Travel Day and Clinic Orientation
April 24th: Travel Day
We started our day off at Gateway with an early bus ride to O’Hare for our first flight to Houston, Texas, with students from the Physical Therapist Assistant program, Nursing program, Human Services program, and Early Childhood Education program. When we arrived at the airport, we had a small delay when it came to checking in and weighing our suitcases. Besides that, everything went smoothly in Chicago. It was Elisabeth’s and Amanda’s first flight, and they got their wings from the flight attendants!! The plane ride was perfect, with little turbulence. When we arrived in Houston, we were very excited and pleasantly overwhelmed with the size of the airport and the array of food options. We had a 3-hour layover, which gave us plenty of time to stretch and explore the airport. Finally, the time came to board our next flight, which was to Guatemala City! All of us were very excited to find out that we were able to watch movies and TV on the way. When we arrived in Guatemala City, getting our passports went smoothly, but when we found our suitcases and headed over to Customs, things got interesting! Alysson’s bag had to be checked by security due to a police dog sniffing out her delicious granola bars haha! After Alysson was done, the police dog then sniffed out a single banana that had to be checked, lol. From there we finally got to meet Herson and get on the bus to our first hotel! When we arrived at the hotel, we did a brief orientation while we got to enjoy an amazing 3-course meal! Finally, it was time for bed! The rooms were gorgeous, and we slept hard after a long day.
April 25th, Orientation Day with Dr. Carla Martinez/Exploring Antigua!
We woke up to have a 6:00am breakfast buffet which was delicious. We then all walked to our meeting room to meet Dr. Carla Martinez, one of the doctors we will be working with at our Vida Clinic Days. We had orientation from 8:00am to 3:00pm, where we learned about common Guatemalan medical conditions and different diagnoses. During orientation, we got to help each other practice taking blood pressure and listening to lung sounds and heartbeats. After orientation ended, we checked out of our hotel and hopped on a bus to take a 1 hour and 30-minute ride to the historic town of Antigua, Guatemala! Once we arrived, we checked into the hotel and then got to explore the beautiful city with our group for about 2 hours! Some of us bought amazing handmade paintings of the town, earrings, wallets, and magnets. We got to go into so many cool shops and practice our Spanish! Exploring the city together as a group gave us another bonding experience and brought us closer. At 6:00pm, we walked to Patsy’s for a rooftop dinner of authentic Guatemalan food! The breeze was perfect, and so was the food! Julia, Rocio, Elisabeth, and Ashlyn had a full-on professional photo shoot with each other around the restaurant. We then all walked back to the hotel, where we had a quick wrap-up meeting to discuss the day and plans for our first Clinic Day tomorrow!
Day 3: Clinic Day 1: Chimaltenango
Today was our first day in Chimaltenango; it was amazing. We started with a yummy breakfast at our Hotel Buscaro and then went to the clinic, which is about 20 minutes away. There, we split into smaller student groups, including nursing, PTA, human services, and early childhood education. We conducted health assessments on over 50 people from the local community, including children, young adults, and the elderly. We loved learning about Guatemala’s culture and how medicine and healthcare work. We took turns asking questions, taking vitals, and filling out the intake form. Collaboration filled the room, and we were all able to support each other. We were able to present our discoveries to the doctors and had informative feedback. We then provided medications, physical therapy exercises, and education regarding health and nutrition. Many of the patients had hypertension, diabetes, colds, arthritis, stomach concerns, and headaches. They were also able to receive referrals to the local health clinic as well as psychologists for anxiety and depression.
At lunchtime, we took a break to enjoy a homemade meal cooked by two Guatemalan women. There was chicken, veggies, rice, and a spicy salsa! We enjoyed our lemonade and were happy to return to help other patients. At the end of the day, we realized how grateful the community members were, no matter what type of help they received.
The PTA students helped the patients relieve pain and find exercises that would benefit them. The students also tested their Spanish-speaking skills alongside an interrupter.
After the clinic, we went back to the hotel and prepared for our dinner at a restaurant called Aqua. We all enjoyed our food with a beautiful view while taking many photos. We ended the day by shopping in the plaza and talking about our highs and lows together as a team. All of us had so many positive things to say about the people we met, our interpreters, the doctors, and the teamwork. Our first clinic day was informative, exciting, and eye-opening. We can’t wait for tomorrow.
We knew that we were not only students but ambassadors of healing, ready to make a difference one patient at a time.
Guatemala Day 4
Clinic Day 2: Chimaltenango
After day one at the clinic, we returned to the clinic on day two in the same location and community. Today started with a home-cooked meal at the hotel with a variety of foods. We then took a bus to the clinic site. We switched who we were working with the day before. This included no one having the same people in their group and new interpreters as well. We continued to provide the same care from day 1 to the patients. Even with the change in groups and interpreters, we collaborated well and had a successful clinic day, which included using each other’s individual skills, knowledge, and abilities that we had acquired at Gateway. We learned that when we combine these skills, a patient can benefit from learning new things from nursing, physical therapy, early childhood, and human services to make little changes in their life to prevent future illnesses.
