...THE EARTHQUAKE. I cannot believe I didn´t mention it (well can a little) because it wasn´t so major here in Xela. I felt the earth move (under my feet...he he)during lunch with my host family. They said it happens here often and not to worry about it. It wasn´t until Corinne told me that CNN had major news of its devastation. Apparently, some died and buildings were disrupted in the capital. I can assure you nothing like that happened here. We walk EVERYWHERE in Xela and I find that it´s a lot like a treadmill..when I stop I feel like I¨m still going. I had just stopped walking home from school and sat down, thinking that I was having that feeling, but when the table was moving and other students staying in the home mentioned they felt the room moving, we inquired.
All is well..the most we have to worry about here is staying dry!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
the best of the best...
Admittedly...yesterday was appropriately titled ¨funk day¨I wasn´t interested in Spanish, I wasn´t interested in any more fucking black beans and I really couldn´t think about Guatemala for at least a few hours...culture shock maybe??
Today...much much better than yesterday. Last night, went to Tecun again with some friends from the B&B and had a few beers, some more beans (seriously...i could never say no to these things) and chatted about all things amazing in Central America and our lives back home. I´ve met some incredibly amazing and interesting people in the city and at the school, and have begun to think twice about my next steps. Originally, I had definitely planned to stay here for the 6 weeks and study and become acquainted with the language. After 4 days, I find myself, for the first time, feeling good about communicating and having conversations in Spanish. It´s in the present tense for 90% of it albeit, but we´re making our way!
As such, after 3 weeks, a tentative plan is to rent an apartment for approx. $13 per week here in Xela and use that as my base from which to travel from. I want to cut down some of my costs while I´m here and find it´s very expensive to stay with the school. Therefore, I also want to take a trip being offered here in Guatemala that would take 6 days and hike through las montanas and the volcanoes. We would end up in a small town somewhere (more information to come). As of right now, 6 of us are planning a week in Honduras and should be leaving about 3 weeks from now. The plan is to stay in the coastal town and take a ferry out to the island of Utila. There, we´ll rent a small place with a kitchen and make our food and bum on the beach. Not sure what or where I´m going after that! I know I have a return flight for July 23rd to make!
I have also discovered the most amazing woman across the street from the school. She sells chocolate covered EVERYTHING out of her home and it´s AMAZING for Q.2 (about 30 cents). I´m in love with her and her fruit. LOL. I had chocolate covered coconut...like a chunk of fresh coconut covered in chocolate...on a stick. Why are there none of these in AZ???
Um...today...for lunch I had a fish. I would like to say that I had like a piece of fish or a fish fillet, however, no. I had a FISH. I guess that´s how they do it here?! It was coated in something yummy and fried whole, at which point I had to peel away at it and eat. Good...but filling and kind of weird. Thinking I¨m going to stick with the black beans. Christina our cook said she would teach me how she makes them ..so so good. I mention the food a lot here only because literally everyday is something new and different and worth mentioning.
My teacher did not show today for classes. I´ve been informed that that´s really rare, however, they found me a new one. Where Jose went, I have no idea. As I said before, he´s a manager of a nightclub down the street. He told me last week he ended up in jail because he was out way past curfew here (no later than 1a.m. in the bars) and was sent. Maybe a repeat?? Ah well, truth be told, I loved my new teacher way way more today. In the span of 1 hour, I learned more and felt extremely comfortable. She was great! I requested to have her next week as well. We also had a guest speaker from the mountain regions who fled Guatemala 20 something years ago to escape the war, kidnapping and torture. She told her story of her return back to Guatemala. AMAZING. And it was translated...much easier to enjoy, lol.
Now, I´m off to watch a movie about I don´t what, but I´ve heard its good and it´s raining so I need to pass the time until cena! (dinner).
ciao for now...
Today...much much better than yesterday. Last night, went to Tecun again with some friends from the B&B and had a few beers, some more beans (seriously...i could never say no to these things) and chatted about all things amazing in Central America and our lives back home. I´ve met some incredibly amazing and interesting people in the city and at the school, and have begun to think twice about my next steps. Originally, I had definitely planned to stay here for the 6 weeks and study and become acquainted with the language. After 4 days, I find myself, for the first time, feeling good about communicating and having conversations in Spanish. It´s in the present tense for 90% of it albeit, but we´re making our way!
