Canicula

I can’t believe it’s Thursday…I have only today, and one more full day, then I leave this awesome journey behind me, and ponder what I have  learned, what it all means to me, and what my next moves will be, in my journey of life.  I feel incredibly blessed to have been able to come here, study spanish, get to know Antigua and it’s people.  I also feel blessed to have had the family support I had on this adventure.  I look forward to seeing them soon!  I am being picked up at my house at 4:15am Saturday morning.  My plane leaves the ground at 7:15am.  Everyone, send me positive energy at that time!  It helps!  I can feel it!

Yesterday ended a phenomenon here called “Canicula”.  It’s an approximate 2 week period that occurs sometimes, in Guatemalas winter, or wet season, where it doesn’ t rain.  Not one drop.  There was 15 days with no rain, and yesterday, the 16th day, it poured all afternoon.  People were very happy!  15 days with no rain is alot here!  I enjoyed the sunny days, as did most others, but they were happy to have the rain back.  In their summer, it hardly rains at all!

I am a huge fan of Skype now, and recommend it to anyone who’s traveling!  It made it tolerable to be away from my family for this long.  We could talk face to face, on the computer, for free!  I could see them, and it made me feel better. I could see my husband, my children, and even my cat!  It was great.   And vice versa!  A month is a long time to be apart.  Skype was a huge asset to us.  So if your traveling, especially alone, I recommend skype!!  Even if you don’t have your own laptop, or computer access in your hotel or whatever,  there are numerous internet cafe’s, and all equipped with skpye!  I enjoyed having internet access in my room, cuz I could also Facebook, check emails, and blog!  Such a crazy time we live in, where this stuff is all possible.  I remember going away as a kid, and sending a postcard, that always arrived AFTER I got back!  LOL times have changed…

I’ve been studying a bit of Guatemalas history and geography.  It’s quite interesting!  I’m so sad to leave here  and yet so ready to go home, and share all of this!  Work is waiting, my family is waiting, I start school again in September…and who knows from there??  I don’t even know anymore.  I just know I can’t settle anymore, for the same old, same old.  I can’t settle for wondering whats out there, I have to know!  I have to see!  I have to participate!   Life is changing drastically, and I’m going along for the ride! Hell, it’s more then that….I’m in the drivers seat!   I won’t fear change or challenges anymore, I’ll embrace it.  The challenges I’ve faced on this journey have forever changed me.  And I don’t regret one single moment!  I can’t thank everyone enough, everyone who had any part in helping me get here.  GCC, my friends, family, and the school and family here that welcomed me!   I am forever grateful.

 

The countdown begins…again!

As I’m spending my last Tuesday morning in my beautiful home in Antigua, I’m reflecting….I’m recalling some of the most memorable moments here, for me.   It’s a beautiful morning here today, sun is shining bright, there’s a slight breeze, just enough to wave the plants and flowers in the garden, just a touch.  I’m thinking about how lucky I have been to take this journey, and how much I can’t wait to start planning my next one!  Although I know it won’t be for awhile, I know it will be.  I have the bug.  I can’t stop now!  There is way to much to see, to experience, to share. 

I think my memorable moments start when I walked out of the airport in Guatemala City, overwhelmed by all the people, the noise, the feeling of being alone in the world.  I looked out at the crowd of people outside, and saw a man holding up an orange sign, way up over his head, that read “DORI NADOLNY”.  I smiled and thought, ok!  Here we go!

Then there was the ever graceful wipe out in the street in front of the very full chicken bus.  I was up as fast as I went down!  My face was red, and my knees were throbbing.  I had to gather my bag, that had strewn about.  The cobblestone street is not fun to fall on!  My knees were bruised all week!  And no one laughed…If I’d seen that?  I would have laughed!  I can’t help it, people falling just LOOKS funny!  But, no one did, and I was up and moving again within seconds.

