Iglesia La Merced

This is the beautiful yellow Catholic church that is near Elvira and Enrique´s house.

Arch

Here is the arch that connected the two parts of the convent so the nuns could cross from one building to the other without being seen.

Antigua Cathedral

Here is a picture of the Cathedral in Antigua. It is very beautiful, as you can see.

Fun fact: this is the 4,444th picture that I have taken on this camera!

Girls of the Household

Here are all the girls that lived in our house. Left to right: Erica, Sandy, me, and Gaby.

Indian-Guatemalan Meal

Here is the meal that Sandy and I cooked for Erica`s goodbye dinner: rice with tomatoes, onions, and carrots in it, curry chicken, and potato tortas.

Students

Here are some of the students who have attended my school, Educaciòn Para Todos. Left to right we have Hussein, me, Filippa, and Benjamin.

Any and Carolyn

Here is a picture of my teacher, Any, and me. I haven´t mentioned that I enjoy being one of the tallest females in Guatemala. Now I know how Tammy feels all the time!

Laguna de Chicabal

Here is what Laguna de Chicabal looked like when some of the fog cleared away.

Monday, July 26, 2010

I got up this morning at 6:45 and did my usual morning routine. Breakfast consisted of a bowl of sliced bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple. I guess you could call it a fruit salad. I thought it was funny because each time we have had the yogurt-fruit breakfast, there is less and less yogurt on it until today when there was none! I also had a little bit of coffee. Hussein and I left for school at 7:50.

I read my homework assignment to Any, which consisted of a diary of my trip to Antigua. I had to write it from the perspective of three days (before, during, and after my trip). I had also written out an itinerary of my last week here. Any and I talked about it. Then I reviewed the conditional progressive tense and the conditional perfect tense. There are seven uses for these tenses, in case you were wondering. Next, I read two Guatemalan legends. One was about the creation of the world and it explained why people can’t communicate with animals. The other was about Hernando Cortes and his horse that broke its leg so he left it with the native people. They didn’t know what to feed it so they tried to give it snake meat, and deer meat, and fish, and all kinds of meat, but the horse starved because horses don’t eat meat. The people end up making a stone horse to remind them of the real one and they kind of worship it. It is a long story and I am tired and I don’t really speak English anymore, so I am not going to take the time to tell all the details, but what I really liked about the story was that when the Spanish came and taught them about God, the native people realized that if there is only one God, then when they were offering sacrifices to the stone horse, they must have been praying to God, so then they start praying to God instead of their deities. It was a neat story. Then we had the break. I was hungry, so I went to the bakery next door to the school, but they hardly had anything. I wandered around a bit looking for another bakery, but the other ones were closed, so I returned the first bakery and ended up getting some regular roll-type things. I went back to school and talked to Elizabeth and Gareth, a couple from England. They are only at our school for one week. Any came back and we finished talking about the second story. Then we played animal memory. If you turned over two different animals, you had to give a sentence using the two animal names. I beat Any 17-8. Then we played again and I beat her 13-12. I was very lucky, often turning over two cards we had never looked at before and they would match! Then we read a third story about a conceited girl who turned into stone because she bathed on Good Friday. By the time we finished discussing and retelling this story, it was time to go home. Any and I had fun today. I kept making her laugh when I stumbled over names of places. I also told her my story of bartering in Antigua when I told the man that “the lowest price I will pay is Q90” instead of “the highest price.”

Hussein and I walked home. We had soup with noodles in it and black tortillas. We also had rice and black beans and a potato-chicken-lentil-curry dish. When I finished, I went back to my room for a few minutes before leaving for daycare.

When I arrived at the daycare at 2, Rosy Bella was sitting on the floor waiting for someone to hold her. I gladly obliged and soon rocked her to sleep. I held her while she slept for an hour. A group of students from a church were painting the tables and chairs. I was excited because they really needed it. Yadira was back but still was kind of sick and cranky. The kids woke up around 3:15 and they had snack a little after 3:30. Rosy Bella was fussy and didn’t want to be held but neither did she want to be put down. Carlitos, the little darling, tried to cheer her up, but she just screamed louder. Eventually she calmed down. I left about 4:30 in a rainstorm.

