Back in Guatemala

Happy New Years Everyone,

Yes. It has been my longest period thus far without a new blog entry. Sorry for those of you who look forward to reading them. Sorry to those as well who are close family members and friends that feel morally obligated to read my blog, and must now read a new entry!

I just got back from a two-week long trip back home in Minnesota. It was a blast to see friends and family, as well as to “re-charge” before heading back to Guatemala and my work here. I spent New Years in Uptown (great party Gibbs, the piñata was very classy), then I went to Kip and Maggie’s wedding in Brainerd. The best part of the wedding was actually the day before when we had a pseudo bachelor party for Kip. It was 28 below zero and we were ice fishing WITHOUT icehouses. Typical Minnesotans…we had to keep the beer in coolers to prevent it from freezing. The best photo of the day was all of our beers sitting in the fire. After they warmed up, you could take a quick swig before having to place it back into the fire to thaw out again. Without our good ol’ hometown company Phillip’s Distilling and their therapeutic Hot 100, I don’t think any of us would have lasted more than an hour out on the ice!

The day after the wedding, I left for Steamboat Colorado where I spent six days on the slopes. Even being in Guatemala this year, winter could not be winter without at least one ski trip!

Before leaving to return to Guatemala, I spent a day up at St. John’s visiting friends. On my return, I traveled half the wonderful state of Minnesota picking up things for Fr. Bernie that I needed to bring along with me to Guatemala. The last engagement I had was with Nicole of St. Patrick’s Parish in Edina. She will be leading a group of college students to Cobán in May and I am helping to coordinate the trip. It should be a very fun and rewarding experience for all parties involved.

A bit of a flashback here, but I spent Christmas here in Cobán as well. It just wasn’t the same without family, but the experience was very humbling. We did a small gift exchange within the monastery (Matt and I took photos with all the monks, then had them developed and framed) and later we spent time in the regional hospital in Cobán. It was not the most enjoyable time I have ever had, but I can appreciate the experience. Christmas will be that much more important to me from now on, and for someone who loves Christmas – that’s saying a lot!

Go Vikes! You looked awesome this weekend!!!

Congratulations Kipper and Maggie on the wedding!!! I hope your tropical honeymoon was enjoyable. Rrrrraw!

Take care,

PD

Escuela Vacaciones

Happy holidays everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying the cold weather in MN...you probably think I am making fun of you from a nice tropical climate (which believe me, it is very nice!), but Christmas just isn't the same without snow on the ground and frostbite on numerous extremities.

We finished our vacation school yesterday. Here in Guatemala, we are on "summer" break right now so to speak. The vacation school was an optional class that 38 students decided to participate in. We taught both English and Intro to Computation (basics of the computer). The vacation school also included the nutrition program I have been working on.

For a final hooray, we had a fiesta yesterday. We brought ice cream (a first for many), cake, drinks and enough food to feed just about the entire community (parents, siblings, non-participants). We also gave away flashlights to all the students. Fr. Bernie had them donated, and they are great for the aldeas because they don't require electricity (which the community doesn't have and cannot afford to purchase batteries). These lights have a small hand crank on them that you spin to turn a mini generator in the flashlight that powers the light. Very cool. The kids were ecstatic.

After dancing for an our or so to burn off all the extra calories from the sweets, we gave away the grand final. I spent the day before making diplomas for all the students and appreciation certificates for the mothers that decided to help cook with the nutrition program. More smiles. It was really a great day for everyone.

Thank you Kevin for scoring me a College Pass to Steamboat...helped me BIG time!!!

Go Vikes!

I hope you all have a great Christmas, and I look forward to seeing everyone soon. I'll be back in MN on the 28th of December for two weeks.

PD

Tis the Season

Hello all!

I haven't blogged for a while, but to tell you the truth not a lot has happened lately (not a good opening line, I know. But keep reading if you want). Just lots of work and studying...

This past week we started learning Christmas songs in Spanish. It is really funny because they have the same tune, but often times have very different translations - kind of confusing. We are teaching our students these songs in the aldeas, too. They are mostly Catholic with indigenous Mayan influence, but are unfamiliar with Christmas songs. How sad, I know.

