The Changing of the Tides

So after the rough week, and that pretty heavy post/email, the other intern, Karie, and I decided we had to do something to make sure that we were not counting down the weeks left, and instead making the best of our situation. We started by sending a professional, yet very direct email to SonRisas telling them that we felt that our current work was not taking advantage of our skills and we hoped to discuss and change our work. They responded to this very positively and said we would all discuss it at the next meeting, July 1^st. Before this meeting Karie and I got together and brainstormed alternative jobs and constructive criticism to give the organization to help us and future interns. At the meeting things went over great and we discussed, altered, and created jobs for Karie and I do to for our remaining time here. Some of my new jobs included revising their English version of web page content (a web page that will be completed soon), creating a Wikipedia page for SonRisas, and making possible connections with organizations in the USA who can help and donate to the cause in Guatemala. These jobs were added to my existing jobs of helping plan a medical day in August for the children and their families where there are doctors, dentists, and optometrists for free, as well as getting more volunteers for SonRisas and creating a master database of past collaborators that we can utilize in the future. It was really a great feeling to work together with the organization to change our work so Karie and I felt like we were contributing and for SonRisas to take better advantage of our time here.

In addition to these changes, Saturday the 4^th and Sunday the 5^th were both days spent with SonRisas doing important activities for the organization. On Saturday the 4^th we held a garage sale together with Little Lambs, an international orphanage. Karie and I both worked at the garage sale and it was important because we raised funds for SonRisas as well as felt as if we were doing a physical action that was helping the organization grow and gain vital resources. On Sunday the 5^th was “Un día con SonRisas” (a day with SonRisas), which I had been planning since my first week in Guatemala. I had worked together with some AIESECers and Karie to plan a day when we the members of SonRisas and AIESEC could bring the 50 kids of SonRisas and their parents (if they could come), to the zoo, and obtain free transportation, entrance, and a lunch at the zoo. The day went absolutely amazing; it was our first time meeting the kids and they were ecstatic to meet us, and get to go to the zoo and see all the sites. The kids were extremely thankful for the opportunity and I was thankful for the help from everyone who helped it all come together. It was a great weekend and a definite turning point in my trip and work experience here in Guatemala.

Also the 4^th was…well the 4^th of July and I realized that it was the first time in my life I had not shared with friends and family in the USA, and the first time I had never seen a firework for the 4^th. That being said, Karie and I were lucky enough to be invited to a friend’s house, Marisa, for some grilling and truly American cuisine, so that we would not be homesick on our nations independence day. We made an amazing meal of grilled BBQ chicken, corn on the cob, and made mac n’ cheese, and although it seems almost comical, it was really great to joke around and eat some home cooked food to celebrate the 4^th.

Things have turned around for the best recently and I'm glad I can write that,

Jesse