Flight Change, Delay and a Marathon Sprint

I began this entry on my flight back home for my sister's wedding last Wednesday:

I'm waiting to board my plane back to the states for my sister's wedding. The good news is I will now actually get in earlier than expected, but this news came only after a bit of a mix up. I got to the check in machine and it could not locate me on the flight. I also had trouble when trying to check in online, but figured it was an issue with the website. After 2 failed attempts it printed out a card telling me to go to the desk for assistance. In Spanish I was able to tell the lady at the counter that I had a problem and showed her the card that printed out. I gave her my passport and record locator code which I just happened to have written down. She couldn't find me on the flight either. She then rattled off a ton of information in Spanish and the only word I caught was “tomorrow”. Thankfully her english was much better than my Spanish so she told me that my flight had been switched and left at 7:00 a.m. I had missed it! She said American Airlines had sent an email. I however never got that vital email. She said the flight was full and that's why I was switched. She then told me the next flight was tomorrow. This would not be the end of the world but considering I have only 6 quetzales (the equivalent of less than a dollar) a bank card that has been blocked, had no where to stay and speak virtually no Spanish it was enough to make me a little panicked. I asked if there were any other flights to any other US city today. Turning to Saint Christopher all I could ask is please get this sorted for me. A few minutes later she had me on the same flight connecting in Miami then directly to Minneapolis that night. Originally I was supposed to be going Miami to Chicago with a layover and getting into Minnesota the next morning. The downside is I don't get to catch up with my awesome college roommate in Chicago tonight, but in the large scheme it's all good. That said I am now about to board my flight. Saint Christopher please get us all to our destinations with no further issues.

Here's hoping any of your future travels are easy!

~Katherine

Flight Update: Not so fast :( I spoke too soon!

It's been a series of minor or near setbacks today. Which in the moment is a bit stressful, but in the large scheme it could all be a lot worse. That said, I got aboard my flight in Guatemala City and we were delayed for about an hour due to a storm. This wouldn't typically be a big concern for me, but it was already going to be tight catching my connection to Minneapolis. The wheels hit the tarmac with just over 30 minutes to go before my next flight would be loading. 

I am not typically pushy, but the moment the seat belt sign turned off my bags were out of the overhead bin. It took ages (or so it seemed) for the front of the plane to clear out. The moment the wheels of my suitcase hit the ground I was off at what felt like a marathon pace moving as fast as one can go with a large backpack and suitcase in tow. The slalom course of other passengers took a slight toll on getting into the record books.

Then came the escalator... at that instant I flashed back to England where people actually understand the proper use of an escalator. For those who don't know... If you are simply riding up or down please stand to the right and leave the left for those who are hoping to break the sound barrier. In a split second I dropped any hope of using the escalator and opted for the stairs. Let's just say I was quite relieved in that moment to have packed relatively light.

So now having climbed Mt. Everest (or so it felt considering just the day before I'd been quite sick with some sort of stomach bug that left me exhausted after even standing up) I continued my awkward sprint to what I figured would be baggage claim and then on to customs. This was to be my chance to make it past the hoards of people coming into the country from every known direction possible. I hadn't checked luggage for precisely this reason... well sort of and I just didn't need to. However, luck or really just logic was not on my side. 

Customs came before baggage claim meaning there was no running past the mobs of people staring numbingly at the rotating belt in hopes of their luggage showing up. My only option was to be that line jumper that so many people despise, but a wonderful few graciously embraced. The line went for another football field past the roped off maze. 

I now drenched in sweat and quite possibly returning to a feverish state breathlessly told a lady nearest the start of the rope maze that my flight was boarding in 15 minutes. I don't think I even fully asked if I could go in front of her before she said yes. It's people like that who make the world a better place!

I got up to the customs agent and handed him my form. It was the wrong form! I just about lost hope of catching my flight at that point. I had to go back through the crowds refill out the correct form. Thankfully he told me to come straight back to him and I could cut in front of anyone waiting. That didn't go over so well with one guy. As the agent saw me running back he waved me ahead and the guy at the front of the line starting yelling at me to stop. Ignoring him I went straight to the agent who smiled and chuckling said, “You are going to start a riot.” I was too winded to respond but in my head said, “So long as I make my flight.”

Finished with that check point I dug deep for what little energy and adrenaline I had left and at warp speed headed for the exit/connecting flights area. This meant barreling past crowds more tightly packed and high strung than the Mall of America on the day after Thanksgiving. Thankfully, I had not checked any bags. T minus 5 minutes to boarding...I spot the exit! Deep breath....I might just make it! 