There was that moment, in Semuc Champay, about 3 hours into the hike, that I honesty thought I was going to just colapse, and die in the deep jungle, to never be seen again!  And then the pools and waterfalls came into view, and I lost my breath, it was so magnificent.  The 2 hour frolic in the pools erased the heat, the aches, and the fear of that incredible hike.  It was fabulous!!  Of course, another VERY memorable moment was that last leg of the trip to get to Semuc Champay, where we were all put in the back of a pick up.  OMG I still think of that, and just laugh!!  I can’t believe that I did that!  Amazing experiences…all of them.

Another moment for me was the little girl in Antigua, selling neclaces she made, with her mother who was selling textiles.  The little girls face when I gave her the bubbles I’d brought with me was priceless.  She was blowing bubbles, and then laughing, and chasing them.  It was an awesome moment for me.  She was such a beautiful child!  I also bought 4 of her necklaces. lol

My 1st meal out on my own.  Trying to communicate, and order, was a challenge, but I was able to make myself understood.  I sat alone, and ate this food, that I had no idea what it was.  But it was delicious!  I was scared, to be alone, the 1st time, but it was awesome.  And the food and people were great!

Then there was that moment in Panajachel, when I was just left at the bus station alone.  That was so scary.  That was the 1st real time I had to fight panic here.  And I survived it, and was able to ask for help.  They were so helpful, and got me to my boat tour, with time to spare. 

And my 1st Gallo was deffinately a moment!  Helen, a lady I met on the boat tour, and I had one when visiting Santiago.  It was ice cold, and delicious! 

Meal times with my host family are wonderful moments.  Nicholas, the 1 yr old boy, is so cute!  We all eat together, and my house mama is a fabulous cook!   I have a little notebook and at meals, I write down recipes of what we’re eating, and she sometimes tells me others, so I have them.  She is so excited that I want her recipes!

The markets are amazing.  The work these people put into their good amazes me.  They work so hard, and do such beautiful work.  I love how much color they use here!  It’s all so beautiful.

My 1st day here, Sunday, I had an appt. with the director of my school to set a schedule and give me my map of the city, etc.  I arrived at 7:30 in the morning, because I had my time difference all mixed up.  I woke them up.  I was so embarrassed.  But, it ended up being one of my memorable moments!  I returned, at the correct time of 11a, and had a successful meeting.  And, they didn’t hate me for waking them up on a Sunday morning!  haha

The morning I stepped off a curb and had eye contact, briefly, with a lady on a motorcycle that was an inch from running me down in the street.  Here, people know to stop because those on the road don’t stop for you.  I learned that too, as she whizzed by, blowing my hair back from my face.  I never again stepped off the curb without making sure the way was clear!

My time at My Guardian Angel, meeting and hanging with the kids.  It’s a very special place, staffed by very special people.  The kids were so accepting of the new faces all the time, and so sweet.

My 1st sight of the black sand beach and the Pacific Ocean was a deffinate moment.  My 1st site of a volcano, a huge moment.  My 1st sight of the patchwork quilt like mountainsides, another true moment.  The day the ocean claimed a life in Monterrico, a sad, sad moment. 

This has been an amazing journey, and there are many many more moments, but these ones stood out above the rest.  Reflecting on it all is great, to look back, at all thats happened here.  The smells in the street, from the little spots cooking food to the streets food vendors.  The street vendors selling their textiles and jewelry.  The cobblestone streets and the pastel walls lining them.  It was all so much to see and take in!  I’m so grateful I had 4 weeks here. 

Countdown begins again…I have 3 days left, and leave this fabulous city at 4am on the 4th day, headed home!  I’m ready.

 

 

Monterrico

This weekend I went to Monterrico, the beach on the pacific coast.  It was a crazy weekend, with so much experiences!  First of all, I have never experienced heat like that!  It was suffocating.  It was well over 100 degrees, and felt like when you open the oven door to peer in at your turkey and the heat melts your face for a second?  It felt like that…only all over…all the time!   But, there was a nice breeze on the beach, and the hotel bar was happy and willing to serve you a nice cold drink, in a frosty cold mug!  Alchohol or not.  I had both, durring my weekend!  The gallo is just perfect!