As such, after 3 weeks, a tentative plan is to rent an apartment for approx. $13 per week here in Xela and use that as my base from which to travel from. I want to cut down some of my costs while I´m here and find it´s very expensive to stay with the school. Therefore, I also want to take a trip being offered here in Guatemala that would take 6 days and hike through las montanas and the volcanoes. We would end up in a small town somewhere (more information to come). As of right now, 6 of us are planning a week in Honduras and should be leaving about 3 weeks from now. The plan is to stay in the coastal town and take a ferry out to the island of Utila. There, we´ll rent a small place with a kitchen and make our food and bum on the beach. Not sure what or where I´m going after that! I know I have a return flight for July 23rd to make!
I have also discovered the most amazing woman across the street from the school. She sells chocolate covered EVERYTHING out of her home and it´s AMAZING for Q.2 (about 30 cents). I´m in love with her and her fruit. LOL. I had chocolate covered coconut...like a chunk of fresh coconut covered in chocolate...on a stick. Why are there none of these in AZ???
Um...today...for lunch I had a fish. I would like to say that I had like a piece of fish or a fish fillet, however, no. I had a FISH. I guess that´s how they do it here?! It was coated in something yummy and fried whole, at which point I had to peel away at it and eat. Good...but filling and kind of weird. Thinking I¨m going to stick with the black beans. Christina our cook said she would teach me how she makes them ..so so good. I mention the food a lot here only because literally everyday is something new and different and worth mentioning.
My teacher did not show today for classes. I´ve been informed that that´s really rare, however, they found me a new one. Where Jose went, I have no idea. As I said before, he´s a manager of a nightclub down the street. He told me last week he ended up in jail because he was out way past curfew here (no later than 1a.m. in the bars) and was sent. Maybe a repeat?? Ah well, truth be told, I loved my new teacher way way more today. In the span of 1 hour, I learned more and felt extremely comfortable. She was great! I requested to have her next week as well. We also had a guest speaker from the mountain regions who fled Guatemala 20 something years ago to escape the war, kidnapping and torture. She told her story of her return back to Guatemala. AMAZING. And it was translated...much easier to enjoy, lol.
Now, I´m off to watch a movie about I don´t what, but I´ve heard its good and it´s raining so I need to pass the time until cena! (dinner).
ciao for now...
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Update
Not much to post today...
Had a rough night sleeping...received an email from Rio Salado informing me they were speeding up my payment system for a few classes by almost twice as much as I had orginally agreed on. Extremely frustrating, especially when I´ve budgeted carefully for this trip!
Today, I paid the $$ for the trip to Atitlan Lake. Not sure at this point if I´m going bungee jumping or not due to cost. I want to do as much as I can here in Xela and don´t want to blow 6 weeks worth of funds on one trip! I´m excited to consider volunteering here very shortly for an organization in Xela to meet new people and pass the time.
Yesterday Corinne and I walked about 7 blocks to the Mercado Democracia. It´s a HUGE outdoor mercado that sells essentially everything you could ever need (and find in the U.S.) just much cheaper. We chatted, ate pan from Xelapan and had overall a really great afternoon. Woke up this morning very very sore from climbing the hills! Got to talk with my family for 20 minutes or so...loved hearing from them in the States. Also called up T and spoke with him for 15 or so! So great! Last night, after dinner, met up with Corinne and we headed out to a bar (Tecun) for a drink and to watch the futbol game. AMAZING! I will post (seriously, I promise) soon the video I took of the people in the bar reacting to Guatemala scoring a goal against Trinidad and Tobago (sp?). They went NUTS..some even throwing bottles and food at the T.V. LOL. Walked home...and spent most of the night restless. Admittedly a little cranky for my lessons this morning. Poor Jose...I had to tell him that I was funky (at which point he began to sing funky town...a quality moment indeed) and wanted more verb practice, which I got!
Today, the school is offering a class for all students on ¨common phrases¨ spoken in Spanish in Guatemala. Hopefully a good review for me...I find that commonly the family I´m staying with has many phrases that I cannot understand...hoping this class sheds some light on what the heck they´re saying, lol.
ciao for now!
Had a rough night sleeping...received an email from Rio Salado informing me they were speeding up my payment system for a few classes by almost twice as much as I had orginally agreed on. Extremely frustrating, especially when I´ve budgeted carefully for this trip!