With blinders on I race with my suitcase in behind like a plow making it's way through a rocky field of zombie travelers. Now just feet from the exit/connections I'm brought to an sudden halt. I realize the sea of zombie travelers were all patiently waiting in lines for yet another passport check! I say to the guy next to me at the front of the line that I'm sorry but my flight is boarding in less than 5 minutes. Before he could even say anything the security agent says very sternly that I need to return to the end of the line and ask each person if it's okay to go ahead.

REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?! I just about collapse right there from sheer exhaustion and probably a bit of wanting to throw a temper tantrum or just start sobbing. Instead though I suck it up, and in a split second come to terms with spending the night in the Miami airport. However, within the same split second before my mind even comprehends what my mouth is saying I cry out in frustration (loud enough to surprise myself), “Does anyone care?!” As I begin walking to the back of the waiting mass I hear two ladies call me over and tell me to go in front of them. That was enough to make me choke back a couple exhausted tears.

Now clear of checkpoint number two it's back to an all out sprint. By this time my flight is beginning to board. Now at security checkpoint number 3 I peel off my shoes while still in line. I'm sure those around me loved the smell. Thinking back I probably smelled only slightly better than I looked and far better than I felt, but I was too exhausted and too determined to get home to care. In near world record speed I got my carry-ons unpacked, through security, repacked and shoes back on, but only after having gone through a body scanner that made me want to ask Scotty to beam me to my gate.

Now ready for the final sprint I realize I still don't know which gate I need to be at. Standing in front of the massive screens of cities, gates and times it made me wish I'd taken that speed reading course. I spot Minneapolis... now boarding. I turn to see where I am and hope that my gate just happens to be right there. 

Who am I kidding? After having hiked Mt. Everest, sprinted the length of the Great Wall and plowed through fields of travelers the size of Russia I knew fate was not on my side. I turn and make a final sprint for my gate Home Alone style. I can't recall just how far it was, but definitely near the end of the line. All that mattered is I got the gate and there was still a line of travelers waiting to board the plane.

Now standing in line guaranteed to be home in a matter of hours I had just enough time to call home for the first time in 3 weeks. Between fits of feverish asthmatic coughs I tell my mom I'd made the flight and would be home that night. I squeezed my backpack and luggage into the impossibly small overhead bin and collapsed in my seat. It didn't matter how cramped that seat was because it had my name on it and it meant I was going to make it home that night.  

Thanks for reading my novel ;)

~Katherine

Clinic Translating 101

I knew for over a week that the day was coming when I’d enthusiastically volunteered to join my teammates as a Spanish translator for patients at a local clinic. Most sane people would have realized that after only 3 weeks of learning a language this may not have been the best volunteer opportunity. Frankly I didn’t care. I was going to put up any sort of façade as if I knew more than I did. I would do what I could and it would be an amazing experience. I was right!

It’s now been about a week and a half since assisting at the clinic so I’ll do my best to recount my experience. We met the volunteer doctors from Texas Friday morning at a hotel and drove up into a nearby mountain village to the Santa Maria de Jesus clinic. It became clear that some of them spoke just as much if not more Spanish than I did. Thankfully Kiddissa and Laura had already helped out earlier that week. Plus it was the last day for the U.S. doctors the clinic was only scheduled for a half day.

My first thought was how difficult it might be for some of these patients to not only have to talk about personal problems to a doctor they don’t know, but then also to someone else who’s not even a doctor. While that could have been the case for some it quickly realized most of the patients were just overjoyed to have someone helping them. 

We got to the clinic and there was already a short line of patients waiting outside. I initially was put in an exam room with one of the doctors. I later learned he was the one I’d been told to avoid working with since he was the least patient. After a couple minutes Kiddissa shuffled some of us so that someone else could translate for him. I instead got assigned to the waiting room. It became my job to find out why each patient was there, what their pain or illness was, how long it’d been going on, severity, symptoms etc. This was a much better match being able to ask questions one on one. I didn’t fully know what to expect as far as what illnesses I’d encounter. Most of what I saw that morning though were things that are often quickly and easily treated over the counter in the U.S. often times without ever going to a doctor. It made me grateful for and helped me realize how great an education I’d received in school and everyday life.

To put things in perspective:

A Dad brought in his three kids (a girl approx. age 9, two boys approx. ages 6 & 4) because they had toothaches. I don’t know how bad the kids’ teeth were, but it makes me glad that I was taught from a young age the importance of brushing and also had access to a toothbrush, paste and clean water. Despite having teeth likely rotting from their heads those three kids had the best smiles and definitely put one on my face. I introduced myself and immediately the older boy very enthusiastically repeated my name as if it was the best thing he had ever heard in his young life.

