Fireworks, dogs and earthquakes

Those three words pretty much sum up the health and safety training that we got for two and a half days once we arrived in Santa Lucía Milpas Altas after a short 2.5 hour plane trip from Miami to Guatemala City. A handful of people from the training staff met us just as we passed through immigration to help us with our bags, and then out we went from the airport in a 1980s American school bus.

Everyone from the PC staff is truly fantastic- there's no beating around the bush with anything they tell us, which, as most of you could imagine, is really important here since they have to keep their eyes on about 180 or so volunteers/trainees throughout the country.

The first three days basically consisted of the main health and safety things we need to keep in mind and abide to while we're here with PC. Almost the first three things we were told to keep in mind were: fireworks, dogs and earthquakes. Craig, one of the fantastic trainers, said that in the past the staff forgot to mention the fireworks to PCTs (PC Trainees) and they were scared out of their you-know-what in the morning when they woke up to what they thought were gun shots. To celebrate someone's birthday, Guatemalans tend to go all out and fire off fireworks from 5am. Dogs here are extremely abundant, and also uncared for. Anywhere you walk you will see a dog, and of course there is a small chance that it may bite you (of course if you threaten it or make it feel threatened then you just multiply you chances of this happening). Because of this we are required to get a rabies vaccine (among quite a few others), and per chance that we do get bitten by a dog, or any kind of mammal for that matter, we are still required to let the nurse know so she can make the appropriate decision.

And finally, Guatemala is in a major earthquake zone; in fact, apparently we had a minor earthquake since we've all been here, but not all of us felt it.

There are also two active volcanos, and a town between them where one of the training groups got placed. So there you have it, fireworks, dogs, earthquakes and volcanos.

Bienvenidos a Guatemala!

Back again

I arrived to JFK in NYC on Thursday afternoon. The entire plane waited around for our luggage for a good half an hour, but luckily the customs officials just waved us through. My Dad picked me up from the airport and because I ended up watching three movies on the plane instead of sleeping, I was passed out for the entire way back home, hallucinating when woken up as my Dad slowed down and had no idea what was going on.

The past five weeks were incredible. I wasn't bored for a single second; how could I have been after seeing all my friends for the first time in four years? The wedding was fantastic, as was the train ride there. The only disappointing thing is that we weren't able to spend more time together. Be that as it may, it was absolutely fantastic to be able to see everyone and be together after such a long time- especially as close as we are, it's hard for us to get together for a weekend when everyone lives in places such as Australia, Italy, Canada, the US, Hungary... and now, Guatemala!

The next week and a half is going to be full of getting things organised, make sure I have everything I need, and get myself mentally ready for the next 2 years, 3 months in a completely different country and culture than what I have been to exposed to.