I'm home

Made it home Saturday around 6:30 (both of my flights got in early!)* and hit the ground running.  My parents and Tim met me at the airport and we went straight to dinner.  My parents actually agreed to go to a  sushi place.  I was shocked!  They tried a piece each but hated it so it was chicken/beef teriyaki for them but I thoroughly enjoyed my sushi.  Next it was off to Lisa and Brad's to watch the olympics with them and their neighbors and enjoy beers from around the world.  I was all dressed in my airplane clothes, no make-up and dog tired but Brad assured us no matter what I look like I'm always prettier than Tim...nice to have such great friends.  It was around mid-night before I made it home.  

Sunday, Tim and I went to our favorite brunch place and then I had a sorority alumnae association officer's meeting so it was another busy day.  It was nice to see all of the ladies though.  Afterwards I hung out with Jen and we just caught up.  She and I both kind of laughed at the end because really not too much has happened since I left.

Already have plans with Amber and Stephanie for my Chuy's fix and Ginny has insisted Rounder stay with the grandparent's so we can hang out at their place this Friday.  It really is nice seeing everyone but I have to admit I miss Antigua.  I cried in the shuttle as I was leaving.  It was a rushed departure because the shuttle came early.  That was good because I don't do well with good-byes but then I felt silly crying on the bus.

My shower was great when I got back and I never knew how much I appreciated brushing my teeth with running water

Even with missing Antigua, I still can't wait to see everyone because I have missed all of you tremendously and want to say thanks for all the emails while I was gone.  

*That was the only good thing about my flights.  The first flight was three hours and I sat next to a mine that had just finished witnessing in Guatemala for the past week and didn't know how to turn it off.  After a LONG while I told him I was Methodist thinking he would  leave me alone since he didn't need to save my soul but oh no.  He then wanted to talk more and more and more.  My ears were ringing by the time we landed.  The second flight a lady took my window seat.  When I showed her my ticket she told me she got their first.  WHAT???It doesn't work that way but I just gave in because it was an hour flight and I just wanted to get home but I did think "Wow, welcome back to the USA".

Last Post from Antigua

I cannot believe it is my last day...I´ve just walked around the city enjoying it one last time.
Last night I went for drinks with my friend Sean since it was his last night. I got in around midnight and Sylvia was worried about me. It was cute and made me realize once again how close I have become with the family. One of my housemates in the past, Sarah, came in late all the time and Sylvia never waited or worried. At dinner I commented on how Marvin talks a lot more than he did when I first arrived and Sylvia quickly piped in that he normally doesn´t talk to the students but he likes me. Sylvia has also been making all my favorite foods this week. So sweet.
I talked to a Mayan lady today in the park for about 10-15 minutes. She sat next to me with her kids and just started chatting. She asked about the book I was reading and then told me about her family and that her husband died, etc...then she told me she didn´t have anything to sell but would sell me the bracelet she was wearing. I told her to keep the bracelet but gave her 10Q. Probably a scam but worth the little over $1 I paid. When she left I got to see her put her baby behind her in the slings they use. It was so interesting to me. I just do not see how they don´t fall out. The only sad thing was the baby was crawling in front of us and his shirt came up and his back was nothing but a big bruise. Not sure how it happened but I felt bad for him.
I also got an email from one of the mom´s of the kids I worked with. She attached a few pics for me. They are pics of her two daughters at the beach and at home, etc...I figured trhey would be pics from when I was there so this was a nice surprise. She used a translator from the internet but everything is all wrong I still appreciate her trying so much though and for simply writing me.
So last night Sean and I were talking about all the creature comforts were excited to come home to. Both of us agreed a long hot shower was number one. I also can´t wait to drive my car again, go to Chuy´s with Ginny and Jeff, go to Chuy´s with Amber, , going to Amy´s with the gang to have Chinese food and watch the Olympics (oh wait they´re doing that without me, I don´t get to come home to that :-))having towels that actually dry me, going to tan (I am WHITE!), not having to watch the clock when I am on the internet, not having to convert Q´s to $ everytime I want to know how much I am spending, etc...
I realize there is a lot more that I am going to miss though. There is absolutely no way I could write it all down. I will miss the people the most though. The family, my kids at the school, their families, the teachers I worked with, the friends I made, the people in the store fronts saying Paso Adelante, the Mayan women walking around, the staff at Reilly´s, everyone that I see stopping to hug their friends and say hi and then keep going, the people of Antigua in general. They are no replacement for all of my friends and family back home but it is weird to be so close with these people and to have shared so much then just leave and probably never see most again. However, I am finally ready to come home. I miss everyone.

The Story Continues

Continuing the blog I lost yesterday...

Monday was pretty normal with the exception of the twins birthday party. Earlier in the day we had TWO heavy lunches. Mom made one and grandma had to make the traditional Guatemalan lunch too. Of course I ate both. Then that night we had a party! There was tostados, and cake, and so much family I could barely keep it straight. We sang happy birthday in English first, then in Spanish, then something about wanting cake, and then clapped thirteen times (that is how old the twins turned) before they could blow out the candles. We had to do this twice since there are two of them. The cake was tres leches but it didn´t taste anything like ours and the frosting was really different to me (eggs and sugar). It was a fun night.
Tuesday, I printed close to a hundred pictures for the students at the school I volunteer in the afternoons. I got most everyone but I am ashamed to say there were some students that did not get a picture. They were so happy though and kept thanking me all day Tuesday and Wednesday. Some even brought theirs with them on Wednesday. There is one man there that I have known quite well since working there so I had several pics of him, however he was one of the last people I handed them to. He came up to me and told me it was okay that I didn´t have any pics for him, so when I gave him his he started shaking so much and smiling! One kid in my class started pouting while two kids looked at theirs and when I gave him his he hugged and kissed me! Yesterday at the school I got to observe an SLP student examining one of the kids. It was wild to see the old test kits that they use that were not even up to date when I was in grad school. It will take her 2 months to finish evaluating all the kids and then it is summer break for them so if there are funds or whoever is in control doesn´t decide that the kids need a new eval for the new school year the kids won´t get therapy until January!!! I was ready to really learn Spanish and move down here!
Tuesday night I went to another lecture dealing with social issues in Guatemala. This one dealt with inequality and what is being done about it. This was the best by far of the four I went to while here. It was interesting because they pointed out that the inequality of the world as a whole is more than that of Guatemala where there is 60% of the population at or below the poverty line. I wanted to go on a tour this afternoon with the organization that did the lecture but while at work yesterday the teacher told me it was parent conference day today. Usually the kids don´t come but my class was going to and the parents were bringing lunch for me to say good-bye. Once I told the mom I live with she told me how unusual this was and that I had no choice but go because that meant the families were taking off work more than normal to stay longer (which is big deal to these families that attend this school). Not that I was considering not going but Sylvia felt the need to drive the point home. :-)
At first there was an educational part of the parent conference so they talked about Down´s Syndrome and Rhett´s Syndrome and then the teacher asked me to do a little impromptu speech. That was scary but I made it through. Then we had chips, pepsi, and homemade chicken salad sandwiches. I have been so careful with my food but I could not refuse so now I am curious to see if I get sick...that would so not be fun on the plane. They gave me a gift as well. I broke down crying. It is a little trinket of a boy sitting next to a water globe with butterflies. Very simple but when you see it at our loft you will understand the story behind it. When they left the parents kept thanking me for working with their child and giving me wishes of a good trip and health. A couple even told me to tell Tim hi (They knew he came to visit and thought that was crazy and joked with me a lot about it before he arrived). I ewxchanged emails with one of the parents too.
Today was my last day at school too. Yep, I am playing hookey tomorrow. I took my teacher out to lunch (yes if you are counting this is the second time this week I have had two lunches and yes I eat dinner and breakfast too!) I also got an official certificate that qualifies me as an intermediate Spanish speaker. Not sure about the accuracy of that but whatever. Now the challenge is to find a way to keep learning or at least not lose what I have now.
Going to have drinks with Sean tonight after dinner because he leaves tomorrow. I can´t believe I am doing all kinds of saying good-bye activites. I have very mixed feelings. My friend Fernando might meet me at the airport to say good-bye since he lives in Guatemala City. That will be nice but it seem surreal that I am leaving in two days. I think I will go into culture shock when I return.

The Countdown is on...

SO I wrote this blog last night and it was long and very informative and then lost all of it but this. Jenny is hassling Tim that I have not updated with the frecuency that she would like so I am publishing this and will finish it and add more this evening. Jenny yo must know this means I will miss the 2 for 1 Maragarita special but your happiness means that much to me.

So I only have a few days left but tons to catch up on.

