Argentina- my Guatemalan mom

GRIP: Guatemala Health Initiative

Cover image: Selfie of Argentina and me as we said goodbye

Seño Argentina is known throughout Santiago. Her name is not known because she is famous, but because Argentina makes an impact. Every time we walk through town, someone stops to say hello. She remembers every face and greets each person by name, listening to their stories with purpose and intention. As an author, she sometimes even records those stories, writing them down so they are heard, shared, and remembered.

Argentina’s dedication to human connection and her care for understanding each individual is why she is someone I am most grateful for.

The role of a mom is one that I am still unsure how to describe. It contains so many different aspects that it almost feels like a miracle they don’t completely overwhelm the person who holds them. Argentina has become and will always be my Guatemalan mom. She made sure I always felt taken care of.

Whenever I got home from work, she looked into my eyes. She would say that’s how she could tell if I was tired, and somehow she always got it right. If I was, Argentina would hand me a freshly cooked warm tortilla and tell me not to do any more work or worry and to simply relax as best I could. If I had more energy, she would teach me how to tortillar- make the tortillas by hand.

Argentina is a teacher by profession, and even though she no longer works in a classroom, she’s never stopped teaching. In every conversation, I noticed that Argentina spoke with her hands. Rather than speaking less or making things simpler because my Spanish was limited, she found ways to help me learn. I learned new words through her gestures, her patience, and the context around us. I loved getting to return that kindness during our English study sessions before each of her classes. Argentina made an effort to learn not only for me, but for everyone she may meet who is different from her, simply so she could understand them better.

Argentina’s connection to the Santiago community supported me both personally and professionally. Because of her, a village formed around me. There was always a friendly face on the calle. When it came time to interview comadronas, traditional birth attendants, for my research, they were not easy to reach or find. The moment I told her, Argentina immediately made it a priority to help me. With her support, I was able to make my first contact, something I could not have done alone.

Some of my favorite memories are the ordinary ones: a random morning learning how to make the perfect pancake or discovering that shaking an avocado tells you whether it is ripe. They seem like such small moments, but they are the ones I know I will carry with me.

Dear Argentina,

Thank you for making such an effort to know me, care for me, and teach me. Thank you for sharing your family, your community, and your everyday life. One of the greatest things I learned in these 9 weeks came from watching the way you care for the people around you. That is something I hope to keep with me wherever I go.

With love,

Emma