I'm fighting a cold night now, which isn't real important to anyone - but it highlights some traditional thinking that is kind of humorous. I'm not trying to sound demeaning, but it is just very different than what we know in healthcare these days in the States. The best example is their fear of hot/cold combos. If you come in from the rain, they don't want you to take a warm shower. Or I'll finish running, but they advise against talking a cold shower. I can't even eat ice cream with hot fudge! This hot/cold combo is the only reason people get sick down here, apparently. I was telling some of the monks that I got sick this time because I'm always around our students - and there are always a couple who will be sick. They disagreed with me and said it was because it is really hot where you work in the jungle and cooler here in Coban. They even went as far as to tell me that I should drink a glass of whiskey for my throat, but without ice. If there is ice in it, you will just get worse! I like the idea of having a glass of whiskey, but without ice - not so sure! Maybe I'll just have one with ice and another without ice. They should balance out, right?

The other traditional thinking mentality I've experienced here is that EVERYTHING is gripe (Spanish for 'flu'). Whether you have a headache, are stuffed up, or have a fever - you have gripe. There is no distinguishing between bacterial infections, viruses, or fungus among others. There exists only one type of sickness in the world, and that is gripe!!!

We did get some good news yesterday. MAGA and the Departmental Government of Alta Verapaz approved a grant for our chicken coop project. The grant will fund the purchase of all our chickens, feeders, feed concentrate, and egg cartons. This is GREAT news as we didn't have enough money to finish the project!

Talking about financial problems...ahhh Dubai - you make me laugh.

This is just a pet-peeve, but I just have to get it off my chest. We have breakfast every morning here at 7:00 am. We usually leave for work well before this and eat on the way, but somedays we stay in Coban and "sleep in" until 7:00 am. Anyways, if you don't show up for breakfast, the community is small enough that everyone notices. All day I get interrogated about what happened the night before - so I just never miss breakfast, it is easier that way. This morning, I decided to sleep in until 8:00 am when work starts because I'm sick. Should have known it, Fr. Bernie told me the entire community thinks I was hung over...awesome.

Hope everyone is having a great holiday season. I heard MN just got hit with a big storm. Send some of that snow down here!

Looking forward to seeing everyone soon,

PD

(Chicken coop project in Yalchacti)

Contact Info

So I just found out people have been looking for my contact information...I probably should have done this in my first post, but here it is:

Mailing Address:

Jon R.J. Dunn F107
PO Box 520635
Miami, FL 53152-0635
Attn: Fr. Bernadine Ness

*This address can be used for all packages and valuables

Apartado 19
16901 Coban, A.V.
Guatemala, Centro Americo

*Use for letters/postcards/etc. Expect two weeks minimum on this, and don’t use it to send anything of value!

Program Info:

Benedictine Volunteer Corps
Collegeville, MN
http://www.saintjohnsabbey.org/volunteers/ (website)
Attn: Br. Paul Richards, OSB
prichards@csbsju.edu (email)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

*Warning: This is a looooooong one!

My spirits are still high, but today was the first day I was really thinking about home. We actually had Thanksgiving here in the monastery, even though it is not celebrated though out Guatemala. Apparently they don't celebrate Day of the Conquistadors like we celebrate the arrival of the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock?! (Off color joke, sorry...) Thanksgiving was nice here (we actually got turkey and dressing), but it just reminds you that holidays are special because of family – not all the fluffy things like presents and food that go along with it. Mom, your cooking is AMAZING (just to clarify). You guys know I’m not much of the emotional type, but I’m really looking forward to seeing you all just after Christmas. Today was just another day without spending it with you guys down at Joan and Jims. Ok. Enough of the sentimental stuff.

