Lessons Learned

I either heard or read that when one travels for any extended amount of time you change and expect that things/people have changed back home but they don't. Consecuently, others expect you to come home unchanged as well. This doesn't happen either.
I am trying to reflect back on my time here (and avoid the afternoon rain). Here are some things I learned about myself or in general this month, as well as things I didnt learn but had reaffirmed. Some are silly and some are serious:

I need more alone time than most.
I think all good books are written by people that have last names starting with M, S, and/or W.
People that have the least give the most.
I need to know more about my world.
Once finished with a book, I feel I've just lost friends and miss them.
I have very little, if any, patience outside of work.
I think yoga will be my newest passion.
I am much more laid back and passive than I thought possible, especially compared to the "me" growing up.
Trust is a gift that I take responsibly.
Priorities shift.
My age shows in my hands and eyes.
I'm a sucker for anyone that reminds me of my little brother.
I can't stand "helpless" people that really aren't.
Things work out if you are nice and considerate.
I am still scared of fire.
Naps will always be my guilty pleasure.
Sometimes, it is best to not say anything, but then people think I don't care when really I am trying to respect them.
Life is complicated yet simple.
I am OCDish when things are unknown and the complete OPPOSITE when I am comfortable.
Family has many definitions just depends on the circumstance.
I surprise myself.
People are still my greatest investment.
And finally, I am starting to have crazier ideas about life plans than my husband, which is hard to do!

-- Post From My iPhone

Long Lost Relative?

Hall and I met my second week here but as of yesterday I am convinced he is a long lost relative of mine.
I just clicked with him from the beginning. He is a grad student from KU and is really going places. He is proficient, if not fluent, in Italian because he studied there for a year and goes back often, and is now studying Spanish. He is a brilliant writer and deep thinker. He loves an intellectual discussion even though he gets frustrated with others lack of openness. I loved going to mass and Tuesday night social issues lectures with him. Happy hours with him were always fun and he's laid back. He barely noticed I "stood" him up on Tuesday. My watch broke and my phone wasn't working so I had no idea I was an hour late. Or I was on Guatemalan time, either way he was chill about it. He is the type of person I just love meeting while traveling. And look at these pics don't we just look like we could be related or at the very least have similar personalities?





This how both of us, unprompted, chose to pose ~smiles~during seperate times. One pic is at Kafka's and one is in Honduras while Hall wasn't around, so he had no idea about my "signature" pose, mouth partially open, smiling and hamming it up!

Random

Rita and I went on an excursion with our school today. Don't worry nothing crazy happened. We saw some Mayan ruins that were no where near as impressive as Copan or Tikal. We did get to see a true (not staged for tourist) Mayan ceremony-wedding, I think.




I took lots of video for the Tim and my memory card is full! I rode home with a representative from the German Embassy and her boyfriend instead of the school shuttle. Very interesting. My teacher rode with us too. Don't worry I wasn't hitch-hiking again.

I also had pizza, beer, and cake with Yohanna, the teacher I assisted last year, and Rocxana, the mom of one of the kiddie at the school I volunteered at, and her two daughters. So fun! Apparently "Dallas" sounds like a Spanish (possibly slang) word for "butt" and this is hilarious to a three year old and she definitely does NOT want to visit me in "Butt, Texas". We might go out Friday night too.

I did some Christmas shopping and some shopping for myself. I love the handmade table runners for only $10! I got one for the fall, Christmas, and Easter/spring.




The Christmas one is reversible depending on whether or not I want green or red.

Here are some random pics I have not posted:

My school




There are garden/patio rooms but since I never complain I get rooms like this:




Here is a gorgeous flower arrangement in the Artisans market




And some random food pics. Hope I have not posted this yet.

Tamale, beans, plantain with cream:



And cheese, it's not as dry or as salty as last year:




-- Post From My iPhone

Only A Few Days Left

And a whole lotta memories to make...

Anyone know this song? Anyone?
Jason Aldean- Laughed Until We Cried
Love his music!
Some other lyrics:
Man we were living; didn't waste one minute
Talked, drank, danced and said good-bye

Every emotion rolled into one
Kind of happy; kind of sad

Yep, that pretty much sums me up right now. I only have basically 4 more days left and I am trying to not waste one minute. I want so many more memories. I'm living my "normal" life here by talking, drinking, and laughing with friends but I've also planned dinners and drinks with friends to say good-bye.
So right now I am kind of happy and kind of sad. I am ready to go home and be with my husband. But I am sad because every year I don't know if I will return and this makes me sad.
Anyway that's how I feel right now and apparently Jason Aldean had a song about it.

How could you not miss this sight?


Or this food?



