tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77017984298937762112024-02-19T00:42:25.061-05:00Blogging... Central America StyleTracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-60715633895354943562009-04-23T18:01:00.005-04:002009-07-19T23:59:18.753-04:00Greetings from Florida<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo9eulThRvacP5MiGxi02rsKSdixeX4dR5xVMANT2WIv27oiaDfYQrWa242CRZsbW_txmXdDKcfJL2HNXNQbSsu8UCtxeEVBI8mbvrjZnZ7tx8CKDI-lRHxVVUzVd06F3RTZCyCmkI2qa/s1600-h/IMG_4910.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo9eulThRvacP5MiGxi02rsKSdixeX4dR5xVMANT2WIv27oiaDfYQrWa242CRZsbW_txmXdDKcfJL2HNXNQbSsu8UCtxeEVBI8mbvrjZnZ7tx8CKDI-lRHxVVUzVd06F3RTZCyCmkI2qa/s200/IMG_4910.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328024658866527826" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZBIXWRYf4e3nRvEUIznHOPaXUt3J8xWiutvHw1BhG8GD4G0XVA8IZABbQ0jot-8Vdu_olJY0MZzMP0996CY47U3MNjN1ldn9sOmYDdvuYUkPLS2IL7nW2YtVpu4qNceUBocnhCBltAs/s1600-h/IMG_4722.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjZBIXWRYf4e3nRvEUIznHOPaXUt3J8xWiutvHw1BhG8GD4G0XVA8IZABbQ0jot-8Vdu_olJY0MZzMP0996CY47U3MNjN1ldn9sOmYDdvuYUkPLS2IL7nW2YtVpu4qNceUBocnhCBltAs/s200/IMG_4722.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328024651974910146" border="0" /></a><br />As I sit amidst a 3 hour layover in the Ft. Lauderdale airport, excitement at finally being so close to home and stories and feelings from the past 6 months are filling my mind. I don't think I can summarize in a blog post what this trip and my work in Guatemala and Honduras meant to me. At least not yet, as I am still figuring that out.<br /><br />I know I met some wonderful people, both through my volunteering with GVI and meeting travelers from all over while in each country from Mexico to Costa Rica. Traveling seems to bring together diverse people who would not otherwise make time for each other. The collective open-mindedness (mostly) and the need/desire to meet new people while traveling alone enables long or short-term friendships with people with whom at home I would probably not interact.<br /><br />Another realization is that my motivation to rejoin my classroom at home is growing by the minute. This surprises me, and I owe it to my kids in Itzapa and San Rafael. Like kids all over the world, they take advantage of situations and are quite ornery, but they are kids who want to be in school. My teaching skills were challenged and improved in the last 6 months, and instead of dreading going back to traditional work, I am looking forward to it. And actually speaking English in my classroom will be quite a treat!<br /><br />Since getting back from Mexico, I passed Semana Santa and Easter in Antigua, where people from all over the world literally packed the streets to see the colorful rugs made of sawdust, vegetables, plants, and flowers lining the roads to be walked over during the religious processions. The following week, I went to Honduras to say one more goodbye to my kids there en route to visit the GVI Nicaragua project. Copan did not disappoint, with the chance to play some drums during a hippie jam session, and a return to the Red Frog for one more world-famous uterus shot. In Esteli, Nicaragua, I had a wonderful time meeting and hanging out with the volunteers and staff there. They are working in a brand new GVI project, so brainstorming ideas for them and helping out for a few days was fun. And what else could be a better way to spend my second to last night in Central America than going to Las Vegas Nicaragua. Slot machines, neon lights, and girls without any substantial clothing filled the room decorated with images of the Vegas Strip. And yes, we did actually find ourselves dancing on the disco floor until midnight.<br /><br />I got into Costa Rica late the next day, paid $5 for a 5-minute taxi ride (the equivalent in Nicaragua was 50 cents) to my hotel, and got up this morning to head to the airport. Falling into the category of people I would probably not interact with at home but that traveling brings us together, I had a couple of beers at the hotel last night with a very stereotypical surfer-dude from California living in Costa Rica. I thought the word "gnarly" was just from 80's movies, but no, it is a top word in this surfer's vocabulary.<br /><br />And finally... I never did like the name of my blog, I just picked something. Now that I'm not in Central America, any suggestions?Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-52482570102747854212009-04-09T14:47:00.005-04:002009-04-09T15:33:38.512-04:00Tacos are wonderful things<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_fZCuwCS3skOVp9XSIZqE3srM43gIH5wlXRb5TJnR4GpVEBsX_jDRxL6_WSFaW7WnCXFbgwti_CsaBtKstj2f-kXJtBch0uJ92mrUCv8WWNuomxgVO4D97BjJnbsPVHPMqVCTean3DB3/s1600-h/IMG_4413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_fZCuwCS3skOVp9XSIZqE3srM43gIH5wlXRb5TJnR4GpVEBsX_jDRxL6_WSFaW7WnCXFbgwti_CsaBtKstj2f-kXJtBch0uJ92mrUCv8WWNuomxgVO4D97BjJnbsPVHPMqVCTean3DB3/s200/IMG_4413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322775389559636018" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwvCTs4eHBVP9iV9C22ANZAqeRGXY1Kqy2AriJ90EDVrEcwe78PDBe2RBWvOO8yspDvt8Z-vTfSYfj_j2w44JhCiHdSCG9tPj-OxHVcuOjqXzLa3SqeDKdLxuEtje62XnyHh_Yi-3rYMx/s1600-h/IMG_4507.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYwvCTs4eHBVP9iV9C22ANZAqeRGXY1Kqy2AriJ90EDVrEcwe78PDBe2RBWvOO8yspDvt8Z-vTfSYfj_j2w44JhCiHdSCG9tPj-OxHVcuOjqXzLa3SqeDKdLxuEtje62XnyHh_Yi-3rYMx/s200/IMG_4507.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322775381958577186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjGQ0h3dD48MwuqJX_o_OPWm5HYeXl1lWvxBKfQHDCnpmIEHhz2oeiGNrZ-fy3eUw_C80zTfUMNZA0SMU1u9KGDb6xxjac_-3MHp5e96hrEDQlVTcFseiWEYc3dc85_cSf_GufEq1e7r9/s1600-h/IMG_4603.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgjGQ0h3dD48MwuqJX_o_OPWm5HYeXl1lWvxBKfQHDCnpmIEHhz2oeiGNrZ-fy3eUw_C80zTfUMNZA0SMU1u9KGDb6xxjac_-3MHp5e96hrEDQlVTcFseiWEYc3dc85_cSf_GufEq1e7r9/s200/IMG_4603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322775380933213554" border="0" /></a><br />My first solo travel in Latin America did not disappoint. As I needed to renew my Visa, I headed to Mexico. San Cristobal de las Casas and Palenque, both in the Mexican state of Chiapas, brought adventures, friends, and fabulous food. I was a little anxious about the solo travel... finding hostels in each city, public transportation between different places... but excited to try it on my own. The trip had its negative points... including an unfortunate incident with my pants at the border, the downpour that proved my belt solution to the pants problem to be inadequate, that whole pesky bed-bug issue in Pelenque that I have feverishly fought off and defeated (I think!), and being told it was my lucky day by a man who said he would blow my f**king head off if he had a gun and a bullet when I wouldn't give him money to take care of his "lost passport" problem (perhaps this is a positive, as no gun and bullet were present).