Mayan Medical Aid
Travel Tips
To streamline your learning process, we dovetail the didactic with the practical. What you learn in the lectures is what you use in the clinics. As amazing as it sounds, if you work hard, you actually can help your supervisor to take a history, perform a pertinent physical examination, provide diagnostic information, and implement therapy. And you can do it all in Spanish.
If you are like most of our participants, you are thirsty for a top-notch, personal experience abroad. You want to get your feet wet with a different language and a different culture. And you want to find out what it is like to be really good at participating in something great.
Mayan Medical Aid's program in Guatemala is perfect for people of all persuasions. It gives you an exciting, hands-on experience. It keeps you on your toes as you learn what it is like to be on the front lines of the war on inequality. You are riveted by solving one complex problem after the next. You help to provide health care to people who have extreme need. And ultimately, you become a different and better person.
For our participants, this experience is not just a life-changing event. It is their most important life-changing event - the event from which they never can go back. It is the transition that starts you down the road to becoming an empathetic and caring citizen of this rapidly shrinking world.
Mayan Medical Aid teaches three things well: Spanish, Global Concern, and Cultural Sensitivity – all in one fell swoop. The instruction in language, global understanding, and culture is genuine. It teaches you what people really are telling you, what practitioners actually do, and what people from other cultures expect from life and living.
When faced with solving problems, you learn how to ask culturally acceptable questions, how to interpret the answers in context, and how to evaluate the whole person and their needs. What's best is you do all of these things in a fully supervised and dynamic environment.
To streamline your learning process, we dovetail the didactic with the practical. What you learn in the lectures is what you use in the clinics. As amazing as it sounds, if you work hard, you actually can help your supervisor to take a history, perform a pertinent physical examination, provide diagnostic information, and implement therapy. And you can do it all in Spanish.
Mayan Medical Aid's program in Guatemala is perfect for people of all persuasions. It gives you an exciting, hands-on experience. It keeps you on your toes as you learn what it is like to be on the front lines of the war on inequality. You are riveted by solving one complex problem after the next. You help to provide health care to people who have extreme need. And ultimately, you become a different and better person.
For our participants, this experience is not just a life-changing event. It is their most important life-changing event - the event from which they never can go back. It is the transition that starts you down the road to becoming an empathetic and caring citizen of this rapidly shrinking world.
Mayan Medical Aid teaches three things well: Spanish, Global Concern, and Cultural Sensitivity – all in one fell swoop. The instruction in language, global understanding, and culture is genuine. It teaches you what people really are telling you, what practitioners actually do, and what people from other cultures expect from life and living.
When faced with solving problems, you learn how to ask culturally acceptable questions, how to interpret the answers in context, and how to evaluate the whole person and their needs. What's best is you do all of these things in a fully supervised and dynamic environment.
To streamline your learning process, we dovetail the didactic with the practical. What you learn in the lectures is what you use in the clinics. As amazing as it sounds, if you work hard, you actually can help your supervisor to take a history, perform a pertinent physical examination, provide diagnostic information, and implement therapy. And you can do it all in Spanish.
To streamline your learning process, we dovetail the didactic with the practical. What you learn in the lectures is what you use in the clinics. As amazing as it sounds, if you work hard, you actually can help your supervisor to take a history, perform a pertinent physical examination, provide diagnostic information, and implement therapy. And you can do it all in Spanish.
Cameras:
Be sure to follow the rule of asking people before you take their pictures. If they refuse for themselves or for their children, do not take the photograph. Be prepared that in some cases, the person may want a tip, if they allow you to take their picture.
Climate:
Guatemala's official motto is the "Land of Eternal Spring", as such night-time temperatures in the highland mountains can be cool. Just bring a light jacket or sweater, and you will be fine. Days are generally warm and delightful during the dry season from late October to May. Days during the rainy season also are nice. You can expect afternoon rain showers, which will make the lush more lush.