Or these friends?






Matt and Daphne always went out to smoke so this was usually my view of them and why we sat at the window.

-- Post From My iPhone

Who Knew? There Was A Coup!

Rita and I went to Copan, Honduras this weekend. While there we saw, the Mayan Ruins but I didn't get a pic for the blog. I wasn't feeling well and almost fainted twice so blog pics were not at the top of my priority list.

Later, I was feeling better so we had drinks on the balcony of a bar.




Don't worry we didn't drink that much. I posed for the pic to send to Tim since he was having a pool party at our house without me. The only "rule" when I left was, the house had to be clean if anyone came over. Husbands don't care about this as much as wives.

Then we had a three course dinner and drinks for $8! I forgot to take a pic of the entrée but here is the drink, soup and dessert:














Isn't this place fun?








Then we went back to the hotel and sat on the balcony with a bottle wine. It was such a crazy night, we were home by 7:00 and asleep by 9:30!

Funny thing is we didn't change enough money to Limperas so at the end of the night we literally had less than a dollar left in Honduran money. No problem, breakfast was free the next day (fruit and bread or eggs Benedict, or eggs, beans, cheese, and plantains) and we only needed to buy snacks for the trip home. I would pull out some money in the morning.

Yeah, not so much. Who knew there was a coup? Not us! I tried to get money out of the ATM and I was told there was a problem at my bank. Okay, I'll just use dollars then. (I use local currency but carry American cash for emergencies) At the store I notice there are no lights and I hear them talking about the Honduran president but it still doesn't register. Back at the hotel, we have no electricity and the maid tells us it is because of the "government."

Seriously, not until we are on the shuttle back to Guatemala do we understand there was a military coup. Craziness!

What is true and what isn't, we will never know, but I assume this is why I couldn't get any money. Back in Antigua I had no problem and never had to contact the bank. We were told the electricity was out so no one could watch the news and then know what was happening to both prevent riots and panic. Who knows?

We saw tons of military transport on the way back to Antigua and it was three hours into Guatemala before we saw electricity again. Rita had already decided on plan B and was getting the next plane out of here if there was no electricity in Antigua. I was staying. I just needed a flashlight.

Upon arriving back home, Rita was able to text with her husband. Good thing because he was worried. Mine on the other hand, not so much worried. He was more concerned with our friends emailing me to say the house was clean when they arrived for the pool party.*

Silvia told us she heard about the coup but realized we were fare away from the Honduran capital and would be home soon. So she wasn't worried either.

I still loved Honduras and am actually considering going there to study next summer.

Look at these pics of our hotel, beautiful:








Basically we had mo idea when we left that we were "fleeing" a military coup and ignorance is bliss.

*Tim did ask me to email him as soon as I got back to Guatemala and then he wanted to Skype to fond out the details so he was a little worried. However he was more jealous that I one-upped him in travel. he has never been to a country during political unrest. Plus, I did receive emails stating the house was VERY clean.

-- Post From My iPhone

Fuego! Fire!

So I was back at Kafka's talking with T using gtalk last night. I couldn't believe the news about Micahael Jackson and then noticed a group of Guatemalans lifting their glasses of beer to honor him. I missed them toasting but here is a pic just so you have a visual:



T told me to buy their next round so I could take my pic with them doing the same thing. Boy oh boy! I had no idea what was coming next!
Before I have chance to order a round, I hear what sounds like fire crackers, not an unusual sound here. The group runs to the terrace and the immediately down stairs. Well, of course I run to the terrace to see what is going on too. All I see is smoke so I run down stairs to see the show, still thinking it is fire crackers. I run outside the side door and stop because I am under sparks streaming down the roof. I run back in and out the front door. The electrical box seemed to have shorted. Once the sparks finish, we all go back inside. Blair, one of the bartenders, sits with me and we talk about all of the excitement.


Then we hear fire truck sirens and she asks, "What should we do?" Fire being my biggest fear in life, I yell "RUN!" She and I take off and the Michael Jackson mourners are right behind us. There was still an electrical fire on the roof. We just didn't realize when we came back in.
Here the firefighters are getting the fire hose ready:



I was freaking out because even I know not to put water on an electrical fire. Luckily they couldn't get the water out of the hose because, I kid you not, it was all draining from the bottom. Hard to see in this pic but I promise the water is gushing out the bottom:




Then finally another truck showed up with a fire extinguisher. I guess neither the restaurant or fire truck had one?



Ah, we are finally safe so everyone is just invited back inside. I opted to go in quickly enough to pay my bill and leave. Remember, I am seriuosly scared of fire. Crazy thing is, not once during this ordeal did they clear the restaurant. Some people stayed in the entire time!
Want to see who saved the day by bringing the fire extinguisher?



