¿Como te fue?

This past weekend I got a chance to explore Xela, learn a lot about the history and social environment of Guatemala, and of course learn some Español. It is hard to describe Xela, but in very few words, everything is brightly colored, relaxed, kind of broken and very very cheap. Everywhere sinks and toilets don´t work, chairs are missing a leg, paint is peeling and sidewalks are trash ridden. But it doesn´t feel inconvenient, it´s just how things are everywhere, and I´ve started to understand it. Why would you fix it if it´s still useable, even if it looks bad. I hiked Laguna Chicabal last weekend, which was beautiful but torturous. It was very very steep and the air is very thin (Xela is already almost 3,000 feet up, with Chicabal at almost 9,000 ft.) Regardless of feeling out of shape, it was great to check Chicabal off my list of places I want to go. 
Working at Primeros Pasos has been a very rewarding experience thus far. I´m working with the Children´s Health Program, in which I teach health classes in the clinic and at local schools.The classes address healthy eating habits, safe drinking water (bottled water or boiled for 20 minutes), preventing parasites and general hygiene such as washing your hands and brushing your teeth. When the students come into the clinic - they often range from Kindergarden to 6th grade - they are weighed, have their height taken and give us a feces sample. A huge health problem in the area is parasites, which they can get from eating food without washing it, not washing their hands before eating or after touching animals or playing outside. They can also get parasites or bacterial infections if their drink sink or river water, which is very common. Most of the students that come to the clinic already have parasites, which they would not have treated if they had not come in with their class. I have acquired some doubts and concerns as I learn about the issue addressed and the approach used by Primeros Pasos. My thoughts are in no way critiques of Primeros Pasos, but obstacles for any organization trying to solve a large poverty-related problem. Although it seems that the kids are absorbing the information we are giving them in the health class, I fear that they are just very good at regurgitating information and saying what the teacher wants to hear, considering the public education system is very basic and non-participatory. Also, parents are often uneducated, and give their children unhealthy foods because it is cheaper and readily available. Understanding this, I find it very hard to believe that children are rejecting cookies offered by their parents and begging for broccoli just because we tell them its good for them. In regards to water, having safe drinking water - which is pretty much just bottled water - is expensive, so even if parents know the sink water is unsafe for their children, they don´t have much of a choice.  One thing I think Primeros Pasos does a great job of is providing quality health care. Any person that comes to the clinic receives complete quality care and free medicine if their are unable to pay. Also, unlike most hospitals and clinics in the area, we have our own pharmacy, which means patients don´t need to make a trip into Xela or have to pay for expensive medicine. This small convenience is the difference between treatment and helplessly knowing your child has parasites (lice, bacterial infection etc.) and not being able to do anything about it. As is commonly known in the development field, approaches to public health need to comprehensive, accessible and simple. I am starting to see the truth in that first-hand. 

This weekend I am traveling to Tilapita, a charming little beach a few hours outside of Xela and I am so excited to lay out in the sun! Above are some pictures of Xela and Chicabal - more to come!