Today, I paid the $$ for the trip to Atitlan Lake. Not sure at this point if I´m going bungee jumping or not due to cost. I want to do as much as I can here in Xela and don´t want to blow 6 weeks worth of funds on one trip! I´m excited to consider volunteering here very shortly for an organization in Xela to meet new people and pass the time.
Yesterday Corinne and I walked about 7 blocks to the Mercado Democracia. It´s a HUGE outdoor mercado that sells essentially everything you could ever need (and find in the U.S.) just much cheaper. We chatted, ate pan from Xelapan and had overall a really great afternoon. Woke up this morning very very sore from climbing the hills! Got to talk with my family for 20 minutes or so...loved hearing from them in the States. Also called up T and spoke with him for 15 or so! So great! Last night, after dinner, met up with Corinne and we headed out to a bar (Tecun) for a drink and to watch the futbol game. AMAZING! I will post (seriously, I promise) soon the video I took of the people in the bar reacting to Guatemala scoring a goal against Trinidad and Tobago (sp?). They went NUTS..some even throwing bottles and food at the T.V. LOL. Walked home...and spent most of the night restless. Admittedly a little cranky for my lessons this morning. Poor Jose...I had to tell him that I was funky (at which point he began to sing funky town...a quality moment indeed) and wanted more verb practice, which I got!
Today, the school is offering a class for all students on ¨common phrases¨ spoken in Spanish in Guatemala. Hopefully a good review for me...I find that commonly the family I´m staying with has many phrases that I cannot understand...hoping this class sheds some light on what the heck they´re saying, lol.
ciao for now!
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
shout out to you, and you and you and you and you.....
Ahem,
After reading the copious amounts of love from friends and family, it brings me to be a bit homesick, missing my Friday dinners, sushi with C, chats and general agreements (and the occaisional disagreements) with T, Sunday dinners with mi familia and pretty much any conversation in English.
It´s weird...I´m literally, hands-down absolutely in love with my life in Guatemala (it´s been 3 days I know), but sometimes during my studies con mi maestra, I want to stop the Spanish and speak English and express every thought I´ve wanted to say since I got here (feelings, likes, dislikes, etc.). Most of you know that talking is something I do pretty much most of the time and here it´s not only extremely difficult for me to do in Spanish, but no one can understand English and it´s necessary. Definitely part of the immersion process and I´m thankful to almost be forced into it. So...again..thanks to everyone who has been reading of my adventures and sending me your thoughts. I think about you all daily!
So...when I last left of yesterday...I had mentioned that the school provides activities every day to different parts of the country, the city and Guatemalan life in general. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take a hike (about an hour and a half long...and straight up-ish!?) up to Eco saunas Las Cumbres. These are natural saunas in the mountain in which you pay to spend up to an hour in. Once at the top, we were greeted by some women (whom we paid..costs about $2.50), who directed us to the changing room. There we put on our suits and went literally into a very black hole. It´s difficult to explain other than, the volcano heats the water in this mountain and where there are natural creveces forms a natural steam room. I took many pictures and will try to post as soon as I can. The room is very small and a tight fit for more than 3 people (although we fit like 5). I wore no shoes so I can tell you it was very slimy and I couldn´t seen pretty much anything. From my perspective: put on bathing suit in the dark, enter door #1 where there is a shower head and enter curtain #2: a dark hole that is dark and steamy. The walls are made of the mountain rock and there are a few seats to sit on. The whole room was probably 4 square feet. Aye.
The hike down was even more amazing, but at this point, I found this nasty cough I´ve had for 8 days to be getting worse. The moisture here in Xela is nothing like I´ve ever experienced, not even comparable to the midwest. Corinne and I and the group of friends we´ve made had a really great time on the trip. I must mention further some of these friends: Ned is from Minnesota orginally and has no Spanish experience...he is learning quickly and plans to spend at least 2 weeks here. After that...he has no plans. Rachel and Sarah came together from D.C. and are both here for a month. They are AWESOME! Sarah studied in Spain for 6 months and knows Spanish well...Rachel studied in New Zealand and is fluent in German and Russian, so she´s learning Spanish now. Corinne, of course is the friend from Chicago who I went to ASU with and is here with me! Brian and Bridget are brother and sister from CA, who are here for 2 weeks to study Spanish and hang out. Both are really active and have interesting lives in the states. Bridget is in medical school at UCLA and Brian is in the Navy in San Diego. They were all at the Bed & Breakfast with Corinne and I in Guatemala City for the first night in Guatemala. We met, made friends and have been doing the activities together.
