the children of guatemala

guatemala was a study in contrasts.

we were staying at the westin camino real -- a very nice resort-style hotel in a chi-chi section of guatemala city.

there were a lot of americans there -- and a lot of babies! wheeling around the lobby in strollers ... hanging around the pool ... sitting in the restaurant. maybe it was the 23 hour day on sunday ... maybe it was the 3 hour turn-around before I had to be up for the today show ... but I didn't put it all together until mid-day today -- guatemala is a thriving adoption market.

rather than the happy vacationing families i imagined i was seeing, i really was seeing instant parents trying to bond with their new indian babies.

even president bush mentioned the issue in his press conference with president berger.

I don't know if my fellow citizens understand this, but there are a lot of U.S. families who adopt babies from Guatemala, thousands of babies. This year it is very important for the United States and Guatemala to implement the Hague Convention on adoptions to help protect children and families during the adoption process. We found common ground on that issue. And I appreciate your strong stand, Mr. President, and I assured the President we would follow through, ourselves.

where had i been? how did i not know?!?! could *i* get a little baby back home in my suitcase on the charter (just kidding jack!!)??

but, in addition to these newly very privileged children, there were the reverse ...
their negative ... el opuesto.

we visited a poor neighborhood in zona 17 of guat city where we saw a number of boys like this one.

boys like jack might become, were he not the fair-haired son-of-the-son-of-the-son that he is.

my mother, as is her wont, pointed out that the nyt was advising against this excursion of mine ...

But signs of danger are here, too. Reporters traveling with the president were told to stay within two blocks of their hotel, because the security situation "deteriorates" beyond its immediate perimeter.

but ... we needed to shoot a stand-up about the appeal of hugo chavez with a backdrop of paper-walled shacks and ratty laundry on the line, so we got in a cab and away we went.

unfortunately, while we were out, the show called to tell us they were killing the piece in favor of a q&a with a reporter on gas prices. our piece would only be seen on the web.

and although we didn't get our (in my opinion) rightful place on the evening newscast, i wouldn't forego my trip to zona 17 ....

or my stay at the guatemala city westin! for the 3 hours i was in it, that bed was heavenly!