I surprised Tim at the airport Friday night. He didn´t even see me so I had to yell and he just laughed. That night we just went out for a bit but nothing special. The next day I showed him the house and my room, my school, the supermarket, my school I volunteer at, and a McDonald´s. This McD´s is crazy! It is huge and has a beautiful patio with ruins in the back. Of course we got a pic with Ronald and the ruins. We had tipical Guatemalan food for lunch and I was able to intriduce him to some new foods and a juice. He was afraid of the sweet beans wraped in plantains for dessert but it did not disappoint. It is one of my favorites here. After lunch we met up with my friend from Guatemala City, Fernando. He ate and we just hung out. I was glad they met because Fernando and I plan to email each other so he can practice English and I can practice Spanish. Next we went to Sky Cafe because we couldn´t find it last year. Once again got some great pictures witht he view. THEN we had a hour before meeting the family for dinner so we decided to head to our favorite bar from last year. I walk in a minute or two before Tima nd run into both of my friends Aaron (the private school teacher here in Antigua) and Sean (the construction worker from Cali). It was crazy because Sean wasn´t supposed to be in until SUnday. He went to Reilly´s thinking Tim and I might show up there! He toldus about his trip (he was the one traveling on the chicken bus throughout the country for a week). Well he met up with his Guatemalan friend and they got robbed with a machete!!!! Scary. He wasn´t too effected by it though- puts his camera memory card in his bandana when walking now but that is it.

Dinner with the family was great. No one was shy like I anticipated and I think both Tima nd the family enjoyed meeting each other. Tim was impressed with how much Sapnish I could speak so that was good-glad he thinks it was worth the money and us being apart. We ended up giving the twins their birthday gift that night (a video game Tim brought from the states). Well our fear of there not being an option to change it to Spanish came true but the boys are playing it constantly. They have to figure some things out but they say it is okay.

So Tim leaves the next day at 4 in the morning and I go to check out around 10 AM when I discover (I will spare you the horrible details) that Tim has returned with mydebit card. Yes, I cried many times that morning because he was in the plane and the hotel was so rude to me but it finally worked out. Tim had to send me money

The Natives are Getting Restless

or so Tim tells me. I promise to blog this afternoon and hopefully both Thursday and Friday this week. I have lots of stories!

1 AM Encounter with the Police

Get a glass of wine, your favorite beer, or a cup of coffee...actually this is going to be a long one so you better open a bottle, buy a six pack, or start a pot of coffee instead.
I will get to the reason of the title later but I am behind so let me back track a little.
This week is the anniversary of the school at which I am volunteering, so there has been a special activity every day. Tuesday, we ran to the central park and had a feast. Well, this is the rainy season and even though we are somewhat still in cunnicula, the weather is a little unpredictable. Right as we were lined up to run it started a down pour. So we waited a bit, but eventually decided to run in the rain after it slowed down. The students had a blast. They were running and laughing. We had a torch that we tried to light in brief moements of no rain. After we got back, each class had to prepare their food to share. Our class made tostados. We made guac and spead it on chips and then sprinkled cheese. I didn´t eat any of the food because I have to be careful of how things are prepared (has to be washed in pure water-even the avacado-my friend got sick because she ate peeled fruit-when you are peeling it you can contaminte the food) but man there was everything under the sun! I brought a raspberry cake. It was two layers with the first layer white cake and the second layer white cake that had been soaked in raspberry juice. I meant for reveryone to get a little slice but the teacher I work with kept it in the classroom so only my class and their parents, siblings, and grandparents got any. It was too cute though. One little girl kept swiping the icing off her sister´s piece. Then she when I was taking pics of the kids she put bunny ears on everyone...at one point she even put them on herself and had me take the pic. The next day was a movie and kind of boring for me since I didn´t understand much of it. However, after they said prayers to Maria and different people (I think) so that was interesting to me. Today each class acted out a different part of Saint Hermano Pedro´s life and then the dance got rained out. I have met lots of the family members there also this week. Since I am the white girl novelty they all try to have conversations with me. My favorite was an older lady that asked frst off if I was Catholic. I told her and she assumed I was Evangelical so I told her I was Christian. She then went on to tell me how we all have one God and how she reads here bible everyday. Then she abruptly asks if I am from Italy. When I tell her no the US She tells me that is great because there is no violnce there. When I tell her there is violence she laughs and tells me she watches the TV. Not sure what was lost in translation there...finally she called me both a gringa and a gringita during this conversation. It was pricelessª

There is no way to lead into the next topic so here it is...
I may have changed my last name but I am absolutely still a Raney. First when the shuttle picked me up at the airport they did not have a sign for Alicia Morrison instead it was Alicia Raney. Second, I cannot adjust to this if you say you are going to be there at 2:00 that really means 2:30 or school starts at 8 but the teacher may not be there until 8:10. My dad will argue this with me because I am often late to family events but I get to work 30 minutes early everyday. It really has been stange to me. I actually left after 10 minutes of waiting for a friend because I was just so tired of waiting all the time. Tim and I are meeting a Guatemalan friend of mine this weekend but if he is late at least I will have Tim with me. Finally and most important...I am not touchy feely. Never have been never will be. Seriously I hug my friends good-bye because this is their cutom and I have gotten used to it (and would find it weird now if I didn´t with some), I hug my grandmother/family that lives in Oklahoma when I arrive and leave, and my parents on occasion...but ´the only people I kiss or let kiss me is my husband and the kids I work with. Well, let me tell you, I have had to adjust. The people (students and teachers) at the place I volunteer at, my Guatemalan friends, and Ann Marie (the girl from Ireland you may remember from a few post back) all do that hug and kiss on the cheeck at the same time thing. I think I freaked a few people out at first when I stiffened and pulled away slightly. They thought I was offended. Plus for the life of me I cannot figure out the logistics of this hug/cheek kiss thing! I now make some kissing noise as it happens and don´t completely pull my head away but I bet I look like I am in serious pain.
Okay now on to my new housemates...They leave this Saturday and I mean to tell you I am counting down the days. It is a mom and daughter. The daughter is 18 and is nice but the I cannot stand the mom. She complains about the house and neighborhood. Okay seriously, you came to a third world country to live in a house with a middle-class family, were you expecting the Ritz. She complains because the house doesn´t have internet and they are cramped in their room with two beds. Well, lady I have been here long enough to know that the only reason you have two beds is because one of the kids had to give up theirs and share with his brother until you leave. The family has a 4 bedroom 3 bath house but to make money they essentially live in a 2 bedroom 1 bath and there are 5 in the family. Quit complaining. You should have known what you were getting. The neighborhood is good but yeah don´t walk alone at night as a female after 10. That really is just a good rule of thumb no matter where you are. Then she asked me if the family always made my bed because they haven´t been making hers. I MAKE MY OWN BED! This is not a hotel and I follow the "advice" my mama gave me growing up, "You stay at someone else´s house you clean your own mess and that includes your bed". The second night she was here there was a hard rain storm that night and their roof started to leak so she decided to wake up the whole house to fix this problem. Then when the buckets were making too much noise for her she had the parents give her and her daughter their bed and they had to go to the grandmaçs house. She apparently forgot to pack common sense so I suggusted she just put a towel in the bottom of the bucket to soften the noise...oh no that was not acceptable, she had paid good money stay here. We pay less than 100 for a room each night and three meals a day 6 days a week. Have I mentioned how much I do not like this lady. She also argued with me about some of the social issues in Dallas...like some kids cannot afford to go to school at all so they never do just like here in Guatemala...I informed her we have free public school systems and she smirked and told me the USA has everything bad. Oh I cannot wait for Saturday. I would say more but once my parents read this and they may want to wash my mouth out with soap when I return if I wrote what I want to.
Okay so the title of this post....has to do with this lady still. Remember, she woke the whole house up the night before. Well, last night at about 1 Am the lights go on and I am dioriented when I wake up. I am checking my clock when I hear rushed panicked spanish and the word "police" I then hear lots of whispering and rushing around and doors opening and shutting. I knew the night before they got in late so of course my imagination thinks they got home late and someone is in their room because at this point I realize she is telling the family to call the police. I am frozen, scared to death and am thinking of ways to change my flight and leave this weekend with Tim. Then I hear Marvin walking around upstairs, so I yell out like a little kid "Marvin, I am scared. What is going on" He tells me the daughter was supposed to be home earlier and had not shown up. So the mom leaves to look for her and contact the police. We are worried for the daughter and the mom becuase now mom is walking around at night by herslef. Mom comes home without daughter but has not made herself sick so she spends some time in the bathroom with some very loud diahrrea. Around 3 AM the doorbell rings and it is the police with the daughter. The mom had them go to clubs around the town asking girls if they were from Isreal and if there name was Myana since she was "missing". The word 12 and 2 sound similiar in Spanish so all of this was because the mom thought the daugther said she would be home by 12.
This morning, I went down to breakfast early and Marvin and Sylvia were like OMG they have to leave soon ¿and we all mean it we want to sleep thorugh the night? but once they were downstairs we all laughed and joked about it. Crazinessª

Not spell checking so please forgive all errors

Going to COSTA RICA

Okay, not me but nearly as excited as if it was me. 5 students for the school I volunteer at qualified for the Guatemalan Special Olympics team (including 2 of my students) and are going to Costa Rica in August! I cannot tell you the excitement around that place today. It was so fun! One of my kiddos let me take his picture with his medals (even though he covered his face with them). He would look at the picture and tell me it wasn´t any good so I had to take three. Then another little girl wanted her picture too. It was so funny when I told both of them to smile they made this very painful looking expression.
This week is the is the celebration of the school´s birthday. Tomorrow we are taking a trip to the park and then running back to the school (apparently this is a big thing to do around here-ther general ed schools did it for the Antigua celebration last weekend too). Then we are going to have a feast. Not sure what I will bring but as always it will be store bought. Soimetime this week is the dance too...oh fun times ahead.
I spent yesterday finding Tim and I a hotel room and taking care of transportation for him. We could have stayed with my host family but we might be out later than I normally am so we decided against it.
I have new housemates...AGAIN. I swear I see them come and go. This is a mother and daughter from Isreal and they are only here for a week. The mom asked me what I was studying and I told her I wasn´t and my age. She was shocked. I have actually been getting this a lot the past week. I am starting to like Antigua even more!

