Sleep-Deprived in Antigua, Guatemala

The plane left SFO at 12:15 AM on Friday morning, headed for Houston. Three hours later, we had a three-hour layover in Houston before flying on to Guatemala. Very few of us slept on either plane, so a groggy bunch went through customs in the brand new airport in Guatemala City. Folks from Transitions Foundation were there to meet us. That really helped, as a literal swarm of people await the travelers coming out of customs, competing to carry your bag or drive you to the next destination. Transitions brought two vans - one for luggage and one for people, and they drove us the hour or so to Antigua. First, we stopped at the Transitions office, and met a few of the staff members, as well as other students visiting from Fredericksburg, Maryland. Then we went on to our "guest house," Hotel Uxlajay, only a short walk from Transitions.

Although it was tempting to go right to sleep, we went over to see the wheelchair basketball game that happens every Friday at Transitions. We learned that the Transitions team will represent Guatemala in international games in Mexico in November. This was amazing play - folks crashing into each other in their chairs as they pass the ball to one another. Teams are "handicapped" by the level of disability, such that each team can have 14 points. That number of points and the relative disability of each team member determines how many players are on each team. So, for example, the Executive Director of Transitions, Alex Galvan, is a paraplegic from the chest down. He is a "one." Another guy on the team can walk, but with crutches, so he is a "four." And so on. Two engineers from MIT are here, working on wheelchairs. One of them played - in a wheelchair - even though she doesn't have a disability.

After dinner, most of us hit the sack. Today looks much brighter after a full night of sleep! Our plans are to explore the town of Antigua today, and then hike up the Pacaya volcano tomorrow.