Waiting

Yesterday, I heard from my dear Makenzie in Guatemala. She is one I have always respected for a number of reasons but this time especially it was for her constant investment in current events and incredible skill in keeping in touch with others. Unfortunately this time, she contacted me with some pretty awful news. I'm trying to make my brain stop thinking about it so I am going to copy and paste an email I wrote to some coworkers today so I don't have to type out what I'm thinking. I wrote this to my friends who are currently teaching with me here in Vietnam but all taught in Guatemala at one point as well. If you are a Guate friend reading this, please know I am sending all my love to you right now. All of it...

"Amigos,

I’m having a hard time with some recent news about our Guatemala. Here is an article from the Prensa Libre about one of my former students’ parents: http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/justicia/Exesposa-Rubio-delata-muertes_0_801519862.html

Apparently, the parents were divorced in 2010, but since then, the father has murdered nine of his ex-wives lovers, friends, or acquaintances. He was found with 350kilos of cocaine in his helicopter a few years back and even served jail time in the U.S. in the early 90s. Why was he never jailed for the cocaine? Why was he out roaming the streets? Because it’s Guatemala. I guess he put a GPS in her car and was literally tracking down where she went and then going to the same place to kill whomever she was with. The mom was currently seeing the Italian Ambassador in Guatemala and when the dad was about to come after him, the mom took the kids and fled the country. No one at Inter has seen or heard from them since. I think we can assume they are safe, as they are able to interview for the Prensa Libre, but it is so scary for me to think that this dad is still on the run while his kids are M.I.A.

I’m thinking back to how I reacted to this student. Frankly, he was terrible in my class. Cheated on tests, stole from classmates, mocked others, never did his work or homework. But his dad was a drug lord, gang member, and was following around his mom killing all her lovers. How could I have thought that doing his homework was that important? I’m sure he never saw his parents and when he did he was scared out of his mind. Maybe he had no idea, which would be ideal, but he obviously knows now. I’m doing a lot of reflecting today on what these kids have to go through. Some people may think these kids are privileged because their families come from money. But I’m thinking those kids that run around freely jumping in Lake Atitlan while they eat Tortrix from the tienditas could possibly be having a better childhood than those whose parents are so rich and crazy, they have no love for anyone else, not even their children.

Wow, sorry to send such a heavy email at school! I’m on my lunch break researching more and I just can’t get this out of my head. I’m sending positive vibes to Guatemala today, and thinking of all of you who know the heartache of this place as well.

Abrazos a todos,

Hannah"

I got some responses from this emotional email that were really helpful. Colin (I'm not sure I explained that Colin was my wonderful boss from Guatemala (the first year, obviously) who offered me the job here in Vietnam this spring) said that perhaps teachers were the only consistant adults in this student's life. Maybe we were the only ones who had expectations of him. It's possible that the routines we had at school were the only ones he had all day. And that is important and means something. Friend Scott, a former Americano teacher, reminded me to enjoy the time I have with the kids I'm working with now, instead of dwelling on what I could or couldn't have done. Touché.

None of that really matters now though. All I can really do is wait. Wait until we hear for certain that this family is safe. Wait until we learn that the father has been caught and arrested (let's hope). 

Tomorrow is Dia de los Muertos in Guatemala so I will be remembering all those Guatemaltecos who have lost their lives to violence. I also plan to reach out to my family and friends there as this disheartening news has made me long for them even more than ever.