School Gardens

A few images of the school gardens that I´ve been working on.

A New Life in Guatemala

Even though I've lived in Latin America for roughly 17 years, I'm still amazed about how some things are so similar and yet so different.

• When I lived in Bolivia I used to eat potatoes every single day. I've now learned to say, "Please pass the ixim (K´iche´ for corn)."
• My bi-weekly baths now consist of a bucket with a plastic scoop or a mud oven that acts as a sauna. I'm rather tall for Guatemala so I can now say that I bathe lying down.
• The first question that I was asked when I first moved to rural Guatemala was how much money I make. There were rumors passing through town that the backpack that I carry filled with teaching material is actually filled with dollar bills.
• I know how to read and write...meaning that I'm qualified to do just about anything that I want. A family has invited me to work with their kid who has a speech impediment. Worst-case scenario: he still stutters but has learned about the world of C. S. Lewis.

Dancing Merengue!

I've learned how dance to merengue! This is a video of my host sister and me dancing. :)

Learning to use my hard head

A few days ago my Guatemalan host mom asked me to help her move a quintal (100 lbs.) of raw corn. She offered to help me move it with the car but I wanted to try out a more traditionally Guatemalan way of moving heavy objects. Papa Jorge (my family's grandpa) lent me his micapal for a few minutes to carry the corn to the mill. I don't think he hooked the micapal on very well because my neck was killing me at the end of my trip. While I was walking through the streets of my small town everyone came out to laugh at the gringo carrying 100 pounds with his neck. Papa Jorge told me that when he was younger he used to take 250 pounds using a micapal. I should probably get used to lighter weights first...

Another Move

It almost feels unreal that my voyage to Central America started two days ago and that I'm waiting to board my plane in Washington. I think part of the reason behind this unexpected rush of activities is that I have been so busy these last 8 months leading to my departure. More than ever I appreciate the ability to sit in a quiet spot and reflect. I hear that Peace Corps volunteers have a lot of time on their hands. It's going to be good.