As for activities this weekend, I have planned to take a trip to Panahatchel (an amazing lake and beautiful sights about 2 hours from Xela). Tentatively, the only plans I have at the lake is to bungee jump with Rachel. I remember seeing my brother´s pictures from Switzerland and how amazing the experience was and I´m actually really psyched to try it. I´ll give the full report upon my return on Sunday. Danny: post some helpful comments when you get the chance!
It´s raining like mad right now and I´m using the time to surf the net and soon I will begin writing my essay, due to my maestro tomorrow. Goal: use 35 verbs and describe a typical week in AZ. Aye.
more to come!
After reading the copious amounts of love from friends and family, it brings me to be a bit homesick, missing my Friday dinners, sushi with C, chats and general agreements (and the occaisional disagreements) with T, Sunday dinners with mi familia and pretty much any conversation in English.
It´s weird...I´m literally, hands-down absolutely in love with my life in Guatemala (it´s been 3 days I know), but sometimes during my studies con mi maestra, I want to stop the Spanish and speak English and express every thought I´ve wanted to say since I got here (feelings, likes, dislikes, etc.). Most of you know that talking is something I do pretty much most of the time and here it´s not only extremely difficult for me to do in Spanish, but no one can understand English and it´s necessary. Definitely part of the immersion process and I´m thankful to almost be forced into it. So...again..thanks to everyone who has been reading of my adventures and sending me your thoughts. I think about you all daily!
So...when I last left of yesterday...I had mentioned that the school provides activities every day to different parts of the country, the city and Guatemalan life in general. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take a hike (about an hour and a half long...and straight up-ish!?) up to Eco saunas Las Cumbres. These are natural saunas in the mountain in which you pay to spend up to an hour in. Once at the top, we were greeted by some women (whom we paid..costs about $2.50), who directed us to the changing room. There we put on our suits and went literally into a very black hole. It´s difficult to explain other than, the volcano heats the water in this mountain and where there are natural creveces forms a natural steam room. I took many pictures and will try to post as soon as I can. The room is very small and a tight fit for more than 3 people (although we fit like 5). I wore no shoes so I can tell you it was very slimy and I couldn´t seen pretty much anything. From my perspective: put on bathing suit in the dark, enter door #1 where there is a shower head and enter curtain #2: a dark hole that is dark and steamy. The walls are made of the mountain rock and there are a few seats to sit on. The whole room was probably 4 square feet. Aye.
The hike down was even more amazing, but at this point, I found this nasty cough I´ve had for 8 days to be getting worse. The moisture here in Xela is nothing like I´ve ever experienced, not even comparable to the midwest. Corinne and I and the group of friends we´ve made had a really great time on the trip. I must mention further some of these friends: Ned is from Minnesota orginally and has no Spanish experience...he is learning quickly and plans to spend at least 2 weeks here. After that...he has no plans. Rachel and Sarah came together from D.C. and are both here for a month. They are AWESOME! Sarah studied in Spain for 6 months and knows Spanish well...Rachel studied in New Zealand and is fluent in German and Russian, so she´s learning Spanish now. Corinne, of course is the friend from Chicago who I went to ASU with and is here with me! Brian and Bridget are brother and sister from CA, who are here for 2 weeks to study Spanish and hang out. Both are really active and have interesting lives in the states. Bridget is in medical school at UCLA and Brian is in the Navy in San Diego. They were all at the Bed & Breakfast with Corinne and I in Guatemala City for the first night in Guatemala. We met, made friends and have been doing the activities together.
As for activities this weekend, I have planned to take a trip to Panahatchel (an amazing lake and beautiful sights about 2 hours from Xela). Tentatively, the only plans I have at the lake is to bungee jump with Rachel. I remember seeing my brother´s pictures from Switzerland and how amazing the experience was and I´m actually really psyched to try it. I´ll give the full report upon my return on Sunday. Danny: post some helpful comments when you get the chance!