It was also discovered that the children’s father was complaining of a headache. That lead to the discovery that he was in desperate need of glasses. In the clinic is just a basic eye chart and at 20 feet he could barely make out the top number. He was just about as blind as I am, but never had glasses. I can only imagine how life changing the moment will be when he does finally receive the glasses.

We also saw our fair share of common illnesses and infections. A couple ladies had skin rashes, a few cases of urinary tract infections, and a couple patients with diabetes related concerns. Two patients stick out though when talking about infections though. The first was a man probably in his 50s or 60s with a bad eye infection. His lower lid was droopy and bright red. He told me it’s been going on for 2 months and now the pain was radiating to the side of his face and even down into his shoulder. The second patient was a 3 year old girl. Her mother told me she had stomach pain, diarrhea, wasn’t eating much but was still drinking water and juice. It was pretty apparent that she still had lots of energy too. It came to light that the little girl had eaten dirt a few days before and now likely had a parasite. So even though it’s been said a little dirt never hurt I will have to disagree. One of the nurses told me it is actually pretty common for the kids there to eat dirt after it rains to get more nutrients.

Speaking of being desperate for nutrition earlier in the week (I was not there) a lady came in who was severely ma-nourished. Kiddissa was in the room translating for her. I turns out her husband had passed away a year or two before so in order to feed her 6 kids she was only eating bread. The doctors were able to give her packets of what’s called peanut paste. It’s packed full of nutrients and is meant for treating malnourished patients. It’s just devastating to think of being in such a destitute situation.

On a more uplifting almost comical note is a patient who was most definitely a first time mom. The young woman came into the waiting room with her tiny one month old sound asleep swaddled to her chest in a traditional brightly colored woven fabric. I asked her what was wrong with baby. She began speaking quite quickly for a bit, but I wasn’t picking up on most of what she was saying. Not only is my Spanish poor, but some of the indigenous Mayans also speak local languages which are much different.

I was able to understand that she said the baby wasn’t sleeping at night. My first thought was… she’s a month old that’s pretty typical. However, I asked several questions like does she have a fever, a cough, earache, diarrhea, is she eating regularly. Every symptom I could think of the answer was no, she’s only not sleeping at night. The doctor came in, but I told him I think the baby is perfectly healthy. He did a well baby check and consulted with the mom. It was concluded that the baby was healthy and the mom just needed to not let the baby sleep all day long.

In the end, I may not have been the best translator nor had the most medical knowledge, but it was a wonderful experience. My hope is that we helped make the patients’ lives a little better even if it is just helping a new mom get a few hours of shut eye each night. 

Hasta luego mis amigos!

~Katherine

Bucket List: Climb a Volcano... Check

So it wasn't really on my bucket list, but this past Sunday my teammates and I did in fact hike up an active volcano (Volcano Pacaya). If I stop to really think about that it is really pretty amazing and frankly a little terrifying since in reality it could have erupted again at any moment. The entire scene reminded me of the scene in the movie “The Lion King” where Simba is in the elephant graveyard with the hyenas hauntingly singing “be prepared”. That said it was also highly unlikely since we've been told that since the last eruption (about 5 years ago) the lava has all dried up and stopped flowing.

It took us about 2 hours with a guide to reach the “top”. No one is allowed (as far as I understand) to actually go to the very top/the crater because (or so my teacher says) some guy fell into the crater a while back. I'll be posting pictures and hopefully a couple short videos soon. The pictures don't quite do it justice though. The morning we were at the top there were a lot of clouds (some of it was steam too) so it was not possible to even see the summit. The lava field is really interesting. It's basically a wasteland of black lava rocks or various sizes from a fine sand up to massive boulders however, there is a lot of random green growth too because the soil is incredibly nutrient rich. At the top our guide gave us marshmallows to roast in a vent where steam was coming out. There was also this small vent that we could stand in and it felt like a sauna.

Right now I am sitting in one of the many cafes/ice cream shops near the central park. I have just noticed they can make a “chocolate mint frost” drink. It may be the closest thing to a “mint condition cooler” from Caribou Coffee I can find. I think this will definitely be one of my new places to study.

Speaking of studying I finally have “a lot” of homework. The first week my teacher never gave me any. Last week I learned the word for homework so I could finally ask for things to be assigned but most the time she would just tell me to study. While most people would be glad to not have homework I feel like it at least gives me some direction with studying. So now this week she has actually assigned me 4 worksheets. It's encouraging since my teammates (who all speak much better Spanish than I) have all been getting homework. I feel like maybe I now at the point where I've learned enough that she feels I'm capable of doing homework.

