Love of learning leads to Guatemala

When Bernadette Smith returned from three weeks in Guatemala, she brought home more than souvenirs and fluency in Spanish.

"I came home with an appreciation for my country, for the blessings we have " education, health care, law enforcement," Smith said. "I never want to hear anybody here complain again."

Smith, 48, a Douglas County sheriff's sergeant, paid her own way for a three-week immersion school in Antigua, Guatemala, that she attended in September.

She began researching language schools two years ago, and the Academia de Espanol Guatemala was recommended.

Smith said her improved Spanish will be useful in the Douglas County Jail, but the trip was more of a personal quest, and she's not quite finished.

"I hope to go back around Easter," she said.

Smith met students from all over the world. They toured a coffee plantation, rain forest, markets, macadamia nut farm, historic sites and other tourist spots.

"Hiking the rain forest was the most challenging day of my life," she said.

With all the exercise and a diet mainly of fruit and vegetables, Smith lost 10 pounds.

"I didn't see any overweight people," she said.

The school was attached to a restaurant, so Smith pitched in with cooking when she had time.

"You live with a family, and have a private room and three meals a day, and go to class, and have private lessons," she said.

Smith said her improved Spanish will be useful in the Douglas County Jail, but the trip was more of a personal quest, and she's not quite finished.

"I hope to go back around Easter," she said.

She said residents were very interested in life in the United States.

"Everybody's watching what's going on with the U.S. elections and who's going to win," she said.

Smith also volunteered at the pediatric unit in a local hospital.

She said the hospital had very few doctors and nurses and depended heavily on volunteers, including representatives of Doctors Without Borders and other organizations who performed free procedures.

"I fed babies and changed diapers. At the hospital, they had used strollers, cribs and blankets, but those babies were well-loved and well cared for," Smith said.