Bringing Home a Guatemalan Child!!!!!

or at least that is what I was afraid people would think.
You know I have joked about it quite a bit but it hit a little too close to home yesterday and I am no longer joking about it with Tim.
Many of the Mayan woman and children sell their products by walking up to you on the street. Once you tell them no they leave you alone so it is not a big deal. The longer I am here the more I am convinced to buy from these people rather than the stores. Well, for a while now I have been eyeing these beautiful table runners that are hand made. I have looked at them enough that I even knew exactly which one I wanted too. It matches my Christmas tree decor perfectly so would be great when we have a house (and a dining table for that matter) and decorate for the holidays. So this Mayan girl about 10-12 years old stops me and I look at what she has but she doesn´t have the green one I want. So instead of saying "No gracias", I say " I want a green one" and start to walk off....she starts talking in Spanish and I only catch bits and pieces and she thrusts this 2-3 year old boy in my arms and tells her other brother to wait. I immediately thrust the younger kid back at her and she takes off and I am now stuck with this little Mayan boy on the street corner. It was so awkard and I just kept thinking, thank god I got rid of the other one, but people may still think I am trying to steal this kid. He talked to me a little. he was 6 and I couldn´t pronounce his name and he thought that was funny. I aksed where his siter went and he told probably to his mom. I aksed if she was close and said he didn´t know. This was the longest 10 minutes of my life. The girl comes back racing, huffing and puffing. She didn´t have the green one I wanted but I was so impressed and amused by her dedication, and sales tactic , aka tirckery, that I bought 2!!! Somehow, she knew I wasn´t going to leave that little boy on the street (even though he would do better there than I for sure) and had to wait. Later that day I saw her again and she smiled and yelled "one more" in English and I said "no mas!". She laughed and the 6 year old waved and jibbered in Spanish but I have no idea what he said.
I have met a lot of locals lately. Went to breakfast with Rafi today. The breakfast didn´t seem any different to me other than it was in a restaurant not in the guide books. He did say some funny things though. The best was when he asked if I had ever skyscrapered. He meant Bungee Jumped. I was at the park reading today and met a guy, Fernando, who lives in the city. He was here to see his uncle and his family for lunch. This family lives in Canada and only comes in every two years. We talked about the types of books we read and he reads self help books to improves his English. Then he invited me to lunch with his family but I politely refused but we are going for coffee and tea this afternoon because he sincerely seemed to want to practice his English to help him get a better job. He thinks he sounds like a child. He is better than that but struggles with vocabulary and expressions from what I could tell.

Holiday in Antigua and a Surprise Ending

Yesterday was a holiday here in Antigua. To be honest I am not sure of the exact reason for the holiday, but it had to do with Santiago and the founding of Antigua. Anyway, Thursday night after dinner I decided to go out since I had finished my homework earlier in the day and there was a concert in the main square to start Friday´s celebration early. I ended up meeting some men and a woman from Antigua. I mainly talked to these two men, Rafi and Chino (it is a nickname-he is half Asian). They spoke really great English but they really encouraged me to speak in Spanish only with them (translation they would only speak in Spanish to me). It was fun. I hung out with them for 3 hours or so and if there was communication breakdown they could recover us in English. I´m going to go to a wine tasting with Rafi tonight and then an authentic breakfast Sunday (he said it will be better than all those places in the travel books I use).
Yesterday, there was a parade in the morning. I lucked out and was right in the front of the crowd and when the twins came by I was on their side so I got a picture of them. Diego is half smiling and starting to wave. Carlos had not noticed me yet so he isn´t looking or smiling. As soon as he saw me though he waved too. I bought a pie from a nice bakery here in town for the family for lunch. It was really good and the family was surprised. The rest of the day I just wondered from activity to activity which was mainly a lot of marimba playing (even in front of the super market). That night I met my friend, Sean (he is the contruction worker from California and I have hung out with him more than anyone else I have met) for dinner and then, his friend Brianna, met us, her friend Geoff, met us and his friend, Ann Marie met us. It was such a random string of people but it was definitely fun. My camera was dead so I didn´t get any pictures. We hung out having drinks too long so we missed the fireworks but went to another concert for a bit. The whole group left this morning (traveling or going home) so that is kind of crappy for me. Sean returns Monday August 4th though and we already made plans to hang out that Monday so I can hear about his crazy travels. He has no books or references (other than a phrase cheat sheet for riding buses I loaned him) and he is taking a chicken bus the whole way back from Tikal just stopping in random towns (and visiting a former employee)!
But the crazist news from yesterday is....TIM IS COMING TO GUATEMALA!!!!
He comes in next Friday night late and will leave early Sunday morning. It may seem crazy but he wants to meet the family, he loves Antigua, we want to see each other (yes, I know we will see each other the next week), and well...why not?

My Worst Fear Come True

I haven´t posted too much about the showers in Nicaragua and Guatemala because my parents read this blog and I didn´t want to freak them out but this story is too good not to tell.
So remember, Louie the Lightning Bug, and how he taught us to never mix elxctricity and water, well he didn´t make it to Central America yet. My first experience with an electric shower head was in Nicaragua. Tim got out of the shower and warned me because he knew I would be freaked out to see all the wires coming from the wall, attached to some crude machine, that spurted out water. Plus, he touched it while the water was running and got shocked. That was one of the quickest showers I ever took. I just could not wrap my mind around getting in a shower that mixed electricity and water. It defied all common sense I have. I had to do one more in Nicaragua and could not wait to get to Antigua to not have to worry about that. WELL....my shower head is electric and it seems to me to be the worst one of all. One of the first days, a tube popped out and water went everywhere. I had to yell for Sylvia and she kept telling me how hard it was to fix. Later that night, Marvin taught me how to balance turning on the water just enough to not blow the tube but still get hot water. Patty kept smelling smoke come from her shower head while she was here so it took me a while to get use to it. But now I can honestly say I no longer have thoughts of paranoia dealing with the family finding me elctricuted in the shower.
This morning I was in the shower and I hear Sarah (the new housemate) yell half in English half in Spanish "Oh shit! Um, um FIRE FIRE FIRE! Sylvia, Marvin, FIRE" and then a small scream.
Then I hear Sylvia respond back, "It´s okay" (before going to check). So I just kept taking my shower. Well, one of Sarah´s wires popped and then sparked and caught on fire briefly. She had to use my shower to finish getting the soap out her hair when I was done and Marving is replacing the shower head today. After, Patty left I almost switched to her room because the bathroom is attached to the bedroom and mine is down the hall. I didn´t because that room doesn´t have closets and mine does. Thank goodness for that decision. I would not have been as "calm" as Sarah and would have ran out out streaking the whole family!!!!
Sylvia said the shower had sparked before with another student but this was the first fire. We laughed so much at breakfast.

The Locals know me, The Best Bread, and Humbled

First, I meet people and they are here for a bit an then leave so I either have lots of friends or none at all it seems. It is actually kind of a weird feeling. Anyway, the other day I heard someone behind me yelling "Alicia" with the Spanish pronunciation. Even though I am more used to that pronunciation right now than my English pronunciation (to say it right now sounds weird to me), I never in a million years thought it was for me. Oh yes, it was my good buddy the travel agent, Javier! He just saw me and wanted to say hi! I also ran into the private school teacher and his girlfriend the other day and they said my name from the side of me a cafe and it took me a second to realize they meant me. The locals know me!!! Or at least two...I actually give people directions now. It is kind of weird to me.
Not sure if I wrote this in the blog yet or just wrote Tim...if you´ve read it skip it. One of the first days here I was walking around and smelled the best bread I think I have ever smelled in my life. this happened for 2 or 3 days. I finally found where it was coming from....SUBWAY! I go to these local lectures on Tuesday nights. they deal with different social issues in Antigua, surrounding towns or Guatemala in general. Tuesday was about a school for children with Autism that a mother and her daughter run. The social issues dealing with Autism are decades behind the USA. Anyway, back to the bread...after I finally gave in and went to the subway. It was so good! Much better than in the states. I think I must have just been deprived of familiar comforts.
The kids are out of school today and tomorrow so I didn´t volunteer this afternoon. Yesterday, I told you one of the kids was sick and I was exhausted. Well, I needed more time to digest everything before sharing the biggestpart of yesterday. Most of the day was good but very challenging. Well, I needed to feed the kids and I couldn´t find the plates or soap to wash their hands. I couldn´t leave the classroom (even though they leave their kids all the time I am just not comfortable leaving 5 young kids with disabilites on their own) so I would duck my head out and ask any employee walking by where these items were. Well, everyone would just say I don´t know, look for them (nicely but of no help). Finally an adult student, Faviola, asked me what I needed. She stayed with me the rest of the afternoon. She found the plates, helped the kids wash their hands after I found the soap, played with the kids while I tended to Sophia, or tended to Sophia while I played with the others. She told me the Spanish words for items I didn´t know. She was an absolute god send. I could not have made it through the day without her. I was acutely aware at the time, that I was dependant on a woman that depends on others for most of her daily living and will never live independently. She helped me when no one else would and she taught me essential language (and I am the language therapist-I usually teach others like her language). I was truly humbled. I have always tried (not always successful) to not judge others by their profession or how much education they have, or how much money they have, or preconceived ideas of what one can or cannot do. But yesterday, drove that point home to me. I am in a third world country and the person that has made the biggest impact of me so far is a woman with mental retardation. I have many people ask why I am working with these kids when this is what I do back in the states, don´t I want a break. Honestly, my work is my passion, not just a job, so I enjoy it even on breaks. Faviola reminded me of my belief that we are all here to help in anyway we can and sometimes those that help the most are those with the least. I cried myself to sleep last night.