Once again, we were provided a delicious home-cooked lunch by our host families. After lunch, we were able to continue our journey, assisting more families with their medical concerns. After we finished our clinic for the day, we were allowed to discuss cases in depth with the providers as a group. This discussion helped us understand where some of the common conditions that are affecting the community come from. Even though we were able to provide some of the needed medications, some patients still had to find a way to obtain other medications. Even with the challenges with available resources to help the community, we were able to hit our goal of patients seen in the clinic and surpassed it by 1! 51! YAY! As we finished clinic day 2, it was time to say goodbye to this community. We were surprised by the municipality with a touching and overwhelming gratitude-filled thank you and an amazing gift.
Not only did we help patients, but a Vida volunteer adopted a dog from the street who visited us in the clinic. The dog is now named Nango in honor of the town in which we were serving, Chimaltenango.
We were able to check out one of the local coffee shops recommended by our amazing Vida coordinator, Herson. For dinner, we went to an authentic Guatemalan restaurant called Los Tres Tiempos and enjoyed pepián with tamales, Domingue, and tacos, among other delicious foods. We finished our day with a nice stroll through the beautiful streets of Antigua. While walking through the town, we found a new friend.
We returned to the hotel to rest and prepare for our next adventure.
Guatemala Day 5:
Building Stoves in El Tunino, Guatemala
It was a beautiful day in Antigua, Guatemala. Many of us got up at 6:30 a.m. with fresh coffee from a local shop, Bru’d. Guatemala is known for its coffee production. There is also warm chocolate, a drink similar to hot chocolate but better, made with real Guatemalan cocoa beans.
After breakfast, we were off on the bus to El Tunino, a rural community in the hills we were lucky enough to spend the day in.
We gathered in the home of a beautiful Mayan couple and their three children as we together to learn the assembly of a stove, “Chispa,” that will impact this and many other families’ health and daily lives. The name comes from the word “sparkle.” A play on words similar to the spark of a fire that will light the wood to heat the stoves that will serve to cook many meals. These stoves which contain piping, similar to a chimney, help to direct the Fumas or “fumes” out of the kitchen. Many families suffer from respiratory illnesses, which will help prevent that and allow for healthier cooking. After our lesson, we separated into groups of 4, along with our interpreters, to install our new stoves within the community. In our group, we were greeted by a beautiful couple, and their 9-month-old baby instantly made us feel welcome in their home. After working together between caulking, installing the pipework, and leveling the Chispa, the mother of the home decided to show her gratitude by showing us how she makes her homemade tortillas. She taught us her techniques for working the dough from a ball to a flat tortilla and cooking it properly on the stove. The delicious smell of the tortillas filled the home, and we were glad to be able to take some with us for our bus ride back to Antigua.
We also gave some toys and coloring books to the local Mayan children and showed them how to blow bubbles and use Play-Doh, which they had never seen.
The whole group was then invited into the home of one of the local community families in Parramos, where our homestays will be. They cooked us homemade food, including chicken, mashed potatoes, and corn. Their home was beautiful, with a grass courtyard.
Later that evening we took time to explore the top of the “Iglesia Merced” for some beautiful views overlooking colonial Antigua. A church once built to conceal the daily lives of nuns is now full of men and women gathering to enjoy lunch and take in the lively city. Some students learned the process of making chocolate starting from a cocoa bean and got to make their own chocolate bar.
Guatemala Day 6:
Recreation Day: Hobbitenango and Salsa Dancing
It is the 6th day of our trip overseas to Guatemala. Today, we had our last breakfast at Hotel Pasada in Antigua. We will no longer spend our mornings with the background of an active volcano, nor will our nights be accompanied by Antigua’s festive light display and nightlife. Thankfully, we were able to sleep in a little later than normal. I can confidently say we all appreciated the extra rest. Many of us were tired from yesterday’s climbing activities through the hills to put the Chispa Estufas (stoves) in our homes.
After cramming together inside an open truck, we headed towards Hobbitenango. The ride there was thrilling as we sped up a bumpy mountainside on quite the incline. We spent around five hours at Hobbitenango. The area is similar to the shire in the movie set of “The Lord of the Rings” franchise. Many of us took the risk of bungee jumping along the mountainside. The experience is simultaneously frightening and exhilarating as you can see the surrounding villages and mountains as you swing. A large hand sculpture was another noteworthy spectacle in Hobbitenango. We waited in line to stand on a large cement outstretched palm of a hand sculpture, which hung off the side of a cliff. The line was very long but worthwhile.