Dress:
Guatemala tends toward the casual: jeans, slacks, and tie-less shirts for men; skirts or pants for women. In Santa Cruz, men wear pants generally; shorts are exceedingly uncommon; women always wear skirts, known as a corte. It is not advisable for men or women to wear revealing clothing. Hence, the best policy for fitting into the local culture is no midriff exposure, no going shirtless, and no nipples revealed. The only exceptions to these rules apply when one swims in the Lake.
Electricity:
Electric current is 110 volt, which is the same as in the US and Canada.
Food and Water:
Wash all vegetables and fruit with a chlorine or iodine solution. Peel them when possible. Don't eat ice cream or snow cones sold on the street. Always drink purified water (agua pura), even when brushing your teeth. Alternatively, you can drink any water that has been boiled for a few minutes or has been treated with purifiers, such as iodine tablets.
If an establishment looks clean and well-run and the vendor also looks clean and healthy, the food is probably safe. In general, places that are packed with travelers or locals generally are fine. The food in busy restaurants is cooked and eaten quickly, so it probably is not reheated or old.
Gifts:
Small gifts are nice to have on hand for special acquaintances. Professional or work-related gifts, such as nice notebooks, pen and pencil sets, pocket-size "week-at-a-glance" for the year all are appropriate.
Immunizations:
Specific immunizations are not required for travel anywhere in Guatemala. However, up-to-date immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus are strongly recommended.
Internet Services:
Antigua and Panajachel abound with Internet cafes, and all provide affordable internet services. The Clinic in Santa Cruz does not have service. However, you will be able to purchase a personal, cellular USB modem for your computer or a SIM card for either your smart phone or a 3G- or 4G-enabled iPad or other tablet.
Medical Care / Emergencies:
Quality medical services are readily available in Antigua and Guatemala City. However, you should bring any prescription drugs, other medications, or hygiene items that you use regularly.
Travelers are advised to have medical insurance that covers them while abroad and are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
Money:
U.S. dollars are the currency to bring to Guatemala. Any other currency may prove impossible to exchange. Most banks will exchange cash, but American Express travelers checks are getting to be impossible to cash.
The local currency is the quetzal (Q), named after Guatemala's beautiful and rare national bird. The quetzal is comprised of 100 centavos and exchanges at a rate varying between 7.5 to 8.0 per U.S. dollar.
There are several ATMs in Antigua and Panajachel, but don't depend on ATMs for all of your local cash needs. Have some cash, and/or a credit or debit card for backup. The majority of ATMs are VISA and MasterCard. But if you have a choice, travel with a VISA credit or debit card. Guatemalan ATMs will only accept personal identification numbers (PIN) of four digits, so contact your bank before you leave home to get a compatible PIN. Several banks give cash advances for VISA, fewer for MasterCard.
VISA and MasterCard are accepted for pricier items and at the larger hotels, shops, and restaurants. American Express cards are often accepted at the fancier places. In some cases, a small surcharge of 3-7% is added to the credit-card charge.
Religious Services:
Protestant and Catholic religious services are held weekly in Antigua, Panajachel, and Santa Cruz La Laguna. Jewish and Muslim religious services are held weekly in Guatemala City.
Safety:
Antigua, Panajachel and all of the pueblos around the Lake are charming towns. Nevertheless, we recommend the use of common-sense precautions:
1. Unless you have immediate need of them, leave most of your cash, traveler's checks, passport, jewelry, airline tickets, credit cards, expensive watches, and, perhaps, your camera in a sealed, signed envelope in your hotel's safe or hidden out of site at your house. At hotels, obtain a receipt for the envelope; you may have to supply the envelope. Your signature on the envelope and a receipt from the hotel clerk will help to prevent pilfering.
2. Some people use a money belt or a pouch on a string around the neck, place their valuables in it, and wear it underneath their clothing. You can carry a small amount of ready money in a pocket or bag.