<br /><br />San Cristobal is a beautiful colonial-style town, with lots of travelers and lots to do. Palenque is a city where tourists get in, do the two local attractions- Mayan ruins and waterfalls- and get out! Swimming in Misol-Ha falls was fantastic. I have never been so close to a powerful waterfall. The ruins were breathtaking, as all of the ruins sites I have visited just amaze me. In San Cristobal, I visited a Mayan natural medicine museum, getting to watch a 12-minute rather graphic video on Mayan childbirth. I also bought drops that are a natural remedy for cold sores (called "fuego de la boca- fire in the mouth) that also conveniently work for eye infections. From San Cristobal, I took a boat ride through the vast walls Canon del Sumidero and visited a rain forest style zoo.<br /><br />Though I met cool people to do some of this stuff with, making the arrangements and travel on my own was good for me. Getting from San Cris to Palenque involved public transportation and switching in the middle, with me being the ony gringo the entire trip. And a little frustrating arriving in 100-degree Palenque (San Cris was in the 70's during the day) to find out I was too late to take either trip that day and was going to have to stay an extra night in this not overly-inviting town. Things always work out though, and that evening I met my new Aussie friend, a 57-year-old man riding his motorcycle from Chile to Alaska. We hung out for the rest of the time in Palenque and he was actually heading to San Cristobal next, so we had time together there as well. With a bit of job-hunting luck, I may meet him in Cali this summer.<br /><br />As the date needed to renew my Visa was just before the start of spring break for the kids, I got to spend a week in Mexico. The next few days here in Antigua are going to be filled with processions, music, and colorful rugs decorating the streets for Holy Week and Easter. Monday is my last day at work, and Wednesday I head to Honduras to begin my journey home. The travel bug has hit me, though, so let's see what the summer brings!Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-75511527338600818672009-03-28T13:36:00.004-04:002009-03-28T13:44:47.853-04:00A conversation with an 18-year-old volunteer on my 29th birthday...Volunteer: "I didn't know Kerry was 30!" <br /><br />Me: "Does that change anything?"<br /><br />Volunteer: "We used to giggle about things all the time."<br /><br />Me: "Yeah?"<br /><br />Volunteer: "Well, you know, usually you speak more respectfully to older people."<br /><br />I'm glad I have 364 more days until I'm an older person.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Note</span>: The dialogue style of this post is a direct idea from reading many entertaining dialogues on<a href="http://65mapleave.wordpress.com/"> 65 Maple Ave.</a> Check her out.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-43863385595382176862009-03-21T18:49:00.003-04:002009-03-21T19:23:07.091-04:00Indigenous Style<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iEUa_iRduyn9enFXh5u2XRl06Fkn6-xoCVk12HsbxkKeNqi_7qmyuCqyr0f43WwZnOT414a4JmZbZfuj5Wr-oDv9RgjI0d6wIuAdumkXdkrxuATYHTPmIGeraPS7FtR1Rsmxe2wEhJXg/s1600-h/IMG_4373.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iEUa_iRduyn9enFXh5u2XRl06Fkn6-xoCVk12HsbxkKeNqi_7qmyuCqyr0f43WwZnOT414a4JmZbZfuj5Wr-oDv9RgjI0d6wIuAdumkXdkrxuATYHTPmIGeraPS7FtR1Rsmxe2wEhJXg/s200/IMG_4373.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315783314985036002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILuh4mTBypIcfgWZzHWPUSl426q01rpnNlCsApkCECHU99sxloNuw5D7mVPP9RZBOLWzkVXpZWWgRqQUgGqpZHCUv5wB81U6uKDLIC6bkhVrCJC0pnyaDvdHkxKtwYS8Zo7xuKwzBCLeB/s1600-h/IMG_4356.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILuh4mTBypIcfgWZzHWPUSl426q01rpnNlCsApkCECHU99sxloNuw5D7mVPP9RZBOLWzkVXpZWWgRqQUgGqpZHCUv5wB81U6uKDLIC6bkhVrCJC0pnyaDvdHkxKtwYS8Zo7xuKwzBCLeB/s200/IMG_4356.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315783309432650258" border="0" /></a><br />Last Friday was the last day for 6 volunteers in Itzapa. Along with meaning that next week we is going to be incredibly short-handed and I will basically be teaching in 2 and a half classrooms and monitoring the others, it also means saying goodbye to some great people. Work won't be the same Monday without the normal crew. Since so many were leaving Friday, Elena, the community leader who feeds us and supports/aids the school in many ways, provided traditional indigenous clothing for all of the female volunteers to try on. She also gave us all some of the all-natural shampoo her womens' group makes... I'll have to see if I like my hair in aloe-vera scent! The dressing-up was a lot of fun, and the kids loved seeing us walk in. Most of the girls and women in Itzapa wear indigenous dress. Indigenous dress is also seen around Antigua and even Guatemala City. Most of the kids at our school also speak Mayan Kaqchikel as their first language and Spanish as their second. The thriving indigenous culture differs here greatly from the situation in Honduras, only hours away. The Mayan heritage is just as strong there, with the famous Copan Ruins being about a mile from where I lived in Copan. However, I never saw anyone in Mayan dress. Very few speak the language, and the traditions are basically extinct. There are some controversial political issues going on with trying to bring back the culture.<br /><br />After the crazy week of work next week, ending with my birthday Friday, I will be headed to San Cristobal, Mexico to renew my visa. I return in time for Semana Santa, i.e. a week off of work (this is just too late for my visa renewal). I head back to work for one or two days, then on April 15 begin my journey home. The director has been promising me a visit to the Nicaragua project ever since my interning there fell through. On the way I am going to visit the Honduras project and see my kids one more time. From Nicaragua, the closest, cheapest way home is via San Jose, Costa Rica. I am excited for the upcoming travel, though have mixed feelings about leaving. I want to come home, but really can't believe how quick it has all gone! Really, just one more crazy week of work. Ending with a celebration and followed by being in 6 countries in three weeks. So, who's up for road trips in May?... it might be hard to stay still!Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-60379924213407467432009-03-14T20:59:00.004-04:002009-03-14T21:55:32.833-04:00Turning back a little...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXGtI89H7fUiExmMSy6MZZAx_rPXDG4HosDxy6hyKuyt6s8-iiHxLh4xMZA9KwgYac22wTlNZexox_-lCNgD2lc9z5IXw8v9HXt9S2hKcEebfKlY3PljJPP0PcXrt0WlO6CjyiKRzO7Di/s1600-h/IMG_4108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTXGtI89H7fUiExmMSy6MZZAx_rPXDG4HosDxy6hyKuyt6s8-iiHxLh4xMZA9KwgYac22wTlNZexox_-lCNgD2lc9z5IXw8v9HXt9S2hKcEebfKlY3PljJPP0PcXrt0WlO6CjyiKRzO7Di/s200/IMG_4108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313217292522640738" border="0" /></a>A bit after the fact, I know, but I've been wanting to tell about an experience of a parent/teacher meeting I had in San Rafael, Honduras, before leaving the last time (about a month ago now). The head teacher at the school called a mandatory meeting on a Tuesday at 10am. The kids got to leave early. About 5 parents showed up. The meeting was rescheduled for Friday at 10am, and a note was sent home with the kids saying that families who did not send a parent to the meeting would have to pay 50 Lempiras (about $2.50). Forty-five parents came Friday. Some by means of horseback. The parents sat in the kids desks and chairs in the largest of the schools three classrooms.