Learning Flexibility

One thing I have been learning all year, from the day I arrived, is flexibility. At first it really stressed me out having classes cancelled, schedules changed, and things not going the way I expected, but over time I have become more relaxed and willing to go with the flow. For example, this morning I finally had classes in Chamche. Because of me being in Canada for one Friday, the fair here for the next Friday, a school-wide fundraiser/fun fair day landing on a Friday, Independence Day on a Thursday and thus a holiday on Friday etc, today was only my fourth day in Chamche school all semester. In the morning staff meeting I found out that next Friday there is a school-wide fundraiser/fun fair in Chijacorral and that the Chamche students will be going there from recess on, so I will only have half the normal time in each class. I also found out that Chamche final exams changed and are now a week early, which happens to be 2 weeks from today. However, their exam week is only Monday to Thursday because Friday is Children's Day and there are no classes. The only day I am available to give the exams is Friday, so the regular classroom teacher will give my exam to the students sometime earlier that week. That is fine, except that being a language course, I like to include an oral component in the exam. I do not expect the Guatemalan classroom teachers to do this. So...what to do? I could either not have an oral component, or give it earlier. If I give the oral component a week early, that would mean NEXT CLASS! So this morning as classes started I had to think on the spot of what exactly I was going to have in the oral component (good thing I had already thought through the exam and had typed up a rough draft) and what I needed to go over in class so the students would be ready. But what about the students who were absent today? And can I get the exam to the secretary in time for her to photocopy? And will they remember anything I teach them anyways? Needless to say I've had to learn not to get upset at the principal for changing the exam dates or cancelling classes or not telling me all this sooner, not to get upset over the fact that these students aren't learning near as much as I had hoped or planned for in the beginning of the year, and not to get upset over the amount of work I now have to do in a very short amount of time. Sure, situations like this still stress me out and make me frustrated. It will take more than 10 months to change that. But I have come a long way this year in learning to be flexible. This is one thing of the things I am thankful for from this year that I will take home with me. It would be appreciated, though, if you could pray for me as this school year wraps up. I have a lot of work to do still and a lot of things I want to get done before I go. I want to make the most of my remaining 5 weeks here.   

Elections

Yesterday Guatemalan citizens voted in a new president, as they do every 4 years. All year the competing parties have been campaigning, advertising, and preparing for this day. Now, I'm not huge on politics, I'm not Guatemalan, and I don't have a TV or radio, so all I can do is summarize what I've seen and heard from other people. 

The corruption in this country is most evident in the government. The wife of the president of this last 4 year term divorced her husband so she could run for president and therefore steal money from the country for another 4 years. No relative of past or present president can run. Fortunately one lawyer had his act together and finally got her out of the running. The last president did little for the country, so who's to think his wife (ex-wife) will do any more in the next 4 years.

The government does not set an example of forward thinking. A president can only be in office for one 4-year term. No wonder their slogans are "Only the family can save the town." "No lies, no promises." and "I did it for you, Guatemala" (says the ex-president's ex-wife regarding the divorce). A president has no incentive to plan for the future if it's guaranteed to end in a mere 4 years.

It's all a matter of money. As an outsider, the election campaigning consisted of painting party logos on walls, hanging leaders' faces from lampposts, and driving vehicles up and down the street playing songs and jingles trying to convince people to vote for that party. An incredible amount of money is spent in just this. It all comes down to this: people will vote for a party they recognize. With a poor, illiterate, uneducated adult population, a vote is not based on watching candidates state their case on TV, reading the pros and cons of each party in the newspaper, or discussing views with people of different backgrounds and opinions. If a family lives in a remote village and the only posters that make their way up there are for one party, they will vote for that one party, if they vote at all. Money is not spent on planning, it is spent on plastering the country with names, faces, and colours. I personally think that's why the owners painted our house light green - because there is a political party light yellow, the same colour as our house used to be.

On the left is a pizza advertisement. On the right is a political party advertisement.