In Santa Cruz La Laguna, safety is not as much of an issue. The isolation of this village, which only is accessible by boat or foot, makes it safer than other areas of Guatemala. Common sense dictates that a) women should not walk alone or on trails at night and b) one should keep valuables in a safe place and out of view.
Shopping:
Antigua and Panajachel have a multitude of vendors to satisfy visitors' desires for colorful Guatemalan products. Wherever there is an open space, you may find a vendor selling. The Mercado de Artesanias, by the bus station in Antigua, has plenty to offer, as does Santender Street in Panajachel. Bargaining with the market and street vendors is accepted practice. In general, the asking prices quoted to foreigners are higher than the vendors will accept. Depending on one's bargaining skills, the final prices may drop from 30% to 50% of the initial asking prices.
Sightseeing / Recreation:
Recommended trips are visits to Chichicastenango, Antigua, Guatemala City, and the Mayan ruins of Ixmche. Some participants may choose to climb one of the volcanoes near Antigua or those surrounding Lake Atitlán. Also available is a breakfast or lunch horseback ride from a ranch in Santiago Atitlán.
In the Santa Cruz La Laguna area, hiking trails abound, and you can also rent kayaks, as well as private boats, to familiarize yourself better with the Lake's mysteries and beauty. In addition, there is a diving school, located at the Iguana Perdida, a hostel near the dock in Santa Cruz. The Iguana additionally provides waterskiing trips by special arrangement.
For safety, a reputable guide is recommended for all of these activities / destinations.
Telephone Service:
Many of the Internet cafes offer competitively priced international telephone service. And there are many public phones, operated with pre-paid phone cards, which are available at almost all convenience stores throughout Antigua, Panajachel, and the rest of Guatemala.
Cellular phones in this area operate with the purchase of pre-paid telephone cards, specific to the telephone's plan (i.e., Comcel phones can only use Comcel cards, known as Tigo cards). Project participants are advised to purchase a) an inexpensive cell phone ($6-10) or b) a SIM card ($10-12) for US cell phones operating on the GSM system. For the latter situation, be sure to get your US provider to "unlock" your phone for non-roaming, international use.
Telephone calls with cellular phones can be made to locations both within Guatemala and the U.S. The cost of the call is more for minutes used to call the U.S (approximately 10 cents per minute USD). One nice feature of cellular phones in Guatemala, however, is that the user only pays for the minutes used for calls made and not for the minutes used for calls received. As such, receiving calls from the U.S. costs nothing.
Time:
Guatemala is on Central Standard Time (CST) always. The country does not change time for daylight savings purposes, due to the fact that the usual 12 hours of sunlight varies minimally throughout the year.
Tipping:
A 10% tip is expected in restaurants, and most often, it is automatically added to the bill. Tour guides generally receive a tip of about 10%, more if the tour is outstanding.
Toilets:
The most important thing to know about Guatemalan toilets is that you should not throw anything into any of them, including toilet paper. For this reason, bathrooms are equipped with a wastebasket or a small box into which you throw soiled paper. Toilet paper is not always provided, so be safe and carry your own supply with you.
Don't forget:
• Documents: passport and tickets
• Cash, traveler's checks, credit or debit card
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Writing materials (notebooks, pens, etc.)
• Books / learning materials
• Camera and film
• Bathing suit and flip-flops.
Be sure to follow the rule of asking people before you take their pictures. If they refuse for themselves or for their children, do not take the photograph. Be prepared that in some cases, the person may want a tip, if they allow you to take their picture.
Climate:
Guatemala's official motto is the "Land of Eternal Spring", as such night-time temperatures in the highland mountains can be cool. Just bring a light jacket or sweater, and you will be fine. Days are generally warm and delightful during the dry season from late October to May. Days during the rainy season also are nice. You can expect afternoon rain showers, which will make the lush more lush.