Look closely...It was the Rotary Club?!?!




-- Post From My iPhone

Travel Friendships

I have noticed while traveling you develop strong friendships that usually only last as long as your travel or that of your new friend. Seems to me, the friendships are based more on the amount of time you both will be spending in a place than age, interests (travel is already the common bound), or anything else. Here you quickly assess if you are going to become "friends" with someone or just hang out with them for the day. I've had my share of people I have met at cafes that I enjoyed, even drank and had meals with just to say, "see you around." And then Antigua is so small, you actually do. These people usually only have a week left here when I meet them, so not as much time is invested in them. With others, you take time to exchange phone numbers or emails and plan to see them again while you are here. These are usually the people you meet when you first arrive and will be here about the same amount of time as you or longer. Funny thing is -- both of these types of "friendships" start with the same conversations and you have a million while here. Common questions:

How long are you here?
Are you studying Spanish?
What school?
Where else have you traveled?
Are you traveling anywhere after this? (because many are doing this for 3-6 months)
Where are you from?
Do you know what bars or restaurants are cool here?
What you going to do after dinner tonight? (because the friendship has now been established)

Whether or not you try to see this person again was determined by the first question. Notice age or profession are not asked and sometimes it never is and sometimes you only find these things out after you have known someone for a couple of weeks.

Then eventually your friends start leaving. Sometimes, your "group" will go out the night before to say good-bye as if you are some mini-family. But for most you will never see them again. It is kind of strange; experiencing so much with someone just to say "bye" and "good luck." But then again the friendship wouldn't be the same back home anyway because this isn't real life. At least in my real life, I don't have someone cooking and cleaning for me. I can't just take a nap every afternoon to wake up in time to meet friends for happy hour. And I definitely don't go out 3-4 times during the week nights. Does sound a lot like college though minus the cooking and cleaning. I loved college so maybe that is why I keep coming back here...trying to relive maybe? Anyway...

I am now officially one of those people that if someone just arriving meets, they will not invest too much time in because I am leaving in a week. The time is flying by much faster than last year. And this makes me sad.*





*I am sad because I love this place but I will be extremely happy to go home and see T. And yes, I am aware how horrible this picture is, and I blame the lighting.

-- Post From My iPhone

Evil Cat

Don't be fooled by the cute innocent face, this is one evil kitty!

Hall and I were eating dinner, pulled pork sandwich with fries. When all of a sudden this devil-cat grabs a fry literally out of Hall's hand. We sat there staring jaw-dropped as the cat sat staring bewildered at his paw. Then this little ball of craziness pulled his paw back and flung the fry at me! I was covered in catsup! Then it ran off and licked the catsup off his paw and I promise I think he was smirking at me.






-- Post From My iPhone

Celebration and Food

Since I couldn't celebrate with Tim yesterday, I had tres leches cake with the familia. You'll have to ask Rita about "quatro leches" cake!




I had to sit down because I am a giant compared to everyone else. This is Silvia, her three sons, Marvin, Carlos, and Diego, as well as her nephew, Pepe.

Here are some more random food shots.

Watermelon, pineapple, banana, and papaya covered in yogurt and granola, my fave breakfast here:





Pancakes and papaya. Silvia's pancakes are thin and almost crepe like




Dinner one day last week




Chips, guacamole, cheese, beans, and salsa-lunch on Sunday at a restaurant. Notice the chips are like Doritos.




Double chocolate cake from Cafe Condessa




Watermelon smoothie made with water. I get this when I go to the Bagel Barn to use their wifi




Yeah, I'm going to need to go the gym when I get home.

-- Post From My iPhone

Long Distance Anniversary -- A Guest Post

If you are a regular to this blog, then you realize that we are spending our second anniversary in different countries. It’s not the ideal way to spend your second anniversary, but it’s not “bad” either. Wait, did he just say that? Yes. Now let me explain.

A lot of friends -- and even acquaintances -- have told us they really admired Alicia’s decision to go to Guatemala last year. And after she fell in love with her host family and the public special needs school, her decision to return this summer. While they admired it, they also asked, me mainly, how can you stand to be apart that long? Are you okay with letting her do this? Again? And this year, but you won’t even be around each other on your anniversary?!?!!

Yes, it can be hard (for me at least). And -- NO -- you cannot truly regain your “bachelorhood,” for one month out of the year, no matter how many times your friends tease you about it (or admire you for it?).