I had to go all the way to Central Park to talk to different tour agencies about my options for my last week here. I visited Adrenalina Tours and then went to MonteVerde Tours (the group I was supposed to climb the volcano with), but they were closed. I wandered around and found the Bridge of the Chacoyos and realized that the bridge I had thought was the Bridge of the Chacoyos really wasn’t. I also found Icaro Tours right by the bridge. I talked to Erica’s friend Josue. He tried to convince me that I have time to go to Semuq Champey AND Tikal with the excellent tour he would set up for me. I am really only interested in a shuttle to Antigua, but I listened to him talk for a while. I forgot to mention that it was pouring by this time. I headed back out into the downpour. It had been raining hard for a good hour and the streets were flooded. I had to step into a stream of rushing water. My shoes were completely drenched and my jeans were drenched, too, up to my knees. It wasn’t super cold, though, so I didn’t mind too much.

I went to XelaPan and bought some tostadas for tomorrow during the break. They are my favorite thing from the bakeries here. I then kept walking home in the deluge. I stopped at a tienda and bought some candy to give to the kids at the daycare tomorrow since it is my last day. I kept walking home. I stopped at a libreria (a store that sells notebooks and pens and stuff like that) and looked at folders. It was kind of funny because I didn’t know the word for “folder” so I told the woman what I needed (a thing to put papers in that opens and shuts). She brought me a selection of folders. I asked what you call them (in Spanish, of course), and she told me “fol-der.” Oh, I should have tried my Spanglish in the first place! They were not cheap, but I bought a plastic one that opens and shuts (perfect for file folder games at school).

I went back outside and walked to the internet café near Parque Bolivar. Every time a car passed me, it would spray dirty water from the street onto my shoes and pants. I had to wait for a bunch of cars to go by until I could cross the road and enter the internet café. I waited two minutes for a man to finish working on my favorite computer, and then I had my turn. I read my emails and responded with a short reply to a few people, but I spent most of my time working on my potential plan for this week. I think I might go to Antigua Thursday afternoon and then go to Semuc Champey Friday-Sunday. Then I would return to Antigua until I would take a shuttle to the airport early Tuesday morning. I emailed Elvira to see if any of this would work for them. My time was up, so I headed back to my house. It was only sprinkling by this time.

I did a few things in my room, and then headed into the house to chat with Sandy and help set the table. We had rice, black beans, the lentil curry dish from lunch, a salsa that I don’t remember its name, bread, and a strange egg creation that was basically a leftover black tortilla from lunch with an egg cooked on it. After dinner, I went to my room and took a shower. Then I did my homework (rewrite the creation story from this morning in my own words). I am really tired and my brain finds it hard to write in English. I keep writing Spanish words and then have to erase them. I take this as a good sign for my Spanish. I guess it’s a good thing that I will have nearly two weeks of English immersion before I have to teach students proper grammar!

I put all my pictures on my computer and worked on the blog. I estimate I will go to bed around 10:30. I am going to try to catch up on my blog entries from this weekend.

I am really proud of myself that I have not accidentally used tap water to brush my teeth. I think this is the first country I have been to (that you shouldn’t use the water) that I haven’t accidentally dunked my toothbrush in the water at least once. I also have only twice thrown toilet paper in the toilet, in case you were wondering. What I am looking forward to the most about returning home (even though I really don’t want to leave), aside from seeing my fantastic family and fabulous friends, is taking a nice, long, hot shower and washing my clothes in a washing machine… both now possible thanks to our new septic system and washer!

Sunday, July 25, 2010

I woke up at 5:30 to birdsongs and bells ringing. Wow, that sounds a lot nicer than I thought it was at the time! I dozed until 7:30, and then I got up. Enrique had told me that they were going to church at 9, so I thought they would be up soon. I got ready and was anxious to go out, but I didn’t have a key, so I didn’t want to leave because I might not be able to get back in. Elvira and Enrique have lots of caged birds in the walkway. They have a toucan! I went down and watched the birds for a while and enjoyed the sun. Even though it was early in the morning, I was comfortable in a skirt and short sleeves… amazing! I had forgotten how that can feel. I am used to socks and shoes, layers and jackets. The man from Canada who was staying there too, came and talked to me. He offered to let me borrow one of his keys because he and his wife have two. I thanked him and headed out.

July 25 is the feast day of Antigua’s patron saint. For that reason, they were having a parade at 9. Enrique had told me that he thought Jenny’s church started at 9, too. I headed out to find the church. It is held in a café. I couldn’t find it, so I asked a man in a shop and he told me that it was in the café just a few doors down. I walked in and there were a few women mopping the floor. I asked them if there was going to be a church service there and what time it started. They told me 10:30. I was happy because then I got to go watch the parade. I went near the arch over the street because I thought it would be a good place to take pictures. There were many school marching bands. Mostly the parade consisted of school groups. Some of the students were dressed up in costumes and some were wearing really fancy dresses and outfits. I took lots of pictures. Most of the people were standing on the shady side of the street, but I basked in the sun (wearing my sunscreen, of course), and got lots of good pictures because I wasn’t crowded by lots of people. After an hour, I started to wonder how much longer the parade was going to last. I started walking up the street the opposite direction as the parade, so I got to see it faster. I walked up to Central Park and watched the end of the parade. Then I walked around a little before heading to the church at 10:20.

