We got up at 7 for breakfast at 7:15. We had pancakes and lemongrass tea for breakfast. We talked for a long time with Elvira and Enrique. We gave them our gifts. I had brought a framed picture of Elvira and Enrique with Amber, Lauren, and me from two years ago. Christiana gave them Chicago sports-themed gifts. They knew more about the teams than I do (not that I know a lot). I paid them. When they found out that Amber was coming to get me and would be in Antigua for lunch, they told me to invite her. After we got done talking, I packed up my toiletries, pajamas, and a few other things. Then we headed to the Internet cafe so I could call Amber to make sure our plan was still on. The Internet cafe was closed still, so we walked to our Spanish school so Christiana could pay for her transportation to the airport tomorrow. I asked Katy, the director, if she knew where I could us the telephone because I wanted to catch Amber before she left since I did not know if it was a cell or school number. She said I could use her phone as long as it was a local call (not international). I called and left a message for Amber. Then I asked to use the computer. I tried to transfer Christiana's pictures to my flash drive, but the school computers were old and did not have an SD card slot. I checked my email and uploaded my blog entries to the Evernote cloud. I tried to then post them to my actual blog, but the school computer would not let me find my blog site. I next tried to download more digital library books, but I could not remember my library card number. I ran home to get it (luckily the school is only three blocks from our house) and then came back. It took me a while, but I finally returned the books I was done with and downloaded six new books. Christiana went to feed dogs while I did this. We then met up at the school and went to the Internet cafe to try doing the pictures there. We did not find any computers with working SD card slots which was weird because that is how I always post my pictures in Antigua. I was able to upload my blog posts and write a note on my blog saying that I might be MIA for a while if Amber's Internet was not fixed. A gang cut the Internet line the end of May and it was supposed to be fixed this past Friday, but I did not know if it actually was. We then ran back to the house to go to the bathroom and drop off my iPad. We then walked to the bank. However, the line was super long and we had to meet Amber at 11:45 at Fernando's near our house. We decided to try the fancy Internet cafe near Central Park. We stopped and asked about using an SD card and they said that they did not have a cable to connect it. I asked if they knew another place I could do it and she suggested across the street at another Internet cafe. We went there and asked and the lady did have a special cable to put the SD card in a USB port. I transferred the pictures in just a few minutes and then we headed out to meet Amber. She was already there, drinking tea in the back. She was ready to go and we headed out. We went directly back to the bank and waited a long time for two people upstairs and then forever in the downstairs line. It seemed to be moving extra slowly. It took so long, in fact, that it was time for lunch. We sent Amber back to the house to let them know that we would be late and to catch up with Elvira and Enrique. Christiana offered to stay with me, which was very nice. I really do not know how much money I will need when I am with Amber, but I would rather have too much than not enough. I decided that since I am planning on returning to Guatemala in the next few years that it would be okay to have some quetzals left over.
Christiana and I rushed home. We were a little more than 15 minutes late. We had fish for lunch. It was shredded and mixed with lots of vegetables. We also had potatoes and cucumbers and guanabana juice. We sat around and talked a long time. Jemletta, our housemate from Colorado, had changed her schedule so that her afternoons are free. It was nice to have her talk more instead of rushing off to class. I packed a few souvenirs that did not fit in my bag in a bag Amber had brought with her. Then Aber took her load and headed off to Central Park to meet a friend. Jemletta, Christiana, and I walked with her. They stopped at the homemade Popsicle place and each got one. I was tempted to get the strawberry, but I decided to hold out for my McDonalds ice cream cone. Amber went on her way and we continued to McDonalds. I decided to splurge and got the large waffle cone for less than a dollar. It was twice the price of the small size, but it was not twice as big. We walked around a pretty courtyard and then to La Merced. We then went home. I sat around and talked with Christiana. I got ready to leave right as it started to rain. I put the rain cover on my backpack and headed to Pollo Campero to meet Amber.