I asked one teacher if he was going to vote. He said no, because he doesn't want to be blamed for the wrong that the elected party will do for the country. Here it's not really about voting for the best party, it's about voting for the least bad. Most people I know wanted the Creo party to win. Unfortunately Patriota won with 36%, next with Lider at 23%. Not high percentages, but not bad considering there were 10 candidates to choose from. 

I asked another teacher why she wasn't going to vote and she said her parents never have, so why should she? Tradition and the fear of change are two things that keep this country from moving forward, but also make this country what it is: a country of unique, preserved culture. A place where intrigued foreigners come to visit, travel, and work.

Yesterday, as the voters lined up, I was glad for 2 things. One: I'm not in Guatemala City where there are bound to be riots, regardless of which party gets in. Two: I'm glad it's finally over. But wait. It's not! If the president gets in with 50%, he's in. But if it's less than that, they have a re-election. Apparently now they take the top 2 and vote between those 2 in November. When will it ever end?!

Today, I'm glad for 3 things: One: I don't have a TV. Two: I'm not going to be here in November for the re-election. Three: I'm Canadian and don't have to fear the next four years just because of who may be elected. Something I have noticed, though, is that many of the people I talk to realize that something in the government needs to change. These people are beginning to look ahead and desire change. These people will make a difference. They may not become president, but they will be the ones to make a difference in their communities and teach the upcoming generation to think change, pray for their country, and dream big.

Dream big, like this presidential candidate.

The billboard reads: justice is punishment for the criminals, wellbeing is for those who work.

A Gift

This week I received a gift. Before I tell you what it was, I want to explain that Impact Ministries receives a lot of gifts from North Americans, who normally call them "donations" (I am not referring to monetary donations). To the giver, it is a donation; they do not know who will receive it, yet they still give it without expecting anything in return. To the receiver, it is a gift; they do not know who gave it, but receive it and give thanks to God, expecting Him to bless them. This process gives satisfaction to both the one giving (knowing they are helping or blessing someone) and the one receiving (knowing they cannot repay nor are expected to). The problem arises when the giver sees their action not as "giving" but as "getting rid of". Garage sales, thrift stores, and white elephant gift exchanges come to mind along with the saying, "One man's junk is another man's treasure." That is not the purpose of donations to Impact Ministires.

Many Guatemalans are dirt poor. Many children run around in dirty and torn clothing, live in houses of sticks and tin, and wear cheap plastic sandals or nothing on their feet. But that does not mean that their clothes were not in good condition when they first got them. Nor does that mean that they would be happy to receive a shirt with holes in it already. I am reminded of one of my favourite sweaters as a kid. I wore it everywhere, it was so comfortable. Yet over time, it started to show wear. My mom started suggesting I throw it out and wear my other, newer ones. But I didn't want to; it was my favourite. Eventually my mom took the initiative and threw it out for me, even though in my eyes it was still wearable. Well, here in Guatemala, they will not throw it out because it looks ragged. They will only throw it out when they can no longer wear it anymore.

But how do they get new clothes if they have no money? you might ask. Here a thrift store is called a PACA. It is not where people drop off their old stuff and search through one man's junk for a treasure. These stores receive used clothes by the bagful from North America. How do I know it's from North America? Because of all the English written on the shirts, and the name brands that I recognize. When a PACA receives a new bag of clothes, most items will go for Q15 ($2). After awhile, the selection will be picked through, and everything will cost Q10 ($1.25). Then it will drop to Q5. And right before they put out the new selection, they have basically a clearance sale, everything for Q1 ($0.12). Everyone can spare Q1, although by that point, there isn't much left in the way of nice clothes. 

To those who can only afford 12 cent clothing, the gifts Impact Ministries gives to their staff and students is such a blessing. When teams come down throughout the year, they often bring or leave behind clothing, toys, and school supplies. These are distributed by Rita and other staff members in the name of Jesus.

So I want to encourage you to donate. But you know what really blows their socks off? Receiving something brand new, never been worn, never been used. Before giving things away, don't think, "Do I want this anymore? but instead think, "Would I want to receive this as a gift?" A few months ago, Rita asked me if I liked doing puzzles. I said yes, and took one home that had been donated. When I finally finished it, I counted 37 pieces missing, and 7 random pieces from other puzzles, as well as 3 broken pieces. I would not want to receive this as a gift, and neither would anyone else, no matter how poor.

