Today was the first third grade field trip. We’ve been studying animals in science, so naturally we needed to visit the Aurora Zoo in Guatemala City.  Before I begin the interesting stories that happened today I thought I’d make it clear the type of environment we teach in. 

            Guatemala is generally a very poor country.  The civil wars here ended just a decade ago.  However, what little money the country does have is owned by about two percent of the population.  That two percent of the population is the one that the school serves.  Most, if not all, of our students have maids and live-in help.  Many of them have bodyguards that spend the entire school day standing at the front gates because they aren’t allowed on campus.  These kids lead fairly exorbitant lives and are rather unaware of that fact.  For example, one of Ryan’s students brought a picture of Pope JPII giving him a hug.  Ryan asked how he got to do that and at first the student replied that “he wanted to see the children.”  Ryan said “Yes, but how were YOU picked.”  Then the boy responded that his grandfather was the….“how do you say it in English…not the president, but when something happens to the president?”  Ryan responded “Vice President??”  “YES, that’s it, vice president.  He was the vice president”... of Guatemala, that is.

            All that being said there are a couple of stories I wanted to relay about today.  Like any teacher knows field trip days are bananas.  The kids are excited and nothing ever runs quite as smoothly as planned.  After all the mishaps of the morning, I was excited to be pulling away from the curb only 15 minutes after our scheduled departure time.  As we prepare to pull away I went to the back of the bus to referee a disagreement about who was going to sit in the very back seat.  Once that was settled I turned around to find a student standing in the middle of the aisle.  I asked him where his seat was.  He replied, “I’m sitting there, but I need to wave to my bodyguard.”  Rather insensitively, I thought he simply wanted to say bye.  I promptly told him to just sit down.  As we went through the gate past the bodyguards he looked rather upset.  I asked him what that matter was and he again replied he needed to wave goodbye so that his guard would know he was on the bus.  He continued to say that his twelfth grade twin brother and sister were going on a field trip today as well and the guards needed to know it was him leaving.  Still thinking that he was being a little ridiculous I lied and told him that the bodyguards knew because the bus driver told them he was there for the third grade field trip.  He seemed satisfied with my answer and I sat down for the short ride to the zoo.  On the way I noticed the kids in the back of the bus turned around waving at cars.  As I looked back to see who exactly they were waving to, I realized that the buses were being followed by several black SUVs.  The bodyguards from school were following us to the zoo.  I suddenly realized that my student wanted to wave to his bodyguard and let him know he was on the bus so he could get in his car and follow.  I got a sick feeling in my stomach as I started imagining all the horrible things that could happen and it would be my fault for not letting this boy give the signal to his guard.  Thankfully, when we arrived at the zoo I asked him if he saw his bodyguard and he confirmed that they had managed to follow the correct bus today. 

            Once inside, another teacher and I stood by the entrance and noticed that there were several “men in black” paying entrance fees to the zoo.  Over the next couple minutes my veteran co-worker explained that the four bodyguards who were entering were all for my students- one for the boy in the previous story and three for a girl in my class.  I was shocked that she had three bodyguards and curiously asked who exactly she was.  The other teacher explained that not only was her father on the most famous TV show in Guatemala but her family also owns Pollo Campero.  (Think KFC of Latin America).  Her bodyguards toured the whole zoo with her group keeping appropriate distance and maneuvering around to constantly be surrounding her.  I did notice them checking out the animals a couple of times too. 

            For those of you who are wondering how nice a zoo in Guatemala is, you would be pleasantly surprised.  The zoo was extremely nice, very clean, and fairly complete.  I also discovered my new favorite animal- the “mono del grito” or howling monkey. From across the zoo I heard what sounded like an upset lion.  I said to the group that I was with, “Let’s go see that animal.”  When we got there I was shocked to see a medium sized monkey letting out this tremendous noise.  His mouth was in the shape of a perfect O and he was making quite an impressive sound.  Apparently this is the way that they communicate with one another and mark their territory in the wild.  I guess it’s not just kids who enjoy going to the zoo.