Two Typical Families in Guatemala
While there are families who are carving out a pretty good existence here in Patzicía, and there are many plodding along like the family of Jose and Domitila Miculax Curuchich, there are many many families in the same situation as Maria Sut.
Jose and Domitila
Jose (aged 42) and Domitila (aged 40) have five children. Jose works in the camps as a campesino and sometimes when he can, he helps build houses. Even with this he is dependent on the financial help of the oldest daughter and on the good will of others in order to provide for his family. The wages he gets, when he gets them, is not sufficient to pay for food, energy bills, water, and medical bills. He is dependent on others to pay for the education of his children. Domitila is a housewife and when she can find the work and energy she cooks food for workers in the town. Olga is 21. She finished high school and spent a year learning how to be a nurse. She is one of the fortunate ones who found work in the capital. She was able to go to nursing school because she had a sponsor. Miguel is 19 and is married to Lety. They have a baby named Michael. Miguel only finished ninth grade but like his sister with the aide of a sponsor spent a year after that learning how to be a nurse. He has had a difficult time finding work because he did not finish high school. He must now figure out a way to go back to high school, or hope a hospital will accept him without his high school degree. He finds work where he can in the camps or building houses. Carlos who is 17 just completed high school and passed the University exams. He was able to finish high school and take the University exams because he had a sponsor. He can now attend the University of San Carlos in the City (which is a two hour bus ride away from Patzicía) but only if he has a sponsor since his family can not afford the tuition, books, or the bus fare. Without a sponsor he would most likely end up working in the camps like his father. Edy is twelve years old and just finished sixth grade. His family is busy trying to survive and has not spent time helping him with his studies. He will be lucky to finish 9th grade and will most likely not finish high school. He will work in the camps with his father. Joseph is 3 and has spent most of his young life ill with respiratory problems.
Francisco and Maria
Francisco, the father, died three years ago of malnutrition leaving Maria (aged 40) to raise their nine children. In order to earn money Maria sells tortillas. Aura the oldest child is 23 years old and married. Blanca Estela is 20. She managed to finish sixth grade and works in a local vegetable factory for many hours a day earning a pittance. Oscar is 18 and only managed to finish fourth grade. He works in the camps. Lidia is 15 and also only managed to finish fourth grade and works in a vegetable factory along with her sister. Edwin is 12 years old and with the help of a sponsor is ready to enter fourth grade. Esmeralda is 11 years old and works in the house with her mother. Sandra is 7 and with the help of a sponsor has entered Kinder. Silvia is 8 and is repeating first grade with the help of a sponsor. Alicia is 6 years old and spends time with her mother and sister in their house. Gerson, the baby, is 3 years old. The family lives in a two room house made of lamina. All the children work in the camps in order to survive.