The ocean here was violent, but breathtakingly beautiful.  The surf was so loud, it sounded like cannons going off.  It boomed, and crashed, so hard and so loud.  I was amazed.  I’m not new to the beach, but I’d not experienced it quite like this.  I waded on Saturday.  I’d never been in the Pacific Ocean!  The water was so warm, like a bath.  The black sand was so hot, it was almost unbearable, and I had crocs on!  There are little foot baths when you reached the hotel.  I assume to wash the sand off your feet, but for me, they were the main goal coming off the beach, as my feet were burning!  It was so different, so beautiful there.  This driftwood in the pic was my reading spot, and when I left there, I had black sand all over me!  The waves are so hard, they just throw the sand at ya.   You could see and feel the mist, it was great.  A quick shower was in order afterwards,  and the water here is cold…or colder.  LOL you don’t need it any other way, trust me! 

Mid afternoon it was so oppressively hot that people just stopped moving.  Every yard I walked past, there were people hanging in hamocks.  No one was moving.  Me?  I went in the pool, for about 4 hours durring the hottest time.  There was just no where else I’d rather be!  There was, what appeared to be a hot tub off the pool, but actually, it was like, an ice tub!  haha  I guess they know here that an ice tub, is just what is needed!  The water in the pool was nice and cool, refreshing.  But the water in the “ice tub” was WAY colder!  It was so funny.  So, when melting starts happening, a dip in the “ice tub” will save the day.  Funny cuz I was in the pool, and there were like 6 people in what I thought was a hot tub.  I could not wrap my mind around how they could tolerate that!  Little did I know!!

On Sunday morning, the rooster, and the surf, woke me up around 4:30.  I thought we were having a massive thunder storm or something!  When I realized it was the surf, I tried to lay back down, but between that and the rooster, sleep was not happening for me.  I ended up going out to the pool, at like, 5:30.  It was so peaceful.  No one was around, and when in the pool, I can see the ocean.  It was perfect!  And the crashing, booming surf was awe inspiring.  It was so loud, and relentless, that I finally had to go over and say hello to the ocean.  The walk to the beach only takes a few minutes, but the walk to the water is a bit farther still.  The sand was tolerable at this hour, and the beach was empty.  I stood there, in awe of this amazing place, the black sand, the wild surf and the mist of the morning.   The ocean claimed a life that day.  The rip tides and surf were wicked.  A crowd gathered..people were crying..lifeguards were searching.  They didn’t find him.  It was horribly sad.  I walked away from that, feeling sad to the core.  The ocean is magnificent, but oh so powerful, and sometimes unforgiving. 

When I got back to the hotel, I ordered some fries and an ice cold gallo, and ran into the german couple I’d met on the Semuc Champay trip!  We sat and chatted, and drank a beer together.  Then, it was time for me to go, back to Antigua.  The bus arrived, and my driver, Julio, took my bag and ushered me away.  All in all, it was a fabulous trip, but as we drove away, I looked back at the ocean, and said a little prayer for the life that was lost, and his loved ones  left behind.

By the time we picked up everyone else, the smell of hot sweaty people in one place got a bit overwhelming.  It made me smile though, another bit of this amazing journey.  I unrolled my window all the way, and dozed off, with the breeze and sun in my face.   This was my last weekend, next weekend I’ll be home!  I’m sad to leave, but ready, too. 

The Market

The market is such an amazing thing!  I couldn’t get over it!  Everything you can imagine, was for sale there.   The fruits, and vegetables, were so lovely!  The textiles were beautiful.  The meat was…well,  I found the smell a bit much, but it was so interesting!  There were guys around, playing guitars and other instruments. The music outside was fun to listen to, and watch!  Everyone seemed in good spirits and excited to be there, either vending, or shopping!  Juan Luis and I went today for the 2nd part of our class time.  It’s so funny how he is.  We’re walking to the market, and he makes me walk on the inside of the sidewalk, while he was on the outside.  I laughed at him but he was so serious!  He would always stop and let me pass first, when we were weaving in and around in the market.   As I shopped, he would take and carry my bags.  If I was trying to talk or barter with a vender, he would whisper hints, lol, like they couldn’t see or hear him.  He’s such a great guy!  I’m going to miss him, when I go.   Then, after spending 1/2 our time at the market, we get back to school and he gives me 4 homework assignments for tomorrow!  Well I guess everything has it’s price.   It was fun though, and an experience I won’t soon forget! 

