the three eldest at the school so we had an OAP outing!!. As I mentioned its very cheap to get anywhere and to go there and back cost me £ 5 as we got a free ride back to Antigua!!
Monterrico is on the pacific coast and boasts black volcanic sand …in dramatic contrast to the huge white crashing waves of the Pacific and the rich orange sunsets. Between September and January many turtles arrive to lay their eggs. For us it was time to see the baby turtles being released into the ocean. It reminded me of my time on Bird Island.
People visit Monterrico to relax and get away from it all. Its very quiet and laid back, so a great place to unwind and doze in a hammock It is also still unspoilt with small beachfront hotels. As the sand was too hot in the morning I grabbed a hammock to watch the sea and sand and the birds which swooped and circled above me in waves like the ocean. Its quite strange to stare at black sand, at times it was like looking at black and white photographs. Families sat down on chairs to have picnics and swim in the warm ocean, children went for rides on horseback along the edge of water. Youngsters rode bikes

and

hop scotched their way along as their feet tried to dodge the blistering sand. Sitting still for about an hour is enough for me so I decided to walk and visit a nature reserve/ conservation project nearby. It’s main attraction being turtles, terrapins, caymans and Iguanas!! It really was interesting despite seeing the animals in enclosures . So some pictures for you all, and special ones for martin and raju…you know the ones!!
As the dusk drew nearer we headed back towards Antigua. As is traditional every evening at the moment, the rain crashed against the window panes as we approached Antigua and the three huge volcanoes. They are quite majestic and as I looked up at the tallest one I saw a strange red glow near the top of it, like a slow heart beat throbbing in the distance. Yes it was red lava, like a beacon guiding us home.
I got into bed and thought about another week at work and of course the prospect of holding …Perla!!

Enjoy
Adios amigos
Good night
Xxx