Callista's Blog

Guatemala was so interesting and fun. the people are so nice. i had alot of fun teaching and it was hard work! but i still had fun anyway. im so happy that i got to sponser a child, even if im saving 

it up myself. she is really nice and funny and her family gave me a necklace that rosalia (my sponsered child's name) made and it is really cool. i also will miss  alot too. she is really fun seidi to be with and really good at singing. she always has a smile. :) i will also miss the first grade class that i taught. they gave me alot of hugs and notes and were so nice. some would say "seno te quiero mucho" or others would just be a drawing of

me and the student and someone named Melany gave me some seeds or coffe beans or something. im not sure but all of them were really nice. and when i was going to sit down they all wanted me to sit by them.

im also a little bit sad that im going to miss the chocolate museum because i really like chocolate and it seems really fun and cool. but im not that sad because its not like im going back to Minnesota. im just going some other place in Guatemala. and at least its not a pie museum. but im more sad just to leave my friends even tho i will see them when i get home....... im out of things to say so bye! have a safe trip!

                               BYE!

Mantha day 7

Hey I am blogging today because I wanted too and because I just met the girl we are sponsoring so I'm really happy. And I'm excited because my mom is going to email me what color I am for CMS so I'm really excited for that.

KIersten and Nancy's social work visit

Kiersten and I went on our social work visit today.  Even after having spent the last three days working on my Spanish skills, I will have to admit that I listened without much understanding.  I was proud of Kiersten though.  Even though she understood most of what was transpiring, she managed to keep her face from showing that she was shocked, confused, or whatever she was feeling at the time.   The two families we saw were probably in a fairly good position compared with others we could have visited;  they each had their challenges though.
In the first family, the mom had recently lost her job, the oldest child was using drugs and had entered a drug rehabilitation facility of some sort, and another child was struggling in school.  The mom seemed to have an amazing attitude though.  She didn't have money to pay her rent, but she found that since she wasn't working she could take her child to the homework help sessions now that she was home in the afternoon.
The second family had three children.  Two were in school and doing quite well.  It was easy to see how proud the mom was of her kids.  She had her daughter bring her report card out to show the social worker and pretty much beamed at her as they showed it off.  The youngest child, probably about 2 years old, was struggling with allergies.  He was allergic to pretty much every animal (and the neighbors had multiple dogs and chickens so he couldn't go outside to play), shampoo, and dairy.  He also seemed to be having a reaction to something else that she needed to take him in to the clinic to get checked out....maybe another allergy. 

For these families, and many like them here in Guatemala, this is just life.  So very different from what we see in our day to day life in Minnesota.  And yet it so many ways the people here are very much like us.  We've seen the hard work they put in every day, the dedication to their work, and the pride they take in their work and families.  It's been a lot to take in....

Abby and Margie's Sponsor Visit

After months of anticipation for this afternoon’s sponsor child visit, we were thrilled for such a successful experience!  Upon our decision to travel to Antigua, Guatemala with Common Hope in January, Abby wanted to sponsor a child through the organization.  Common Hope partners with impoverished families in the area, providing opportunities for better lives.  Abby chose Katerin, a 12 year old in 6^th grade with 5 other siblings and a mother and father.  The father lost his job earlier this year so things have been difficult, and the possibility that Katerin would be pulled out of school is present mostly for economic reasons.  Abby chose gifts wisely for Katerin knowing she loved the color purple and drawing (art kit, drawing paper, hair accessories, and school supplies were some highlights) with a chance to share with Katerin and her family the importance of staying in school.  If the family decides to pull Katerin out (drop out rates increase dramatically after 6^th grade as Guatemalan students are only required to attend to this point) we will lose sponsorship of Katerin.  Only 32% of students in Guatemala finish ninth grade.

Her younger brother Jarol, turned 10 today, so we bought a birthday cake on the way to our visit.  Our visit began with hugs and a big surprise seeing Abby’s pictures and letters on the wall in the kitchen.  The family warmly welcomed us and we found out Katerin not only loves school but is very smart with Math being her favorite subject.  She has never failed a grade or test.  We brought the card game Uno and taught the kids how to play.  Their social worker Jorge also joined in with lots of laughter and fun all around.   After our birthday “fiesta”, we brought out a bag of staple food items (rice, corn, beans, noodles, salt, oil, laundry detergent, soap) that we purchased through Common Hope for the family.  The mother was so touched by this simple gesture on our part.  This food bag should support staples for at least a month.