Hola Barbie! I want to take you picture...

Where to begin? Okay, Panajachel was good. They were selling different things than here in Antigua and it was super cheap even by Guatemala standards. I only bought one thing there though. I´m not a big shopper here but I have bought a couple of things. Anyway, while there and the Chichicastenago market I got really good at bargaining. Everything I bought I got down to half their asking price. The men were a little more forward there than in Antigua. Our hotel was not as good as the one in Copan but still only $10 each. Anyway, I literally had to walk down an alley to get to the hotel...if you know me you know I have grown a lot on this trip because I would have never done that before. Well, these three young guys kept saying, "I want to take your picture." every time I got to the actual street. I just ignored them and all was fine. My favorite was when I was at the boat docks and one guy kept saying, "Hola Barbie, I like your blonde". I could not help but laugh at that one. Chichi was a disappointment. It was much more crowded that when Tima nd I went last year and since I wasn´t really shopping that much, it wasn´t too fun for me. Plus, Patty had it in her mind that she should buy the place out and I should hall it back to Antigua for her (she stayed in Pana two extra nights). When I refused she got mad at me and tried to guilt me into which only made me call her out on it. I felt like she was trying to use me the entire day. She apologized at the end but I was still mad.
Okay in all honesty, here is my first impression of the school I volunteer at. Actually let me give some background. This is a school for children and adults with mental retardation and physical challenges. It is the only one in the area. Some kids come from more than an hour away but some families are so poor that they cannot get tehir children there. It is a really sad situation. I did not know this when I wrote this to Tim.
okay never mind it won´t let me cut and paste right now...I have to be patient with the computers here.
Anway, the first day I had five kids by myself and I barely speak the language. Needless to my teacher had not taught me simple commands for a kids either. There was absolutely no teaching and I was very upset but loved the kids and the teachers. One kiddo kept pushing my skin and laughing. The next day the teacher was there and it was much better. That day all the kids and sdults were obsessed with my eyes. The adults kept coming up to me and saying "beautiful eyes". Thanks Granny! Today I was on my own again but I came prepared with bubbles, balloons, and a lesson planned for body parts, following directions, and cause and effect. The kids never left my side even during recess shoosing to stay in with me as one of my kiddos was sick today and I decided not to take her out. They loved to make me dance with the bubbles and balloons and when they stopped the music I had to freeze. They laughed and laughed! It was great but I am dog tired now. Next week is the school´s celbration so there is something each day. At the end there is a dance and all the teachers say I am going to have to Salsa! Good luck with that!!!
The posts will be fewer than noraml still but I am off Friday for Antigua´s city-Saint celebration so I might post ten if there is anywhere open.

I am still here

Just want to give a QUICK update. I went on the trip this weekend and have a couple of cute stories to share but I started volunteering yesterday. Yesterday and today have been very busy for me so I have had time to post. I met friends for drinks after volunteering and before dinner yesterday and then had homework. Today, they same friends and I are going to a lecture about a school in a nearby town for children with Autism.
Volunteering will have to be a post by itself. They kids are great and precious but the services the children recieve are very sad to me. I am hoping yesterday was not representative of all they recieve but I am afraid it is. Yesterday I had 5 kiddos by myself all with varying degrees of mental retardation. Only one had true language (although severely delayed and only when he wanted to talk) and one other had some language. My lack of Spanish really got in thw way too. Anyway...more later. Hopefully tomorrow afternoon.

I wore white at my wedding...

and apparently my teacher here is appalled!!!!
More on that in a bit. Until that situation arose I had other titles in mind for this post: Ni Fu Ni Fa, and Another day, Another Chicken bus...so let me write about those first.
Patty and I leave tomorrow for Pana and Chichi and then she starts her two week vacation throughout Guatemala, so tonight is her last night with the family. The boys have a school dance tonight so Patty took us out to eat last night. The family got to choose the place. Without much thought, they decided on Ni Fu Ni Fa, an Argentenian steak house. The mom had been there before with her school for teacher appreciation but none of the rest of the family had been there. I knew the twins really wanted to go when Sylvia went with work so I was happy about that. They were all so excited. It was so cute. We walked from their house of course. The women were much faster than the guys so I got a great picture of the dad and his sons walking together (it was cute, even though the kids are 12 and 14, the 12 year olds held their dad´s hand a lot-all the boys are quite affectionate with all the family). Once there, the kids walked all around the restaurant checking it out. This is a restaurant that is typically too expensive for their family so this was special treat (for perspective, it cost $135 to feed 7 people last night and that includes letting the kids get whatever extras they wanted-Patty was so nice and only had me pay the tip, so she actually gave me a little going away treat too). The mom ordered for us because Patty and I didn´t really understand what to do. The food was fabulous, but way too much for me so I am having leftovers for lunch. Patty and the twins did the same. They wrap your meat in foil and make little itmes out if it. Mine was a duck, Patty got a basket, and the twins got a fish and a candy. I got some of the best pictures of me with the family, the oldest one talking on his cell phone to his girlfriend, and one of just the family. I am going to try to get some of them printed while here to give to them, if not I will send them once home. I really want to get the picture of the family framed. The only pics I have seen in the house are of the boys when they were babies (professional), one school picture of each boy a few years back, the parents wedding pic, and one of the triplets when they were a month old.
Another chicken Bus...I was supposed to go to a local public school today to work with the students. It was sponsored through my Spanish school and my teacher was to go to help translate as needed for me. I prepared a great lesson with books and frisbees, and had already written out in Spanish everything I could possibly think to say and then it got cancelled at the last minute yesterday. So I arrive at school today and my teacher asks if I want to go to another town to a coffee museum and a Mayan musical instrument museum. Of course I said yes and the next thing I knew I was on another chicken bus with 9 other students, their teachers, and the director. It was interesting and I was relieved because after dinner last night we took a walk around the city and let the kids play on a playground so we got in late and I didn´t do a lick of homework. The museums were interesting and a nice break from the intense 1:1. However, this is where the final title of this post comes in.
The teacher and I were talking at the end of the coffee farm tour, in the gift shop. We were discussing our preferences to photos or paintings. This led her to ask what kind of photos I had in my house. I told her about some and of course mentioned our wedding pictures. She asked where we got married and when I told her in a Women´s museum, I immediately saw the look of horrow on her face, but it was too late to take it back and lie. She asked what color my dress was and when I told her white, Oh Boy! She had a million questions about why I was allowed to wear white if I was not in a church and then do pastors in the USA marry women who are pregnant, etc...the conversation was starting to end, thanks goodness, and then...She went on a 10-15 soapbox about the Catholic church and how the have strong leaders who know right and wrong, preach black and white, don´t care if you leave their church because they have to preach not what they think but instead what is in the "perfect word" (yes a direct quote), that the youth of today need strict guidelines and rules, and finally that the evangelicals here were messing everything up and they may be part of the reason there is an alcohol problem in Guatemala. She then asked if this was the same in the US. I told her I didn´t know and politely dismissed myself from the conversation. She knows more about the Catholic church and her country so I didn´t say anything and this is obviously her opinion but it was an interesting look into how (probably) many Guatemalans think. She did not mean anything personal towards me. She was simply having a conversation (albeit one sided) because the ride home she joked and talked like normal.