It´s raining like mad right now and I´m using the time to surf the net and soon I will begin writing my essay, due to my maestro tomorrow. Goal: use 35 verbs and describe a typical week in AZ. Aye.
more to come!
Monday, June 11, 2007
el primer dia
!!!
Today was the first day of classes, yesterday being the first day of my arrival to Quetzaltenango (commonly called Xela). We arrived via first-class bus, which took approx. 4 hours. The school is absolutely beautiful! All of our lessons are in an amazing courtyard with open air seating and conversation. Much nicer than any classroom or learning environment I´ve ever encountered.
To call my first day bizarre I think would be an understatment and therefore want to give literally the play-by-play:
1st: arrive in Xela...drop off bags to wait until the office is open and explore the city a bit. It has cobblestone streets and narrow pathways. Drivers are crazy and the people are extremely friendly and kind.
2nd: office opens..wait an hour for my family to pick me up from Celas Maya. Astrid, my "sister" is 14 and accompanied by her brother, Jesus, 15, and their cousin, Jesus, who is 4. All three are extremely pleasant and nice and help me with my things to their home
3rd: I find that I live with Astrid, Jesus [brother and sister], their mother Beatrice, her brother [Astrid and Jesus' uncle] Israel, his wife Flora de Maria and their kids Jesus #2 and Ruby [who is 4 months and so freakin' cute]. Israel is the bread-winner as a lawyer...i essentially live in a very large Guatemalan home with 2 other students from Celas Maya [Heather from Texas and Akuro from Japan]. I have little interaction, it seems, with everyone except for meal times in which all gather to eat.
4th: I was picked up at a time when the family was headed to a fiesta for some members of their church. We came into a ceremony in which several men and women were seated around an altar of literally statues of baby Jesus, of the Archangel Michael and crucifixes galore. It was explained to me that the past President of the committee of the church was exiting and the new one was incoming. The ceremony took literally 3 hours to complete. First, there was a small mass, then an introduction of the new committee members [mind you..there was intense incense and prayer and ritual occurring]. The new President was given a sash in which it prominently displayed the "King," which is literally a doll that sits in a glass case in the President's home.
After the incense and prayer, the old President then gives the new President stuff...literally things to put into his house. For example, the President was given clothes in which to dress the "King" with [a petite dress make of tool]. I kid you not, for 3 hours I watched these men exchange these things. There were final prayers and incense and then we ate. First, chili relleno con pollo...I removed the pollo. Next was mini hotdogs [seriously] in which I gave my carne to Jesus #1. We then left [or so I thought] for mi familia's casa. No, no...next we arrived at the new President's house. There, we were served a delicious meal that I absolutely loved. However, during the dinner, they would repeatedly pass around drinks for the guests, liquor included. It was a homemade, clear and smelled faintly of rubbing alcohol. I declined the first pass, but Israel, the second time, called over nuevo Presidente and stated [in Spanish] that the President would be very sad if Arizona did not represent at his party!! Therefore, el Presidente and I took shots, however, you cannot just shoot alcohol in Guatemala, no you say "con permiso" to every elder in the room first. Aye. So...I became tipsy my first night here...and classes started at 8!
Today:
Met my instructor, Jose, who is a maestro by day and a bartender by night! He's been giving me the in's and out's of Xela nightlife and turns out he does some design on the side...therefore, our conversations have been extremely ecclectic. He did a lot of verb review with me and I find that being immersed and talking to someone for 5 hours..it's possible to be able to communicate well by the end of the week...in the present tense anyway.
I've met great great individuals here at Celas Maya and in my own living situation. I really enjoy walking and exploring the city! Every day they have fantastic outings and field trips planned for the students [today is to a natural sauna and a hike]..tomorrow I'm off to the hotsprings and this weekend we might take a trip to Antigua. I'm loving the living situation, the area, my studies and being here in Guatemala. I have to admit that last night I did have twinges of homesickness. It's very quiet here in Xela in the evening and it can be lonesome when you're used to the city sounds. But! I'm hoping to move my way around the city and meet more new people.
more to come...
Today was the first day of classes, yesterday being the first day of my arrival to Quetzaltenango (commonly called Xela). We arrived via first-class bus, which took approx. 4 hours. The school is absolutely beautiful! All of our lessons are in an amazing courtyard with open air seating and conversation. Much nicer than any classroom or learning environment I´ve ever encountered.
