Back at Hermano Pedro!

I know this is LONG overdue, but last week we got to return to Hermano Pedro!  I'll give you a brief run-down of what our week consisted of there:
On Monday and Tuesday, we worked at the school, helping patients bead necklaces and sew.  On Monday, I sat with a group of men, and on Tuesday I got to hang out with some kids!  They were all super precious, and one of the girls, Yessica, especially liked hanging onto me.  After helping out at the school, we fed lunch to the senoras, the older women.  We got to know a group of four women, Lencha, Emilia, Maria, and Adela, who always stick together and always know what each other needs even though only Maria can talk.  Lencha acts as a mom, being the only one that can walk, and makes sure the other ladies are being fed and have what they need or want.  That's the kind of lasting friendships I want when I'm that old!
On Ash Wednesday, we took all of the patients that wanted to Ash Wednesday Mass.  After that, there wasn't much to do since everyone was in church, so we decided to talk to the woman in charge of volunteers, Vicki, about a project we could do to make her job easier.  The social work students from the previous year had made a binder of information about every patient in the hospital for volunteers, but Vicki said that they don't use it often because the patients are constantly changing.  She instead suggested that we make a guide for volunteers showing how to do certain things and giving a list of common vocab words used at the hospital for the multitude of English-speaking volunteers that they get.  I think it'll be fun to get involved in this way, and hopefully they'll be able to use the tools we give them for years to come!
On Thursday, we made new and improved nametags for the senoras' beds because the ones they had were just sad!  We then took two women from Hermano Pedro out for birthday lunch.  Let's just say wheelchairs and cobblestones don't mix well...YIKES.  But we made it to lunch!  We had some really good conversation, and I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to get to know both of them on a more personal level.  We also learned some new "Guatemalan" vocab:
Chapin: anything very Guatemalan (ex: a bean and cheese sandwich)
Chispudo/a: someone who is very intelligent
Mango/Mangaso: a very attractive male
Chin chin: Hurry up!
Friday was INTENSE.  We brought a bunch of the patients (most of whom are in wheelchairs) to Central Park, which is about 4 blocks away from the hospital.  I DEFINITELY got a workout hauling everyone over there.  Once everyone arrived safely, we hung out and took some of the patients on strolls around the park.  I spent most of the time with Yessica, the girl I had hung out with on Tuesday.  She loved looking at the dogs in the park, and really wanted to touch the water in the small fountains around the park.  Unfortunately, being in a wheelchair made this difficult, so instead I would scoop up some water and sprinkle it on her hands, and she seemed to enjoy that just as much!  While we were at the park, a church group from Canada came to help out, so bringing everyone back to the hospital was a lot easier.  Thank God for Canadians!  After sites on Friday we had class, where we watched a documentary about Guatemala and had some really good discussion afterward.  That night I worked on finishing a paper for economics class so that I could enjoy the BEACH on the weekend!  That is a whole other post in itself!  You will be updated shortly!

Con mucho amor,

Rosita

Goodbye school, Hello Hermano Pedro!

I did it, folks!  I made it through my first month of language school!  I am OFFICIALLY done with my first class in Guatemala!

This past week was filled with homework and studying to finish up the first session of classes.  On Wednesday we had a talk about Semana Santa, Holy Week, here in Antigua.  It's going to be INTENSE, and I am so excited!  We learned about processions, alfombras, and traditional dress and food.  After that, Brita and I had our "2-on-1 date" with Becky.  We had some delicious dessert, and chatted about how our time has been going so far.  On Friday, we celebrated being done with class with ice cream and "She's the Man" (I'm so happy I thought to bring that movie!).  Then on Saturday, I slept in till 11:15 and headed to the office to catch up with people from home.  That night, a few of us played cards until curfew.  On Sunday, a few of us met at Dona Luisa's, a restaurant near the SI office, for brunch.  I had a baked potato that was absolutely DELICIOUS.  After brunch, I hung out at the office until about 5:00, when I talked to my parents on Skype!  Unfortunately, our conversation got cut a little short because we had to go to dinner, but it was good to see their faces and hear their voices!  Dinner was SO GOOD.  I had flautas, which are tortillas with chicken and potatoes inside, topped with lettuce, avocado, and onions, along with ice cold lemonade.  The rest of the night we hung out at the office, and I talked to Jesamine!

For the next two weeks, I'm returning to the hospital, Hermano Pedro, to help out.  Today we helped out at the school there, where some of the patients were making necklaces.  We also got to feed the Senoras, the older women, lunch.  It was a good first day back, and I'm excited to get to know more of the patients.  As of now I haven't been completely moved with emotion, but I'm sure when I start getting into more of the social work-y aspects of Hermano Pedro I'll have lots to share.  Be praying for me this week as I get into the groove at Hermano Pedro!

Con mucho amor,

Rosita