Misc

The school went to the cerro de cruz today. It is a hike up a hill to a big cross and the view overlooking the city is amazing. I enjoyed it but got annoyed because we were witha big group and it seemed tot ake much longer than I thought it should. I was glad I went though because it is not dafe for tourists to go by themselves due to robberies, so Tim and I didn´t go last year.
During the conversation portion of my class today I asked my teacher if she would walk with me to the place I will be volunteering. So glad I did. She had to ask for directions twice. It will probably be a 15-20 minute walk each way. The area isn´t as scary as I thought it was going to be. It is close to the cemetary, which is also not supposed to be visited by tourists due to robberies. But it is still far enough from it and on a pretty busy street since it is closer tot he market and post office (and of course the Pollo Campero-a fast food chicken place that Guatemalans are obsessed with).
Yesterday, I met a teacher of a private school just outside of Antigua. He has been in Guatemala for 5 years and had been teaching since March. It was pretty interesting talking about the differences between public and private schools here as well as schools here and the US. The other 4 years he worked for a non-profit focusing on agriculture. I had no idea what a concern that is as well.
And now...if you know me well this story will NOT surprise you. There is only one key to my bedroom in the house. Each day I lock my door so the consructions workers can´t get in but leave it with the mom by hanging it on a cabinet door. Well, I got home from the cross and got some more stuff and needed and started to head the internet cafe. As soon as I shut the door I knew I had locked the key in. The 14 year, Marvin, was standing there too and he knew instantly as well. He kept trying to tell me it was okay that there was another key...but he was whispering so I knew he knew the truth. Then he asked if my window was open so he could climb on thr roof and through it but of course I had shut that as well. I had to go tell the parents. I felt like such a little kid. The dad had to spend 10 minutes of his life using a knife to get in. they kept laughing at me and telling me it was no problem but I felt horrible. I have locked my keys in my car a million times (once while it was running for an hour!), this was just a reminder of how appreciative I am that my car now won´t let me do this...
I also asked Bob about her many tattoos. Of course there was a story for each. All of which required her crossing the border in Mexico...scary once again. I posed under the school sign so Patty could take a piture of Bob without her realizing. Most of her tats are covered though.
And to close out this random post, I love CUNICULA. It is a phenomenon here during the rainy season. For about 15 days it doesn´t rain. It is quite hot but I love not having to duck into random places during downfalls of rain. And I might actually wear my white skirt next week.

Volunteer

Originally I thought I would be able to have my school set me up with a volunteer opportunity. It was one of my main concerns I emailed them prior to reserving a spot with them. Long story short they were of no help, but this has been my only bad experience with them so I won´t complain too much.
So I talked to a lady at Proyecto Mosaico Guatemala. They place volunteers with different organizations and have over 60 ongoing projects. I filled out an information sheet which of course asked my profession. Immediately, she tried to get me to move from Antigua to study Spanish because there was more of a need in two areas (rural) for my profession. I wasn´t comfortable with that (for obvious licensure reasons and I like my family and Antigua) so she gave me a book to look through. Most were still going to require me to take the chicken bus every day to nearby villages to help in daycares or with women´s cooperations. At the last minute she thought of a place here in Antigua that isn´t exactly speech but needs people familiar with special needs (surprise surprise that is where I would be placed huh?) So anyway, starting next week I will work at a school for children with learning disabilities and mental and physical needs from 2:00-5:30. Not sure what I will be doing exactly. Sylvia (my host mom) knows the director and said she is very nice. Her cousin works there in the mornings but it is for typical (but poor I think) kids then. It is a $55 "donation" but well worth it. My blogs may not be as frequent starting next week as a result.
We have the trip planned for this weekend. Another $10 hotel! But I am really bringing this up to talk about travel agents here. They are a hoot. Some are disinterested past getting you to sign up. However, some LOVE to talk to you. I have had two very memorable ones so far. One asked if I would teach him English words if he let me practice some Spanish with him. I agreed and probably spent an hour with him at the agency. Towards the end though all he wanted to know were the cuss words and how to pronounce them correctly. The next is the main guy we have been using, Javier. Every time I go in he has to tell me how white I am, as if I have forgotten or should be surprised by this information. He then goes on to tell me he is just as white as me that he just has been in the sun too much. Yeah right. His family is from Spain and his eyes are green but please I don´t believe him for a second.
I met a guy from San Francisco that is here for a week before doing humanitarian aide with the only gay and lesbian organization he could find throughout Guatemala. He talked to me for a while and then pegged me as being from Texas. He claims I have a slight accent. I thought I had rid myself of it for the most part but I guess not.

Yellow Rivers

Anitgua has some beautiful landscape. The views are fabulous of the mountains and volcanoes but you may not know about the yellow rivers.
Apparently it is quite acceptable for men to urinate on the walls and sidewalks in the neighborhoods (not the main square) right in front of everyone. there is no trying to hide it. Funnier even is this only happens on Sundays. Given that it rains here so much you have to watch your step to know what kind of puddle you are passing so you don´t accidently stp in the wrong one.
Sunday appears to be the day here in Antigua. Families all hang out in the parks with meals and there is just so much activity from the locals. I haven´t spent a complete Sunday here yet snce I arrived iin the afternoon one Sunday and then got back from Copan the next. This sunday I want gt back to Antigua until 4 so i am hoping to spend the next week iin Antigua to experience a full Sunday. That weekend also falls on the heels of the Antigua celebraton so that should be fun.
Patty and are going to Panajachel on Saturday and spending the night there and then to the market in Chichicastenego on Sunday. It is a huge market and Tim and I went last year. We didn´t spend much time n Pana thought so that could be interesting.
No more stories right now. I have a lot planned this week though. Tonight I am going to cafe for their weekly lecture series on Guetemala.

Copan and more

So the bus picked us up at 4:20 and we were the last on the shguttle which meant we got the crappy seats. Luckily I can fall asleep instantly in a car. So I just propped up my knees and slept for a few hours. It wasn´t a deep sleep but slepp none the less. At the border we had to get out and pay entrance and exit fees. It only took about 20 minutes but the building looked like baseball concession stands connected together. I have a picture of me with my passport on the way out (got the stamp even though it actually wasn´t needed-some weird rule-I got mine for free but some people had to pay if they wanted their passport stamped.). We arrived in Copan around 10:30, checked into the hotel and then headed to the ruins. We decided to go without a guide and it proved to be okay. The heiroglyphics were quite impressive and the intricacy with which they did ewverything. I found Tikal to be better though simply because of the gandeur of it. The ball court was neat and I made sure to get a picture for Tim. You could go under one of the temples (or something) for an extra 15 bucks but I wasn´t that interested. We also went to the museum and it was much better than Tikal´s. It is a must do. That night we just walked around the city and had dinner. I had a three course meal, two daquiri´s and a beer (well the beer was free from the waiter) for $11 ( the waiter may have given me a deal on the meal as well-the deal ended at 6: and we got there at 7:30 but he told me I could have it-who am I to pass up a good deal?). Our room was cheap too. It costs us $10 each. The beds were comfy, we had cable TV (watched Sex in the City), hot water, it was clean, a really good deal....except....the walls were paper thin. At three in the morning two cats decided it was their responsibility to increase the feline population! They were at it for an hour!!! It was so loud and disturbing to say the least!!! Just went to breakfast and walked around the market that morning (not a tourist one but the one the actual locals use), watched a medicine presentation in the central park, and bought a magnet for my mom and a plate for me. The shuttle home was much more comfortable and only took 5 hours. The landscape was beautiful but it was weird seeing all the boulders on the road from landslides caused by a storm on Saturday night.
Last night we went to Sky Cafe and it was really nice. I got some good pictures of Antigua that we did not get last year. We walked home in the dark for the first time. There will be a festival to celebrate the city on July 25th and every Sunday leading up their is some activity in the park, so we made the assumption all the muggers were there anyway. Plus we had our keys between our fingers and our elbows ready in case we needed to kick some arse!
I did much better in school today. I am attempting to speak more spanish so the first two hours should have been grammar but instead we talked about my book club and then birth control and sex ed in Guatemala (she brought it up not me and I asked only factual questions given the sensitivity of the Catholic church here) for the first hour. I told her about the book our club read about Margaret Sanger. She asks me all these questions about Texas and the United States and I am ashamed to say I hardly ever know the answer. She told me to look up some stuff on the internet so we would have more to talk about. Each day we have a 30 minute break. Well on Friday two teachers went to a cafe to get some coffee and passed a bar. Well, one of them spotted her son at the bar when he should have been in school. It was the talk of the school. I have two afternoon trips this week. More on those after they happen.
Back to my family....I cannot say enought good things about them. They have been one of the best parts of this experience. When we arrived back from Copan you would have thought we were the prodigal children returning home after being gone for years. Even the granmother next door heard we were home and had to come over. The family has always been friendly and open with us but last week two things happened that I did not write about yet that showed me the family is really letting us know them and taking us in as part of the family in little ways. Remember the twins...well I asked who was older and the next thing I know the whole family is telling us about a third baby (the twins were actually triplets) who died a month after they were born. Then they told stories of how they had to tie strings around the wrists to tell them aparts for a year or two. Plus sometimes one would get fed twice and the other not at all because the could keep things straight. Everyone was laughing. Then they pulled out a photograph to show us all three babies. That meant a lot to me. The dad met us later in the week and is more resrved with us. Well, I either sit by him or one of the twins at dinner. The other night I happened to be by him and I got the giggles (that annoying giggling I do where it is a silent laugh and I can´t stop for at least 10 minutes). Well, they all started laughing at me and he kept hold his hand up and telling me to stop and he would do it just at the time I was about to truly stop and of course it would start again. I knew he must feel more comfortable to be able to joke with me like that. We saw the oldest boy hanging out with his friends at the basketball courts and Patty went up to him adn he did not seem embarrassed (even though I am sure he was) and he took time to say hi and intridue us and ask us a few simple questions about our trip. Then today I saw the twins walking seperatley home from school and each waved and said hi and one (my favorite) even crossed the street to tell me hi. They are so sweet. The mom wishes I had brought more pictures. I only have two on my camera from before I left of my dad and of Tim.
I think that is about it for now...until tomorrow.

