Guatemala Catch-Up
More excuses for not adhering to writing schedule
As I usually do, I came to Guatemala with good intentions and high hopes of writing regularly about what I’m seeing, doing and thinking, and about the momentous events taking place right now in the Land of Eternal Spring. And, as usual, my hopes to date have been dashed by the always expected unforeseen problems and demands on my time for trip organization, and as sometimes happens, health challenges.
On this trip, health problems have been a real issue, as on the third day here I got a sore throat, which on the fourth day here turned into what felt like full-blown bronchitis, but which I now would bet is RSV. Not that it matters what it is, particularly. Just that despite my attempts at overcoming it with self-conscious stabs at valiance and determination, it has in fact worn me down with a persistent cough and low energy levels.
Meanwhile, two of my three travel companions, including my wife, Mary, have also come down with it. So far, Mary has avoided the intense evening of fiebre y escalofrio, fever and chills, that struck hard at me and Valerie on different nights. But the cough has not only remained, but worsened … prompting me to get up at 4 am last night to dig out the heavy duty codeine-laced cough syrup so both of us could get some sleep.
What a drag. None of us has been ill enough that we couldn’t have some fun. But three of us have had the virus sufficiently bad to restrict, if not disable, our capacity to enjoy life … while Valerie’s husband, Tim, has been restricted by his admirable dedication to taking care of his wife.
Anyway … here I am on the 12th day, sort of disappointed that I haven’t been able to fully assault la vida Chapín the way I usually do, while at the same time glad for the great moments I’ve had so far. And my heart is filled with hope that I’ve reached the point in the illness that the bubbles, rattles and rails in my lungs will dissipate.
So … with yet another excuse for not having made a recent post out of the way, I’ll get on to other subjects, experiences, memories, thoughts and worries that I have encountered the Republic.
I close this post with a photo of me on a trip to one of the schools at which MayaCREW and ACEBAR sponsors scholarships. It's very much on my immediate agenda to post photos of that trip. But for the moment, what's below is just a shot of me in front of 13 foot tall August corn that won't be ready to harvest until November. I've never seen corn like this in the States. I was told that agricultores like this corn because it produces more ears … but which are smaller. In any event, this will not be “table corn,” but rather dried, boiled with lime, and ground into masa dough for all those things that corn dough is used for.
