Three Weeks to Go!!!

As in my previous post I'd mentioned that it's all done but the details......Well, the details are starting to role in and the excitement is building. A week or so ago it was into the Travel Clinic for a chat with the doctor about what we needed...followed by shots, prescriptions for meds...lots of advice on what not to eat...Note: I'm not certain I'm taking their advice as it'll take the fun out of the opportunities for the cultural culinary foodie aspect of the trip. Perhaps I'll leave that to Colin or some of the more timid travelers. After all, I've taken the right meds.... have the appropriate drugs, just in case, and I'll be dammed if I'm not going to try the food on the street !!!!

We've received details from the HFH Guatemala folks and specific details regarding our stay are starting to pour in. Don't yet know, beyond the first two days, where we'll be staying and the specific town we'll be working in but we're starting to get much greater detail as to what to expect, the history of the country and it's peoples. I've inserted a bit of details sent to us, can't claim the level of accuracy but it seems to be reasonable.

"Guatemala is one of the poorest countries in Latin America and in many respects is still trying to shake off the yoke of colonialism. The country is largely indigenous with approximately 54% of the population being of pure Mayan descent. The People of the Corn, as they are sometimes referred to, continue to primarily live an agrarian lifestyle, which has its roots in the thousands of years of Mayan culture and tradition. However, this picturesque scene has more often been stained by the long shadow of extreme poverty where 75% of the population lives below the poverty line. 

Guatemala in many respects is still structured much like a feudal society, where a small elite owns a disproportionate amount of the prime farming land and the means of production while a large uneducated peasantry is forced to work for them for subsistence wages at best. Even after a 36 year civil war, largely brought on by extremely skewed economic conditions, over 65% of the usable farm land remains in the hands of a mere 3% of the population, in large-scale land holdings (UNDP/2000). The largest land holdings, and the richest land, are used primarily for the growth of export crops, such as coffee, cotton, sugar and bananas, while much of the peasant population continues to make due with insufficient, extremely marginal plots. The population is, in general, young (42% are under 14), illiterate (at least 45% cannot read and write) and living without access to basic services (electricity, running water, road access). Total fertility rate stands at 4.66 children born/woman." -Not Known Source of Info

 Given the above it's no wonder that there's a real need for Habitat For Humanity Guatemala, and the work that is being done down there. Throw in some of the damage caused by earthquakes, over the years, and there's lots of  need... and not near enough work and support. Our part will be small, but hopefully, have a real impact of some good but poor people.

As for where we're staying... Colin and myself, and a couple others, are arriving in Guatemala City a day before the bulk of  our co-volunteers. We'll be staying at the "recommended" hotel in Guatemala City called "Casa Santorini". The price is right... less then $20 per night, kind of looks a bit like a hotel/hostel. If your interested here's a link to their website Casa Santorini Guatemala City (and hey... enjoy the music, it's free). With final details coming in and the time of departure getting closer it hard to focus on work and not the trip. In some of the time off, over Easter it sound like we're going to be busy visiting a local school, as well as a visit to at least one volcano and of course the cultural area of Antigua, Guatemala.