After school, I had lunch with my “family” then spent the afternoon at the pool at Hotel Antigua again.  Gosh, thats a refreshing thing to do!  I read about 5 more chapters of my book, soaked up some sun, and swam around.  I love that!  So relaxing, and enjoyable.  

 My host mama is the best cook ever!  It’s amazing what she can do!  I’m still in shock at all that i’m eating here.  I can’t imagine going back home and being picky, ever again!  I have no idea what I’m eating 1/2 the time, I just go for it, and wow!!  Good stuff!  

I also havn’t bitten my nails since I’ve been here!  Of course, I’m afraid to. LOL  I don’t want to introduce any bacteria to my mouth!  I’ve been pretty careful, but not neurotic. I’ve only drank bottled stuff…well except for my host mama’s fresh made fruit juice every morning.  I don’t buy stuff off street vendors…well, actually, yes I have.  And it’s always delicious!!    I brush my teeth with bottled water, and  I use Lemon and Thieves that I brought from home, around my room.  I’d say the only thing I do in excess is wash my hands, and use sanitizer when I’m out and about.  And I’ve been fine.

  I walk to school every day and I see alot of the same people.  The guy at the tienda, the guys at the farmacia, the lady at the panaderia, a lady that walks every morning with an older woman, etc.  Now, after 3 weeks of this, people always greet me now, on the street.  “Buenos dias Senora!”  It’s so neat!  I really am going to be sad to leave.  I’ve really had an absolutely amazing time.  And listen to me!  It’s not over yet!  I plan to enjoy it to the last drop!

I guess I better go get those homework assignments done!   Til next time, blog stalkers!  xoxo

Time is closing in….

It’s hard to believe my time here is nearing it’s end!  It’s been an amazing, fabulous journey! 

I just paid for my last weekends adventure, yesterday.  I’m going to Monterrico, on the Pacific coast.  I can’t wait!  I’m not even nervous anymore about venturing off on my own….well, maybe a little bit, but really, I’ve done so many crazy things here that I’m sure I can handle it!  I did pay the $10 extra for my own room though!  hahaha  I’ll be leaving here Sat. at 8am, and leaving Monterrico on Sunday at 1pm, headed back to Antigua.   My hotel, Cafe del Sol, boasts that every room comes equipped with a mosquito net….??!? I wonder if I should be worried about that. LOL  A mosquito net around my bed….oooook!  I’m thinking, I’m probably really going to appreciate that!   The hotel is right on the beach, and it has a swimming pool!  YAY!  It sounds like a fabulous time, just waiting for me to get there!!   I’ve never seen a black sand beach, nor have I ever been in the Pacific Ocean!  So, I’m pretty psyched!  Expect more pics!!  Ya know, for rainy season, it’s pretty awesome weather here!  Hopefully, the weekend at the beach will be great weather too!

I will deffinately come back here.  Guatemala is an amazing place!  It’s so magnificently beautiful, and reasonable! I want to bring Jim here.  I want to show him all I’ve seen.   Maybe next year, when I come back for 4 weeks again, Jim can come on the last week!!  haha   Or maybe I’ll do 2 weeks here, and 2 weeks elsewhere, like, Costa Rica, or Panama, or Mexico.  This has only opened the door for me!  There’s no stopping me now!  I have visions!  I have places to see!  Things to experience!  And I plan on seeing as much of this world as I can.  I have no fear now.  I know that it’s there, all I have to do is go!   And I will.  My passport will be FULL of stamps!!  I will be full of memories as I travel around and see what the rest of our world looks like.  The main thing to remember is, we’re all of the same world.  We are all equal.  I have much to see and learn, but I also have alot to give and teach.   We are all just people, speaking different languages but  feeling the same feelings.  We all feel fear, happiness, gratefulness, excitement, love, trust, sorrow and joy, to name a few.  We all laugh, and we all cry.  I feel so moved, so different, since I came here.    We waste so much time in life.  The people here?  They work so hard, and have so little.  And yet, they seem always happy.  They eat meals together.  They talk, and visit at meals with eachother.  At school, we all go home for lunch, and so do the teachers.  Everyone goes home.  Meals are taken together, period.  It is the way it is.   In the US, we’re so busy, we hardly ever take meals together.   I think we need to slow down…..feel life, enjoy life and  enjoy eachother.

