Guatemala is a gorgeous country!
Not a day goes by when I don't marvel at the natural beauty of this place. I wake up every morning to see clear blue skies overlooking lush green hills. I have spent the last month living in San Juan del Obisbo a small town near Antigua Guatemala. It sits on the side of the Agua Volcano (pictured above). Most mornings I can see for miles before it clouds up in the afternoon for the daily rain.
Language School
Every morning I have four hours of classes with my Spanish teacher, Rosario. With one-on-one classes I have no choice but to practice my Spanish. She has patiently helped me as I have fumbled through conjugating irregular verbs in dozens of tenses. And, she has helped me tackle what is probably one of the most difficult grammar topics for English-speakers: the subjunctive. The subjunctive, as a tense, doesn't exist in English. It is used to express desires, opinions and uncertainties. As many rules as I memorize, there always seem to be exceptions. As frustrating as it may be, I have a feeling that the subjunctive will become my friend this year as I build relationships and share my joys and challenges with the people I meet. And hopefully the people I encounter will be able to share the same with me.
Rosario
Rosario has taught me much more than just the nuts and bolts of the Spanish language. She has also shared her story with me and in so doing has given me my first glimpse of Guatemalan life. We have talked about anything and everything from religion to politics to life in general. She is in her mid-thirties and lives with her husband and three children (her oldest daughter turned 14 yesterday!).
In our conversations she has especially told me a lot about her youngest son, Johan. Johan is seven years old and has Down's Syndrome. Very few resources exist here to support the parents of children with special needs and since public education is not guarranteed (to any children) she has few options. Without the money to send him to a special school, Rosario is resourceful. She has found a local university which provides free weekly speech therapy as practice for their psychology and therapy students. She has also found a private preschool that is willing to take him even though he is a few years older than the other students. She is filled with so much love and determination!
It frustrates me that there aren't more resources available to her. It frustrates me that people here are so ignorant of what Down's Syndrome is, and that other mothers will often take their children close when she brings Johan to the park because they don't want their children to play with him. It frustrates me that for an amount that would be insignificant to many people in the United States Rosario would be able to send Johan to a special school.
In the meantime though, I am thankful for her. I am thankful that she has so much love to share with Johan. I am thankful that she is determined to help her son succeed.
