Pondering in the Sunshine..

I swear I'm part reptile.  The two weeks of rain really kicked me in the stomach and took away all motivation and will to live.  But at the same time, all the inactivity left me feeling restless and a little Jack Nicholson in the Shining... But the sun showed its face last Thursday and kick started the collective metabolism of the entire country.  In my town, the hills are green, wildflowers are exploding along the roadsides, and its just easier to smile when walking around town.  Even the catcalls and whistles don't phase me. 

The blue skies and sunshine shook me out of my rainy day coma, and suddenly the clock is ticking. Loudly.  The weeks seem to be screaming by, as if I were on a train watching my life speed by out the window.  It's FRIDAY already?? I have a to-do list a mile long, and I have this feeling that before I know it, it'll be time to go.  Do all Volunteers feel this way when the clock starts ticking in these last few months? Like they suddenly can't remember what they've accomplished in the last 22 months and feel that they've been spinning their wheels...?

All it takes is a hike up in our little eco-park to remind me that i Have done things...a walk through the street to realize that the people here know me and greet me as if I belonged (mostly).  A dinner with my host family to realize that I've made some connections that will last.

The truth is I've been extremely fortunate in my experiences here.  We had a meeting yesterday with a group counselor to talk about Volunteer life and she reminded us of all the changes we've had to adjust to; family life, social life, food, shelter, culture, religion, job, language....When it adds up, the stress that is caused by such a drastic change is equal to TWO spousal deaths.....!  So, we forget to give ourselves credit for the radical step we've taken as Volunteers.  And yesterday we were reminded.  I think that's important.

I've heard it suggested that Peace Corps does more good for the Volunteers than it does for the host country we work in.  That's probably true.  The Volunteers that complete their service and return to the US are certainly better, more worldly, more capable, more compassionate than when they left.  And the United States absolutely needs more citizens with a global view and understanding, at this juncture in history.  I've learned so much from the Guatemalan people and from the experience of getting dropped into a completely unfamiliar situation, alone, and adapting. 

But the work that we do while here has an impact.  It's difficult to quantify and its easy to belittle your own service... soft development is much more challenging than 'hard' development.  And as more informed citizens, most of us will continue to 'be the change' once our service is over.  Many will join the Foreign Services, or even return to work for Peace Corps as staff, supporting new generations of Volunteers. All of us will have a more informed view of global policies and advocate for the countries we served in, and other countries like them.

In  a way, our 2 years spent in another country is just a pebble dropped in a pond-the ripples will be felt for years to come.

...Usually I know I dont wax philosophical  for you all, but it was on my mind after our meeting yesterday and recently as I process the move back to the US. 

On a lighter note...

It's only been half an hour and I feel really guilty about putting up such a downer post.  I'm not going to delete either though because it was/is legitimate and true... and hey, Peace Corps is Not always happy-its an emotional roller coaster.  To just omit the parts where i'm not 100% excited about everything would be a lie of omission.  But there are Happy Parts, as i was just reflecting, that I have failed to post.  This weekend my host family (whom i Love Love Love) invited me to the beach. 

So we all piled into their little toyota (all five of us) and headed down down down from the mountains to the coast.  About halfway there, I could feel that tropical heat start to thaw my bones out.  We checked into a (kind of) decadent hotel where i had to pay ten whole US dollars for my bed, which I thought was extravagant (on my PCV budget i usually pay no more than 5$ for a hotel), but just went with it.  After all, the hotel had a Really nice pool and it had been a while since I got to swim laps.  And also, what do they say? When in Rome...

After checking in, we went to a beachside restaurant where most of the family ordered fried fish.  I, still traumatized after a bad shrimp encounter at this same beach the last time I was there, opted for the safer option of a hamburger...washed down with a couple cold Gallo's.  Cold beer + beach=happiness.  With bellies full, we walked down to the waters edge to flirt with the waves for a while ( i was the only one who got all the way in, or even wore my suit for that matter). Around sundown we headed back to the hotel to aprovechar, or take advantage of, the pool and hotel grounds. 

Getting to show off my swimming skills (everyone else pretty much stayed in the shallow end) and jump off the high dive made me realize how much i miss swimming and water polo.  I hope I can find a water polo club on the central coast when i get back-I was googling masters' water polo programs just today.  If not, at least I'll be able to swim laps on a semi-regular basis. 

Anyways, we stayed up late talking and playing in the pool.  In the morning Aunt Panchi (who is also the woman who gave me my puppy)  and I walked down to the beach while the rest of the family slept in.  When we got back we all had a Huge Guatemalan breakfast (scrambled eggs with tomato and onion, queso fresco, fried plaintains, black beans, tortillas, hot sauce) and then layed out and played in the pool until check out time.  True to form, I was in the sun on the side of the pool until everyone had their bags in the car and had showered and were really, really ready to go.  Then I hopped up, showered and dressed in about 5 minutes, reluctant to leave the warm weather and the pool....

As if the day could get any better, we decided on my favorite chinese place in Xela for lunch/dinner when we got back.  Some hot Sweet and Sour chicken with white rice was the perfect end to a perfect weekend getaway. 

                           

Who says blogging isn't therapeutic? Recounting my weekend experiences made me smile, and now to warm up this chilly day I'm going to try this recipe that i found on http://www.greenlitebites.com/ for Sweet Potato and Black Bean Chili.

 

Tropical Depression is Right...

Another dreary winter day in the altiplano as we ride out Tropical Storm ..It is hard to believe that a storm that has caused so much damage doesn't even get a name?  It rained in earnest starting on Tuesday night and continued until about midday.  It barely drizzled last night but it looks like the rain is starting again this afternoon.  They expect it to continue until Saturday.  Thankfully, I live up in the mountains and we have only seen minor damage to power lines and roads from washout.  But the situation in the rest of the country is grim, with Pacific coast communities and even other areas of Xela seeing roads and bridges washed out, rivers overflowing, landslides and flooding. 

Huddled up in the house sipping hot chocolate with the puppy, it could be a lot worse and I'm thankful that my community has been spared the debilitating damage caused in other parts.  However, can't help feel a little bit of the rainy day blues. 

Include Guatemala in your thoughts and prayers today, they're going to need it.