<br /><br />The meeting including voting for officers of the Society of Families (like a PTA, I think?) and officers for the Merrienda Committee (they arrange the groups of families who take turns making the rice, beans, and tortilla lunches for the kids each day with government money... when the money shows up). Nobody was volunteering, and everybody was nominating each other. Then they went around the room for each position in each committee to vote outloud on the nominees. Some of the contests were close, and you could sense the pressure on the last few people to have to voice their vote. GVI is also starting an adult literacy program in San Rafael. Once a week the volunteers teach basic spanish literacy to adults. While discussing this program at the meeting, the teacher asked each parent individually if he/she could read and write and if they wanted to participate in the class. They all gave seemingly honest answers out loud, with the majority not being literate.<br /><br />The parents seemed like students sitting in the desks and being made to speak aloud and answer questions. But they really didn't seem to mind. As the other volunteers and I watched the meeting unfold, we were amazed at how different this was from any such meeting in the states. It worked for them, though. People vented, issues were resolved, and committees chosen. The same results any meeting would hope to achieve.<br /><br />I thought I'd put up a couple of pics from Honduras with this post. And in about 2 weeks, I'll be going back for a quick visit. More on that and my upcoming journey home via a few different countries in a post coming soon, I hope.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs4pCSnbv5KTXmz39wjmqrOY72juThrjjzYlWyCatwKwNVm4uSdkw3a98B-2u2X98h-bfm_JckS9etGCc8893P7AirrZHzMImhyphenhyphen-BQKvV7P07j5lO60d6-6afpud02sugEHooB01igBKQ/s1600-h/IMG_4158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUs4pCSnbv5KTXmz39wjmqrOY72juThrjjzYlWyCatwKwNVm4uSdkw3a98B-2u2X98h-bfm_JckS9etGCc8893P7AirrZHzMImhyphenhyphen-BQKvV7P07j5lO60d6-6afpud02sugEHooB01igBKQ/s200/IMG_4158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313217283546019890" border="0" /></a>Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-8759428516833144682009-03-01T15:17:00.005-05:002009-03-02T20:30:27.295-05:00It´s over already?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-RWbxw-X_oaKwASpVbCRRNR-PYJoS3NKOJCY5zRULZ1oul2GYxjuoYgXoqbKfnEJAG5sND_bA4cwl5yMMoqOnE6-LYY9zgg_UK2nXH80eEdzau2c0hCgLN9cKgvDdbh3C8PJi2yQsZ8O/s1600-h/IMG_3336.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH-RWbxw-X_oaKwASpVbCRRNR-PYJoS3NKOJCY5zRULZ1oul2GYxjuoYgXoqbKfnEJAG5sND_bA4cwl5yMMoqOnE6-LYY9zgg_UK2nXH80eEdzau2c0hCgLN9cKgvDdbh3C8PJi2yQsZ8O/s200/IMG_3336.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308761811582339586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoId_vUAHCyrlKczQmCZe0mJaJtombNZ6Vu5i3KwLdofhcg29RNVWJePndB9PBvX1DBujRaUk342NhTpTM7zV_mzVoyh_yrSma_MKZS_22c84wgBjPYWxTFbYbAnKRD5qYCcaK_Wq79l_8/s1600-h/IMG_4223.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoId_vUAHCyrlKczQmCZe0mJaJtombNZ6Vu5i3KwLdofhcg29RNVWJePndB9PBvX1DBujRaUk342NhTpTM7zV_mzVoyh_yrSma_MKZS_22c84wgBjPYWxTFbYbAnKRD5qYCcaK_Wq79l_8/s200/IMG_4223.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308761806830156514" border="0" /></a><br /><div>As I expected, the almost 9 days of Marty´s visit went way too quickly. Trips to Lake Atitlan, Tikal, a coffee plantation, a hike on active Volcan Pacaya, a Guatemalan cooking class, and lots of walking and eating in Antigua kept us busy. I´m sure he´ll fill you in on the details! It was wonderful having Marty here, finally getting to see the things and meet the people that have been part of my stories for so long. </div><br /><div> </div><br /><div>In other news, I finally have a home. Not that I was exactly homeless, but the GVI house for interns has been full since Christmas. I went home for Christmas, and for the first couple of weeks after Christmas I lived with a family in Antigua. Then I headed to Honduras for a month. Back to Antigua, and in with a different family. Then Marty´s visit, so a week of leaving my bags at the GVI house and taking what I needed for our hotels and trips for the week. After far more packing and unpacking than I enjoy in a 10 week period, I finally have all my stuff in a room in a house that should be mine until the end of April! In case you're interested, my new address is Las Arcadas; casa #4; 9a Calle Poniente; Antigua Guatemala Sacateqequez; Guatemala, Centroamerica. Now I just need to somehow adapt to the most uncomfortable bed I´ve had in Central America, and figure out what I´m going to prepare for the intern group once a week on my cooking night!</div>Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-80714853259605520362009-02-15T11:54:00.002-05:002009-02-15T12:17:41.240-05:00How many times can you say goodbye?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHOeM_ng6lbnkv6UPTTlzFldVcRJ84cPkEgk26ecrtW5t-Tts9w4UjraQX9GZI4yqYRWY3WBdKRiHp6D1kY0jGsCScbSRC0D1Z8JYwv1G87z2SWMucZsdjEPX1oZ_o7yp3D38sSYIAYF3/s1600-h/IMG_4184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHOeM_ng6lbnkv6UPTTlzFldVcRJ84cPkEgk26ecrtW5t-Tts9w4UjraQX9GZI4yqYRWY3WBdKRiHp6D1kY0jGsCScbSRC0D1Z8JYwv1G87z2SWMucZsdjEPX1oZ_o7yp3D38sSYIAYF3/s200/IMG_4184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303074497835588002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKM04C8VqjMGMOR5SwKnEO0fxSd0POVBWp14OEs9j7RsoP4dy6VSA1TlneKzYzfLLlW678AIRX9dBZ7HhcQaCIIGNKzT7EsnKqlpcZjD7S2tUOed7sgWckLLw5nLFi5g4DKpVYKVCGAJh/s1600-h/IMG_4101.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKM04C8VqjMGMOR5SwKnEO0fxSd0POVBWp14OEs9j7RsoP4dy6VSA1TlneKzYzfLLlW678AIRX9dBZ7HhcQaCIIGNKzT7EsnKqlpcZjD7S2tUOed7sgWckLLw5nLFi5g4DKpVYKVCGAJh/s200/IMG_4101.