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Published: June 20th 2010
We in our 8th week of training and are all physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted and we are coming close to the end of our training. What a week this has been, especially it being the week after our Field Based Training. Monday we had the amazing opportunity to visit a Mayan Museum and coffee tour. It was absolutely beautiful, we saw each step of how the coffee is grown, cultivated, prepared, and then learned about the means of export. And of course we got to sample both the coffee bean and a freshly brewed cup of rich delicious espresso! However, it was also sad to learn that the majority of all the coffee grown and harvested in Guatemala is used for export so they only drink instant coffee or make their own using corn, wheat, rice and coffee to make it go further.
This was a perfect leadway into tuesday because we had a guest speaker talk about the economics and history of Guatemala. For example, most people in the United States who work at a specific place in the food industry, he used the example of fast food, are able to afford to eat from that same place. However, the coffee plantation growers and harvesters here are not able to drink the coffee because they would have to pick 300 lbs of coffee to be able to buy a bag of coffee, and it is very slow progress to try and change this and the economics of it all thus immigration is still high because the amount of money that one can make is greatly increased due to the exchange rate. It was a very informative presentation that helped us to understand why things are still the way they are and why Guatemala continues to be an underdeveloped country, but it is progressing! And what I am grateful for being a part of the Peace Corps is that we work with the government and health officials here to try and create more sustainable practices so we can help empower the them by using their own resources and strength and help to create a space for voice, espescially between differing groups who have been in disagreement through out the past.
Thursday I was woken up my family knocking on my door shouting to come see the volcanoe erupting. I quickly ran out of my room and over to the table where we could see Volcan Fuego emitting bright red luminous lava, pouring down the sides and a few splashing up into the air. It was a small eruption and only lasted for 5-10 minutes but a sight I will never forget. Then about 5 hours later we awoke to a short but feirce temblor, or a small earthquake, at 3:30 AM. The next day volcan Fuego was emitting smoke frecuently. I was told this happens from time to time so I´m hoping its normal and will not increase in size. The Mayans believe the volcanoes are all connected underground, almost like roots of trees and plants, so when one acts up it may cause others to, as well. Guatemala sits on 3 tetanic plates that are very actively moving so there are many temblores here, some you can feel more than others. And because of this is, all the old concrete pipes underground for the water systems are cracking and breaking and moving, and this is actually why you cannot flush toilet paper because it will catch an edge of the concrete pipes and cause it to clog. It all makes sense now when I learned that a few weeks ago!
Also this week, we gave 2 HIV-AIDS workshops, the first lasted almost 4 hours on wednesday afternoon for 50 students ages 13-17 and then again on friday to over 200 students split up in various classes of 40 students ages 12-18 which lasted 2 hours. Our workshops consist of various participation activites to keep the students engaged including how its transmitted, how to prevent it including a condom demonstration and we even through in an abstinence skit to get all aspects. There are about 80 million people living with HIV-AIDS in Guatemala, and the hot spots are in Guatemala city, Antigua and surrounding towns such as the one we are currently living in, so it was quite a success to give this workshop to this many students. They participated with enthusiasm and even asked great questions and hopefully went away with some more knowledge about a very dangerous disease that can be easily prevented. We will be giving these workshops to several age groups such as schools, women´s groups and at health centers through out the next 2 years so it was great practice to give it to the students here because it is always a challenge to do this in Spanish, but the current volunteers told us that it will only get easier!
This morning was a physically and emotionally difficult experience. The storm that hit here 3 weeks ago still left devestation to many, including one of the Peace Corps Spanish teachers. His home was at the bottom of one of the volcanoes here (inactive one) which had several mud and land slides, and his house was completely full of mud and was very deep so we all helped gut out his house and try and remove the mud. They have been working on it the past 3 weeks but there was still so much mud, it is a very slow process but we each borrowed a shovel and hoe from our families and went to work. Along with scooping out the mud, we found books, blenders, baskets, clothes, and all their belongings that were ruined in the mud. We were working with their entire family, friends and neighbors but it was difficult to hear the kids say this was my room as we were trying to clean it out and removing their ruined muddy jeans and pictures. They have to start all over, but they still had a smile as we came and were more determined than ever. I am not sure how much longer it will take to completely clean out, but everyone was glad to lend to lend a hand, even the local church cooked all the people in the community who were helping lunch and fed us all. It´s amazing to see how a true group functions, everyone helps out in one way or another, each doing their part to contribute to the overall group.
We find out our sites on July 1st, and before then we have to complete 2 more projects in our current towns´health centers as part of training. We are still in the plans of figuring it out, but it is amazing how fast it has gone by but how much we learned! We are going to leave our current host families and get sworn in for inaugaration on July 16th which really is not too far away.