I left the house at 4:10 and got to Pollo Campero a little early. My backpack was heavy and I was carrying another bag. I sat in Pollo Campero for ten minutes. All of a sudden, I realized that Amber probably meant the other Pollo Campero close to the bus terminal. I quickly walked over there, but I did not see her. I looked inside and waited outside for 5-10 minutes and then wondered if she was at the other Pollo Campero. I walked over there, keeping a close eye out for her. However, when I got back to the first Pollo Campero, she was not there. By this time, I was really tired, sweaty, and worried that I would never find her. The hostess invited me to sit inside and wait for my friend. I waited for another 5-10 minutes and then decided that I probably should go check the other Pollo Campero. I asked the hostess to do me a favor and if Amber showed up to that she could tell her I was at the other Pollo Campero. I described Amber and headed out the door only to spot Amber and her friend heading toward me. She had meant the Pol Campero by the bus station, but she was running late and when she arrived there, she did not see me, so she went to the other one. She walked on the next street over which was how we missed each other. We started our trek to Guatemala City about a half hour later than she had wanted to leave. She said goodbye to her friend, went to the bathroom in Cafe Condesa, and then we went to catch the bus. The sky looked ominous and I hoped it would not rain. As we approached the corner to catch the bus to Guatemala City, we saw the bus pass us by. Amber hoped we could catch it, but with my backpack on my back, it was not possible. We waited for the next bus to come and only had to wait a few minutes. The bus helper took my backpack and tied it to the top of the bus. We got on a crowded bus. Within minutes it started to rain. I hoped that the man had put my backpack with the rain cover on top. It rained for about ten minutes and then it stopped. There were so many people on the bus that there were about eight in each row (2 seats) of the former school bus! I finally got a seat and the woman next to me had a huge bouquet of roses. i made small talk with her ans said that I thought her flowers were beautiful . she gave me one of her roses. her name was Hermalinda. As we drove into Guatemala City, people started getting off at a faster rate than they got on. Finally, Amber told me we were at our stop. We got off and the bus helper gave me my backpack. I struggled to get it on and Amber had to help me. We then had to climb up a steep dirt hill. I was worried I was going to fall over backward. I gave Amber my other bag and had to use my hands to keep my balance as I scrambled up the hill. When I got close to the top, a man came and grabbed my hand and helped me up the rest of the way. I said thanks and we crossed through a park, crossed two busy streets, and went up and over the road on one of the pedestrian overpasses. We paid a one quetzal coin at a bus station and entered what reminded me of a subway station. We stood in line for a bus. The first bus came and we did not make it on. The second bus to come was completely empty and we made it on. A double seat became available and Amber went in first closest to the window. I tried to sit down, but I could not bend my knees enough to fit in the seat with my giant backpack. I half stood in the seat, supporting my backpack against the seat. We soon reached our stop and got off to look for the next bus which was free! The line for the bus was unlike any line I have ever seen. It extended forever, probably close to a quarter mile. We stood in the line for 15 minutes or so and it barely moved forward. A woman came up to us and told us she would take us to a car because the line would probably take 2 hours. We started following this lady and I did not know if Amber even knew her. Finally she introduced me to the woman. It was one of her students' mothers. I immediately felt better. I thought she was trying to take us to a taxi or something. We walked with her to a street corner and waited for her husband to come with the car. I listened while she and Amber chatted. The man arrived with the car. They opened the empty, clean trunk and I tossed my backpack in. We drove for a short distance to get to Amber's school. She lives right down the road from the second most notorious slum in Guatemala City. Apparently lots of bad things happen there. We thanked them for dropping us off and I gave the woman my rose. We walked up a hill to the school. Amber let us in and we walked through the quiet, dark building. It smelled delicious, like fresh bread because the front part of the building holds a bakery. I dropped my stuff in her room and headed for the kitchen. Everyone was eating dinner. They take turns cooking here. We had some egg dishes with mushrooms and cheese and pineapple and pancakes. Then I took a shower and unpacked/repacked my backpack so I could find things. I am sharing a very small room with Amber and Katie. They have a bunk bed and I have an air mattress on the floor. My backpack full of clothes is under the desk in the room. My other things are under the hanging clothes. The shower was good, pretty hot with decent water pressure. I then brushed my teeth and wrote my very long blog post. Amber came in and went to bed. They have Christmas lights in their room and it reminds me of the dorm. Katie was not in bed yet, so we had just the Christmas lights on. I finished my blog post and went to bed at 10:30.
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