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.