I had a bit of a frustrating day in the aldeas today for multiple reasons. I need to vent, so you will just have to put up with it. Firstly, St. John’s Abbey was kind enough to provide me with a donation for the nutrition program here – which does not have funding during the vacation period (ie now). [THANK YOU VERY MUCH BR. PAUL!!!] With the donation, I was able to secure enough resources to continue the program throughout their five-week break – because believe it or not, just because they are not in school officially doesn’t mean they don’t get hungry! Anyways, the mothers today told us they don’t want to help cook the meals. I think I do a very good job of recognizing cultural differences, of being patient, but this got my blood pressure going. Here, we are providing free school in a building we built, your child(s) are in our classes, we have provided food free of charge, we are using the food to feed YOUR child, and all we ask for is two mothers to help cook each day! We even provided them with money to purchase tortillas and wood for the stoves, so all they have to do is show up! Oscar is having a meeting with all the senoras tomorrow. I hope he can clear this up…

Secondly, we are building a large-scale chicken coup in the same aldea. This will serve two purposes. It will provide unlimited eggs, which are a great source of protein in their diet (almost non-existent now), as well as provide a consistent revenue stream. Fr. Bernie has paid or found donors for everything, including two full time laborers to assemble it. All he asked for was help with some of the simpler tasks, such as backfilling and building the chicken rousts. Everything is there, but no one has shown up the entire week to help. The project is just being forgotten about, and when it is this close to completion, all I can think about is the opportunity costs of both money and nutrition being wasted every day. Very frustrating.

Lastly, the community is having some internal problems as well. In an effort to buy locally, we invited anyone within the community who had access to wood to sell it to us (remember the blog I wrote about the difficulties of purchasing locally, but we were willing to work with as we wanted to support the local economy). Only one person came forward and offered to sell us wood. So, we bought all the wood he had. Now, the other members of the community are jealous of his earnings and refusing to help with anything. Again, trying to not criticize a culture or community I am not a part of, but we offered everyone the same deal (which was a very fair price by the way). I don’t get it. Ok, I’m done venting. Hopefully you’re still reading?

I am not a big fast food guy. I eat it on occasion because it is cheap, or just looking for a quick meal on the road like most Americans. So when I came here, I decided I wouldn’t eat any fast food for my duration in Guatemala. There are not many fast food restaurants here anyways, and the ones that are here are almost exclusively located in Guatemala City, but there are a few hidden gems here and there. Today, Br. Rolando brought me back a cheeseburger unexpectedly. I ate it – and must admit McDonalds has never tasted so good in my life.

My stories today follow absolutely NO chronological order, so please don’t try and figure out a timeline when I say “today” or “last night.” Either I’ll be wrong or you’ll be wrong, but either way it will never be correct, so save yourself the effort.

LASTNIGHT we had a bit of a celebration for Thanksgiving. It included some finger food (peanuts, popcorn ect), cerviche and beer. The cerviche that I have had has always been made with seafood. This cerviche had a distinct flavor and texture. Apparently bull testicles are a delicacy here in Guatemala. I almost throw-up, and in retrospect, kind of wish I did. I swear I could feel the pure testosterone flowing through my veins this morning when I woke up…

On another note, [READ: One it which I will not make myself the center of all jokes for the next two and a half years] blessings here in Guatemala are very abundant. People may not go to church, but they sure as hell need a religious to come and bless their (fill in the blank). A few funny ones from this week; a semi-truck, a new computer store, and lastly a discoteca (epicenter of all things immoral – i.e. murder, drugs and prostitution).

Bought my plane ticket this week. I will be back in the States from 28 Dec to 14 Jan.

See you all then,

PD

(Photo: Before the cerviche...)

Fuimos a Belize

Wow. Belize is absolutely AMAZING!!! I can’t believe how beautiful it is. I am volunteering in the WRONG country – I hope you read this Br. Paul…

For those of you who don’t know, I didn’t get a Visa for working in Guatemala. This means I need to conveniently leave the country every 90 days for a long weekend – a perfect opportunity for a little R & R. For our first ‘trip’ we decided to go to Belize, or at least that was my excuse.

Luke, another BVC member from Esquipulas, joined us for the little adventure, along with two monks from the monastery in Cobán. When we got to the border at Belize though, the two monks weren’t allowed in. There was a recent rule change, similar to Canada and the US, that now required all Guatemalans to carry a passport in Belize and not only their identification cards. Too bad for them, they missed an awesome trip.