Livin’ the dream…

I went to the Hotel Antigua today for a day by the pool.  I guess weekends are quite a fiesta over there!  I had a blast!  There was live music, food, happy friendly people and kids having a blast with a huge pinata!!  I had such an awesome relaxing day.  I sat by the pool, I read, I swam, I sucked up the sun, I listened to the music, I socialized…it was great!  I ordered a hot dog and fries from the waiter, and who could have thought what they could do with a hot dog??  I expected a dog in a bun, and instead got what appeard to be a sub…with fries.  Upon further inspection, they took 2 hotdogs, cut them in 1/2 lengthwise, grilled them all golden and put them on something like sub rolls, but yummier.  They dressed it with sweet pickled vegetables, like carrot slices, cabbage, and others.  There was green salsa, mustard, and some other dressing type mixed and put on it.  It was fabulous!!  I was amazed!  Who knew???  lol

The pool is lovely, it was such a perfect day for it.  I read like 6 chapters of my book, which was great.  I haven’t had time to read it at all since i’ve been here.  The music was fun, the kids were having fun.  The sound of their laughter and cheers as they made headway with the pinata was filling the place.   I love it here so much!  The air was breezy and warm.  The sounds of the street muffled by the sounds of the fiesta, and you feel so private, behind the tall walls of the hotel.  

 I spent the majority of the day there, from about 10a – 4p.  Then I came home, changed, and walked to town, to go to the store and get some drinks and snacks, for the evening.  The town has a different feel on the weekends.  Tons of people on the streets,  everyone seeming to be relaxed and happy.  A lady on the street gave me a coupon for a little place downtown called La Vieja Cocina.   It offered “Nachos and a bucket of beer for Q75″.  I have to wonder about a bucket of beer…lol, is that for several people?  Or is it just a REALLY large mug??  Maybe I’ll check that out!  They do have good beer here and it’s funny cause you can’t get a cold drink to save your soul, but their beer??  Like ice!  haha I guess we know what they think is more important! 

The little tuc tuc taxi’s offered me a ride home, but I chose to enjoy the walk.  I’ve never taken the taxi here in Antigua.  Only in places when I didn’t know where I was going. LOL  But I enjoy the walk, and the city.  It’s such a magical place.  The cobblestone streets are so romantic, and lovely.  The streets lined with pastel colored walls are stunning to look at .  And the tropical foliage….is a personal favorite.   There are flowers everywhere, and in most windows on the street.

  I’m walking home,  with my bags,  just smiling.  I’m so lucky to be here, in this fabulous city!!!

Lago de Atitlan

What a perfect fabulous day!  Lago de Atitlan is an amazing site to see!  I would recommend it to anyone!  It was stunning, breathtaking even.  I have never felt so small!  But lets start at the beginning…

The tour bus picked me up at my house at 5am.  I went, all alone, on this tour to Atitlan, which was a boat tour, stopping at 3 different villages around the lake and spending about an hour or so at each place.  The entire tour was from 9a-4p, with my bus leaving back to Antigua at 5p.  Now mind you, i’ve never done a group tour sort of thing period, let alone by myself, and out of my comfort zone, where at least things were familiar.  Our bus gets to Panajahal and the guy in the office says ” be back here by 4:45.”  Everyone took off!!  I was standing there…like, um…I didn’t even know what direction to go, where the lake was, or really, where on the world I even was!   I stood there for a moment, and got a grip.  After I swallowed this huge lump of panic, I was able to approach and say, “i’m sorry, how do I get to the Lake for my tour?”  They are so friendly, it still amazes me.  One of them hailed down a tuc tuc, the little 3 wheeled taxis and told the driver where I was going.  He told me to have a great time, and I thanked him for his help.  Then I’m whizzing down streets, not even knowing if i’m going in the right direction!  I laughed and laughed, and the driver may have thought I was crazy!