Dress:
Guatemala tends toward the casual: jeans, slacks, and tie-less shirts for men; skirts or pants for women. In Santa Cruz, men wear pants generally; shorts are exceedingly uncommon; women always wear skirts, known as a corte. It is not advisable for men or women to wear revealing clothing. Hence, the best policy for fitting into the local culture is no midriff exposure, no going shirtless, and no nipples revealed. The only exceptions to these rules apply when one swims in the Lake.
Electricity:
Electric current is 110 volt, which is the same as in the US and Canada.
Food and Water:
Wash all vegetables and fruit with a chlorine or iodine solution. Peel them when possible. Don't eat ice cream or snow cones sold on the street. Always drink purified water (agua pura), even when brushing your teeth. Alternatively, you can drink any water that has been boiled for a few minutes or has been treated with purifiers, such as iodine tablets.
If an establishment looks clean and well-run and the vendor also looks clean and healthy, the food is probably safe. In general, places that are packed with travelers or locals generally are fine. The food in busy restaurants is cooked and eaten quickly, so it probably is not reheated or old.
Gifts:
Small gifts are nice to have on hand for special acquaintances. Professional or work-related gifts, such as nice notebooks, pen and pencil sets, pocket-size "week-at-a-glance" for the year all are appropriate.
Immunizations:
Specific immunizations are not required for travel anywhere in Guatemala. However, up-to-date immunizations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B, diphtheria, polio, and tetanus are strongly recommended.
Internet Services:
Antigua and Panajachel abound with Internet cafes, and all provide affordable internet services. The Clinic in Santa Cruz does not have service. However, you will be able to purchase a personal, cellular USB modem for your computer or a SIM card for either your smart phone or a 3G- or 4G-enabled iPad or other tablet.
Medical Care / Emergencies:
Quality medical services are readily available in Antigua and Guatemala City. However, you should bring any prescription drugs, other medications, or hygiene items that you use regularly.
Travelers are advised to have medical insurance that covers them while abroad and are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance.
Money:
U.S. dollars are the currency to bring to Guatemala. Any other currency may prove impossible to exchange. Most banks will exchange cash, but American Express travelers checks are getting to be impossible to cash.
The local currency is the quetzal (Q), named after Guatemala's beautiful and rare national bird. The quetzal is comprised of 100 centavos and exchanges at a rate varying between 7.5 to 8.0 per U.S. dollar.
There are several ATMs in Antigua and Panajachel, but don't depend on ATMs for all of your local cash needs. Have some cash, and/or a credit or debit card for backup. The majority of ATMs are VISA and MasterCard. But if you have a choice, travel with a VISA credit or debit card. Guatemalan ATMs will only accept personal identification numbers (PIN) of four digits, so contact your bank before you leave home to get a compatible PIN. Several banks give cash advances for VISA, fewer for MasterCard.
VISA and MasterCard are accepted for pricier items and at the larger hotels, shops, and restaurants. American Express cards are often accepted at the fancier places. In some cases, a small surcharge of 3-7% is added to the credit-card charge.
Religious Services:
Protestant and Catholic religious services are held weekly in Antigua, Panajachel, and Santa Cruz La Laguna. Jewish and Muslim religious services are held weekly in Guatemala City.
Safety:
Antigua, Panajachel and all of the pueblos around the Lake are charming towns. Nevertheless, we recommend the use of common-sense precautions:
1. Unless you have immediate need of them, leave most of your cash, traveler's checks, passport, jewelry, airline tickets, credit cards, expensive watches, and, perhaps, your camera in a sealed, signed envelope in your hotel's safe or hidden out of site at your house. At hotels, obtain a receipt for the envelope; you may have to supply the envelope. Your signature on the envelope and a receipt from the hotel clerk will help to prevent pilfering.
2. Some people use a money belt or a pouch on a string around the neck, place their valuables in it, and wear it underneath their clothing. You can carry a small amount of ready money in a pocket or bag.
In Santa Cruz La Laguna, safety is not as much of an issue. The isolation of this village, which only is accessible by boat or foot, makes it safer than other areas of Guatemala. Common sense dictates that a) women should not walk alone or on trails at night and b) one should keep valuables in a safe place and out of view.