Bring on the Next Country

This is going to be quick because I need to get home to pack. I leave at 4 in the morning to go to Copan, Honduras. I´m just doing a weekend trip to see the ruins. BUT it is another stamp on the ole passport and finally one Tim doesn´t have! It takes 6 hours by shuttle so Patty and I are staying the night and returning on Sunday.
Yesterday, I went to an exhibit that is here until the 20th about the disappearring people in Latin America in the past when dictatorships would take people and kill them if they opposed the government. It was so sad seeing pictures of women carrying pictures of their loved ones around the street and then hearing some commentary from peole that survived (on tape). It really brought home how lucky we are because I know in our household we don´t think anything of saying how we really feel about "W". One of the teachers at the school told us the government here is corrupt and she bent down covered her mouth and whispered it. Makes you appreciate things.
I went to hear the boys play the marimba today. The first part was so boring and I just kept thinking to myself "What did I get myself into". BUt it was neat to see them play and the mom was so happy she kept pushing me to the front telling me to take pictures. None of them are good though because it was too dark. I´ll keep them anyway.
Just went to a restaurant, Rainbow Room, for some hibiscus tea. Them menu actually had cigarettes on it. I had to take a picture it was so funny to me. Other than that not too much today. I am going to get money, get some snacks for tomorrow, go home, pack, and have dinner be in bed by 8 or 8:30.
On a side note, Tim told me I could not leave this out of the blog....
When I arrived at the airport the driver told be we had to wait on another student. Well, we waited an hour and trhen she showed up. Pamela....oh Pamela is an interesting character. SHe is definitely not turned on by the men if you know what I mean. She has tattoos on her neck and legs and has a very intense manner about her. I wouldn´t be scared to walk down a dark alley with her. The whole trip to Antigua she talked about the crime in Antigua (which as highly exaggerated) and how much she enjoyed wine and cheese. She tried very hard to present herself as very refined and also told me she was being nice talking in English to me now but once we got there it was Spanish only. She hoped we were in the same house and I silently prayed we were not. Anyway...I have yet to hear her speak Spanish since we have been here now. But the best part was when we went to the village. When it was all said and done we could by anything we wanted and she bought all the men´s clothes! I knew she liked the women. She shows up all the time at random palces (but never tries to hang out with us). Patty and I have renamed her "Bob" in case she ever hears us talk about her.
Alright you all will hear from again either Sunday or Monday.

Remember I don´t check these for grammer or spelling as to not waste money. So please know I do know how to use correct subject verb agreement and how to spell despite some of my previous posts

Field Trip

The school took a field trip to San Antonio today to visit a group of traditional Mayan women. I rode the CHICKEN BUS!!!! I have a quick picture of the actual bus I rode since as soon as it drops you off it gets going. As a matter of fact if you are one of the last one or off you kiind of had to jump as the bus was already moving. That happened to me getting on. It was so crowded. They are aold school busses so you can imagine. I had to sit in a seat on the tire hump with two other women and some people had to stand. The village was interesting but not what expected. I thought the women would be going about their normal life and we would go in and out of it with our teachers. Instead their was one big presentaton. Much was explained to us about their clothing and what the y different colors represent. We also learned a little about their economic status which was very sad as this particular group of woman had just been ripped off by a phony organization offering to help the get to the United States legally. It was heartwrenching as one of the teachers told the story with tears streaming down her face. They showed us how they make some of their fabric crafts and then dressed up volunteers and went througha wedding ceremony. We did get to go to a tradtional kitcken and watch them make tortillas and a traditional soup ( a different form of pepian). I tried to take pictures but it was so smoky in their. I also got some good pictures of me standing next to the women. I look like a giant!!! One of the little boys was dressed in traditonal clothing as well which I had never seen and I got some great close ups of him.
Not sure if I mentioned this already but I had the date wrong anyway. So tomorrow, I am going to La Merced church to watch and listen to the three boys that are in the family I live with play the marimbe (not sure of spelling). I am very excited about that and really happy we were invited by the family. I talked with several students today that are not having good experiences with their families. Mine has been a dream.
Once again dinner is my favorite part of the day. I swear t is like a sitcom. Pep drops in from stage right and just the right time and only stays for about a minute and then he's gone like those reoccurring characters that are in every episode but have no real role. The dialogue is hilarious since we don't really know how to speak very well yet. Last nght I was talking with Patty and the mom but trying to listen to the dad and the boys. The mom caught me and I told her what I was doing but that they were too fast. So the oldest shared the story of the twins tests scores one got a 76 and the other tried to tell me quickly he got a 100 but everyone moaned and he grinned and say he really got a 0! I love that he was trying to joke with me though. They have been so acceppting of us. Then the mom tries to help us with our home work as if we are 10 years old and sometimes she and the oldest son argue about what is correct. It's a riot for sure.
The food os fabulous. Breakfast usually consists of tortillas and beans and eggs and sweet fired plantains, cow cheese (salty but very good) or fruit (differents kinds of bananas, watermelon, papaya, pineapple, etc) and yougurt with cactus. Lunch is the big meal and dinner is usually similiar. I've had blanco tamales, chile rellenos (the pepper is chopped and mixed with meat and vegetables, no cheese and then breaded and fried), thin strip of steak with a tomato salsa on top, beans, soup, squash (not like one I have seen before though) and too much to remember actually. One thing I had last night I can't think of the name of it any more but it was a sweet plantain stuffed wth sweet frijoles and friend n sugar. It was my absolute favorite. I drink a lot of juice too. Fresh squeezed lemondae and orage juice (no puld and very sweet, I almost didn't know it was orange juice) and I think I had rice juice of some sort last night. The mom makes the best guacamole I have ever had in my life! I'll start keeping better track of what we eat.

Reality TV

If there is not a reality TV show of students in language immersion it should exist. Last night at dinner I could barely contain my laughter as I watched the scene which is now my life unfold. Fortunately I just kept smiling until after dinner and then went upstairs and had a great laugh...
We have dinner at 7 each night. It is the three boys, the mom, my housemate Patty, and me. However, this house is never empty. People just pop in and out constantly. Plus some background info is Patty is the talker because she is more of a risk taker than I am but I understand more than her and half way through her phrases she has to to stop and ask me questions. There have been several times I knew she misunderstood what the others were saying and so I stopped her and explained. Well last ngiht there was just too much going on. So going back this man walks in and tells us he is Sylvia´s (the mom) brother. Patty screams "Happy Birthday" and I instantly geta look from all three boys and I just smile. The man politely tells her his birthday is September 22. She thens goes on and on about everything they family had told us about "his" birthday party the night before. He just politely keeps letting her talk. Sylvia tried to explain to her that it was her female cousin that had a birthday but Patty just kept on going but now changing all of her words to a feminine form because she thought Sylvia was simply correcting her grammar. So essestially she was calling hima woman the rest of the conversation. Then the boys finish their dinner and instantly turn on the TV. Their favorite week night show is re runs of Extreme Home Makeover with Ty Pennigton (spanish subtitles at the bottom of the screen and they read it all). The oldest asked if I watche dit and so we started talking about that. Then Randy Travis came on and he asked if I listened to him. I explained I like that type of music but not necessarily Randy Travis. He told me he knew everyone from Texas liked "Jazz" music. I explained it was "country" not jazz". THEN another man came and we had already met him. His name is Carlos and his son is Pepi (Pepi did not come over last night). Patty immediately tells the man " Hi Pepian!" Everyone started laughing and Sylvia explained to Patty who got it this time. BTW-Pepian is a typical Guatemala dish for lunch or dinner and that is why it is so funny. So much more happened but those are the highlights. When we went upstairs I went in to Patty rooma nd asked her why she did´t just call him beefstew and asked why she kept calling that man a woman. She had no idea so we laughed until we cried. She went down and apologized and everyone just laughed. She is always doing stuff like but I must admit I did something similiar in class today. I thought I was telling my teacher I was lucky to study Spanish instead told her I fall asleep when she speaks spanish.
The father finally made it in from traveling for work so we met him today. He drives shuttles for tour agencies and the mom is a teacher in the mornings.
I thought of more quotes from the Nicaragua trip that can make some interesting stories later....
1. Are you students? (God bless the 25 year old that asked us that)
2. Are you German?
3. Our Swedish friendish friends knows of a great local pizza place in Managua, she thinks it is called "Papa John´s"
4. And finally....Just because we bought a fertility plate, it doesn´t mean we´re having babies, we´re just worried about the crops.
Thanks for the comments and emails. I will get better about responding to them. I´ll try to post soon a little more about the food Amber. It has been so GOOD. The chili relleno is nothing like ours....