To call my first day bizarre I think would be an understatment and therefore want to give literally the play-by-play:
1st: arrive in Xela...drop off bags to wait until the office is open and explore the city a bit. It has cobblestone streets and narrow pathways. Drivers are crazy and the people are extremely friendly and kind.
2nd: office opens..wait an hour for my family to pick me up from Celas Maya. Astrid, my "sister" is 14 and accompanied by her brother, Jesus, 15, and their cousin, Jesus, who is 4. All three are extremely pleasant and nice and help me with my things to their home
3rd: I find that I live with Astrid, Jesus [brother and sister], their mother Beatrice, her brother [Astrid and Jesus' uncle] Israel, his wife Flora de Maria and their kids Jesus #2 and Ruby [who is 4 months and so freakin' cute]. Israel is the bread-winner as a lawyer...i essentially live in a very large Guatemalan home with 2 other students from Celas Maya [Heather from Texas and Akuro from Japan]. I have little interaction, it seems, with everyone except for meal times in which all gather to eat.
4th: I was picked up at a time when the family was headed to a fiesta for some members of their church. We came into a ceremony in which several men and women were seated around an altar of literally statues of baby Jesus, of the Archangel Michael and crucifixes galore. It was explained to me that the past President of the committee of the church was exiting and the new one was incoming. The ceremony took literally 3 hours to complete. First, there was a small mass, then an introduction of the new committee members [mind you..there was intense incense and prayer and ritual occurring]. The new President was given a sash in which it prominently displayed the "King," which is literally a doll that sits in a glass case in the President's home.
After the incense and prayer, the old President then gives the new President stuff...literally things to put into his house. For example, the President was given clothes in which to dress the "King" with [a petite dress make of tool]. I kid you not, for 3 hours I watched these men exchange these things. There were final prayers and incense and then we ate. First, chili relleno con pollo...I removed the pollo. Next was mini hotdogs [seriously] in which I gave my carne to Jesus #1. We then left [or so I thought] for mi familia's casa. No, no...next we arrived at the new President's house. There, we were served a delicious meal that I absolutely loved. However, during the dinner, they would repeatedly pass around drinks for the guests, liquor included. It was a homemade, clear and smelled faintly of rubbing alcohol. I declined the first pass, but Israel, the second time, called over nuevo Presidente and stated [in Spanish] that the President would be very sad if Arizona did not represent at his party!! Therefore, el Presidente and I took shots, however, you cannot just shoot alcohol in Guatemala, no you say "con permiso" to every elder in the room first. Aye. So...I became tipsy my first night here...and classes started at 8!
Today:
Met my instructor, Jose, who is a maestro by day and a bartender by night! He's been giving me the in's and out's of Xela nightlife and turns out he does some design on the side...therefore, our conversations have been extremely ecclectic. He did a lot of verb review with me and I find that being immersed and talking to someone for 5 hours..it's possible to be able to communicate well by the end of the week...in the present tense anyway.
I've met great great individuals here at Celas Maya and in my own living situation. I really enjoy walking and exploring the city! Every day they have fantastic outings and field trips planned for the students [today is to a natural sauna and a hike]..tomorrow I'm off to the hotsprings and this weekend we might take a trip to Antigua. I'm loving the living situation, the area, my studies and being here in Guatemala. I have to admit that last night I did have twinges of homesickness. It's very quiet here in Xela in the evening and it can be lonesome when you're used to the city sounds. But! I'm hoping to move my way around the city and meet more new people.
more to come...
Saturday, June 9, 2007
arrival!
Today I made it Guatemala both timely and safely.
Coming I had no expectations of vegetation, people, food or life! So far, each moment has been exploring my surroundings, brushing up on my terible espanol and spending time with my dear friend Corinne!
Had a lay-over in Houston and only flew 2 hours to Guatemala City...I met an interesting Jersey girl who was stuck with her relatives for 2 weeks ¨preaching the Word¨in a quaint villiage north of here. She was torn between wanting to travel to Guatemala to see the sights and having to spend time studying the Bible, literature in which she ¨knew nothing, nor cared about.¨Ah well...she shared her brownie with me, increasing her coolness status two-fold.