This morning for the 2^nd half of class my teacher, Laura, Laura's teacher and I all hiked up to this area called Cerro del la Cruz. It's basically an open park area on one of the small nearby mountains (more like a large hill). It over looks Antigua and directly faces Volcano Agua with 2 other volcanoes to the right.

All this week my teammates and I are volunteering as translators at a clinic. I don't go until Friday and I really don't know that I'll be of much assistance. Kiddissa is volunteering there Monday-Friday, Kevin is assisting Mon, Tuesday and Thursday. Laura is there for Monday and with me and Kiddissa on Friday. It should be very beneficial for Laura who is a nurse practitioner and will be our nurse at La Finca. I expect that I'll be simply pointing many various body parts and then pointing to words in my dictionary. It should be a good experience though and hopefully there are no emergencies.

Our team of 5 becomes complete this week as well. Emily arrives Wednesday from Colorado. She waited a couple weeks since she speaks more Spanish. I'm excited to meet her and complete our little family.

That's all for now :)

Make today your best one yet!
~ Katherine

Wrap up of the 1st week

It's now the start of our second week at language school and although my Spanish skills are still extremely minimal I think I may be on par with or close to that of a 2 year old. It's not much, but in just four days of classes (6 hours a day) I can tell I've come a long way. If I'm really focused in a one on one conversation I can at least get the jist of a situation. It really helps having my teammates to study with. Even though their Spanish skills are far beyond me it is still helpful for me to quiz them and vice versa on certain things like vocab and verbs/tenses.

Inside our school.

These are the tables each student sits at with their teacher for one on one lessons.

Here's an entertaining story to show just how poor my spanish is. So I was sitting down to dinner with my host mother and the other student who lives here. I said "Ooo pollo" a.k.a chicken. Next I meant to say in Spanish "me gusta" a.k.a "I like". Instead I said "mucho gusto". For those who know Spanish I'm sure you are laughing. For those who don't the jist is that I said "Ooo chicken nice to meet you". The others got a kick out of it.

Beyond school... we (Kidissa, Kevin, Laura and I) took a much needed weekend trip to the beach in Monte Rico. Antigua (where we are going to school) is sort of in the south central part of Guatemala but still two and a half hours from the beach. My housemate (Stephanie) mentioned that she and two of her friends were headed to the beach so we too looked into it and took a shuttle provided by the school. The hotel we stayed at (El Delfin a.k.a The Dolphin) was more like a hostel so it was super cheap only like 9 dollars person. What it lacked in comfort (the bed was literally cement with a hard thin mattress) it made up for in the view, the people and the food.

Monte Rico is very much a tourist trap so we ran into a number of other Americans, Canadians/French, Germans and others. Over the years and places I've traveled I've definitely learned that we live in a small world and Monte Rico was no exception. There were two other gals at our hotel who are from Minnesota. One is a teacher in Minneapolis the other is from Sherburne (near Fairmont). To make it an even smaller world story... it turned out the massage therapist at the hotel (Martin) who is Guatemalan also lived in Sherburne for several years with his uncle during grade school.

On the shuttle to the hotel we met two other Americans (Dan and Theresa) that are med students. They are taking a year off before residency and will be working in El Salvador for 5 months. Laura who will be our nurse at the Finca (a.k.a. The Farm) is hoping to go visit them at some point and I too would like to go with. However, since they are only there for 5 months I have a feeling we won't have any time off before they finish.

So as I was saying the hotel had the most amazing view, people and food. It is right on the black sand (extremely hot on your feet) beach of the pacific. At first you think you are looking west but it is actually south. I realized this as the sun set to our right somewhat along the shore and did not set straight ahead on the horizon. It was really beautiful! I'll hopefully have posted pictures by the time you read this. Not only was the sunset beautiful but the sun was quite strong. Mom... no worries, Laura made sure we were all well taken care of as far as wearing sunscreen ; )

Even stronger than the sun though were the waves. I've been to both sides of the Atlantic before and the Pacific in San Francisco and never have I dealt with such strong waves. Swimming in the water is basically impossible and just stupid unless you are a local and a very strong swimmer who understands the ocean's temperament. You pretty much can only stand on the beach and when the waves come ashore is when you get soaked. If you're not careful though and bracing yourself it can easily sweep you out. The lifeguards were constantly reminding everyone not to go in very far. At one point the hotel's dog (Luna) went after a frisbee and couldn't doggy paddle back fast enough so one of the lifeguards had to rescue her.

Kevin, Laura, Dan, Theresa and I went running on the beach with one of the lifeguards and some of the local kids Saturday evening. Theresa and I quickly remembered how much we hate running. It worked out though because someone had to keep an eye on the local boys since they wanted to chase after every crab they saw no matter how close to the water it got and the waves would have easily taken the kids under.