Then, there it was.  I was amazed.  It was the most beautiful sight I’d ever seen.  There were locals around, selling their goods, cooking foods, playing at the waters edge.  I bought some things, and then when It was time, I got on my boat.  I met lots of interesting people on the boat, from all over the world.  France, Isreal, Mexico, and the US.  One lady and I got to talking and we checked out the villages together on the stops.  Her name was Helen and she is a teacher from Virginia.  She was telling me that she comes to Guatemala for 4 weeks every summer, this was her 4th yr.  The last week, her husband comes.  hahaha what a great idea!! 

Our 1st stop was San Pedro.  We went into town and saw some crazy local markets, which was very cool.  Tons of local people, buying their meats, vegetables, and grains.  It was strange for me to see tables with raw chickens on them, flies everywhere on them, other raw meats I couldn’t quite  identify, with the same situation.  People were touching them, lifting them, not always purchasing that piece.  I was moved by how different it is.  At home, we’re terrified if there’s a seal broken, or if the salad sets out over an hour.  And here?  It’s just so different.  The smell though, of all the raw meat, was quite overwhelming.  And fish!  Raw, whole fish, and crabs, and people with little scales, buying what they needed.  There were people with their textiles also, mostly clothing, and people were purchasing.  It was really neat to see the inside, not them selling to us, but to eachother.  There was a young girl at a large loom, making one of her items, and I watched her for a bit.  She allowed me to take a picture, which I did!  Some people when I asked, they said no, as they are very private people, the mayans.  And I would just smile, and move on.  

Second stop was Santiago, which by this time, I was pretty hungry!  I hadn’t eaten yet!   Helen said she knew of a great place for a bite to eat and an ice cold beer, so we went!  I wish I could remember the name of the place, but I can’t.  It was lovely, and the seating was outside, with what looked like chain link fence over the top, and covered with growing vines, plants and  flowers.  It was so beautiful!  We had french fries and I experienced my 1st Gallo Beer.  Gallo is very popular here.  It was very good, and ice cold, as promised.  It sure hit the spot! 

Last stop was San Antonio, which was a lovely village.  We walked around a did a little shopping.  I love the bargaining thing!  I’m pretty good at it!  I think I am, but then, back on the boat, I find out I paid Q10 for the same thing someone else paid Q6 for.  It makes me laugh!  It was sunny and beautiful all day.  When we arrived back at Panajahal, I took a tuc tuc back to the tourism office, and sat in the shade of the open office, and bought an aqua pura.  I was dry!  I was thirsty, hot, sunburnt, and totally happy and relaxed. 

On the bus back to Antigua, I had another moment where I had to swallow my panic.  I was the only female on the bus, with the driver and 4 other males.  Ya know, your mind goes places sometimes….but I was fine, they were funny, awesome guys, and I got delivered safely home at 8pm, tired and happy.   And hungry!!  My house mama orderd me some fried chicken, french fries, and diet pepsi…and it was delivered, by a guy on a motorcycle!  I was very appreciative of her help, and after I paid the man and headed to my room with my food, I just laughed out loud.  I just got chicken and fries, delivered, in Guatemala…hahaha I didn’t even know that was an option!   It was delicious, too.

