Tide

November 25, 2024

As part of a Level I fieldwork course taught by Dr. Stacia Galey, Total Immersion Diverse Experience (TIDE), Dr. Leah Dunn and Dr. Marnie Renda accompanied 15 Occupational Therapy Doctoral students to Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, for a fieldwork experience in collaboration with occupational and physical therapy students from Universidad Rafael Landívar, a Jesuit institution. The students worked at two fieldwork sites: a pediatric facility focused on preparing children with disabilities for school and a community health center serving both adults and children.  

During their stay, the students lived with host families, immersing themselves in Guatemalan culture through language, food, and daily activities. Their experience was further enriched by a variety of cultural and educational activities. These included visiting a local market and participated in a traditional Mayan ceremony, visiting an occupational therapy /physical therapy class at the university, learning about Guatemala’s history and healthcare system, shopping at La Democracia market with the challenge of purchasing items for an assigned family using only one day's wages, experiencing a Te Mescal (hot sauna), learning how to backstrap weave, and exploring the use of medicinal plants. Many comparisons with US healthcare and educational systems occurred during the ride to and from the clinical sites.  

 This marked the third cohort of students participating in the uniquely Xavier TIDE fieldwork program, building on years of service-learning experiences in Guatemala. Each student contributed by bringing a suitcase filled with 50 pounds of donations for Universidad Rafael Landívar and the two community fieldwork sites. Additionally, a generous benefactor donated $1,000 to Universidad Rafael Landívar, which will be used to purchase new rehabilitation equipment to benefit both the students and the clients they serve in the community.