Walking and climbing up these mountains was a very enjoyable experience. This hobbit town tourist attraction displayed much creativity. The scenery was beautiful, and all of us took many pictures.
Our next stop after Hobbitenango was Antigua, where the group spent 50 minutes learning Latin dancing. This lesson was given in a brightly colored neon Guatemalan bar. Though it was a bit cramped, our instructor, Gloria, was amazing and made it work. We enjoyed listening to and following the rhythms of the beat of Latin music. It was quite the workout in the most pleasurable way while we attempted to follow Gloria’s movements, including Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata. We all did our best and had a wonderful time.
Lastly, we arrived in Parramos, where our homestays were waiting for us. After a formal introduction to each family, we were welcomed into their homes with open arms. Many of the families gave us gifts of handmade items, such as roses, signs, woven wallets, and crafts from the families with children. This was truly an emotional moment for our group. Gratitude filled the air. Each of us enjoyed a delicious, warm, authentic home-cooked meal prepared by our homestay families, including Polle (chicken) Crema and Heuvas (eggs) in Tortillas with cream and beans (frijoles). Many of us learned a couple of phrases or words in the Mayan language, as some of the families come from the Mayan Culture. Our evening was full of fantastic moments as we all got to know our homestay families. We all felt so welcomed to Parramos and as a part of the family. Such moments will forever be in our hearts.
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Guatemala Day 7: Clinic Day 3
Santo Tomas Milpas Atlas/Sacatequez
Today, we started by meeting at the community park with our host families to catch a bus to the clinic. We assisted 54 patients in the Santo Tomas Milpas Altas, Guatemala community. Today’s clinic was nothing short of amazing! We saw people with a variety of illnesses and concerns, including common colds, gastritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankle sprains, back injuries, cataracts, diabetes, hypertension, rashes, venous insufficiency, H. Pylori infections, and even Guilian Barre Syndrome. We gathered into new groups and had new interpreters to learn from one another’s strengths and skills. Each person we helped was truly grateful for the assessments, education, and treatments we provided. We taught about how to control blood sugars, prevent infection, exercise, and stretch to treat injuries and pain and take medications consistently. Some of the medications that were provided included metformin, metronidazole, valsartan, electrolyte, zinc, lansoprazole, and ciprofloxacin.
For lunch, we had a Guatemalan BBQ, and it was amazing! Each person in that building truly cares about helping others, and it shows through their kindness and gestures. The doctors are very helpful and take the time to explain things to the volunteers and patients. Obtaining medicine in Guatemala is quite different than in the United States. Farmacias (pharmacies) in Guatemala are on every block, and you can walk in and pick what you want. They don’t ask for insurance; you just purchase over the counter. Many people take medications long-term because they don’t know the side effects of them, or they may take medications off and on. Obtaining medications from a store allows people to choose what they want, which doesn’t always help the problem. At our clinics, we have a pharmacist, Delmy, who also works for VIDA and gives us the medications for the patients. She is always smiling and super helpful. Getting a prescription for the medications makes obtaining them easier and ensures we are treating the appropriate illness or disease process.
After the clinic was over, we all returned to the community park, where our families were waiting for us to pick us up from the bus stop. We returned home to a house filled with family, friends, and great food! Other host families joined us, and we had a beautiful time!
We danced to marimba music with the kids and had a blast making tortillas with the families! We gathered at the table for a game of uno with the kids, and it got intense!
The atmosphere was awesome, and the vibes were great!!
Dinner was amazing!
Guatemala Day 8: Final Clinical / Final Homestay
Santo Tomas Milpas Atlas/Sacatequez
One whole week in Guatemala! Today was our final clinical day. We think it’s fair to say we’re all going to miss the communities, the patients, the doctors, the interpreters, and everyone involved in making this experience one to remember. We saw 52 patients today, making it a grand total of 206 patients seen throughout the week! It’s a wonderful feeling to have been able to help so many people find answers to their concerns. We could educate them about their health, the medicines they were prescribed, the exercises given to build strength, and any other questions they had with the available tools. Kelly and I both have a greater understanding and more respect for all the nursing students (as well as Tabitha and Roccio). We all brought something to the table and helped each other learn and grow.
On the way back to our homestays, some of us decided to try Taco Bell, and we think most of us agree that it’s way better than the American version.
