Today was my second day at my placement. It was very different than yesterday. I began by feeding those that were unable to feed themselves. Most of the severely disabled people were blind. One lady did not even have eye balls, just sockets. It really scared me at first but as the day went on I began to just really appreciate the life I live and that I was really helping to make a difference in the lives of others there.
After I finished feeding people, I helped make beds. There were some Dora Explorer blankets on beds of the elderly. I found that a bit comical. One of the nurses became my friend, and when we finished we just sat on the beds and chatted. We talked about the differences between America and here and she already asked me for my home address to write to me when I leave. Soon the patients near joined in on our conversation. One lady kept telling me to be very careful in the streets because an attractive American girl can be a target. I felt very flattered yet a little scared again because there cannot be enough reminders about the dangers of this city. It's crazy that kids from the ROTC were supposed to be here but the embassy said it was going to be too dangerous. So too dangerous for the Army, but ok for the randos like me I guess.
I chatted with a lady that I understood about 20 words of what she said. She was talking about religion and just started singing to me. It was a nice distraction from the extremely loud noise coming from the roof where they were cleaning off the ash from the volcano. Another good distraction was the world cup playing in another lady's room. I'm really getting into this soccer culture.
When I left, the lady that had been warning me about the city said she would be there waiting for me to talk every day. She has been in the hospital her entire life.
I have finally quit feeling sad, but happy that I can bring a new experience to a mundane lifestyle. I think when I finally become an RN I want to come back and contribute more.
On a lighter note, we saw the National Palace and toured a Cathedral. The national palace was beautiful! There were so many rooms and these gorgeous chandeliers. My favorite thing was this statue of two left hands in a grasp with a rose in the middle. It signified that it meant close to the heart because your heart is on the left side. The murals of Mayans battling the Spaniards were pretty intriguing. The Cathedral was alright but we already took our own little tour on Sunday. After our tours our driver and guide took us out for ice cream.
I'm looking forward to tomorrow. I think my day will mostly consist of conversation which I love....even if it is in a different language ha. Until then! much love. xo Carolyn
This site is a little tricky about how to post a comment. I've had several people tell me how much they are enjoying your blog. I think that you are finding out that small gestures make a big difference. It's so good that you can slow down and get to know the Guate people. They will be so happy to have you. All is good on the homefront!
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