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303074491165393218" border="0" /></a><br />When I left Copan, Honduras before Christmas, I thought it was for the last time, at least for the foreseeable future. After Christmas, my director asked me if I would go back to Copan to cover for a few weeks during a lapse in intern coverage. No problem, so after a week and a half working in Guatemala, I came back to Copan. Three weeks was up last weekend. I had my shuttle booked for 6am Sunday. I said goodbye to many people Friday and Saturday. Then Saturday night, via email, the director and I decided it would be best for me to stay here for one more week for different coverage and logistical reasons. It was my initial suggestion, so I was fine with this change. People were surprised to see me Sunday and then Monday at work and in Spanish school, and joked that I am never leaving. This weekend is now my weekend to leave. My shuttle was booked for 6am today, Sunday. After getting up at 5:15 and waiting until 7, the shuttle never showed up. They were not answering the phone. When the office opened at 9, I went and got myself booked on the noon shuttle without having to pay again. He was very apologetic and said it was partly his personal fault. I know this apology is nothing by American standards, and I would have most likely gotten a refund or a discount at home, but it is more than you usually get around here.<br /><br />So I had another day of saying goodbye yesterday. I've run into friends this moring and the Spanish school director, and people now don't believe I'm actually going to leave this place. 4 times saying goodbye for the "last" time is a bit much. You could drive yourself crazy getting frustrated over times, schedules, and logistics here... like we were saying yesterday when we met for an activity scheduled for 9am that started at 11. For your own sanity, you kind of learn to just go with it. As long as I make it Friday for Marty's visit:)Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-68072524254492883602009-02-09T18:23:00.003-05:002009-02-09T18:48:09.345-05:00What can you do?So I've definitely been slacking on the blogs. I was happy to get home from work today and not have afternoon classes or much GVI work, which has been busy lately. I headed out to run my only errand, mailing a letter, before coming to the cafe to catch up on blogs and computer stuff. I've mailed enough letters to know they only cost 25 lempiras. I had 28 in my wallet, but for some reason grabbed another 100, the smallest bill I had. On the way to the post office, I ran into some of the family we have been visiting in a town outside of Copan (featured in the blog below). Last Thursday they lost their grandmother (or the grandmother figure of the house). We knew this and made it up to visit that afternoon (pushing our tuk-tuk taxis up the extremely muddy road in the rain... another story!). So I saw them in town today buying some needed items from donations made at the funeral. They were so excited to see me and asked when we could visit again. They said things have been sad at the house. None of them have parents and now they unexpectedly lost their grandmother. It was hot out today, and I bought them ice cream from the local shop. With the 100 lempira bill that I for some reason grabbed before I left. It was good to see them smiling, but I'm left feeling so limited in what I can do. A gringo spending a few dollars and going about my day. Lots of people are going through really tough times. And you never really know what to say in any language. I guess a smile and a hug has to be enough sometimes.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-82179729536307382382009-01-25T15:24:00.004-05:002009-01-25T15:51:08.094-05:00Giving what they can...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbqr9ptasuA0G5lQJICZPyU5fls3mI4ttZom7NneLEeG4lwM_nXe7fFU5j_s9msYZCSBdufWMxmEWOSzvpJyeoBQB0JpMlJGTOUlzxnjwx1www9AOOoeQUeTLd2okFbAGZ7zarl_fKkag/s1600-h/IMG_4015.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbqr9ptasuA0G5lQJICZPyU5fls3mI4ttZom7NneLEeG4lwM_nXe7fFU5j_s9msYZCSBdufWMxmEWOSzvpJyeoBQB0JpMlJGTOUlzxnjwx1www9AOOoeQUeTLd2okFbAGZ7zarl_fKkag/s200/IMG_4015.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295335070874702066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI01y9WT71L03dW0JIc7KwpdLH57l5aRwNt5uYwVCYa9G1kdC-rO0fq5zajGWUmjeMWlf7o1cNZwCENqsTQ6y7_KseO0JWfpkS-YR-XZP_5ytEbV6Dx6DjEFpqA5keu5RfY21kC41o73B/s1600-h/IMG_4001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI01y9WT71L03dW0JIc7KwpdLH57l5aRwNt5uYwVCYa9G1kdC-rO0fq5zajGWUmjeMWlf7o1cNZwCENqsTQ6y7_KseO0JWfpkS-YR-XZP_5ytEbV6Dx6DjEFpqA5keu5RfY21kC41o73B/s200/IMG_4001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295335066831254066" border="0" /></a><br />Yesterday a few GVI volunteers and some friends we made here went to an indigenous community in the mountains with a lady from the states that spends time up there regularly. We visited what is essentially an orphanage, where they make ceramics to sell. A 16-year-old girl who runs a lot of the business was thrilled to see us. So happy to show us how to work the clay to prep it for molding and then we each got to mold something to later be fired (using just a fire... not a firing oven). We ground corn and made our own tortillas. With everything made from their land and processed right there, they were the best tortillas I've had. They insisted on us have a lunch of beans and tortillas. We brought some toys for the kids and rope to make jump ropes from. While the kids at the school we work at in San Rafael love jump roping, it didn't seem like these kids had ever tried. They were so happy to be able to teach us and feed us. They invited us back anytime. We had a very good, yet thought-provoking day.<br /><br />The experiences I've had here from the schools in Honduras and Guatemala where I work, to visits like this, to the wonderful travelers, volunteers, and locals I've met are invaluable. I sometimes get caught up in the moment and the excitement of what I'm doing... planning lessons, planning my next trip or excursion, blogging or facebooking, thinking about things at home... and days like yesterday remind me of why I'm here and to not take these experiences for granted.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-7413650260616540592009-01-22T18:17:00.005-05:002009-01-22T20:10:27.211-05:00An international celebration*<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rDx7DtfnRUeHBDdatTNnHftAQb00qWreL73S_V3yD6fTBI4N5WEisDs1n3KsxhncyUq0T6-AAtvxDhH70rXvvsFdRlYm5hE8mjJU5_h8VMBavCZxJNy_Fza0so9jYQBiWvjWB9dS0JCu/s1600-h/IMG_3964.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rDx7DtfnRUeHBDdatTNnHftAQb00qWreL73S_V3yD6fTBI4N5WEisDs1n3KsxhncyUq0T6-AAtvxDhH70rXvvsFdRlYm5hE8mjJU5_h8VMBavCZxJNy_Fza0so9jYQBiWvjWB9dS0JCu/s200/IMG_3964.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294261337302286306" border="0" /></a><br />As the volunteers, tourists, and Spanish students from various countries expressed excitement on inauguration day, along with every local Honduran with whom I've spoken regarding the matter, we had an inauguration party at the Spanish school Tuesday night. Many of the teachers and their friends were there, along with Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, celebrating the start of a new era. It was exciting to see and fun to be a part of. A regular cafe of ours even stayed open when we came in before closing time to watch the event on YouTube. A worker joined us in watching and congratulated us.<br /><br />Let me also say that I am happy to have discovered that the internet connection seems to have significantly improved since my last stay in Honduras. Hopefully posts with pictures will now be possible.