And that is the point of this post. I am glad we have had our times apart. Marriage, as most of us know, is A LOT OF HARD WORK -- all the time. And sometimes you quit seeing the forest for the trees. You get too caught up in the trials and tribulations of making it -- and trying to make it work -- from day-to-day that it’s easy to lose sight of WHY you committed yourself to this person; how wonderful, caring, insightful, and, yes, challenging (in a good way) she is. And most importantly how much you are better off because you met her and then somehow managed to convince her to marry you.

Absence reminds the married heart how truly lucky you are.

To the person who has taught me more about life, what is important, and myself than you realize: I love you. And I look forward to the opportunity to share a truly extended sojourn in that part of the world we have grown to love together!

2 Year Wedding Anniversary

Tim beat me to the punch with a surprise post but I still want to post my thoughts on today also. I drafted last might before reading his thoughts nut there are definite similarities.

March 12, 2005 (I think)-started talking on e-harmony with the Tim (gasp! Yes I admitted that on the blog)

April 3, 2005-met the man of my "dreams" at the Dream Cafe (oh gag! Did I really just write that?)

April 14, 2006-Said "YES" even though there was not a camera in the case and he was not there to run a race (funny but this is what I remember of the proposal. I was over come with emotion for everything else)

June 23, 2007-said "Sure, why not?" (um, I mean "I do") and then honeymooned in Costa Rica and Guatemala. this began the obsession with this country.

June 23, 2008-went back to the Dream Cafe because we were still living the dream (gag! Did I write that again?) and then went on vacation to Nicaragua because who doesn't think romance when they hear "Nicaragua".

June 23, 2009-thousands of miles away from my husband, planning to go to class, celebrating with my Guatemalan family since I can't be with him with cake at lunch, going for coffee with a mom of one of the kiddos I volunteered with last year, and then going to a lecture about the current state of Guatemala. Great 2 year anniversary huh?

How can I do this you ask? Because I promised my husband I would. Two years ago today we promised to always learn more about ourselves, God, and the world. And you know what he holds me to that and I absolutely love him for it. He's secure enough to let me grow. We learned last year from some random couple in Nicaragua, that sometimes you have to get on a boat and sometimes you have to join the circus, but both of you may not be able to do both of these things at the same time and that is okay. Best marriage advice we ever received!

He challenges me and accepts me when I am challenging. He ignites a thirst of adventure in me while providing a secure gentle refuge when the unknown is scary. He laughs with me and at me. He cries with me and for me. His eyes hold an emotion, I don't think I have ever seen before. And he makes mistakes! And I love him for it because that means I don't have to be perfect either. He has allowed me to love him completely. He is true to himself. No matter how many times I say no to taking a year off work to travel he keeps asking and he has worn me down to maybe six months. I love him because he is the man I started praying for when I was 12 years old until I was 26. I knew without a doubt this was my husband two months after meeting. I love him because sometimes he is on the boat and sometimes I am in the circus.

Thousands of miles away from each other and celebrating our anniversary separately, I feel as close to my husband as I possibly can because he is a part of me.

And seriously? Look at these pics, how could you not love him?












































-- Post From My iPhone

Mass

Saturday night, I was having dinner with Hall, a grad student from KU when his friend, Aoifa (pronounced-Eefah-figure that one out SLPs) from Ireland joined us. She was taking a day trip the next day and asked us to join. After running around like chickens with our heads cut off since the tour agencies were closing soon, we accepted defeat and decided to stay in Antigua. Hall suggested we go to church the next day. He is Catholic and really wanted to go to mass. I jumped on the chance. Despite not being Catholic, I thought I would regret not going with him. Well I was right. I barely understood a word other than verses from the bible that are so imprinted in me from my VBS and church camp days that I would recognize them in almost any language. However, I felt so connected to the people of Antigua and Guatemala. Religion is such a part of culture that I think no matter if you believe in the same God, a different God, or no God, to truly appreciate the culture as a whole you need to open yourself up to these experiences. Granted, going to mass didn't pull me very far out of my comfort zone but it is something I had never done while here before. Plus, I needed to feel more connected to the Guatemalans. Not volunteering has put me more on the student/gringo trail than I would like. Dadgum swine flu closing the schools! But I digress...
After mass, there was a procession celebrating Corpus Christi (the body of Christ) and it was interesting but Hall and I didn't stay long because it was rainy and we were FREEZING! So we headed to breakfast at one of my favorite places, Khafka's. I'll have to post about the crazy kitty there later.
Here is the church, La Merced:



I love this church and always think of Becky when I pass it. Yellow always makes me think of her and I think this church is so pretty just like my Aunt. But maybe I only think she's pretty because everyone says I look just like her.

Here are people waiting on the processional:



Looks like a funeral huh? I promise it isn't. Lots of topics to discuss in upcoming posts!