Back to School

My favorite part of the day is seeing all the children walking to school in the morning. More than any other thing I experience each day, this is the one that seems to represent the hopeful future of Guatemala. I recently brought a team of college students from the Univ. of Alabama-Birmingham to several local schools for the week. It was quite eye-opening to see the state of the public primary schools in Guatemala.
I would describe the schools we visited as "bare-bones." There are basic tables, chairs and very limited supplies. The teachers I spoke with seemed a little overwhelmed by the size of their classes and the lack of resources available to them. The kids, however, for the most part still seemed very eager to learn.
Our job at the schools was to apply fluoride to the kids teeth and teach the students how to properly brush their teeth and maintain good hygiene. We gave them all toothbrushes and toothpaste. The water in Guatemala does not have fluoride in it like our water does in the States, and so cavities, etc. are a big problem. Of course it doesn't help that the water isn't safe to drink; most Mayans prefer to drink sodas.
We went to each classroom to teach basic brushing and flossing skills. The children in this picture have now officially flossed their teeth more than I have in my life.
The fluoride we apply (imagine cherry-flavored clear, super-glue) helps strengthen and protect the kids teeth. In total, we applied fluoride to over 1200 students teeth this week. The south will rise again!

We also tested students vision. This is the kind of eye chart we use at our clinics. Since many of the people we see can't read, we use this rotating "E" chart. You just have to tell us what direction the "E" is pointing.

We tested all of Carey's students at the preschool too. Mary, here in this photo, is one of Carey's 19-year old teachers. She is one of the most natural teachers I have ever met.

Stickers are like gold in Guatemala. I think the current President actually won by just handing out stickers to the people.

Here is Carey's class covered in stickers, with several of the Alabama team members.

Back to Jersey:

Carey and I are in the States right now for a wedding and to do some fund-raising for our project. It's weird being back, but has been so great to see our friends and have a Dr. Pepper (and pseudo Tex-Mex in Jersey).

In other news, Carey and I have decided to stay another year in Guatemala. There is still a lot of work to be done with Salud y Paz and we like the changes that are happening in our lives.

More later...

Love you guys,

Jay

Twenty-Two Tongues

Guatemala is roughly the size of the state of Louisiana, but that's where the similarities end. In Guatemala, there are 21 recognized indigenous languages spoken by the people. Last I heard, people in Louisiana speak just 1 language, something resembling English, but this hasn't been verified.
Carey and I work in a region where most of the people speak K'iche (gringos spell it Quiche, but that makes me think more of breakfast). In Panajachel where we live, however, the people all speak Kakchiquel. And just across the lake from us they speak at least two completely different dialects.
This is the craziest thing. There are literally places here where there are 2-3 different dialects within a mile or two of each other. But a mountain divides the communities and back in the day there was no reason to go to the other side of the mountain....so presto...the people developed two very different languages.
Spanish, of course, is the one language that seems to unite the whole country. It's ironic that the language of the conquerors (the Spanish) is now the thing that unites Guatemala as one. Carey and I find that it's much easier to speak Spanish with a native K'iche speaker than a native Spanish speaker, because it's their second language too.
I try to speak the few words I know in K'iche with our Guatemalan staff when I can. My name, "Jay" means house, which would be cooler if I were a football player and not a skinny white kid.
If you want to hear what K'iche sounds like, listen to this short video below...(you'll notice some Spanish words thrown in there too)...

Pretty cool, huh?

Offensive Driving Update:
Things Jay has hit so far with the car in Guatemala:
1. a tienda
2. a chicken bus (jerk-face ran me off the road)
3. a man on a motorcycle (yesterday). I promise the man wasn't hurt, probably just needs therapy for a while.
Things Jay is aiming to hit:
1. roosters

Have a great week.
Peace,
Jay