Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Lessons Learned in the Guat: Part 2

Lesson 7: Discard your personal bubble prior to entering a Chicken Bus.
When on a Chicken Bus, be aware that you do not have a right to your own space. You might think that you have a right to your space, however, you don´t. You might think that bus seats are meant for two people. They´re not. Bus seats are meant for as many people as is humanly possible. Even if there isn´t room for another person in your seat, someone is bound to find just the right amount of space. In fact, many people, including large men, will take your lap into account. Just the other day I was sitting on a Chicken Bus next to an older gentleman, minding my own business, when a significantly larger older gentleman decided to sit with us. Now, I did not think there would be room for this man, but there was. This older gentleman found ample space. On my lap. It´s a damn good thing I remembered to get rid of my bubble, because if I hadn´t, that man would have burst it.

Lesson 8: Brace Yourself.
Prior to taking a shower it is important to prepare yourself. This shower is going to be frigid. In fact, this shower is going to make your teeth chatter and cause every hair on your body stand on end. I have never in my life worried about taking a shower as much as I dred showering in the Guat. To be honest, I don´t shower as frequently because I find it utterly unpleasant. I don´t shower when it´s raining, because I´ll be impossibly cold. As the water cascades down on my head, I try to think about the fact that my hair is growing, but that doesn´t help very much. Sometimes in the morning, I forget to brace myself before hopping in the shower. This is very bad. When I forget to brace myself I shout out in surprise, because I am so shocked by how freezing the water is. I read in a magazine that cold water is good for your hair. I hope that´s true. I hate cold showers now, and it´s only September. I can´t imagine how cold it´ll be in December.

Lesson 9: Watch your step.
The ground here is almost never even. Most of the streets are cobblestone, however, the stones are haphazardly placed and all happen to be different sizes. For a klutz like me, Guatemalan streets are a huge accident waiting to happen. It doesn´t help that pedestrians do not have the right of way here. The sidewalks here are very narrow and there are a lot of protruding window things that are waiting to bash your head. So actually, the lesson is really to watch out. Beware. The streets of Guatemala are dangerous, but not for the reasons you might think. I have yet to witness a pickpocketing. I haven´t seen any crazed drug dealers on the loose. What I have seen is my face coming dangerously close to the ground countless times, becuase I can´t help but trip all over the place.

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Lessons Learned in the Guat: Part 1

Lesson 1: Never go anywhere without a rainjacket.
The rainy season here in Guatemala is from May to November and in that time it rains quite frequently. The rain here is pretty sneaky and can appear out of nowhere to soak you completely. Also, the streets here in Antigua don´t have a drainage system so it´s best to wear sandals. I always thought I loved the rain, but there is a little too much rain here for my liking. However, I guess, if it weren´t for all of this lluvia (rain) there wouldn´t be so much delicious fruit to eat. I eat piña (pineapple), sandia (watermelon), and papaya pretty much every day and it´s amazing!

Lesson 2: Go to bed early, becuase you won´t be able to sleep in.
The roosters here don´t really have a sense of the appropriate time to crow. Sometimes they crow at 2 in the morning, and if the roosters aren´t crowing, someone is probably setting off fireworks. I´m all for fireworks, but  not when they´re set off at 6 in the morning. In my town there is also a truck that drives up and down the street advertising gas starting at 5:30 am. The truck has a recorded advertisement and the first few times I heard it I thought it was saying "Geeeeeeeeeet Uuuuuuup!" but what it´s actually saying is "Zeeeeeeeta Gaaaaaaaas!!!!" The roosters, the fireworks, and the Z Gas truck are bad, but the worst is when Raul, the family parrot, repeats the Z Gas advertisement. Raul enjoys repeating just about anything that might annoy the rest of the family. Needless to say, sleeping in is not an option.


Lesson 3: Mango is more than just a fruit.
Yes, mango is a delicious fruit and it´s in season from May to August here in Guatemala. However, the word "Mango" is also used to describe an attractive man. For example, if a group of girls is walking down the street and one of them sees a good looking guy, she might say, "¡Que Mango!" or if he´s very attractive she might say, "¡Que Mangazo!" I hear girls saying this quite often, and when I finally asked what it was, I burst out laughing.


Lesson 4: It doesn´t matter how conservatively you dress...
Men will holler at you like you´re dressed for a scandalous night out on the town.
Maybe it´s because I´m a gringa, but I´ve never had so much male attention in my life. I usually wear floor-length skirts and conservative shirts, yet that doesn´t seem to deter men from yelling (what I assume are pick up lines) at me. At first I was terrified, but now I just find it hilarious. The other day, while walking in the market, one many yelled at Kate and I that we were good-looking pastors (or something like that). Haha.

Lesson 5: Make jokes.
When I first moved in with my host family, I found it difficult to interact with them and I felt very out of place, however, when I started making jokes, they really loostened up around me. I make jokes that I´m sure sound like they were made up by a 7 year old, yet they laugh as though I´ve just said the most hilarious thing they´ve ever heard. One night there was a funny looking bug in the kitchen. It was bouncing off the wall in time with the marimba music on the radio. I pointed to the bug and joked that it was dancing to the music. My host dad thought it was so funny; I thought he was going to fall out of his chair. I think he really appreciated that I was making an effort with my Spanish, and the bug really did look like he was dancing. :)

Lesson 6: Don´t pet Chuchos.
Chuchos (street dogs) are pretty much everywhere and most of them are cute. I have a hard time not petting dogs, but after I got fleas, I decided to abstain from petting the Chuchos. Fleas tend to bite you around your waistband and your wrists and ankles. Flea bites are REALLY really itchy. Don´t pet the Chuchos. 



Saturday, September 8, 2012

A few photos of Antigua

Jensen, Annie, Kate, and I in front of the fountain in Antigua´s City Park.

Our new friendship bracelets!

The view from my window in San Juan del Obispo!

The famed arch in Antigua!



Saturday, September 1, 2012

iEstoy feliz como un lombriz!

Ayer estoy feliz como un lombriz! (Right now I am as happy as a worm!) Guatemala is everything I hoped it would be and more. Annie, Kate, Jensen, and I spent our first three nights in an adorable little hotel in Antigua. We explored the city and learned more about one another. On Thursday morning, after a breakfast of mosh (similar to oatmeal) and huevos y frijoles (eggs and beans) we took a taxi to San Juan del Obispo.  San Juan is a small town outside of Antigua with a beautiful view of the volcano and surrounding mountains. Each of us had a host family waiting to welcome us into their home. My host mom, Dolores, carried my duffle bag on her head as we trekked up the cobblestone hill to her two story casa (house). We were greeted by Toffe, a gregarious perrito (puppy), and el loro (a parrot) se llama Raul (named Raul). Dolores lives with her husband Julio and spends most week days watching her nieta (granddaughter) Camilla. Despues de almuerzo delicioso (after a delicious lunch) we walked a few blocks to our language school. Each of us has our own maestra (teacher), mi maestra se llama Beatriz (my teacher is named Beatriz). I have only had two lessons so far, but I can already tell that I am improving. Next week I will have classes in the morning and outings in the afternoon. I am so excited to continue getting to know Guatemala and her cultura bonita (beautiful culture).

I found out today that my family will be coming to visit me on the 26th of December! I am eager to see my mom, dad, and sister, and I cannot wait to show them the country that I am growing to love. I will end this post with a quote from Douglas Wood,

And maybe it is only on the trail to nowhere-in-particular that you find the most important thing of all. Yourself.