Parramos, Guatemala 2/1/22

An early start and check out as we are heading to a new location tonight. Tuesday's clinic is at NPH (https://nphusa.org/guatemala/) in the town of Parramos. The wonderful Vic Roers has made the necessary introductions. We know NPH in a different context, having worked with Nos Petits Frères et Sœurs - NPFS in Haiti. The same high standards apply here and the groundwork has already been completed. All of the clinics we will work with here in Guatemala are government registered. Prior to arrival we have submitted all our documentation and our police clearance. Our translator Tania is a quick study and has already prepped NPH to what we need for clinic based on our setup from yesterday. In spite of good planning there is a last minute move of rooms. We make the best of it. We are in a large red brick classroom, lots of windows and light but the cement floor could make for a noisy clinic. One directional patient flow facilitates best practice in and allows us to also adhere to COVID guidelines. The administrative part, form filling and waiting room is just outside of our large clinic room. It helps to control the noise and chatter of children. In to our groove now, the clinic setup is done swiftly. Cami has moved from bus driver on day one to volunteer translator on Day 2 and her knowledge including sign language prove invaluable. Ailish is extending her Spanish vocabulary at the visual acuity test; pato (duck); patito (little duck); casa (house) casita (little house). We use symbols instead of letters to accommodate patients that may not have full literacy.

NPH were cautious not to overload the clinic with patients and by 1pm we are ahead of schedule. We quickly call their administrative staff to come for screening and we delay our lunch break. We finish our day at patient number 87. Again refraction, many glasses needed and the few surgery followups are mainly from eye injuries sustained in childhood. Cheryl has by far the biggest workload of the clinic yet again today. Few cataracts for Jair to examine, maybe one glaucoma but some old eye traumas one of which needs a follow up. After another successful day of clinic. NPH provide a lunch and a beautiful surprise momento of our visit before we hit the road to Panajachel, a town on Lake Atitlán. Eric is our driver for the afternoon and Cami stays with us for the round trip to head back to Antigua later.

On the way to Pana there is another surprise for our small group. It is a visit to the ruins at Iximché, the post classical capital city for the Kazichel Mayans. The city was founded in 1470 and added on by subsequent kings. We strike a lucky note again as Cami has studied Mayan history. She proceeds to give us a guided tour of the site explaining many of the rituals, beliefs and significance of the site. Expecting something much more basic our jaws drop as we pass the first kings house and move on the to temples and ball courts. Observation Four: Guatemala continues to exceed expectations on a daily basis.

All too soon the park is closing and we have to leave. We would have gladly stayed to learn more about the history of Guatemala before the conquistadors came.

Onwards and upwards our little bus climbs over the hill and starts our descent. We reach a viewing point over Lake Atitlán. Here we take a brief stop as Cami explains to us that technically we are now in the volcano. It is breathtaking. 84,000 years previously the volcano erupted and spread stones and lava to a distance of 390km. Ash from this volcano was identified in Texas, USA. The now dead volcano caldera gathered water and formed a lake. Dotted around its shores are small towns, each with its own unique identity. We will be visiting three of these towns this week. Meanwhile we pause a moment to take in the vista below us. It is bright evening here on the hillside, a mist has formed over the dark waters of the lake below us and here and there along the shore we can see a glimpse of a passenger boat cutting its V pattern through the still waters. If we could see it all the lake measures 7.5miles long. What is this life if full of care we have no time to stand and stare (W.H.Davies). Stretching off in the distance are the hazy blue volcano shaped mountains on the far shore. We continue the winding descent to our hotel in Panajachel. A walk around the promenade on this picturesque town, a stop for dinner and plenty of discussion about another successful day of clinic. Cami has gone back to Antigua so we have to tell her the good news over WhatsApp. As thanks for all of her help we decide to help her other project. A community school her mother had founded and Cami now runs, that offers literacy and skills training to people in her home town. Her delight and excitement is clear. Another happy note on which to wrap up clinic Day 2. With everyones expectations again exceeded we barely unpack as tomorrow we are on the move again. We will head across the lake to San Juan La Laguna and clinic for 8:30am. Buenas noches, hasta mañana.