Guatemala Nutrition

I have all these degrees and today was my hardest day...Nutrition of all things.

The goal was to have a discussion about the malnutrition and how to prevent disease. Then, easy enough, we talk about what to give kids from the ages of 0 to 2 years! Right up my alley right? Dietitian, Pediatritian...what could go wrong?

Oh yah, the small thing called spanish. Today it was the deer in headlights effect. I would ask something and they would stare at me. Then they would get excited and start rambling away, and I would give them the blank lost look.

After lunch, the idea was that we could bring all the small groups back together and present the topics discussed earlier. After lunch my heart started to beat. I realized I had no idea what, if anything, they got out of the morning. And, my fear started to build as I had no idea what they would present. I decided to pick the smartest girl of the bunch which is, of course, the 18 year old female interested in Medical school someday.

The first group presented and they blew me away. Then our group was up. The dentist decided to do his own presentation of the group which i was quite fine with. Then the presentation. It was unbelievable! I was taken back by how much information she provided and how exquisite she presented. I could go as far to say that I was very proud of my group much less my student! However, I am not sure if that was my doing or her knowledge already. Whatever it was, she made me look like I had all those titles and taught something...whew!

We are almost done with our project. Tomorrow will be the last day with some exams for them and certificates to end the show! They have learned alot and although some I would not trust giving antibiotics to as they would give it to a child with one day of cough...the others have, I guess what you call, grown from this experience.

My new project is to communicate with the doctor tomorrow and see how I can get this girl in my group to medical school. Their medical school costs $5/ month roughly....and I am sure that can be provided if she really wanted to go. She is a family of 8 children living in no town and has finished her high school education. She is unbelievably intelligent, and it would be my dream to make her go from health care worker to doctor if I can!!! That would be an accomplishment!

Until tomorrow