A Warm Welcome

Watching the presentation

After discovering we all slept soundly through the earthquake, we headed down to breakfast. There we were spoiled with a breakfast of french toast, eggs with various seasonings, refried beans, rolls, papaya, watermelon, and juice.

Everyone enjoyed the meal and the time to socialize when everyone was a bit better rested. There was much discussion over the fantastic fruit, slightly odd refried bean log, and how overall incredible the meal was.

Once we all finished eating and cleaning the tables, we grabbed our gear and the groceries we had bought for our lunches. We loaded the van and headed to the Francisco Coll school. The welcome there was warm and exciting. First graders greeted us at the gate with little cards that had quetzal birds on them. They promptly began hugging us and ushering us into the central courtyard around which the classrooms are arranged.

We took our seats and proceeded to enjoy an all-school presentation. Some of the older girls and boys danced a traditional dance with drum accompaniment. A few very talented children performed gymnastics and hula hoop routines.

Then we were taken on a walking tour through the shacks and small homes in the area. Two people opened their homes to us so we could see what their homes were like. The self-constructed shacks were cobbled together with items scavenged - corrugated metal roofs, metal or wood slabs for sides, dirt floors, rags for privacy curtains. These homes were barely big enough to hold our group of 12, but would be home to several people, often 5 or more.

We then headed to a cemetery that allowed us to have an incredible overview of the garbage dump. There are roughly 10,000 people who work in the garbage dump industry, such as it is. Take a look at what the dump looks like:

An overview of just one portion of the garbage dump.

People scavenging for recyclables that can be sold.
Their income is usually about $1.25 a day.

The machinery pushes the garbage down, further into the dump.
However, accidents often happen with the people scavenging.

That was our morning. This afternoon's adventures will be posted later!