I found it interesting that there was a sign on the wall outside the café with the name of the café on it, but on Sundays, they hang another sign below it that says the name of the church (Iglesia del Camino). It is a bilingual church. I hadn’t seen a group of so many gringos in one place since Texas! The majority of the gringos seemed to be girls in their 20s who were wearing skirts. I sat next to a girl named Kristin from Texas. The main pastor was a gringo who spoke in English and then someone translated. We sang worship songs in both languages. Then a Guatemalan man who is learning to be a pastor gave the message. I was glad because I could understand it first in Spanish and then hear the English version rather than the other way around. The message was about giving God complete control of your life and not being controlled by anything (even “good” things like comfort: “your bed”).

After church, I only had an hour left in Antigua. I left the church and headed to the market. I walked out to the part near the bus terminal and found one thing that I needed. Then I went in the artesian market and asked about 30 vendors if they had what I was looking for. I did not have any luck. It was time for me to head back to the house, so I looked in shops along the way. One man had two of what I needed in his shop. He gave me a very high price and I bartered hard to get a lower price. In my haste, I told him that 90 was “the lowest price” that I could pay. I bet he liked that. There probably aren’t too many customers who refuse to pay lower prices! Hehe! I think he understood me because I got a reasonable deal. I also quickly stopped in some travel agencies to ask about prices for going to the airport. I think it might be better if I spent my last night in Antigua instead of Guatemala City. The shuttles to the airport are only $7 for the hour-long ride and they pick you up at your door. I will have to investigate this further!

I went back to the house and changed my clothes and packed the rest of my stuff up. I talked to Elvira who was sitting on the steps in the sun. I took a picture of Elvira, Enrique, and me. Then I had to leave. I walked to the bus terminal and found a bus to Chimaltenango (Q5). I told the ayudante that I was going to Xela. The bus was crowded and I was near the middle, so I think he forgot about me. After the hour-long ride to Chimaltenango, I thought I recognized the road where I would need to get a bus. However, the bus didn’t stop and the ayudante didn’t tell me anything. I asked a woman sitting near me and she told me that I should have gotten out four blocks ago. I rushed to the front of the bus, and the driver let me out. I walked the four blocks back to the main road. I almost caught a bus heading to Xela, but they left without me. I waited for the next bus with an ice cream-selling man. I had to wait about ten minutes. The bus that came said Xela on the front and so I hopped on. It was really crowded. I shared my seat with two other people. There were three people on almost every seat. I told the ayudante that I was going to Xela when I paid for my ticket (Q25). It was a long bus ride. I was squished between two people for most of the ride and it was a very curvy road. We came to Cuatro Caminos and I was glad because I knew we were near Xela. However, the bus went a different way. I thought that we must be taking a different route. The bus kept climbing up and up a huge mountain. I saw a sign for San Francisco El Alto. The ayudante came to me and asked, “Xela?” I said yes (well actually I said “si”), and he told me to get out. He had obviously made a mistake and had forgotten to tell me to get out at Cuatro Caminos. I had to wait on a corner for a van (microbus) to take me back to Cuatro Caminos to get a bus to Xela. I chatted with a very friendly woman while I waited. The van was stuffed full of people, but they were very friendly, too. I got to ride in the front with the driver and two other people. It cost Q3. The driver was very helpful and dropped me off very close to where I had to take the next bus. I walked over and got on. The bus ride cost Q3 and lasted a little more than a half hour. I recognized the rotunda and got out there. I should have rode a little further, but I was able to walk home without having to go all the way to the terminal and then take a microbus home.

I walked home and unpacked before dinner. I went in the house at 7 and no one was home, so I started doing my homework. Sandy and Roberto came home and we had dinner about 7:30. We had chuchitos and bread and rice and beans. I can’t remember if there was anything else. I told them about my trip, especially the part about seeing Brenda.

I sat in the living room after dinner and did my homework (diary of my trip). Then I went to my room, washed a few clothes in the sink, and then went to bed around 10. I was really tired and I had a headache from the jarring bus ride.

