Report #2 From Lynn in Guatemala
01/17/2008 23:21
Today I had
my first official day volunteering at the hospital.
I was
assigned to the prenatal clinic. One after another of the beautiful Mayan
women marched into our exam room and we sorted out their situations.
Gracias a Dios I had a lovely 4th year medical student from Harvard,
Jennifer. She has been here 2 months and has an idea of the routine and
the charting. I would have been lost if I hadn't had her at my side the
whole time.
The Mayan women wear the most beautiful clothes you have ever seen. It is
so hard to believe that this is their everyday dress. They weave their
blouses on back strap looms. The men weave the women’s skirt material on
floor looms. The blouses are almost all in a theme of light and dark
purple stripes for this pueblo. Since purple is my favorite color I guess
I won’t be going far for my beloved fabric.
Every blouse is embroidered with the most incredible patterns of flowers
and birds that you can imagine. It is hard to pay attention to my job
because I am so distracted by the fashion show that is constantly in my
face. The skirts are woven of many colors and they have added a shiny
thread which is the latest style. The skirt is a tube held up by a ornate
woven and embroidered belt. They all have a woven shawl folded across
their shoulder. To top it off they wear sandals and many of the sandals
are fancy with rhinestones and heals!
Their faces are open with smooth brown skin, their dark straight hair
pulled back. They have beautiful teeth and bright eyes that sparkle with
their incredible beauty. One half of the women only speak Tz’utuhil, so a
nurse translates for me to Spanish.
Many men are present and the women do not make decisions without
consulting with them. Some men wear traditional dress, which is striped
hand woven shorts, but most wear western clothes.
The main reason we came to Guatemala is because of the Hospitalito
Atitlan. There was a Catholic hospital here many years ago in the
community of Panabaj. It closed and fell into ruin during the civil war.
Because the closest hospital is over treacherous roads, 2 hours away and
gives poor service, in 2004 a local group of people decided to rebuild and
refurbish the old hospital. They worked for many months and finally
opened their doors in April of 2005. In October of 2005 (2 months after
Katrina hit the gulf region) hurricane Stan caused a huge mudslide which
buried close to 1000 people. Panabaj was destroyed, the Hospitalito
ruined and 5000 people were left homeless. Within 15 days of the disaster
the Hospitalito Atitlan reopened in a temporary facility and to this day
is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
It is staffed by locals and volunteers from the United States. Tomorrow
it is my “turno”, which means my first 24 hour shift in the ER. I will be
in charge and can call on my supervisor (Jerry the MD) if I need him.
They say he can get there in five minutes if I tell him to run. Pray for
me, I will need it.
Bob went around fixing things for the hospital today.
Love Lynn
assigned to the prenatal clinic. One after another of the beautiful Mayan
women marched into our exam room and we sorted out their situations.
Gracias a Dios I had a lovely 4th year medical student from Harvard,
Jennifer. She has been here 2 months and has an idea of the routine and
the charting. I would have been lost if I hadn't had her at my side the
whole time.
The Mayan women wear the most beautiful clothes you have ever seen. It is
so hard to believe that this is their everyday dress. They weave their
blouses on back strap looms. The men weave the women’s skirt material on
floor looms. The blouses are almost all in a theme of light and dark
purple stripes for this pueblo. Since purple is my favorite color I guess
I won’t be going far for my beloved fabric.
Every blouse is embroidered with the most incredible patterns of flowers
and birds that you can imagine. It is hard to pay attention to my job
because I am so distracted by the fashion show that is constantly in my
face. The skirts are woven of many colors and they have added a shiny
thread which is the latest style. The skirt is a tube held up by a ornate
woven and embroidered belt. They all have a woven shawl folded across
their shoulder. To top it off they wear sandals and many of the sandals
are fancy with rhinestones and heals!
Their faces are open with smooth brown skin, their dark straight hair
pulled back. They have beautiful teeth and bright eyes that sparkle with
their incredible beauty. One half of the women only speak Tz’utuhil, so a
nurse translates for me to Spanish.
Many men are present and the women do not make decisions without
consulting with them. Some men wear traditional dress, which is striped
hand woven shorts, but most wear western clothes.
The main reason we came to Guatemala is because of the Hospitalito
Atitlan. There was a Catholic hospital here many years ago in the
community of Panabaj. It closed and fell into ruin during the civil war.
Because the closest hospital is over treacherous roads, 2 hours away and
gives poor service, in 2004 a local group of people decided to rebuild and
refurbish the old hospital. They worked for many months and finally
opened their doors in April of 2005. In October of 2005 (2 months after
Katrina hit the gulf region) hurricane Stan caused a huge mudslide which
buried close to 1000 people. Panabaj was destroyed, the Hospitalito
ruined and 5000 people were left homeless. Within 15 days of the disaster
the Hospitalito Atitlan reopened in a temporary facility and to this day
is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
It is staffed by locals and volunteers from the United States. Tomorrow
it is my “turno”, which means my first 24 hour shift in the ER. I will be
in charge and can call on my supervisor (Jerry the MD) if I need him.
They say he can get there in five minutes if I tell him to run. Pray for
me, I will need it.
Bob went around fixing things for the hospital today.
Love Lynn