My last day of volunteering.

I arrived at work this morning and the place had been transformed. From the graduation setting I left yesterday today we have a birthday setting for three boys turning 15. 

The ladies arrived and it was hugs all round. The sparkle in their eyes makes me glad I got up at some ungodly hour to be here for them. 

I was on flower making duty today and described as a battery as I just power through it. Although today Azucena (the teacher), Flora and I had a few laughs. 

We only worked briefly making flowers and then patients were gathered in the newly decorated hall for the mass. The air was filled with excitement. Kids upstairs were wheeled onto the balconies so they could see down into the hall. Many were flat out in bed and possibly had been there all their lives. I will talk more about that in another post. This one is for happy stuff. 

The anticipation grows. Kids are clapping and banging on their seats, guests arrive and are ushered to their seats. Maracas are shared out and streamers distributed. Nothing has started but the atmosphere is bursting with joy. 

The music starts and three youngsters are wheeled in. The girls are dressed in fluffy pink dresses. Today is for them. Their 15th birthdays.  Each has two support people with them. One of their support people holds their hand. One of the girls is very calm and seems to understand. The other is constantly moving sliding round in her chair. The boy is fitting. 

One girl has what looks to be a relative or friend here. The others just the support people. 

A prayer is read and even some of the non-verbal patients participate. I am struggling to hold back the tears. A religious service follows with some beautiful singing.  Each of the patients receives a communion wafer and a squirt (from a bottle) of holy water . I hope it helps them but I fear not. 

Well if I thought the start of the week was emotional this is way way more so. But what a privilege to be able to participate and see the looks of joy on the faces of those that are able. 

It was time to say goodbye and I shed more than one tear. I have asked if I can come back to visit one day next week. Goodbye might be harder then. 

But the goodbyes mark the start of my holiday. No class tonight so bring it on. 
As usual a bone shaker bought us back into town and Flora wanted to eat at the Restaurant we had drunk a lousy tea at the day before. It wasn’t the sort of place I would usually dine in when travelling but I figured I wouldn’t be going anywhere else posh so why not. 
After the lousy tea I didnt hold high hopes for good food but the setting was lovely. Formal table setting, waiters with their hair in a net, my serviette placed on my lap and a diverse menu. 
Not wanting to have anything Italian, French or American I ordered a Guatemalan Ceviche and a glass of Marieta MC Rias Baixas Espana Albariño. 
It’s a while since I had a wine but this was so worth waiting for. It was what we would call a large size priced at around $20. About what the teacher I have been helping would get in a month!!  I didn’t feel guilty drinking her months salary but it did feel so wrong. With a very delicate flavour and a hint of fruitiness I swooned. Maybe the emotion of the day helped. 

My Guatemalan ceviche was yum but not a ceviche. The fish was raw, the prawns were not, the salsa on top super tasty - little picante but not so much as to spoil the taste of the fish. 

All in all a great lunch. 

Lunch done it was time for a desert so we stopped at a coffee shop when a blood orange gelato went down a treat. 
Flora and I said our goodbyes and I headed home where a long shower cooled me off enough so that I slept like a baby for a bit. I had come hime early sovI could see the sunset but alas despite the sun during the day it was not to be. It had clouded over. 
Dinner was great and came with a handful of laughs. Some of us go our separate ways tomorrow but those of us that are still around have agreed to catch up on Wednesday night before my tour starts on Thursday. 
My adventure starts tomorrow (Saturday) when I am going to a town called Panajachel a town in the Highlands, west of Guatemala City. It is on the north shore of Lake Atitlán. Surrounding the lake are the San Pedro, Tolimán and Aititlan volcanoes. Everyone is going to check the volcanoes out but Whakaari/White Island is a bit fresh in my memory so am going to a nearby township on Sunday. Chichicastenango is home to the largest open air textile market in the world. I wont be buying textiles but it should be fun to check out. I come back to Antigua on Monday. 
Till then.