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.

Ready to move

Why does it sometimes feel that time moves according to how important a life event is? Waiting to hear if I had made it into college, a certain internship or even jobs makes time inch along. Waiting for my term to start with the Peace Corps is no exception. Even though it's taken me less than the normal waiting time, spending 9 months in transition has still played games on my mind. What could I have accomplished with that time? Never before have I held myself back so much in fear of having to move after a minimal commitment or placing roots.

I have less that a month before I fly to Washington D.C. to commence my 24 month term. That's only four weekends away.

Home Brewing

I've been playing around with some home brewing lately and finally decided to have a friend "professionally" test my latest creation. Daniel has his very own blog where he tastes and rates different commercial beers. We work together and it's always a treat to talk to him about the different beers that the world has to offer.

Visit me in Kalamazoo for a taste of the porter (while it still lasts)!

I thought the same thing...

My thoughts exactly while watching the half time show during the superbowl (I didn't make the image).

Yo Voy Caminando...

I feel like I'm finally making some headway through the Peace Corps rat race. It's been a huge help having my querida cousin walk me through the different processes and being the lone positive voice in the "wilderness." It seems like a lot of people either don't want me to leave or think that it's going to take forever. My cousin knows how vulnerable this whole process makes a person feel. It's hard knowing that you want to go, that there is a village waiting for you, that the U.S. government wants you to go and yet there are so many potential mistakes that could set a person back by months.

I sent my medical information in about two weeks ago and have already had my dental assessed and deemed acceptable. All that is needed now is for a nurse to look at my physical and psychological state of mind to decide if I'm worth investing thousands of dollars in.

It appears that my estimated departure date will be in the early summer. Stay tuned for more information as it surfaces.

Waiting, again.

All of my medical information has been sent to the Peace Corps. Now all I have to do is wait and hope that nothing gets lost or missplaced along the way.