Shopping:
Antigua and Panajachel have a multitude of vendors to satisfy visitors' desires for colorful Guatemalan products. Wherever there is an open space, you may find a vendor selling. The Mercado de Artesanias, by the bus station in Antigua, has plenty to offer, as does Santender Street in Panajachel. Bargaining with the market and street vendors is accepted practice. In general, the asking prices quoted to foreigners are higher than the vendors will accept. Depending on one's bargaining skills, the final prices may drop from 30% to 50% of the initial asking prices.
Sightseeing / Recreation:
Recommended trips are visits to Chichicastenango, Antigua, Guatemala City, and the Mayan ruins of Ixmche. Some participants may choose to climb one of the volcanoes near Antigua or those surrounding Lake Atitlán. Also available is a breakfast or lunch horseback ride from a ranch in Santiago Atitlán.
In the Santa Cruz La Laguna area, hiking trails abound, and you can also rent kayaks, as well as private boats, to familiarize yourself better with the Lake's mysteries and beauty. In addition, there is a diving school, located at the Iguana Perdida, a hostel near the dock in Santa Cruz. The Iguana additionally provides waterskiing trips by special arrangement.
For safety, a reputable guide is recommended for all of these activities / destinations.
Telephone Service:
Many of the Internet cafes offer competitively priced international telephone service. And there are many public phones, operated with pre-paid phone cards, which are available at almost all convenience stores throughout Antigua, Panajachel, and the rest of Guatemala.
Cellular phones in this area operate with the purchase of pre-paid telephone cards, specific to the telephone's plan (i.e., Comcel phones can only use Comcel cards, known as Tigo cards). Project participants are advised to purchase a) an inexpensive cell phone ($6-10) or b) a SIM card ($10-12) for US cell phones operating on the GSM system. For the latter situation, be sure to get your US provider to "unlock" your phone for non-roaming, international use.
Telephone calls with cellular phones can be made to locations both within Guatemala and the U.S. The cost of the call is more for minutes used to call the U.S (approximately 10 cents per minute USD). One nice feature of cellular phones in Guatemala, however, is that the user only pays for the minutes used for calls made and not for the minutes used for calls received. As such, receiving calls from the U.S. costs nothing.
Time:
Guatemala is on Central Standard Time (CST) always. The country does not change time for daylight savings purposes, due to the fact that the usual 12 hours of sunlight varies minimally throughout the year.
Tipping:
A 10% tip is expected in restaurants, and most often, it is automatically added to the bill. Tour guides generally receive a tip of about 10%, more if the tour is outstanding.
Toilets:
The most important thing to know about Guatemalan toilets is that you should not throw anything into any of them, including toilet paper. For this reason, bathrooms are equipped with a wastebasket or a small box into which you throw soiled paper. Toilet paper is not always provided, so be safe and carry your own supply with you.
Don't forget:
• Documents: passport and tickets
• Cash, traveler's checks, credit or debit card
• Toiletries
• Medications
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Writing materials (notebooks, pens, etc.)
• Books / learning materials
• Camera and film
• Bathing suit and flip-flops.
Mayan Medical Aid's program in Guatemala is perfect for people of all persuasions. It gives you an exciting, hands-on experience. It keeps you on your toes as you learn what it is like to be on the front lines of the war on inequality. You are riveted by solving one complex problem after the next. You help to provide health care to people who have extreme need. And ultimately, you become a different and better person.
For our participants, this experience is not just a life-changing event. It is their most important life-changing event - the event from which they never can go back. It is the transition that starts you down the road to becoming an empathetic and caring citizen of this rapidly shrinking world.
For our participants, this experience is not just a life-changing event. It is their most important life-changing event - the event from which they never can go back. It is the transition that starts you down the road to becoming an empathetic and caring citizen of this rapidly shrinking world.
Copyright by Craig A. Sinkinson 2013