Jorge, the social worker, visits the home at least once a quarter to follow up on how things are going.  Katerin comes to the Common Hope a couple times monthly to have access to support resources (psychologist, computer, library, youth groups, medical clinic).  Abby will continue to write letters and send pictures from today’s visit to Katerin with the hopes of a continued relationship.  After our visit, Jorge seemed encouraged that the family will decide to let her stay in school.  We pray that her father will soon find work and that the family economic situation will soon improve.  Her father seemed very loving and supportive in the lives of his wife and children.

Mantha Day 6

Today we went to the Bakery because we sis a thing called day in the life when you do what they do. Some of them were Jewelry, Snow Cones, Bakery and corn tortillas. it was pretty fun because we got to eat the donuts we made. I also really liked the house because they had two chickens(Pedro y Pablo), two ducks(Juan y Jose) and a dog(Manchas) and a grumpy cat(grumpy) and her kittens(Miguel,Mario y Maria) we have a lot of pictures of the kittens and they were really adorable and to make them even more adorable they were only 8 days old. We came back then me and Abby played with some little kids and we played tag and the kids had a lot of energy and were really fast, so Abby and me only lasted about 10 minutes. Then some kids when on the social worker visit and some are doing a baking class and then some are seeing their sponsor children and me and my dad are staying and relaxing, so you might hear a lot of of blogging from me. Im pretty sure that im going to make a blog when everyone is gone because i have so much time and im probably going to read a lot. The book that im reading is called A Dogs Purpose and im only on like page 5 but its really good so far. M dad just challenged me and said he could probably type as fast as i talk but we ALL know thats not true.

From Srta. Fimmen (Sarah)

Wow this has been quite the week so far! The kids have done such an amazing job teaching in the schools and representing Minnesota here in Guatemala. Everyone has been thoroughly impressed with their Spanish! It is so cool to see these kids in a leadership role outside of their comfort zones. After the first day I was walking back to our home base with Nick and he couldn't stop smiling. He said something like, 'This day was so cool, all of the boys loved that I played soccer and they wouldn't stop talking about it. I loved today!" I love seeing these kids get along with their Guatemalan peers. This is one of my favorite parts of the experience.

The parents are doing great with their Spanish and are using it every chance they get. I have been on call to interpret for ordering food and buying things, but have not been needed much. Sam discussed and ordered coffee with Don Felix all by himself. I know it is difficult for some/most of them, but like I said, they are doing amazing. Way to go guys!!

Today I got the opportunity to interpret for a group at a day in the life of a jewelry maker. Braden, Kim, Kiersten, Nancy, Farida, Callista and I were welcomed into the home of Dona Concepcion. She is a mother of 9 children from ages 23 to 3, and she makes beautiful artisan products that range from jewelry to clay carved boxes. Her husband recently lost his job and the family's sole income now depends on the sale of her products. Her older son, Jose, makes and sells beautiful jewelry with jade, obsidian and other precious stones. We had a great visit and bought lots of stuff! While there, Callista decided she would like to sponsor the 9-year-old girl of the family. She, Concepcion, Jose and his son will be coming here at 2:30 to meet her! Callista said, "if I babysit my little brother 2 times each month, i'll have enough money to sponsor Rosalia and save a little bit too". Way to go girl! 

It's so cool to watch these kids as their eyes are opened to a bigger world out there. I remember my first trip out of the country to Lima, Peru when I was 16. My life was forever changed (hence the fact that I'm here at the moment). So excited to be a part of this trip. What an amazing opportunity for these kids and their awesome parents. Thanks parents for traveling here with them and encouraging a life changing experience!

A day in the life - bakery

This morning, five members of our group and one of the social workers went to the home of a baker affiliated with Common Hope.  She has four kids, and more importantly to Jack and Mantha, two ducks, two chickens, a dog, and a cat with three 8-day-old kitties.  We mixed and kneaded the dough, cut out and filled the doughnuts and empanadas, ultimately got to eat them.  Muy delicioso.  Now I really miss the Krispy Kreme that used to be in Eden Prairie.
Her little boy would stand next to the table with his head just peeking over the top and watching.  She normally sells doughnuts and pastries and sandwiches just outside the schools, and she's been doing it for three years.  She normally uses a gas-powered oven about 3 feet cubed, and a four-burner stove with a roasting pan full of vegetable oil to fry the doughnuts.  The really cool part is that the social worker is going to arrange for her to sell items on the Common Hope campus with other affiliated vendors, and perhaps even Saturday morning.  That should be especially helpful when their school year ends in a few months.