Corinne and David, and employee for Habitat for Humanity in the national office here in Guatemala, met me at the airport today only 2 minutes after my things arrived...perfect timing!! We caught a ride back to the Bed & Breakfast where I´ll be staying tonight. Bussing myself to Xela tomorrow morning--early to meet the host family and get settled. School begins on Monday.
As I said, Corinne and I have been exploring and working on our Spanish skills...over cervesas and papusos (tortillas con queso y chili). The weather is humid and cool, breezy and everything is GREEN. I absolutely love it so far :)
New favorite food (only food at this point): papusos
Beer: Gallo!
more to come...
Coming I had no expectations of vegetation, people, food or life! So far, each moment has been exploring my surroundings, brushing up on my terible espanol and spending time with my dear friend Corinne!
Had a lay-over in Houston and only flew 2 hours to Guatemala City...I met an interesting Jersey girl who was stuck with her relatives for 2 weeks ¨preaching the Word¨in a quaint villiage north of here. She was torn between wanting to travel to Guatemala to see the sights and having to spend time studying the Bible, literature in which she ¨knew nothing, nor cared about.¨Ah well...she shared her brownie with me, increasing her coolness status two-fold.
Corinne and David, and employee for Habitat for Humanity in the national office here in Guatemala, met me at the airport today only 2 minutes after my things arrived...perfect timing!! We caught a ride back to the Bed & Breakfast where I´ll be staying tonight. Bussing myself to Xela tomorrow morning--early to meet the host family and get settled. School begins on Monday.
As I said, Corinne and I have been exploring and working on our Spanish skills...over cervesas and papusos (tortillas con queso y chili). The weather is humid and cool, breezy and everything is GREEN. I absolutely love it so far :)
New favorite food (only food at this point): papusos
Beer: Gallo!
more to come...
Monday, June 4, 2007
taking a break
I have been working 'round the clock on Rio Salado work without much time to pause and consider what I need to do to prepare for my trip, which I depart for in less than 5 days.
After speaking with some of the friends that are to join me in Guatemala, I was (and still am) that I may be making part of the journey to Central America by myself. Without going in to too much detail, I am confident, that all issues and worries will be resolved by this Friday. Knowing all along that I would be working and immersing myself in the culture, I hadn't given much thought to the idea of going without companions. The idea of having someone along with me eased me into not knowing a soul in a country, which primarily speaks a language I do not. I, however, have received some incredible advice recently from loved ones, friends and colleagues on embracing the idea of complete immersion. I have been in contact with the school for several weeks now, arranging my pick-up from the airport and my sleeping arrangements while I'm studying. They are all incredibly wonderful and supportive and have provided me with amazing adivce and primitive language skills so I can get around pending my first arrival. While I don't anticipate heading to Guatemala by myself, I am slowly coming around to the idea and trying to embrace what that would mean for me. People do it all the time! From other countries, cities, nations, cultures, etc.
I am increasingly anticipating my trip, which is SATURDAY!!!
On another note, thanks to all of you who made my birthday WEEKEND an amazing one. I am so so blessed to have the family and friends that I do and I look forward to sharing with you my experiences.
P.S. who wants to come visit??
After speaking with some of the friends that are to join me in Guatemala, I was (and still am) that I may be making part of the journey to Central America by myself. Without going in to too much detail, I am confident, that all issues and worries will be resolved by this Friday. Knowing all along that I would be working and immersing myself in the culture, I hadn't given much thought to the idea of going without companions. The idea of having someone along with me eased me into not knowing a soul in a country, which primarily speaks a language I do not. I, however, have received some incredible advice recently from loved ones, friends and colleagues on embracing the idea of complete immersion. I have been in contact with the school for several weeks now, arranging my pick-up from the airport and my sleeping arrangements while I'm studying. They are all incredibly wonderful and supportive and have provided me with amazing adivce and primitive language skills so I can get around pending my first arrival. While I don't anticipate heading to Guatemala by myself, I am slowly coming around to the idea and trying to embrace what that would mean for me. People do it all the time! From other countries, cities, nations, cultures, etc.
I am increasingly anticipating my trip, which is SATURDAY!!!
On another note, thanks to all of you who made my birthday WEEKEND an amazing one. I am so so blessed to have the family and friends that I do and I look forward to sharing with you my experiences.
P.S. who wants to come visit??
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