So we caught the last bus from the border to Belize City. After about 3 hours, we arrived in Belize City well after dark and found ourselves a sufficiently sketchy guesthouse (hotel) to stay in. After some conch soup and a couple Belikens, we were ready for bed.

In the morning, we took a water taxi out to San Pedro – a caye (key) just over an hour away. This is one of the coolest places I have ever been. Like an undeveloped Cancun, Mexico. Just as nice, but fewer people, cheaper and a little more culture. People in Belize speak English as well, so that wasn’t a problem. I would recommend this place to ANYONE. Absolutely fabulous. It was low season for tourism, so all the prices were really low. We rented a great condo with queen size beds, private deck/patio, private dock, air conditioning – all for $55 US/night.

We also took advantage of San Pedro’s close proximity to the 2^nd largest reef in the world. We spent an afternoon snorkeling, checking out one of the best snorkeling sites in the world, Hol Chan – check it out on-line. This included a visit to ‘shark alley’ where we swam with wild nerf sharks and stingrays (yeah, the “harmless” rays that killed our beloved Steve Irwin). Actually got to touch them in the water and everything as we had this completely crazy guide that would catch them and hold them for us underwater. Yeah, he got a tip…

There was some great nightlife there too. Without going into too many details, we spent a couple nights socializing with a bunch of Canadians. For some reason or another, Canadians love this place. It was nice for me though, as Canadians made me feel closer to home in MN than anyone else I have met down here. Highlight: At one of the bars, they had the world famous chicken drop. You are probably asking yourself, what the hell is the world famous chicken drop – as I did as well. It consists of a large board with painted squares numbering 1 – 100. Each person buys as many squares as desired, at 50 cents each, and then draws their numbers. Once all the squares have been purchased, a chicken is released on the board, which is surrounded by a small fence. Wherever the chicken decides to do its ‘business’, the person with that square wins the pot – which was the total winnings (the house doesn’t take any). Only catch is the winner needs to clean up the mess in front of the entire crowd. Very fun. I will be introducing this to Wytt in hopes of bringing the “world famous chicken drop” to Waconia, MN. My mother would be so proud…ha

On the way back, we stopped in Placencia for a night. Another great place on the coast, but more low keyed. Apparently it picks up during the high season, but during the rest of the time it is more of a couples hangout. Nice though.

After crossing the boarder back to Guatemala via water taxi to Puerto Barrios, we started our lovely bus trip back to Coban. Awesome trip though, I will be recommending it to everyone I know.

Take care,

PD

P.s. Almost forgot. I saw my first deadly snake here in Guatemala. Luckily, this guy had just been killed minutes before by a car in front of us. Despite my smile in the picture, I don't like snakes. At all.

Birthdays in Guatemala

Two posts in one day. You can tell I must be trying to catch up before I head off to Belize this week!

My birthday, Friday the 13th, was surprisingly very fun. I got a cake, a really good one too. Pretty sure the monks bought it because it looked very professional. With ice cream too! The whole “day” was actually really fun. Thursday night, Fr. Bernie and Fr. Basil (the two American monks) along with Matt and a Guatemalan friend of Fr. Bernie’s and Fr. Basil surprised me with a bottle of whiskey, a bottle of rum and some beer. We sat around eating peanuts and sipping “holy water” until way passed the monks’ normal bedtime. On Friday, I woke up a present of candy outside my door, still don’t know who left it? I went to the refectory for breakfast, and they had signs, streamers and balloons on the wall for me. PLUS, we had pancakes for breakfast! No beans - thank God!!! Then at lunch, I got the birthday song, cake and ice cream. For dinner, my Spanish teacher invited Matt and I over to have dinner with her family. Very fun. Good food, a little wine, good company. Very nice evening. And finally, one of the monks and one of the guys I work went out for Chinese food and a couple beers in the Central Park, where they had the Christmas Tree lighting program. Sponsored by none other than Gallo Cervaza. The lights decorating the tree are actually Gallo beer lights. I really wish I was joking, but it is the truth.

See you all soon,

PD