Sam

Day in the life - by Brenda

Today we went to see a family who make corn tortillas and then sells them to make money for their family. This lady and her family work incredibly hard each day. They have to cook the corn, they rinse it to remove the yellow color, put the corn in buckets so they can take it down the road to have it ground. Everyone seems to help and support each other. This lady paid the other lady to grind her corn and then others pay her for her corn tortillas. On the way back she had to stop a few times as she seemed to have a sore back. When we arrived back at her home she should us how to make the tortillas. She was amazing how she could make perfectly round tortillas. Ours were not so pretty. She repeats this entire process a few times each day. On average she makes about 1200 tortillas each day. Her children help her when they are not in school.

I can't even begin to appreciate how hard they work here as there is so much we have that is done for us or we just go to the store and buy what we need. Their homes are so much smaller. From today and the social worker visit the other day I have learned how much family means to people here and how they try to help each other out. This is what is seems to be important to them instead of the material items.

Brenda

Day 5 Abby

Today we started out in the main school we went to the first day. For some people they got to teach preschool then be a student, but for most of us we were students all day. We each got to pick what grade we were students for and for the first half we picked second. We got there and they were taking a test so we toke it to. Then the teacher had us pass out papers, correct homework and be her helper. Then we went to fourth grade which we actually were students for. For the second half we got to pick our partner so me and Kiersten went into this fourth grade class and worked on fractions and grammar. Then we came back and today was our Social Work day so we took this van to a house where the family was getting diarrhea through bacteria and the people who had it went to the hospital all except the dad who was an alcohol. Then we went to the second house where there was a girl who could hear but could not speak.  The social worker wanted to make sure she was doing well in school.the third home the mom was an alcoholic and we were there to see how her sessions to keep from drinking were going. The baby was unhealthy due to her drinking. We walked home approximately 1.5 miles and then jumped on a c"chicken bus" back to Common Hope.🌎🐓

Abby Post Day 4

Today was a really cool day. We first went to a school a block away from the school we went to yesterday. All of us were warned that today's school would be a lot more chaotic. So it was a surprise when we walked into a first grade class and all the kids were sitting quietly waiting for our first directions. It was so much fun! They loved all our games so much that's all they wanted to do. Six grade was fun as well but it was so different cause everybody in that clause was older than us from getting held back so long. Usually a class is 30-40 kids, but in that six grade class there was 16 kids. The kids there also trusted us a lot more than in the other school as well. When we got back two families went on a social work visit, two to a girls craft class, one to a reading group and the rest went into Antigua to shop. I went to the craft class which was really cool and fun. They were ages 12 + So the youngest one was my age and each week they let one of the girls teach a craft which was bracelets taught by the youngest. After the class we had two hours before we left for dinner so I was looking around for something to do. If I didn't mention this before I LOVE hanging out with little kids, so when I saw a bunch of them on a playground I asked if anyone wanted to play. It started out with 1 boy and ended up with a group of kids. While we were playing three older girls were watching us and so I asked them if they wanted to play. They said sure and we played 4 corners together. Then the little kids wanted to play hide and seek but the older girls wanted to play soccer so I gave them the ball to play. When it was time to leave the little kids left but the three older girls followed me. When I asked them if they wanted anything they asked me if I was from MN. I said yes and they started whispering. Then they saw my name tag and asked if my name was Abby and I said yes. The 2 girls asked the littler one what her last name was and she said scroder. I said my name is Abby Schroeder and I'm from Mn. Then I started to get a little freaked out on how they knew my name and they started giggling. Then the little one said " I'm Katerina your sponsored child" I was so much in shock as we hugged and talked cause we spent the whole day playing with her and there she is. Today was such an amazing day!!!!!!!!!!! 😃😃😃😃😃😃⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

A day in Guatemala (Erik Duxstad)

Today was Lunes. It was our first weekday. Right now I'm writing this sitting on a couch in our common room, in the Common Hope Campus. I have already had dinner, and everyone is either having diner or hanging out. It's already dark here as we are closer to the equator. Now that we are done with the day, things are getting a little calmer. I say calmer because today was a little chaotic. It was a first for most of the activities, and my first teaching experience. We will be teaching every day this week, so there will be more times for me to rip my hair out, wondering why I wanted to do this in the first place. But it's really not that bad. At least, I don't think so. While we where teaching, our parents where having one on one sessions with Spanish teachers. I for one, want my mom's teacher to give her lots of homework. Like, enough for the next 6 years. (Not Really) After that we came back to the campus, had lunch, then later we had a tour of the campus, and tonight we had a artisan market, where you could buy arts, jewelry, and coffee. Then there was dinner. And then there was me writing this on my . . . Oh, wait, that's up to date.