Today…?  Who knows!  I think a relaxing day by the pool at Hotel Antigua may be in order….til later, blog stalkers!!  xoxo

My Guardian Angel

Well today after school, at 2pm, a group of us went to My Guardian Angel, which is in a really poor neighborhood of Antigua.  It is an after school project for low income families so that their children have a safe place to go, and they can work.  It was such a loving great place!  The leader lady, Marta, was so kind!  Everyone was.  The kids were so adorable, and so happy to have the attention!  They range in age there from 4-14.  We took them out in the neighborhood today, and went to the local public pool.   They don’t get to go there much, one little girl told me.  They had a fabulous time!   It was so different then our public pools back home.  There was no adults around.  Just us, that came with them.  There wasn’t any “No Diving” signs,  or any rules listed of any kind, actually.  Some kids wore swim suits, some stripped to their underwear, others went in fully dressed.  I know at home, you MUST have swim wear on or they don’t let you in.  I love how it’s so laid back here.  People just live.  And have fun.  And walk…ALOT!   I’ve never walked so much in my entire life as I’ve walked since I’ve been here! 

There was a local lot, where some kids played basketball / soccar?  It was interesting to be in their space, on their level.  The children were beautiful, fun, sweet and happy.  Once little girl who walked with me, told me her name was Atril, and she was 10.  She spoke no english at all, but thought it was really cool that I did!   I taught her a few words

We were able to spend almost 3 hours with them, total.  It was really great.  The painting on the wall of the place, is a painting that was very familiar to me.  My sister had that painting above her bed, for as far back as I can remember.  It’s beautiful, and it made me smile to see it.  The children were so great when we 1st got there.  It was my 1st time, so they came over, introduced themselves to me.  Then they took turns jumping rope, and we counted, to see who did the most jumps without stopping.  They were loving the attention so much, and the friendly challenge between them.   There was this one little boy, he was so cute!  I didn’t get his name, but he had the most beautiful smile I’d ever seen.  He was quiet, and smiled, ALOT! 

I really enjoyed participating in this, and look forward to it again next Friday!  The kids were waiting for us, all excited, because they too, know we come on Friday.  They were sure a welcoming bunch!  The place was pretty large inside, the floors were dirt.  It was comfortable, and clean, and safe. 

Tomorrow?  Off at 5am for a day at Lago de Atitlan!  Until then xoxo

 

Hola!

Week 2 is almost over….it’s unbelieveable that my time here is about 1/2 over!!  Time flies!  I’m having such a good time!  I feel so relaxed, and happy.  I miss my family, but i’m thankful for the internet in my room, so we can talk, all the time!  Well, when there’s a free moment! 

After lunch today, I walked back to Tecun Uman because I was going on a group tour at 2pm to San Antonio Aqua Calientes.  It is a mayan town, and we toured a business ran by the mayans.  They showed us some of their native traditions and customs.  They used 2 people from the group, and acted out a wedding festival.  They dressed the people in the tradition garb for the occasion.  Then they explained why they did certain things, as they did them, and explained everything.  They circled the couple with burning incense to chase away bad spirits, then they sprinkled flower petals on them.  White petals, for purity, after ridding them of the spirits. They explained that it wasn’t that they had bad spirits IN them, but that bad spirits surround them.   They showed us the dance that they do at wedding festivals, and we all danced.  LOL  it was fun!  They showed us different textiles they make, and explained what they are used for.  I didn’t realize that they had different purposes!  One kind is made by the family of the groom, and placed over the head of the mother of the bride, to show respect.  Another is used to lie in baskets that are used to bring food to the festival.  Another is used to swaddle a baby and it ties onto the mother, so her hands are free to hold onto her other children, or carry textiles, etc. The women in the family of the bride make a beautiful apron, and after the ceremony, they tie it around the waist of the bride.  It’s a big part of the ceremony, symbolizing her now being in the kitchen, cooking for her husband and soon, her own family.  Can you imagine?  It was really very cool to see and hear it all. 

Then they cooked some traditional foods and we got to taste.  We watched a very old mayan lady kneel on the floor on a woven matt.  She rolled out dough and made tortillas on a rock slab, then cooked them on a round piece of metal that was placed over a wood fire burning right on the dirt floor.   Then they served us this clay bowl of chicken, veggies, rice and one of those “cooked right there right now” tortillas, which were delicious! 