The finished dolphin puzzle

Some of the missing pieces

Now back to the gift I received. I received a brand new set of sheets that fit my single bed. All year I have been using fitted sheets in which the elastic no longer has any stretch, and top sheets that are made for double beds, and pillowcases that don't match the sheets. I haven't complained, but it is such a blessing to have new, matching, sheets that fit my bed. I want to send a big Thank You to the lady who gave them.

But what can I give? you might be asking. In a few weeks we will be celebrating Children's Day here. Over the past year Rita has been collecting and setting aside toys that have been donated. We now have enough for one toy for every single student in our schools. If you are wondering what else you can give, here are some ideas:

- boys rubber boots
- girls skirts
- baby clothes
- dress ties
- sweaters or jackets
- toques, mitts, gloves
- blankets or towels
- whiteboard erasers (none of our classrooms have chalkboards)
- rubber stamps and ink pads (for elementary teacher use, not card making)
- sticky tack
- nice school supplies
- USB sticks (many teachers are expected to use computers for school or work but do not own computers)
- sports equipment
- stuffies, toys, and games (that do not require English and that have all the pieces)
- hygiene items (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc)
- prescription glasses
- medical supplies (please email Impact Ministries for specific needs)
- new socks
(This list is not exhaustive, it is only to spark some ideas)

Here some things NOT to give:
- books in English
- dirty or really old clothing
- bathing suits
- items that have been used up
- shirts with suggestive words or pictures, or alcohol logos
- something you would not want to receive as a gift

Some of the kids who will be receiving a toy on Children's Day

Tienda Run

On Tuesday I decided I wanted to make oatmeal raisin cookies. Unfortunately we didn't have any flour or oats in the house, and I didn't feel like walking all the way across town and back just for those 2 items. So I ran up the hill to the tienda (corner store). As I waited for the customer ahead of me, I could see, amongst the random assortment of items behind the glass counter, wheat flour and oats used for mosh, which is like porridge but a beverage. The lady working there was not the regular lady, but she must have been related because she had the same eyes.

I greeted her in Spanish, and asked for flour. She said they didn't have any. I pointed to it and asked what it was (being name brand Gold Medal, in a flour-looking package, I knew very well what it was). She rifled through and brought up a bag. Then I asked for oats. She said they didn't have any. I pointed at what I thought was oats and asked, "Isn't this oats?" She came around to the front to see what I was pointing at and said, "No, that's not oats. That's mosh." So I replied, "It says Mosh Oats on the package." So after digging around she came up with 2 different kinds of oats, rolled and ground. So I went with the rolled oats. I also asked for another small item, which must have been common because she had no problem finding that, though it helped that I was pointing right at it because she didn't understand me the first time I asked.

I told her that's all I was going to get. Either because she doesn't work there regularly or because I was buying items they didn't sell, she did not know how much they cost. So she had to run to the back twice to ask for prices: once for the flour and once for the oats. With the 3 items on the counter she said it's Q12.50, Q9.50, and Q1.50. Then she gave me a blank stare, as if she was expecting me to do the math for her. Last I checked, that was her job. But oh well, I can add, and that's probably the safe thing to do with her anyways, even if just to double check. I said Q23.50. She thought for a second, then agreed with me. I handed her a Q50 bill. She walked over to wherever they have their change (somehow I doubt I can actually call it a cash register, though I can't see it from where I stand). A second later she turns and walks back into the house. Obviously she only has petty cash and does not have access to the larger bills. A minute or 2 later, the lady who normally runs the shop came out from the back, holding my Q50. She repeated the amount and in a moment I had my correct change and was walking out the door with my purchases. As I walked through the pouring rain and rivers in the street, I was glad I didn't have to walk all the way across town to get my cookie ingredients. I was also really hoping that the cookies would turn out after all that work.