Homework

Yep, I am a student again. Homework and all ( seriously I have 5 pages tonight over 100 translation and a story to translate). I have only had two classes so far and I have been shocked with both how much I know and how much I do not know! It is pretty intense really but fun. The last hour and a half is conversational and we play "games". Well for all of you SLPs reading this I can tell you now all those card " games" we play with our kids are really not that much fun to them.....I enjoy the class but I am concentrating so much on the language that the games lose their fun. I am sure it is the same for our clients. Anyway...I have met a few people from my school and they all seem pretty cool. I really like the lady that is sharing a house with me. She is in her late 40´s and lots of people have asked if she is my mom.
Today I went on a tour with the school to one of the churches Tim and I visited last year. I can tell you we need to go to Sunday school more often (Linda if you are reading you can quote me). With the instructor, it all made so much more sense but some of the basic history we should have known last year. Thursday I get to go to a rural village and have an authentic meal and watch the women do their handicrafts.
Patty (the lady that lives in the same house with me) and I went to the market. We tried to talk to some of the indigeous women. One had a beautiful apron on with frills and tassles hanging down. We asked if it was used to dance just joking and she laughed and danced a little jig for us. So funny. I also got an interesting picture of an area selling fruit and birds. The birds were caged above the fruit so all of their waste fell on the fruit...yeah we did not buy any.
I met a girl that is not a part of the school but is instead here volunteering treaching art and playing with kids at hospital for disabled children. I eventually want to start volunteering and the hospital sounds right up my alley so I may try to get at the hospistal with her.
The family I am staying with continues to be fabulous. The mom thinks Patty and I try to talk more than most of the others students she has ever had. I apss the playground the twins play on in the afternoon and as soon as they see me they start waving as big as they can. However, when we try to talk to them at night when they are watching TV they just wag their finger " n¨" at us. The oldest tries to bond with us over how boring homework is. They are all so polite. It is fabulous.
More later....

Catching up

Sorry for the lag in posts. After Granada we had VERY limited internet on the islands. So let me catch you up.
We went to Big Corn Island first or as I like to call it, Big Corn H. E. Double Hockey Stick (BCH)!!! This place was skecthy scary. It was rainy and overcast when we arrived which just added to the eery vibe. The first night I realized we were the only ones in our hotel AGAIN and we were very isolated on the island with the exception of the barrio directly behind us. When we tried to get a cab it took almost an hour and a half. The owner of the hotel spoke Italian and he was of no help not that he cared though. We ended up getting another hotel room that night because it was in a more touristy area and had a night guard ( man sleeping in a chair on the beach). It was kind of dirty though so we had to sleep on top of the covers and almost froze. The next day we went back to the original hotel since it was so much nicer and made sure we had a cab driver the entire time in advance. Electricity would go out without notice and we didn´t have a flash light which made me nervous being so close to the local neighborhood. The barrio was so close to us I could tell you when the kids were getting in trouble if that tells you anything. Tourism is supposed to save the island as they are over fishing it but service is not at the top of their priority list actually I don´t even know if it is on their list. Plus, I got SO many mosquito bites that Tim and have a serious plan for if I have malaria when I get back to the states (it remains dormant for 2 months). Positive note, the italian man made us an authentic italian dinner and it was most excellent. Overall, I truly thought we might get stranded on that island but I must say not one person did or said any thing to us to make us feel unsafe it was just and feeling we had in general.
Now to Little Corn Island. We had to ride the pongas (speed boats eqipped to hold 30 or 40 people I guess). First I am terrified of open water so I was already scared to get in the boat. I pratically fell in which was not good since I was wearing a skirt. Anyway, the ride was so choppy I had to close my eyes not because of being seasick but seriously thought we are going to capsize.
Then we arrived and within 10 minutes it was pure happiness! White sand beach, turquise water, clean bungalow, friendly staff, lots of people. We wer in heaven and Tim and I finally admitted how scared we were at the other place. Neither of us wanted to bring the other down completely when we at BCH. We had so much fun swimming, lounging in hammocks and meeting people. We met a great girl form Swedend and a couple from Virginia. So much fun.
We stayed in Mangua the last night of Nicaragua but the internet was down due to rain.
Overall, we liked Nicaragua. It was truly humbling to see the poverty these people live in and yet they were so willing to be friendly and help whenever possible.
Here are some catch phrases that will take too long for me to explain in text because there is just so much to write but you may want to ask us about it at some point.
1. You from Texas. You like country.
2. Some girl from Nicaragua gave Tim her number at the bar and he wants it pointed out that she is a dentist.
3. Everyone needs a Stefan in their life.
4. Do you know how to hand wash your clothes. You will learn.
5. You can´t handle too much time on a small boat and I can´t handle any time in the circus.
We travel how far to eat dinner with a circus freak.
6. Alicia and the Electric Shower Heads is not a bad 80´s cover band.

and so many more really...

NOW, I am in Antigua. The flight was great. I got bumped to business class which made me a VIP at the airport (lounge, free drinks) and Tim was so jealous (he had a flight an hour after mine back to the states. I met my family. They are very nice. There are two house connected by a wall so I have mett the grandma, mom, uncles, brothers, grandpa and sons (13 year old and 11 year old twins). I have had one typical meal (papian). Basically it was rice, squash, pork, and potatoes in a tomotoes auce which did not taste like tomotoes. I have my on room and bathroom and there is one other student staying there as well. I started class today and felt pretty good about it but I will post more later and this is already a novel.

Remember the keyboards are different here so I can´t find all the key so excuse typos and wrong punctuation.

We're Home!

but we're leaving again. And technically "home" meant Granada Nicaragua, not the USA. We changed our plans and left Ometepe one night early to make traveling easier for us to the Corn Islands. Granada is such a great place and we've met so many people here that it feels like a home away from home.
Ometepe Island was nice. Getting there was a riot! Actaully so much happens here that it is a bloggers dream world! Ginny, aka the best "mommy" blogger, would have a hayday here! Anyway, try to imagine Tim and I in a jeep that is almost completely stripped on the inside with a driver that spoke some English but not great English. Then he asks us where we are from and upon hearing Texas he assumes we like country music so he starts blaring an old Kenny Rogers song. Pat Benetar was next and then RHINESTONE COWBOY*! The three of us were rocking out singing along. The driver got the chorus right every once in a while. It was hilarious.
The hotel there was fabulous. We had a private stone cottage directly on the beach. Plus, they had true hot water for showers. We took a tour of the island and our guide only spoke Spanish. Between my limited knowledge of the language and lots of hand motions and repetitions we think we got about 90% of what he said, which isn't bad for a 6 hour tour. We looked up a lot of the info later to make sure. Along the way we met half the man's family and went to a local baseball game that his brother was the umpire. Apparently on Sundays family and friends gather and play baseball all afternoon. But there are serious crowds there and all the players wear uniforms even though none of them match and some are incomplete. Getting back to Granada was once again an adventure. After the ferry ride we got a taxi and as soon as we sat down a ton of bugs flew up from the seat, no lie! We considered getting out but decided to stay. The bugs got in because they are everywhere and he left the window down. Once we started driving the bugs were gone so no big deal.
Being back in Granada has been nice. We had dinner and just hung out with people at the hotel at night. A group of sisters in their 50-60's even invited us to sit down and share their appetizers with them. We've hung out with so many peoiple, sharing drinks and dinners. People from New York, Norway, Nicaragua, Florida, New Jersey, Australia....it's so cool.
We leave again today for the Corn Islands. One is less than 3 square KM. It is very rustic and primitive with white sand beaches. The hotel we will stay at serves family style dinner so that should be fun.
We're 95% sure there will be no internet on the islands so this may be my last post until I arrive in Guatemala on July 6. So in anticipation let me say an advance CONGRATULATIONS to Jennae and Rob getting married on the 5th. We so wanted to be there.

*Tim and I dressed as Rhinestone Cowboys for halloween and sang the song for karoake

Fighting Fires

So far¨"fire" is the theme. Yesterday we were having lunch when a fire truck pulls up in front of the restaurant and firemen proceed in with the hose. Of course, we´re looking around like "what the heck???". No one else in the place was reacting at all. A waitress saw our looks of confusement and explained it was nothing more than filling up the ponds in the garden and to stay calm. It provided us some funny pictures though. Then to today we went to the volcano. On our way up the guide told us just last week the volcano shook and blew out smoke, but hasn´t actually erupted since 2001. Needless to say, I was nervous (especially when fireworks went off and our guide ducked). We made it though. Smoke was coming out and we looked down the crater. The magma can only be seen at night though. That would have freaked me out.
We´ve done a lot of walking around looking at churches and buildings, eating, and drinking. Grananda is so laid back. It reminds us of Antigua but with much more of a community feel and no stress (not that Antigua does). We also took a day trip to Masaya. The people were friendly and since we had a guide we actually got to see more of the people as they live (lots of small homes behind their place of employment). We even went to an artisan´s place where he showed us how to mold clay. Of course, we added to our plate collection (we buy plates in each country we visit, made by local artists only).
And now we need your help. We´re not sure where we are staying....yes we know it is the La Gran Francia Hotel, but listen. It is the nicest hotel in Granada. As a matter of fact Samantha Brown (my idol) stayed there in her "Passport to Latin America" series. It costs more than we would normally spend but we just could not pass up pretending to be Samantha (since she is who I want to be when I grow up). Anyway, we are the ONLY guests in this place!!!! We made friends with soem lawyers from New Yourk last night and they said it was just creepy. So are we staying in Samantha Brown´s crib or the Bate´s Motel????***
Tomorrow we head off to Omotepe for three nights. Not sure of our internet connection from here on out.

***we feel extremely safe, so don´t worry

P.S. The keyboards are a little different here and no spell check so be forgiving of typos.