I was touched by how much goes into their festival of marriage.   They all work together.  It’s about sharing, and giving gifts, and being together.  We could learn alot from them!   It takes them on average, 6 months to make the piece that gets placed on the brides mothers head.  It’s made special for her, for this occasion.  They said that the dancing goes on that whole night following the wedding  ceremony, and all the next day.  They just dance, and cook, and eat, and share, and love, and dance some more.   I was truely moved.  I think we all were.  The ride back to Antigua was quiet…reflective…

Stay tuned tomorrow as I write about my 1st experience at Mi Guardian Angel!  Til then, blog stalkers! 

xoxo

A Day Without Rain!

Normally, since it’s winter here, which translates into “Wet Season”, it rains, at least once a day.  Now sometimes, it rains long and hard, but mostly, it just rains for a bit…usually in the afternoon.  Today, there’s been no rain!  It’s a beautiful day here in Antigua! 

After school today, I walked to my house and had a lunch, then I went for a swim at the pool at Hotel Antigua, which is around the corner from here.  It’s a beautiful pool, and I love going there.  Mondays and Wednesdays are my longer days at school, so if I go for a swim, it’s likely on Tuesdays.   Thursday this week i’m visiting A San Antonio Aguas Calientes, a small town, and we’ll see some demonstrations of traditions there, and try some typical food.  It will be fun and interesting!  Friday I’m volunteering at the Mi Angel Guardian, a place for children who have no safe place to go after school.  I’m very excited to see what thats about, and to see the children.  Maybe it’s an orphanage also?  I’m not sure.  Then on Saturday, I’m going on an overnight trip to Lago de Atitlan.  I’m psyched!!

I’m going to try to explain what I’m seeing/eating/smelling/feeling!  Buildings are old!  And decorative.  People are friendly, and their clothes are so colorful.  The trees are lush and tropical.  The flowers are stunning.  The smells from the flowers are nice, but nothing beats the smell of lilacs in bloom.  They will refresh a whole neighborhood!  When I’m walking down the street, I hear people talking in spanish, I hear laughter, horses clopping up the street, cars beeping, because they don’t wait for you to get out of the way here!  They pass you if your going too slow for them, and they just beep as they pass, so you know, and you push over.  They beep if your at the curb to let you know not to try it!  Lots of beeping here.  But, it seems to be the way, and they wave eachother on, or past, and no one seems to experience road rage here. LOL   It’s refreshing!  I hear dogs, as there are street dogs everywhere.  They look sad, and skinny.  I hear clanking as people cook and smell a barrage of different food smells.  It’s very hard to explain the food, because I’d never experienced anything like it, so I’ve nothing to compare it to.  But for the most part, it’s amazing!   They eat alot of bread here.  I get it served with every meal.  And soup!  Every day lunch starts with soup and bread.   I drink tea here everyday, which is new for me.  But it’s good!  And salt, haha, it took me days to realize that there was salt!   It’s in a little bowl on the table, and you just pinch some out, and sprinkle it on your food.  I was looking for a shaker!  I brought my own salt for my room, but it wasn’t as if I was going to bring it to their table! LOL  The salt is coarser, and you need less, much less, then I’m used to.   I’ve not yet seen pepper, only hot chili powder on the table with the salt.

The little boy that lives here, he’s 1 yr old and he is so adorable!  He always gives me a high 5, then he touches the front of his little fist to mine, then he blows me a kiss.  Aww he’s got the most beautiful little face!   He sure tires his mama out.  He’s always going, going, going!  But he’s a good boy.  Havn’t heard him cry yet, or yell.  He’s very sweet, and always laughing.   He likes to come out into the garden and water the flowers.  His mama gives him the hose, and he walks all around the garden, watering everything.  It’s so cute!  Sometimes, he turns to her, or me, and of course, the hose goes with him, and his mama says “No, No! La flores!”  and he goes back at it.  

This experience is just amazing.  I could go on and on and ON! But, I’ll save some for another blog!  Adios!!