- Erik :-)

Mantha Kryzer day 3

Today we went to school in a completely perspective. Who knew being a  teacher could take so much planning and switching and explaining. Me and Jack Newell taught 1st graders and 6th graders. I as more of a fan of the 1st graders because they acted more excited and there activity didnt take as long but they needed more help but you know there little. Jack liked the 6th graders more because i think he can connect with the kids more if there older or the same age. I feel kind of weird teaching kids your age or older than me. I am wondering how Tuesday is going to go because they said that Tuesdays are more chaotic. After school we came back then we got a tour of the WHOLE place, it started to rain.....A LOT. Then we played some games of cards but we had to stop because people were going wacko. There was a market in the common hope area and i got a knitted scarf because i have to many scarfs for fashion. Then i came upstairs and started blogging. me and Kiersten are deciding to make a blog so we can blog about Guatemala and life after Guatemala how school is going and make awesome videos too. I think we should make it in Guatemala though because then we dont have to think that hard to remember what we did every day. Abby just told me that the dinner tonight is Chicken and Rice which the rice sounds good but the chicken not so much. I am going to ask Kiersten when she wants to start the blog and if she wants to start it today then we should ask permission to do it on someones computer or I-Pad. There are now new people so this place is now more crowded and people are sitting in OUR sitting area. Its also way louder, I mean they think were loud i cant wait to see there expression when they figure out that the neighbors are making all the noise. Ya we always get yelled at for being loud and reality is we arent being that loud its just then cafeteria is echos so they think we are being really loud. Our fvorite card games so far are peanut butter which is when you have to go in order of number and you can lie because the cards are facing down and if someone says peanut butter then that person who lied has to take the pile of cards but if the person who said peanut butter got it wrong they have to take the pile of cards. Then there is a game called Kemps, the point of the game is to try to get a pair of 4 and you and they person across from you have to think of a signal to do to make your partner to say kemps but if another person calls kemps before your partner does then it doesnt count.
well ill try to keep on blogging every day and if me and Kiersten make a blog then ill tell you guys.

First Day of School

Today was everyone's first day of school in Antigua.  The kids loaded up all their supplies and lesson plans for teaching, and the parents all headed to downtown Antigua to become students.  That sounds weird when I say it, but I think each group should take pride in being able to do that.  As a parent effectively twenty years from my last college class, it was very intense at first.  Each parent had their own personal tutor, and I think we were all frazzled after the first two hours.  It was cool to see the parade with marching band at 9:00 for the International Youth Day (?), and most of us went exploring Antigua with our tutor after 10:00.  I think Kim gets the award as best note-taker, and Farida is the best market haggler.
The kids looked tired when they returned from their classroom, but it seemed like everything went well.  Some of the classes were shy at first, but got going after a while.  We saw more of the campus in action - very impressive and inspiring.  They have an organized and effective system in place to help families and now to build simple solid housing.  Some of the families affiliated with Common Hope brought their arts/crafts for us to view/buy.  These were impressive also, and everyone placed their coffee order with THE guy to order from.
We're meeting to plan our optional activities for tomorrow, so adventure awaits.

Sam

First Day of School

Today was everyone's first day of school in Antigua.  The kids loaded up all their supplies and lesson plans for teaching, and the parents all headed to downtown Antigua to become students.  That sounds weird when I say it, but I think each group should take pride in being able to do that.  As a parent effectively twenty years from my last college class, it was very intense at first.  Each parent had their own personal tutor, and I think we were all frazzled after the first two hours.  It was cool to see the parade with marching band at 9:00 for the International Youth Day (?), and most of us went exploring Antigua with our tutor after 10:00.  I think Kim gets the award as best note-taker, and Farida is the best market haggler. 
The kids looked tired when they returned from their classroom, but it seemed like everything went well.  Some of the classes were shy at first, but got going after a while.  We saw more of the campus in action - very impressive and inspiring.  They have an organized and effective system in place to help families and now to build simple solid housing.  Some of the families affiliated with Common Hope brought their arts/crafts for us to view/buy.  These were impressive also, and everyone placed their coffee order with THE guy to order from.
We're meeting to plan our optional activities for tomorrow, so adventure awaits.

Sam

Abbys Blog From day 3

Today was teaching day. Each girl was paired up with a boy for a teaching partner with an exception of two girls. The groups were Mantha Kryzer an Jack Newell, Me and Erik Duxstad, Braden Ross and Ryan Marriott, Kiersten Lugar and Nick Duxstad and Callista Potvin with Maren Frost. We each got assigned to two grades ours was 5 and 2. For grades preschool-1 grade the book was brown bear brown bear. For 2 grade and 3 grade we read the grumpy ladybug. For 4 and 5 graders we read if you give a mouse a cookie. And for 6 graders they got to make a paper quilt of what they want to be when they grow up. With each of those books we had an activity planned as well. So while our parents went to get taught Spanish, we took a van to the school and taught. When we got there they had a cultural reunion which they have once a month and they showed a bunch of dances and bunch of older kids wrote poems about their flag. Then we went into the classes and taught. It would probably take me 14 blogs to write my total experience so all I will say is that the 5 graders were more
independent and not that talkative and the 2 graders loved our games. Then we went back. Now were having a market with 5 people selling stuff right outside our rooms. Cant wait for tomorrow!!!