Nica-Normal

Well, we made it in last night. Tim did get stopped at the airport trying to smuggle contraband.*
Our cab ride to Granda was "interesting". The engine wouldn´t start at first and it just went from there ( almost ran over a few cyclist and pedestrians). Just had a few drinks last night and breakfast this morning so not much to report. Just life as normal here in Nicaragua...well we guess we don´t really know what normal is here yet.


*more than 3 ounces of face wash

Sheer PANIC

Yep, that's what happened to me last night.  Tim was still at work and I was packing.  My mind started thinking about all these things...how was I going to exchange my money?, what if the school doesn't pick me up at the airport?, what if I can't access my ticket home?, what if I loose my passport, why am I doing this?, why did I choose 5 weeks?, two weeks would have been plenty....and on and on and on.  I just simply could not stop my mind.  I was all shaky and had a shallow clavicle breathing pattern, which made me panic even more because I couldn't get enough air (in my mind at least).  Then the breathing was annoying because I started thinking, "I'm an SLP.  I've been through voice therapy for this.  I should not how to stop breathing like this." (I didn't start doing any of the techniques to change it though, even though sometimes I do them around the loft just because they are so funny-my brain was not working) I emailed Tim and his words of advice, "Go get a drink."  Nothing else.  That was it.  However, this made me laugh and relax and the panic subsided and now I'm back to nervous but excited.

Rita emailed me last night.  She had to cancel her trip due to some medical concerns with her husband.  He is okay but she needs to be here with him.  She said she will just have to read my blog and be green with envy.  

We had breakfast with my dad this morning.  He found a great mexican place that has fabulous breakfast for cheap. After a while, I was able to ignore the bars on the window.  We will definitely start going there.  Dad and I took our pic in front of the sign to document my "see-you-in-August" breakfast.  The sign looks great even though he didn't think it would show up.  I was a little disappointed that the barred windows didn't show though.  I'll post it at a different time.  I need to finish up some last minute details right now.

Tim and I leave for the airport in a bit.  Being in Nicaragua with him will put me at ease and into travel mode, I'm sure.

Next post will be from Nicaragua!

Lee Harvey's, Wii Heart Neiman's, and Reefs!

Lee Harvey's-This weekend was fabulous! Friday night was spent celebrating our good friend, Lori's, birthday. She had a dinner party catered by Ali Baba's and their hummus is oh so very yummy! Saturday, night some of my friends and I gathered at Lee Harvey's for dinner and drinks (it was my send off party). The chicken panini and onion rings did not disappoint. Finally on Sunday, Tim and I had lunch at Chuy's with the Hawkinsons. As I write all of this, I'm acutely aware of how many calories I consumed. Note to self: Go to the exercise to Spanish songs class offered by the school in Guatemala! Anyway, at lunch, I finally held baby Paige! You know my rule of thumb is to not hold a baby until he/she has head control. Well, I let Paige Sofie keep slipping her little head down my arm until I realized something wasn't right. Once I asked, Ginny quickly informed me that Paige was falling. I wonder how long she would have let me hold her baby like that before telling me. Note to self #2: Don't bring home any babies from Guatemala, you can't even hold one correctly!

Wii heart Neiman's-Tim and I celebrated our first anniversary yesterday. We had dinner at the Dream Cafe. This is where we met in 2005. We also exchanged gifts. We don't normally do the gift thing but have decided that each anniversary we will buy a gift for the other that is the traditional gift for that anniversary year. This year was "paper".  Thinking of a "paper" gift was hard. Trust me, my husband does not want monogrammed stationary. This is the man that at one point thought that boxer shorts made great oven mitts. This is not a stationary man. So I gave him a book on Wii Tips. Now we don't own a Wii so I had to get him the Wii as an accessory to his gift. Yes, I pushed the limits on the "paper" gift. Now my gift...he handed me a $1 bill as a hint. I had no clue so he gave me an ugly brown shipping box, which further makes my argument that he would not have appreciated a traditional "paper" gift. After, I sort through the packaging paper there is a very pretty box with a ribbon proudly stating the store name "Neiman Marcus". Maybe he would have liked the matching card/envelope set?  My sweet husband bought me the MK wallet that goes with my purse. It is to hold "paper" money. Even if you all think we cheated, we had fun and are going to continue this next year with "cotton".

Reefs-I love Reef flip flops!!! My friend, Wendy, introduced me to them last year and now I refuse to wear any others. I needed a new pair, specifically in brown, so I headed to the mall this morning. The first store did not have them. Next store did not have them. I was pressed on time so I almost considered buying a pair of Roxy flops but just could not make myself. Third store had them! Now, I had to call Tim and tell him I could only find the pair I wanted at Nordstrom's and the price was a little different than normal. The tone of his voice told me he was not too happy about this (he was leaving the bank, preparing for my "Third World Excursion"). What he didn't know is I still had some North Park Gold left from school so my reef's only cost $1!!! Actually, 93 cents to be exact. He laughed.
Gotta go finish packing!

Here is a picture of me holding Paige Sofie (Morrison Totem Pole):

And here is a picture of Tiffany, Mandi, and me at Lee Harvey's:

Sneak Peek

Wanna see where I'll be this summer?  Here are some pics from our trip last year.

Non-Refundable Tickets and Why Are You Doing This?

Some friends and I are getting together this Saturday to hang out before I leave for the summer.  As part of the invite Tim wrote, "Please join us to help send-off Alicia as she embarks on her "Immersion Excursion." (The plane tickets are non-refundable, so she ain't coming back until August!)"  Wow!  This is for real!!!  No safety-net to back out.  I'm still excited but I can't lie I'm getting a little nervous.  At my family reunion I got lots of "great" comments/advice:  "Why are you doing this?", "You know they eat funny stuff there?", and "Don't watch them cook it and don't ask what's in it".  I'm not worried about the food.  I loved it last year.  I'm just nervous about getting through the airport and to Antigua, meeting my family the first time, knowing when to hang out with the family and when to leave them alone, and then getting back home in August.  But, I'm doing it and there's more excitement than being nervous.  

On another note, I bought a book about Guatemalan culture.  Great book! Now Tim has challenged me to get to know the culture well enough to bring him back something that truly represents Guatemala.  This will be especially hard since he was there last year and has a surface knowledge.  However, this is really why I am going.  Learning Spanish will be a bonus, but to have the opportunity to get out of my comfort zone, be immersed in another culture, and truly get to know the people is an opportunity not to be missed in my opinion.  In our wedding vows, Tim and I promised to try to better understand ourselves, the world, and God.  I believe that if we can do these three things then our marriage will be enriched and strengthened.  So, I'm starting out our 2nd year of marriage trying to better understand the world...starting with Guatemala. 

Habla Espanol?

Rita and I have been writing each other emails and we try to throw in a little Spanish.  WOW!  I have a lot of learning to do.  What is sad, is this was my minor in college.  But everything I learned was text book and I haven't used it since college really.  Dad and Mom, I bet you are so happy to hear your money was so well spent!!!  Now, I used it on the honeymoon and got by and used it to talk to a nanny of one of my student's but I am sure I sounded like a 2 year just learning to speak.  They seemed appreciative that I tried though, except one rude waiter in Costa Rica.  He was living the rude life instead of the pure life.  

On a more positive note, I think I have the wardrobe situation pretty much all taken care of.  I found some great skirts and t-shirts.  I can mix and match them, wear the t's with jeans or shorts, it will be fabulous.  Plus, I've worn a few of them and they are so comfortable.  I'll still have to by a new pair of reef's but trust me I am not heartbroken.  Those are the best flip-flop's EVER.

I was on Grey's Anatomy!

Okay, not really.  BUT, the heart surgery I had in 2000 was.  I thought that was pretty cool.  Dr. Han told Christina she was doing a "Ross Procedure" and to give her an update periodically on the other case...yeah because the "Ross Procedure"  was cooler and needed the "real doctor".  Well, not really, the other case was more of the story line but whatever.  

How can I relate this to Antigua?  Umm, I can't but I don't really care.

Stay Heart Healthy!

It's just backwards!

A glimpse of my week...I had a really rough start to the work week.  The first three days were so very stressful.  Let me just tell you I went to work on Wednesday completely dreading it.  You know the days you just want to pretend you are sick so you don't have to go but then realize you're an adult and have to suck it up.  I made it through the day, came home, and started to get ready to go to the gym.  To my surprise, I had worn my clothes backwards at work ALL day and no one told me.  Granted it was only my shirt, but seriously I have friends at work, shouldn't they have told me?  When Tim got home I told him and after he laughed, he had the idea I put it back on backwards to see if it was obvious.  He totally thought it was.  Today was much better and all my "friends" got a great laugh out of it.  They all stand by the argument they didn't notice.  One said if she had she would have laughed hysterically.  Thanks Lumi...  ~smiles~

What does this have to do with Antigua?  Nothing except I am counting down the days!

Oh yeah, I got confirmation from the school so it's really a done deal now AND my friend Ashley may come visit while I'm there!  Yay!

As an update my day today was fabulous and I'm back to loving my job, it was only those three days.

***one of my preschoolers wore his pants backwards on Wednesday too.  Yeah, I'm not proud.