Nothing they can do

    A quick note to begin this blog, I apologize for the numerous errors in the last blog, mostly spelling. I hope it didn´t detract from the blog too much. I would use the excuse that my spell checker did not work, and honestly, who wants to use that obsolete apparatus called the brain to check over mistakes, I got Spanish to learn. I will make sure, for this time and in the future, to review the blog so you can enjoy with relative ease.

Moving forward, life has been surprisingly easy. We have settled into a routine already, but not too rigid of a schedule that we can´t enjoy some impetuousness. For example, our school, like the other schools, offers activities in the afternoon, whether visiting a nearby pueblo or watching a movie, there is no limit to the activities. Even during scheduled class, we have the opportunity to culturally learn as we can visit these same pueblos, or watch the same movies during class if we so please. Yesterday for our morning session, my teacher, Sam´s teacher and the both of us went to a market, which sold animals by the dozen: little pigs, done. Cows, how many? ducks, chickens, just quack when you want me to stop. Everything, literally, under the sun was available. We are going to an even bigger market, el mercado de San Fransisco, on Friday, which supposedly makes this last market look like a petting zoo. 

Yesterday, the plan revolved around a visit to a cooperative of women, survivors of violence, who sew and sell a variety of materials.  However there happened to be a lecture by a professor about the Guatemalan politics starting from 1944 till now so we postponed our visit to hear the lecture.

Guatemala is a scary place no doubt. Everyday there are numerous articles which report brutal murders, assaults, indiscriminate violence, and robberies everyday. There seems to be no end to the violence or any justice for the families of the deceased. There is rampant apathy, refusal and a lack of state control over the actions of its citizens. Take for instance, students in Guatemala city are begging for more police presence in and around their university, because there are limitless attacks on students returning home at night. Guess what the response was from the police: students should stop chatting after class and head straight for home. Besides drinking and occasional studying, isn´t chatting after class about god knows what, the most important component of being a student, especially when you don´t live oncampus? Students have proposed a plan for thier safety, but falls on deaf ears.  This encapsulates the feeling here. There is no remedy for the crime.The really sad component or outcome of this is the sentiments of the people. They have become accustomed to it.

The professor touched on the history of Guatemala: the brutal existence of United Fruit Company, the repression, persecution without means, the civil war and now, the lack of control. He blames the government for the continuance of lawlessness. He added that, " basically,  anarchy reigns in the country and we are worse off than during the civil war." A civil war that had limitless atrocities and killings. Just merely looking at the newspaper, I am forced to agree.  This professor, who repeatedly said, "what can we do?, nothing," gave Guatemala a bleak outlook. What made this lecture even more powerful were the events that have transpired this week. A lawyer was gunned down on the streets, and apparently, his murder can be traced to the president, his wife, and a few other people who hold high positions within the government.  I have seen pictures of Alvaro Colom. He resembles the guy who had his head dunked in a toilet in school rather than a cold blooded person, but this is Guatemala. My teacher, the professor all expressed sadness, but this is something they are used to. It is really painful to see this resignation in the people, so accustomed to senseless violence. It is sad to hear that my teacher´s brother was right in front of a man who was murdered on a bus for not handing over his phone, yet he was not affected afterwards or as Miriam said to me " what he can do?" Most people carry only what is necessary here, again this is a generalization, but it is proving to be true. Finally, as I later learned, the professor was part of the guerrilla against the government in the 80´s, yet he stood before us, demonstrating so much passion in relating this history to wide-eyed students- but there was so much sadness and depression in his voice. He repeated those same tired lines of the people, what can we do? How can we believe in the State when even the president doesn´t  respect it. This is coming from a man, who clearly fought for a purpose, and a belief, yet now seems rudderless when it comes to the present situation.