Tonight was the last night without homestay families, and we celebrated with a big meal, good music, great food, and plenty of laughs to go around. We gifted our homestay families with shirts, hats, jewelry, and much more to show our appreciation and thank them for allowing us into their homes. We plan to keep in touch and see them again one day! Both the clinics and the homestays were great in educating us on the life and culture of Guatemala. We’re so excited to share our experiences with our loved ones when we get home and have already talked about visiting again in the near future! 🙂
Guatemala Day 9: Recreation day at Lake Atiltlán
Today we got up as the sun rose to catch a bus ride to Lake Atiltlán. When first meeting our homestay families, most of us were pretty nervous, but those nerves quickly faded as the families adopted us into their homes. None of us were happy that we had to leave our homestay families. Each of them made us togo breakfast so we could eat on the bus ride. We even got a prayer from Don Sóstenes. Our families were so nice as they helped us with our luggage and waited for us to drive off.
Guatemala Day 9: Lake Atilatan/San Pedro la Laguna
We then drove about 2.5 hours to Lake Atiltlán where we got on a speed boat for another 25 minutes to get to San Pedro la Laguna. This beautiful town is vibrantly colorful and has a rich and fascinating history.
We had the opportunity to learn about their history and how they operate their town when we saw a demonstration by the weavers. The weavers taught us how they make their clothing, blankets, and accessories. A couple of us even got to try to spin some cotton into thread. We learned that vegetables were used to make the color of the clothing and the banana peel is what helps set the color in the cotton. We then got to shop at their beautiful store, where we got to shop for clothing, accessories, blankets, and locally-grown coffee. 80% of the proceeds went to the families that make the clothing, and the other 20% went to supplies for the material.
From there, we took the speedboat to Ventana al Lago, an outdoor restaurant with outstanding views of Lake Atiltlán. After eating, Alysson, Traci, and Herson surprised us with Kayaking! We all took turns Kayaking, followed by a big group swim in the lake. Boy, was that a workout!! It’s a good thing Alicia kept her swimsuit on because she got totally soaked on the boat ride to Panajachel!
We then took the speedboat to the town called Panajachel where we spent the night at Hotel Nakbe Atiltlán. We got to explore this town and some of us bought more souvenirs to take home. Most of us tried the gelato Herson recommended and it was sooooo worth it! We split into groups to try the variety of food they offered. The warm, busy day in the sun was beginning to take its toll as many of us decided to turn in early, after dinner. It was the perfect way to end our sightseeing adventure at Lake Atiltlán.
Guatemala Day 10: Heading back to the U.S.A.
Guatemala City/Chicago/Kenosha
Our final day was a long day of travel, where we woke up early and took our bus back to Guatemala City. We stopped for lunch in a beautiful little restaurant along the road where we got to have lunch one last time as a large group and reminisce, laugh, and cry about our the shared journey. Upon returning to Guatemala City, we checked back into our original hotel to get some rest in prepared for our long evening of flights.
We wrapped up the evening with a dinner together at the hotel where Herson our VIDA guide providing a space for everyone to express their gratitude and share their personal highlights. Each one of us had a positive experiences to share in what we had learned, what we had seen and what we would take back with us to the United States. All the students demonstrated that they felt more confident in their assessment skills, they enjoyed collaborating together and learning from one another, and they were grateful for the kindness that they had received while in Guatemala. As the leaders of the group, Traci and I were so grateful that we had these 10 days with these students being able to watch them grow in their skills and in their understanding of the different cultures and healthcare system within the beautiful country of Guatemala. All of us received a beautiful certificate from Vita for participating in this service learning course. All of the students who participated will be able to wear the Guatemalan flag on their graduation stole upon graduation.
These shared experiences undoubtedly forged strong bonds among the group, leaving us all with memories that will last a lifetime. It’s inspiring to see the impact that immersive experiences like this can have on personal and professional growth.
Thanks to all those at Gateway, our family and friends, and the amazing teams and people in Guatemala who supported our study abroad trip!
Message from Herson, Vida Coordinator:
I am delighted to share my reflection on the amazing experience I had as the Vida group leader for the Gateway Study Abroad 2024 Guatemala trip. Leading this group for the past 10 days has been a rewarding journey filled with friendship and impactful work in the communities of San Miguel Morazán and Santo Tomás, Milpas Altas.
Throughout our time together, we not only worked side by side but also formed strong bonds of friendship that will last a lifetime. It was heartwarming to witness the positive impact we had on the local communities, where we were able to provide medical assistance to 206 patients and install ecostoves in 5 houses.
This experience has shown me the power of unity and collaboration towards a common goal. It has been a reminder of the magic that happens when we come together to make a difference in the lives of others.
As a proud Guatemalan, I am filled with pride to see the compassion and dedication of my fellow group members in helping those in need, in particular in areas lacking in the country such as physical therapy. Yesterday we had our recreational day at Lake Atitlán, a perfect opportunity to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Guatemala. We had the opportunity of learning about the traditional process of making traditional clothes, called Corte, which further deepened our understanding and appreciation of the Guatemalan culture.
I am thankful to have worked with such an amazing group. Here’s to making a positive impact, spreading love, and kindness wherever we go!