I have mixed emotions because I love my host family here and have felt like I am becoming more and more a part of their family and not just a guest staying there. Yes I have given up a lot as far as personal freedoms, being able to eat whatever and whenever I want (since our meals consists of corn tortillas at every meal, bread and coffee with breakfast and dinner typically along with eggs, beans and-or pasta almost everyday, and usually for lunch is the biggest meal and usually consists of a meat, vegetable and some type of salsa or chile), we all have to share a bathroom without a toilet seat (thus have to squat, i guess its good for the thigh muscles ha) with 7 people, must be home by 630pm when it gets dark, and still can´t fully express yourself as far as culturally and language due to the barrier however I have received more than I could ever ask for. Love, acceptance, laughter and protection from my family. It’s the little things that I will never forget. As for my host mom, she always stops whatever she is doing and runs over to me to say goodbye and have a nice day when I leave for my class or work sessions, or that she knows how much I love bananas and plantains so every Tuesday morning when I have to catch the 6am bus to go to our common sessions all day at the Peace Corps Office, she always makes me Atol de Platano, which is cooked plantains blended with boiling water served as a hot drink. She even gets up early to go the bakery and buy delicious cinnamon bread to dip in it... es muy rico! Or when I came home from being gone at FBT all week she ran over to me and gave me a big hug and told me how much she missed me. She even tells me they are even sad when I miss a meal due to Peace Corps activities. since the families here really appreciate and value each meal and time spent with family. My host sisters taught me how to cook authentic Guatemalan meals, my host dad always smiles and likes to crack jokes with us and he gave me a hug when I made him a fathers day card and bought him a chocolate cookie from the best bakery in Antigua, then cracked yet another joke that his own kids didn´t even get him anything but I did. Talking about the world cup with my host brother and about several movies we both love and sometimes watch them in spanish together with the host siblings. They all teach me more about the culture here and help me practice my Spanish, or we´ll play card games quite often after dinner until late, and we will just sit and talk about the weather, food, our family´s cats, or just crack jokes about one another. I love how united our entire family is, and how we all eat together for every meal, and then here in Guatemala it is a custom to always thank each person after every meal before you leave the table as the others respond with ´Buen Provecho´, wishing them good health. Their hearts are overflowing with kindness and love for their group which I feel special to be a part of.
I feel like I am getting a mix of both first hand learning experiences as well as learning in our cultural reading assignments from a book called Cultures Matters. One of the sections was entitled Personal and Societal Obligations- Universalism and Particularism. The former refers to certain absolutes apply across the board, regardless of circumstances or the particular situation. Where ever possible, you have to try and apply the same rules to everyone in like situations and to be fair is to treat everyone alike and not make exceptions for family, friends or members of your group. It is laying your personal feelings aside and then looking at the situation objectively. While life isn´t necessarily fair, we can make it more fair by treating people the same way. Where Particularism depends on the circumstance. You treat your family, friends and groups the best you can, and you let the rest of the world take care of itself for their groups will take care of them. There can´t be absolutes because everything depends on whom you are dealing with and no one expects life to be fair. Exceptions will always be made for certain people. I have learned a lot about differences in cultures and have seen that this culture is very much particularism and it has been an interesting to try and adjust to this culture when I come from more of a Universalism upbringing in the States.
In addition, these can also be applied to the concept of self and the differences between individualism and collectivism. The individualist identifies primarily with the self, with the needs of the individual being satisfied before those of the group. Looking after and taking care of oneself and being self sufficient, guarantees the well being of the group. Independence and self-reliance are greatly stressed and valued and in general people tend to distance themselves psychologically and emotionally from each other. Sure many choose to join groups, but group membership is not essential to one´s identity or success. Where for the collectivist, one´s identity is in large part a function of one´s membership and role in a group (ex. Family). The survival and success of the group ensures the well-being of the individual, so that by considering the needs and feelings of others, one protects oneself. Harmony and the interdependence of group members are stressed and valued and group members are relatively close psychologically and emotionally, but distant toward non group members.
The ways of communication are very different as well in terms of the degree of directness and the role of context. In cultures that are more collectivists, such as Guatemala, much is already known thus the spoken word is not the primary means of communicating and much is implied. Thus, little needs to be said and non verbal cues and the context are the key. Where in individualist cultures, little is already known so the message must be explicit and spelled out and words are the primary means of communication.
With all this said, it has been a very big learning experience these past couple months getting a feel for my family, my co-workers at the health centers, and everyday communication at the stores, on the buses, an in the streets. Confianza (trust) is very important here, and it must be gained between people who are not in your groups so we have to do our best to learn as much as we can about the culture in order to work with them and ultimately try and help them the best we can, and to do this we much gain the confianza first. I feel like I have gained a lot with my host family, and because of this I will miss them dearly when I move to my site in a few weeks. However, I plan to come back and visit, perhaps for one of the holidays 😊
Well this turned into quite the novel, kudos to those who made it all the way through! As always, feel free to comment or ask any questions via email or through here. I am really enjoying my time here, although each day has its struggles there are things, like those I mentioned in here, that remind me of why I am here, and I feel like this is really where I am meant to be right now in my life. Not all growth feels good, but I believe at times it is necessary to experience the lows to truly appreciate the highs and I have had several of both so far, and I´m sure there are many more to come through out the next 2 years here in Guatemala and beyond!
I hope all is well back in the States, I have no idea what is going on there or in the world due to a great lack of time, internet connection and newspapers ha so feel free to write back with what´s the latest 😊 Until next time...
Peace Love & Hugs, Alyssa
Note: The opinions on this website are mine and do not reflect the position or opinions of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government.
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Sue Cassidy
non-member comment
Your blog is great!
Hi Alyssa- We are enjoying reading about your experience. Thank you for sharing.. Sue and Scott