<br /><br />*In the unlikely event that my director is reading this blog, I would like to state that GVI is in no way affiliated with any political party.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-32629862997505032972009-01-19T15:01:00.003-05:002009-01-19T15:40:41.579-05:00Good ol' CopanUpon returning to Copan, Honduras, last Saturday evening, it mostly seems as if I haven't left. GVI has me in the same family-operated hotel, in the same room actually. I'm being fed the same rice, chicken, and over-cooked beef. The tortillas at the house have significantly improved however, as they now have a girl working for them who makes them everyday instead of buying them from a vendor. It is good to see the family here again, and they are certainly nice enough. But not nearly as personable as my family in Antigua! I'm sitting in my normal afternoon cafe drinking a liquado con agua. I can again walk alone at night without being conscious of the money and camera I might be carrying. There is a comfort in this little town that draws people back and entices many travelers to call Copan home (at least for a year or two!).<br /><br />Though Copan is tiny, thanks to the near by Mayan Ruins it is a very touristy town. Much like Antigua, only lots smaller. You see the same people around town, and the guy at the cafe today asked me where i'd been all month! Both cities are great to meet travelers from all over the world. Last night, living in a strange world where not everyone I know has a cell phone, I waited alone at a bar for friends who didn't show up b/c of a miscommunication. Ended up chatting for a while with a guy from Sicily also sitting alone. The travelers you meet is one cool thing about living in such a touristy place.<br /><br />The volunteers I'm with are all brand new to me, and the school in San Rafael looks completely different as it recently underwent a paint job from GVI. Today was my first day at school, and for the first two weeks it is just small group tutoring for the incoming 1st and 2nd graders until the regular school year starts in February. Last year I had 2nd and 3rd graders, so I'm not too familiar with these kids. The volunteers have it all under control and I'm just floating, monitoring, and trying to figure out the schedule for the next three weeks!<br /><br />So it's 2-3 weeks here in Honduras, then back to Guatemala. Marty is coming down to Antigua for a visit at the end of February:) And hopefully I'm going to make to Nicaragua with GVI, even if only for a week or so, sometime this spring. Time is flying!Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-44136095762126866332009-01-08T22:57:00.004-05:002009-01-08T23:32:06.158-05:00Back to Antigua... for about a week and a halfTuesday afternoon I arrived safely in Antigua, Guatemala after a 2 and a half week visit home for the holidays. Its kind of funny how a person can switch modes so quickly, and in a way it seems like I never left. That being said, I did have a wonderful time in Ohio and Michigan. Most days/nights were spent hanging out with my and/or Marty's family or friends, making for a busy "vacation." I definitely need to work on some card-playing skills to keep up with the Brown's and their cousins!<br /><br />But for now, I'm here... and I love it! The school I'm working at in San Andres Itzapa is fabulous. Unlike the school in Honduras at which I worked, this school is totally GVI owned and operated. Volunteers run the show in every classroom, and we have some good, creative people here now. It is wonderful to see the excitement. The school is also brighter, more open, and has more interaction between classrooms. We all eat together at a house in the community where a woman cooks us lunch each day. The kids are more touchy/feely here. Also, most of the girls dress in traditional indiginous dress. The kids seem to look a bit healthier here... not quite as malnourished as the students in San Rafael. <br /><br />The two GVI houses for interns are full right now, so I am living with a host family near most of the other volunteers (they like to have one intern in that section of town anyway). I have the king of host family stays. The food is great and their is plenty of it (unlike Copan). There is wireless internet (practically unheard of), there is a big outdoor roof patio right outside my room, the shower is hot, the bed is comfortable, and my "mother and father" are hilarious! They play music at dinner and do a great job of bringing us into conversations (another voluneer lives here as well). The father says "no more of that!" when we speak English at the dinner table. <br /><br />Ironically, the volunteer who lives with me has done two AmeriCorps programs and he is a wildland firefighter in Arizona. Actually, just yesterday he found out that he will be on the hotshot crew next spring... a very big deal as my NCCC friends know! Also along the lines of "its a small world," I mentioned that I've climbed in Kentucky, and a non-climber from hours away from the Red River Gorge asked me if I'd been to Miguels Pizza. But of course! He said he once met someone while in Germany who had been to Miguels. It's just that good.<br /><br />In one week I am heading back to Copan, Honduras to fill in during an intern gap for 2-3 weeks. I like a lot here in Antigua, but there are certainly aspects of Copan that I miss. I wouldn't want to go back for 2-3 months, but I am happy to fill in for a couple of weeks.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-17457787008875994282008-12-14T09:22:00.002-05:002008-12-14T09:55:00.369-05:00Wavin goodbye to Copan9 weeks, you've really come already? As much as I am looking forward to a couple of weeks at home to celebrate Christmas and New Year's with friends and family, it is hard to believe this may be the last significant time I will spend in this little town. No more Red Frog and uterus shots, no more $1.25 beers and $4 loaded nachos. No more hours spent at the cafe getting angry with the internet, and no more trying to figure out how many international phone minutes I actually get on doble day. No more kids at San Rafael. There will be another school and kids in Guatemala, but these guys were my first. At the very beginning when my Spanish was total garbage (now its only mostly garbage) I struggled through it with them. During the first week I repeatedly told my class of mostly third grade boys "search me" when I wanted to say "show me." Couldn't figure out what was so funny. <br /><br />Plans have already changed for after Christmas. When I get back on January 6, I'll be staying in Guatemala for the next four months instead of heading to Nicaragua. I'm dissappointed, but understand the reasoning... a volunteer in Nicaragua has decided to stay on as an intern, and they need more help in the first two months of the year in Guatemala, as unplanned travel has come up for the director. Hopefully I'll get to visit Nicaragua, and I know there is traveling I want to do from Antigua. <br /><br />I'll be getting into Michigan late Thrusday night. Hopefully during the following 2 and a half weeks I'll see many of you in Ohio and Michigan. Goodbye from and to Honduras...Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-968911624999560062008-12-04T15:04:00.002-05:002008-12-04T15:16:56.475-05:00Change is in the airWhen I arrived as an intern for GVI 7 weeks ago, Honduras was my first assignment. I had 3 brand new volunteers with me to start in Honduras, and three that had been in Honduras for several weeks already. Two of the three veterans left early on, so it has been the same group of 5 of us for a while. A few days ago 3 of the vols left and the intern who will be replacing me arrived. Ben, the last of my original group, leaves Saturday. Two new volunteers arrive Sunday, and I leave about a week later to spend a couple of days in Antigua before heading to Ohio for Christmas. It is fun meeting new people, and part of life saying goodbye, probably forever, to people you meet along the way. Hopefully I'll see many of you who will be in Ohio around Christmas. After the new year, I'm headed to Nicaragua and then Guatemala until May.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-8887373445870568752008-11-27T16:49:00.002-05:002008-11-27T17:22:04.636-05:00Thanksgiving Greetings...The three Americans in our group of volunteers here in Honduras decided we were going to splurge today to properly celebrate the biggest food holiday in the states. Along with the two English folk in our group, we all told our host families we didn't want lunch or dinner at home today (except Ben, who will probably eat four meals and still be hungry). Lunch today at Red Frog bar, or Sapo Rojo if you will, consisted of loaded nachos, BBQ chicken wings Hooters style, and homemade french fries. In honor of the American holiday, the British among us also had 2 beers each... I'm still pretty dehydrated from this morning's futbol match with the kids, so a Fresca sounded better (yes, this is really me!). For dinner we are headed to a local pizza place that will be showing American football on TV. Pizza for dinner was the plan, but Pizza Jim may have some traditional Thanksgiving cuisine to offer. Pumpkin pie would be fabulous. After dinner and football, its back to Red Frog to finally try their "world famous" uterus shots we keep hearing about. I have seen them... apparently it is some kind of moonshine with a splash of milk dropped in that curddles and looks like a floating fetus. What better way to commemorate the first bountiful harvest the Pilgrims and Native Americans worked so hard to reap? Nothing says "thank you" like bar food and a shot of embryo.<br /><br />On another note, I have not had a good week health wise. Since last weekend I have had a cold that is still with me, but better today. Two days ago I barely had a voice. Yesterday I decided no matter how unrulely the little hellians at school were, I was not going to raise my voice! It helped. My cough has gotten better, but my sinuses are still congested. Separately from the common cold, I also had my first travelers stomach sickness a few days ago. An unpleasant 24 hours. Feeling better, though, and ready for tomorrow's cumpleanos fiesta at school with pinatas, cake, and presents. These people know how to celebrate birthdays. <br /><br />Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-23210975740227392212008-11-20T15:20:00.002-05:002008-11-20T16:12:29.391-05:00A wet, soggy, exciting victorySan Pedro Sula, a city about 3 hours from Copan, was the site of the Honduras vs. Mexico World Cup qualifying soccer match last night. And we got tickets.<br /><br />After about 30 minutes of significant panic setting in when Kate and I got immediately separated just outside of the shuttle from Ben and Brian (who had our tickets) in a rather dangerous large city as the sun was setting and our phones were not working, we reunited with the guys and headed into the already packed stadium an hour and a half before game time. The rain started shortly thereafter, and lasted much of the game, at times falling quite hard. Think this could possibly dampen the spirits of 38,000 people at a Central American futbol match (let alone such an important match)? Heck no. The noise level was so high throughout the entire game that talking was difficult. Cups of beer flew joyously through the air when Honduras scored the only goal of the game and at the game's end. People were climbing up on posts and hanging off railings. The crowd chanted and sang different things throughtout the game. Oddly, they spoke Spanish, making it difficult for me to understand and join in. There was a lot of "o-ley, o-ley, o-ley" singing. Our section was trying to start the wave before the game started. It was making it farther with each try. Whatever section let it die, the fans in our section would point at them across the stadium furoursly chanting something to let them know to get on the ball.<br /><br />We were standing at the top of the bottom section closest to the field. Behind the goal in which the only goal of the game was scored, over to the right a bit. A great view, much better than what I was expecting for what we paid. I was standing close to the steps and had a river of discusting water running around my feet. I was happy to have my raincoat (even though it covered the $6 Honduras jersey I had bought) but was soaked to the core besides that. I enjoyed a cup of bad beer for $1.25 and a hotdog covered with unidentifable slimy substances for $1. It was no stadium dog with brown mustard and it was a small cup of bad beer as opposed to a large cup of bad beer, but really, eating and drinking at a professional sporting event for $2.25?<br /><br />On the shuttle back to Copan the mostly 20-30 year-olds (locals) who had seemingly drank a lot more bad beer than us, liked the windows open and the air-conditioning on as we zipped through the cold night air in our wet clothes. We were surrounded with honking and yelling and people hanging out of vehicles for a while through the city. The open windows made it more convienent for them to toss out their trash from the fast food they picked up after the game.<br /><br />I see I haven't posted it a while... the kids at San Rafael continue to amaze me, the weather continues to confuse me, and I'm having an overall good time. Saying the kids at school were excited and not able to focus on work after last night's victory would be a huge understatement. That's also putting in nicely, they were really just bad today! We've went from temps in the 60's to 80 with solid sunshine for about 2 weeks, and back to 60's with rain and wind this week. And people at home are giving me a hard time when I complain that this is cold... but when it's 60 and windy outside, it's 60 and windy everywhere, including the school where we work, because everything is open-air. Unless you work in room 120 at Southgate, you get to walk in from the cold and be warm inside for most of the day. Not the case here, as my fingers and toes have been white with cold as I dress in 3 layers for work! Don't get me wrong, the two weeks of 80 and sunshine were wonderful... shorts, tank tops, flip flops and I would still be hot walking around town. <br /><br />Wow, long post. If you're still reading this, thanks, I guess!Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-74805977624276893722008-11-07T14:14:00.003-05:002008-11-07T14:58:46.141-05:00An introcuction to Latin American footballToday was sports day at school, and I am exhausted! Even though the girls at the school couldn't believe I was going to play soccer with the boys instead of jumping rope with them for once, I had a great time. Being a mostly non-soccer playing American female playing with 30+ Honduran boys, a guy from England, and a guy from the states who plays soccer, I don't think I impressed anyone with my skills. I did make a nice save by the goal, and the boys yelled something like "the gringo got it!" They laughed and yelled "mano, mano" when I instinctively put my hand up to block the ball. <br /><br />I don't know where they possibly get their energy. Not just today, but everyday... the amount of calories they intake doesn't seem like it could be nearly as much as what they burn. Everyday before and after school and during recess the boys are playing hard at football, marbles, or frisbee (recently... this has been fun!). The girs are constantly jumping rope, even up and down hills. We played for over an hour and a half today on a field that is about as big as a regulation field. After about 45 minutes I was desperate for a water break (or a break of any sort!). No one had brought any water. When we got back to the school, I guzzled agua like it was my job, but still none for the kids. They went right on playing in the hot sun (yes it has warmed up a lot here) until we made them come in. <br /><br />For anyone from Southgate who may be reading this, I sang the Friday song in the back of the pick-up truck on the way to work today:)Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-28466599041633980802008-11-03T10:16:00.004-05:002008-11-04T16:07:17.965-05:00Back to AntiguaAfter getting up at 5:20 to catch a 5:45 shuttle to Antigua, the shuttle guy showed up and informed Kate and I that they overbooked. We could get our money back or leave at 12:00. So I lost a night of sleep and a day in Antigua with Angel and John. On the 12:00 shuttle we figured out with our fellow travelers that they didn't overbook, neither shuttle was full so they combined shuttles. The fellow traveler from England who sat behind me needed us to pull over twice so he could vomit as a result of too many uterus shots at the Red Frog bar the previous night.<br /><br />After this fabulous day of travel, I had a wonderful weekend with Angel and John in Antigua, Guatemala. We arrived Saturday evening and I'm leaving today (Monday) at 1:00. San Rafeal has today off for Day of the Dead. It was great hanging out with two of my best friends from the states in Guatemala. As they live in DC, I don't see them often, and usually stuff is going on and we don't get to spend a lot of time together when they are home. After our authentic Guatemalan dinner of peperoni pizza and beer last night, we headed towards the park where there was a giant procession of marching bands, men dressed up with banners, lots of incense, and, at the end, a huge lit up float, carried by people, with a life size plastic Jesus in a see-though coffin.<br /><br />As Ang and John are here volunteering with GVI for two weeks, they headed out for their first day of stove building this morning. Hope your stomach holds out, John!<br /><br />Still having trouble adding photos, even with the better internet here. Maybe later...Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-62700639315340590242008-10-28T16:31:00.003-04:002008-10-28T16:51:39.904-04:00Living the high lifeThe other day we ended up going out for a "nice" dinner here. That wasn't the plan when we left, we were just looking for some food. When our dinners came to over $10 a person, we wern't exactly prepared to pay the bill. None of the 6 of us. So Rufus kindly walked back to his place to get money for everyone else. Now really, why would we plan on needing more than 200 Limperias in a night? And that included a beer, soup, bread, pasta, and dessert. I love Honduran prices. Even cheaper than Antigua. <br /><br />The weather has gone from hot and sunny on Sunday to much cooler yesterday (60's?). Today was cool, rainy in the morning, and very windy all day at the open-air school. Stuff was blowing all around. The room next to us needed to straighten a picture on the wall, and upon moving it, realized the back of it was crawling with ants. And so were the backs of the ten or so other pictures on the wall. The kids had a great time taking them all outside to clean off and promptly stomped on the hundreds of ants on the cement. It was kind of gross seeing the cement slab caked with dead ants. But not to worry, the local chickens quickly found their way to the school and helped themselves to dinner. The kids had fun, the walls and pictures got cleaned, and los gallos got fed. I love how things come together here.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-54625641334620419722008-10-25T15:53:00.003-04:002008-10-25T16:17:19.198-04:00Where to begin...Has it really just been a week since I last posted? It seems like so much has happened! I survived being pick-pocketed in Guatemala last Saturday night, a wild ride to Honduras over roads covered by mudslides, and teaching in a room of 19 10-year-olds, much of the time by myself. With the exception of last Friday, when they were wild little things, teaching with my limited Spanish language ability has gone better than I expected! The ride to and from the school in the back of a pick-up truck along a steep and muddy road above a river adds excitement to my days. Copan, where I live, is a very small little town. There are several bars, restaurants, and cafes, though. Where we teach is very rural. I have seen only one house, and there are cows and chickens making noises outside the classroom. <br /><br />A few of us visited the Mayan Indian Ruins yesterday, which is less than a mile walk from town. Impressive and incredible to see the structures they built over 1500 years ago. We got to see where they played a ball-game every 52 years... in some cases, the winner was sacrificed in a religious ceremony. A game in which I don't think my competetivness would come out!<br /><br />This morning I went horse back riding up the mountains just outside of town. Definitely sore now, and I'm sure tomorrow will feel even better. Our horses were at full trots (at least what I consider a trot) up and down the muddy roads! <br /><br />Either blogger or the internet here (which is more likely) is not coorperating for me to add pictures to my post, so maybe later...Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-78135144887116853362008-10-18T12:28:00.002-04:002008-10-18T12:36:23.581-04:00Yee haaa!Melvin is taking me and 3 volunteers to Honduras tomorrow morning. There have been a lot of washed out roads and some landslides, so it could be an interesting trip. I have been told that there are a lot of cowboys where we are going. Big hats and everything. And they can be a bit racist. Being the only American here with GVI now (everyone's from Europe except me and the Australian meteorologist), I was told i'd feel right at home. They must have heard about the Red Dog Saloon in Navarre.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-86327548377563174662008-10-17T16:37:00.003-04:002008-10-17T17:25:18.787-04:00Finalmente, I'm hereAfter a long, but mostly uneventful day of traveling, I'm safely in Antigua, Guatemala. Starting the day at 3:30am and getting to my hotel at 3:30pm Ohio time makes for a tiring day, but I guess as far as travel days go, it could be worse. Aside from the chaos and anger at 4:30 in the morning when Spirit Airlines had to downsize their full flight to a plane that holds 70 fewer passengers because of maintenance problems, the day went smoothly with a quick layover in Miami.<br /><br />Melvin and his wife Kristina, local Guatemalans hired by GVI to do airport pickups, met me at the airport. Melvin was sporting a green Cabela's cap. Cabela's is a massive outdoors store with locations in many states that my friend John would refer to as "Hunt, Fish, Kill." Marty and I actually dropped in at the local Cabela's in Dundee, MI just two days ago. As they have gigantic acquariams with a variety of fish, I was schooled in the difference in large and small mouth bass and got to see sheepshead fish (my catches from 2 weeks ago- see below) swimming around. My first (and only other) Cabela's experience was with my friend Leah a few years ago in West Virginia. We were aweed with the lifesize stuffed animals representing North America, and we ate in the cafe that offered bison, elk, and other interesting meat options. This was all very appealing to my vegetarian friend!<br /><br />I was driven from Guatemala City to Antigua, about a 30-minute ride, listening to Foreigner and Frankie J. Perhaps the Guatemalans thought I would appreciate this. I surprised myself a bit with my "okay" Spanish speaking with them. I was using sentences and everything! Knock on wood... hopefully this will continue. <br /><br />I am passing a few hours this afternoon walking around the central park square and sitting in a coffee shop with wi-fi, waiting to meet with the local GVI director to find out what is happening next. I know very soon I am heading to Honduras to stay until Christmas. <br /><br />In addition to our outing to Cabela's, Marty and I had a good four days in Michigan. Going out with friends to watch the Brownies BEAT the Giants was a nice surprise. The weather kept us from getting in any mountain biking, but we enjoyed a night out for Sushi and dinner with Wei last night. Amber, sorry we couldn't meet up! Being a good sport, Marty took me to the airport around 4am, and has to drive to Ohio tonight.<br /><br />more later...Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-34308307153589026922008-10-06T10:45:00.003-04:002008-10-06T11:12:37.816-04:00It's no salmon...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM24ZS_vNvcj0SUGKICFfOjE-wzqskfQme7sr-OJUaBOzwjuHeO-kCfhvdJa1Zmwll7PFBtIkYWwieYEJK62j1LgKpHAsCL5DZAyWu_Iy99bRqf2_-OAVEKyDoPbKammEqtDzTxEvHsK2/s1600-h/IMG_3199.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhM24ZS_vNvcj0SUGKICFfOjE-wzqskfQme7sr-OJUaBOzwjuHeO-kCfhvdJa1Zmwll7PFBtIkYWwieYEJK62j1LgKpHAsCL5DZAyWu_Iy99bRqf2_-OAVEKyDoPbKammEqtDzTxEvHsK2/s200/IMG_3199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254056988924243378" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijov4PfWMBmL19OwvwwpdmhFmrdWtlPIOs2tVa8x2w1vitzkRdPwDsFfe10UxXc75H3dyWYit4XLk1eYbC3s3Y-wblMisZaWhxnaAOW4YXzOtdZTQnbi8I8vr118citkstiewQpia-CTw/s1600-h/IMG_3202.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjijov4PfWMBmL19OwvwwpdmhFmrdWtlPIOs2tVa8x2w1vitzkRdPwDsFfe10UxXc75H3dyWYit4XLk1eYbC3s3Y-wblMisZaWhxnaAOW4YXzOtdZTQnbi8I8vr118citkstiewQpia-CTw/s200/IMG_3202.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254056999037945186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKZ3QtElgSw24CkDYxFFpvOlAR1-jqiW-MGSwe0cRZSzTa1t_BW0zGcQhoSViOrC6TvYUcxwyeGcZYZMu3_DLEvMw780vGfWEsm-WVLG8zMz6PBX0Undk1h745jBeHkdR-ofb5c0hXrzB/s1600-h/IMG_3179.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKZ3QtElgSw24CkDYxFFpvOlAR1-jqiW-MGSwe0cRZSzTa1t_BW0zGcQhoSViOrC6TvYUcxwyeGcZYZMu3_DLEvMw780vGfWEsm-WVLG8zMz6PBX0Undk1h745jBeHkdR-ofb5c0hXrzB/s200/IMG_3179.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254057005589287202" border="0" /></a><br />Last weekend I went salmon fishing with Marty, his father, and two friends, Brian and Kathy. We did some cold camping in Manistee National Forest in northern Michigan. While the salmon successfully eluded us, I did catch my first two big fish. Unfortunately, sheepshead fish are not commonly kept, so we tossed them from the pier back into Lake Michigan. Along with the pics of my fish, here is a photo of Brian with the next biggest catch of the weekend. It is a good thing we were not depending on ourselves to catch dinner.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-25301052177913209552008-10-02T21:20:00.001-04:002008-10-06T10:44:14.203-04:00Last day of work<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp825oC9otSYnAtCgSVcmGwv4V7m7j4BZHPwC4qEmNzGxsLoJ4O06e_AA5XNHPv6iPxl-CcWjonZLJ0TYUwdtHpuOP_iv0wXZYYfuInmM_4ElRNu1eXmQ3HzQBGuLcQweDUmGZ3hWM0Uu/s1600-h/IMG_3170.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp825oC9otSYnAtCgSVcmGwv4V7m7j4BZHPwC4qEmNzGxsLoJ4O06e_AA5XNHPv6iPxl-CcWjonZLJ0TYUwdtHpuOP_iv0wXZYYfuInmM_4ElRNu1eXmQ3HzQBGuLcQweDUmGZ3hWM0Uu/s320/IMG_3170.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252735946073979682" border="0" /></a><br />My wonderful co-workers have been so sweet during my last days of work. Yesterday my lunch group had a surprise pizza/cake party for me. Here is a picture of the cake Trina MADE for me. With peanut butter cookie filling, it tasted as good as it looked! Today was my last day. We had a party in class and several of us partook in happy hour at Hog Heaven after work. . . $1.50 tall Honey Brown drafts:) I wasn't prepared for it being hard to say goodbye to my students and friends at work. It is great to be surrounded by such good people.Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7701798429893776211.post-763496665221780762008-10-02T19:17:00.000-04:002008-10-02T19:26:46.313-04:00Getting ReadyI have officially entered the blogosphere. In two weeks i will be on my way to Honduras, followed by Nicaragua and Guatemala. Work has given me a six month leave of absence, and I am going to be an intern for a volunteer organization called Global Vision International. A lot excited and a bit nervous with lots of emotions going on right now... stay tuned for updates!Tracihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00098995609520816847noreply@blogger.com3