P.S. I forgot to say yesterday that the electricity was only off for about 15 minutes.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

I got up this morning at 6:30 and finished getting ready to go. I went in and had breakfast (cornflakes and warm milk and a banana and coffee) at 7. Instead of eating my banana, I took it with me for later. I went back to my room, brushed my teeth, and left at 7:20. I didn’t have to wait more than 5 minutes for a bus to come. I took the bus to Terminal Minerva. I never know where is the best place to get off. I had to walk a little way through the market until I found the buses. I asked for a bus to Chimaltenango (Q35) and again had the experience of being shoved toward the bus as if it were leaving. Then I sat on the bus for ten minutes waiting to go. I had a seat to myself for most of the trip which was incredibly nice. We left at 8. I was able to work on some school stuff. I had started worrying about everything I have to do when I get back, but I was able to get about 3 hours of work done on this bus. I filled about 15 pages of a notebook with ideas for the year and lists of things I need to do. I actually started getting a little bit excited about a new school year starting! I was a little worried that the ayudante would forget to tell me when to get off the bus, but I moved up to the front, and he told me where to get off. I had no more than stepped off the bus than a bus pulled up behind and the ayudante started shouting, “Antigua!” I walked a few steps and climbed on the bus. I got one of the last seats. More and more people kept getting on the bus. It was the most crowded bus I have been on in Guatemala. The ride from Chimaltenango to Antigua (Q5) took about an hour. Many more people kept getting on. I was squished up against the wall by the two men who were sharing the school bus seat with me.

When we arrived a little after noon, I got off the bus and wandered through a market area. I asked someone which way was the center of Antigua. I wandered into town and was surprised to see no street signs. That is one thing that I have been very impressed with in Xela. Probably due to their confusing zoning system, almost every corner is labeled. However, in Antigua, this was not so. I asked someone what street and what avenue I was on. I ended up walking almost to central park and then going back to search for Elvira’s house. I found it, but walked way out of my way. Rosa, the maid, answered the door and let me in. She gave me water to drink. I was really hot. Antigua is really hot and I was carrying all my stuff in my backpack. I changed into a skirt and short-sleeved top (Hallelujah!), and headed out to experience Antigua. I wandered around looking at ruins of churches that were destroyed by an earthquake. I looked at Central Park (Plaza Mayor), the cathedral, and several other things. I went to find an arch over a street that connected two buildings of an abbey so the nuns could cross over without being seen. I found it after asking two people for directions. The funny thing is that this arch is only about three blocks away from Elvira’s house, but I had taken the long way around. As I was walking down the street after seeing the arch, I heard someone say, “Carolina!” I figured the person wasn’t talking to me, then I heard it again. I looked up and saw Brenda! I was so surprised and excited to see her! We walked along together, talking and catching up. Her guide book has more info about Antigua than does mine, so we went exploring together. We saw the San Francisco church (or something like that). We went inside and looked around. We saw the tomb of San Pedro. We went outside and looked at some vendors’ stalls. I bought a few things. Then it started to sprinkle. There were very few drops of rain, but the drops were humongous Brenda and I shared my umbrella and kept walking. We continued on and the rain stopped. We kept walking and then we heard a huge thunderclap. We kept walking and it started pouring. We ducked into a shop and asked if there was a café close by. We dashed four doors down and entered the café. We both chose a strawberry-pineapple licuado. We sat there, drinking and talking. It worked out perfectly because the rain stopped about the time we wanted to leave. We wandered around a little more together and Brenda bought some snacks for her trip. She was leaving at 6 to go to Guatemala (City), and then she was going to take an overnight bus to Tikal. I left her close to her place to get the bus, and headed back to the house. On the way, I met Rosa and she told me that no one was home, and that she was going home for Sunday. I decided to go to the market. I found a great offer on shirts and bought some for Q10 each. Now I have more clean clothes to wear! I went back to the house and Elvira and Enrique were home. Elvira had fallen two weeks ago and broken her foot (I think) and hurt her hand. I sat in the kitchen and talked to Elvira while she got supper ready. Then Enrique came in and I talked to him, too. I learned a lot about their family. We were also ready to eat when the electricity went off. Elvira lit candles and said that it would be more romantic! We had chilerellenos and salad and rice for dinner and reinitos (plantains with black beans inside) for dessert. I hadn’t had salad in forever and it was really good! We sat at the table and talked for a long time. Then Enrique went to show me my room. I slept in their grandson’s room because the other rooms were full. It’s a good thing he wasn’t there this weekend! They told me that it is the same room that Jenny slept in when she was here with a Tri-S group during spring break. I asked about churches and Enrique told me about the church that Jenny attended while she was here. I could hear fireworks and music from the park. If it hadn’t been raining, I would have gone out, but I journaled and went to bed fairly early. I think it was about 9:30.