Saturday night we went with a guide in search of sea turtles coming ashore. We never did find any despite walking for what felt like 5 kilometers. Walking that far (after running earlier) on sand is an incredible workout, but we all felt like we were going to die. On our way back to keep our minds off how far away the hotel was we sang Disney and Broadway songs. Strange yes, but fun and I think our guide got quite the kick out of it.

The next morning (after just 3 or 4 hours sleep) we got up at 4:30 to catch a boat tour on a local river/lake to see some of the many birds and other wildlife in the area. Unfortunately my camera battery died just as we got to the boats. We got back to the hotel after a couple hours just in time for breakfast.

That brings me to the awesome food! Basically every meal comes with frijoles (black refried beans) which are delicious. I brought myself to order shrimp tacos (for dinner Saturday) which were actually pretty good. A couple of the other gals ordered fish.... it was definitely fresh too. It was still intact, head tail and all. I'm not a fan of seafood particularly if it still looks like it should be alive. However, I did try it and it was the least fishy tasting fish I've ever had. I didn't necessarily like it, but it wasn't the typical icky fish taste.

After a breakfast of eggs and beans it was time for a massage on the beach. I hadn't planned to spend my own money on something extraneous like that but after walking for hours on the beach and sleeping on a cement bed I couldn't pass it up. Plus, I figure it's unlikely that I'll ever have a second chance for an hour massage on the beach for only $20.

The rest of the day was spent resting and studying Spanish with my teammates before catching our van back to the school.

Sunday night we made it back just after 6:30 and still had to find a Mass to go to. We knew there were a number of evening Masses but hadn't really planned ahead. Thankfully Kevin's Spanish skills are good enough that he was able to ask for directions and we got to a Mass in the middle of the homily. Having missed the readings we went over them back at my place after dinner.

Every afternoon the school offers a different activity. Since Laura and I take an additional 2 hours of language classes we don't always get to do the extra activities. Wednesday's activity is hiking up a nearby volcano! No worries... it's no longer active. We decided that we couldn't miss out on that so our teachers are coming with. There are 3 or 4 volcanoes that we can see from Antigua. They just look like small tree covered mountains. The one we are hiking is Volcano Picaya and it sounds like it's a smaller one that will take 2 hours up and 2 hours back down. I just hope it doesn't rain since it does almost every afternoon/night this time of year.

Monday night Laura, Kevin and I went to our first salsa & meringue lesson offered for free with the school. I took a cardio salsa class in college which helped a little bit. The class was pretty basic though so we all kept up okay.

I will hopefully get pictures uploaded in the coming days.

Make today your best day!

~ Katherine

Day 1: Arrival

We all arrived safe and sound. I have met one of my teammates, Kiddissa. We were both picked up at the airport by a rep from the school. We're told that Laura and Kevin arrived earlier and were picked up. I think we all meet at La Union (the language school) just before 8 tomorrow morning. Laura and I are both doing 6 hours of class a day. The others are doing 4 and our final teammate Emily will come down in 2 weeks since she already speaks Spanish.

I'm currently sitting in my room at my host mother's house. I am quickly realizing just how far of a language gap I will have to try to bridge. My house mother (Delia) is very sweet though and seems eager to help me learn. I am able to pick up on a few key words and phrases, but I think more of the problem is me trying to speak back.

If I understood her correctly there are two other gals staying here. I have yet to meet them, but hopefully at dinner. Which I'm not sure when that will be, but the dinning room is right outside my bedroom so I should hear. Although I'm tired enough that I may just sleep through.

The home is small but beautiful. Everything is stone, tile or stucco due to the humid climate. The weather is actually quite comfy right now. All the rooms are off of a small open courtyard which allows for good air circulation. The question though is how good the air is. I think it's likely much better here in Antigua, but the pollution in Guatemala City would make anyone sick.

So far I've explained in very poor Spanish that I have an older and younger sibling and their ages. Whether I properly explained that my siblings are an older sister and younger brother is another question. I believe I explained how old my parents are. I think I failed to tell her any names. I also mentioned that I previously studied German for multiple years. Maybe this will help give her some perspective as to where I'm coming from. I think more than once I've switched into speaking German already... this could be an on going theme.

Delia like a majority of Guatemalans is Catholic. I gather this from the many icons and wall hangings she has. I think one of the churches may be right out our front door, but again this was a bit of a language barrier. She seems eager to know more about The Farm and the work we will be doing as missionaries. I just wish I could find the words. I'll get there! Un poco y poco :)