Problems without Passports WRIT 499WRITING GLOBAL HEALTH: GUATEMALA

PROGRAM DATES: May 25th to June 19th, 2020FACULTY:Ashley Karlin, PhDAssistant Professor (Teaching) of WritingEmail: akarlin@usc.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This Problems without Passport course stud-ies health, ill-ness, disease, culture, lan-guage and so-cial-economic burdens that affect our neighbours in

Guatemala. Students will be immersed into the day-to-day life in Guatemala, studying health issues from practitioners in the field, who have a deep understanding of the issues that Guatemala has faced in the past 40 years. We also hear from researchers, clinicians and social service providers active in vaccine distribution, disease burden abatement, chronic disease prevention, women’s health, traditional medicine and community education. Through lecture, site visits, and discussion will learn

about the nuances and complexities that are woven into disease prevention and health care deliv-ery in Guatemala. This course combines lectures and discussion with field-based learning experi-ences, including observation-based clinical experiences, to develop participating students’ knowledge and un-derstanding of the culture, language and burden of disease found in Guatemala.

Spanish classes One-on-one Spanish classes will be held 3 days per week, as an immersion into the language and culture of this region. No previous knowledge or Spanish language courses are re-quired to participate; classes are tutor style with one student and one teacher, you can be a beginner, inter-mediate or advanced student and the classes will be tailored to your level.

“My experience in Guatemala was life changing and has led me down a path of more language learning abroad and work in international development. I've since spent a year in Tanzania learning Swahili and I credit a lot of my drive to pursue those amazing opportunities to this program for so many reasons (the great language instructors, faculty and program staff, fun cultural activities, great field trips, wonderful setting, among others). When people ask me about my most influential experience at USC (and I've had plenty), I always say this PWP.” (Samantha Archie)

Samantha Archie is currently interning at Women for Women International. In countries affected by conflict and war, Women for Women International supports the most marginalized women to earn and save money, improve health and well-being, influence decisions in their home and community, and connect to networks for support.

FACULTYAshley Karlin, Ph.D. is Assistant (Teaching) Professor in the Writing Program. Dr. Karlin studies how different genres of writing can prepare pre-health and STEM students for their future careers, both personally and professionally. She also directs Writing Global Health in Haiti, a 2-unit Spring Break session that takes students to Port-au-Prince, is a principal investigator for the STEM Write-to-Learn Initiative, and teaches Health Sciences and Global Health sections of Writing 340.

COURSE

LOCATION

Guatemala: The course is based out of the city of Quetzaltenango (more commonly known by Xela – pronounced SHAY-LA), which is the shortened version of the Quiche (indigenous)

name, Xelajúnoj. Xela is the second largest city in Guatemala, with about 300,000 residents, including surrounding areas. About 50% of the population is indigenous and 50% mestizo, resulting in an interesting mix of cultures.

The city is located in the mountains, and at an altitude of 2,333 meters or 8,000 feet, which results in warm days, colder nights, and very few mosquitoes. Xela is also a center for young people in Guatemala, both locals and foreigners, and many participants take advantage of the local restaurants, night clubs to practice

salsa, live music, cafes and more in their free time.

On the weekends we will travel to different parts of Guatemala in private transportation, visiting small towns, markets, a lake, national park, and the colonial city of Antigua, participating in

educational, cultural and fun activities, like learning how to make chocolate!