Day 2 Mantha

The weaving coop was pretty amazing and I was impressed how much time it took to make a shirt!! They are really creative people.......they did a dance and threw flower peddles at us and I Didn't want to dance because I wanted to take pictures of the people who were dancing. We had lunch there and me and Kiersten didn't like there food but that makes sense because we are VERY picky eaters. After that we came back with a lot of stuff!! I think we bought about all of their bags and a lot of their bracelets and accessories. We went to the market and went to the grocery store and got some food. After we split up because some people went to MASS and then me and my dad and Kiersten and half of the group kept on shopping. We got ice cream and Guatemalan ice cream is amazing(so is all the other ice cream in the world) ;) Then we went back and had Dominoes pizza for dinner!! After that we played card games also known as Peanut Butter and Kemps. After we were told to stop playing and then Kiersten came out of her room terrified because there was a cricket on her doorknob. Then I started blogging and I realized that my hairs smelt really good and it was a berry sent because I took a shower right before I started blogging.

Day 2 Sam

It was nice to go outside the campus today.  The weaving coop we visited was interesting - lots of fabulous, intricate, elaborate items, and a great story of where they came from.  The afternoon  was full of prep for the week, but a half hour nap felt good.  We drove into Antigua town center, I found I am not fluent enough to order food without getting an extra hamburgese (not recommended), half of us went to a grocery store, got ice cream, found pants for Callista, and browsed a cool jade jewelry store, and the other half went to Mass at the cathedral.  Our liaison Renato brought his family's dog to campus, so the kids all got their puppy fix and can resist petting flea-ridden strays.  A mild thunderstorm is passing through this evening, almost a daily occurrence during rainy season, and exhaustion from our early flight is catching up to everyone.  I think my favorite observation so far is I haven't even seen a mosquito yet, but Kiersten was trapped in her room by a cricket on the doorknob.

Today when we woke up we went to the Women's cooperative where these women would sew fantastic things that would take a year to make. When we got there we had to walk some ways before we finally got to there meeting place. It was not what I expected. It was a very small room with tapestries hanging everywhere you looked. Then the lit 3 circular candles in the middle of a bunch of flower petals. They told us a story of how they got started. And they started out with 35 women and ended up with ten in the end. Most of them left because their husbands wouldn't let them come, others left cause the stuff they make and sell they give the money to a school and some of the women wanted the money for themselves. After the story they showed us a traditional dance. And after that they showed us how to weave.  After that we had some time to buy stuff there was so much stuff I ended up with a ton of cool stuff. After that we got to make corn tortillas which weren't my favorite but a cool experienceThen they made Pepian which was rice, chicken and super good sauce.Then it was time to leave. When we got back we started working on our lesson plans for the school tomorrow I will work with 5th and 2nd grade tomorrow.Then we went to Antigua. We walked some ways and ate nachos and I had the best hot chocolate ever. After that some of us went to mass which was cool but super huge so they had TV with the preacher on them. And then we went home. I can't wait for tomorrow!

Post by Abby Schroeder

Today when we woke up we went to the Women's cooperative where these women would sew fantastic things that would take a year to make. When we got there we had to walk some ways before we finally got to there meeting place. It was not what I expected. It was a very small room with tapestries hanging everywhere you looked. Then the lit 3 circular candles in the middle of a bunch of flower petals. They told us a story of how they got started. And they started out with 35 women and ended up with ten in the end. Most of them left because their husbands wouldn't let them come, others left cause the stuff they make and sell they give the money to a school and some of the women wanted the money for themselves. After the story they showed us a traditional dance. And after that they showed us how to weave.  After that we had some time to buy stuff there was so much stuff I ended up with a ton of cool stuff. After that we got to make corn tortillas which weren't my favorite but a cool experienceThen they made Pepian which was rice, chicken and super good sauce.Then it was time to leave. When we got back we started working on our lesson plans for the school tomorrow I will work with 5th and 2nd grade tomorrow.Then we went to Antigua. We walked some ways and ate nachos and I had the best hot chocolate ever. After that some of us went to mass which was cool but super huge so they had TV with the preacher on them. And then we went home. I can't wait for tomorrow!