A Week in Review

Some Highlights from this week

-Saw a Mountain Trogon for the first time in our park (in the quetzal family)
-Started putting out coverboards to survey herpetofauna (a little late but better late than never, an emerging mantra for my last few months here)
-Went all the way down to xela for lap swimming to find that the pool is closed until january for swim lessons =/
-Bought two boxes of Turtle Brownies because they were on sale Q3 each (like 40 cents!)
-Made Turtle Brownies to share with my host family, eating only two myself  (success!)
-Downloaded new How I Met Your Mother, Sex and the City (old), Glee, and True Blood thanks to randomly (lightning) fast internet
-Skyped with Gina DeVecchio over on the east coast, and with my little brother in LA (west hollywood to be exact) and can't believe how grown up everyone is..... or that almost two years have gone by already
-Guided a group of kids and women from my library groups up in our park, and had such a good time we're doing it again next week



Leaning on Technology

My computer got sick about two weeks ago.  The screen flashed black and white while I was working on it in the office and I held my breath while it lasted -about 30 seconds-and then it went back to normal.  I tried to deny that it had happened-perhaps I imagined it?

Later in the week, it happened over and over again after varying periods of normal function and I had to admit I had a problem.  I googled the symptoms and the general consensus was that it was unsalvageable.  I felt sick to my stomach.  I took it to the repair shop, not even daring to hope that it could be fixed-but was assured that replacing the screen would fix the problem.

Does all this sound akin to the stress level that would accompany-oh i don't know - a sick child, not a piece of replaceable machinery?? While I am happy to report that after a week in the shop, all that was wrong was a loose connection that they fixed for about $10, the event brought to light my concerning dependence on this piece of machinery. 

With it, its easy to keep tabs on friends and family, talk to my boyfriend daily on Skype, read the news, surf the internet mindlessly, watch movies and tv shows at night.... not to mention work related functions. 

What the hell do peace corps volunteers do where there is no electricity and no internet?  And Why aren't I one of them?  I certainly hadn't pictured myself plugged into my email and facebook and blog Daily while down here in a third world country.  *frowns*  I feel guilty, uncomfortable with how much my computer occupies my daily life, but unable to stop.  My computer is back,a nd here I am, surfing the net while I drink my coffee.  I wish my service had been back in the 60's, before laptops and mobile internet and skype. Or do I?

The mini-crisis brought about by my computer getting sick forced me to ask these difficult questions today, and I hope will motivate me to reduce my computer time and increase time spent doing other activities and getting creative about doing so.  Today for example (and actually have to cut this short now to do so) taking our Girl's Group from the Library to hike on the mountain.   Yay physical activity, nature, sunshine.... !

In other news, we are being STANDFASTED again this weekend for the second round of elections.  We dont expect any violence here in Sija, but thats probably why they want me to stay here.  I'll try to avoid reading your FB status updates in real time.  Promise.

No Jack o Lanterns for me...

Today was All Saints' Day, a holiday not widely observed in the States but recognized in many other countries, including Guatemala.  In some parts of the country, it is celebrated with much fanfare, most  famously in Todos Santos, home of the Drunken Horse Race. 

Here, we passed the day a little more 'tranquilo'... The office was closed, so I slept in, then took Bella for a run with my host sister (yeah, running, more on that later).  We had a Delicious chicken dish that my host mom had just learned, with chipotle peppers and cabbage and shredded chicken breast.  Then we walked to the cemetary to visit the dead.  Sound creepy?   Let me (try to) explain why it wasn't.

All Saints Day here is a day for the living to go visit and remember their loved ones.  Some believe that all the souls are allowed to come back to visit this one day a year.  In some communities, people bring food and drink and sit by the grave to share, or bring a flask and toast to their deceased.  In our cemetary, families came to visit their departed and leave flowers and candles adorning their tombs.  Instead of burying their dead, they use above ground tombs that often house and have space for whole families.  It's hard to explain, so I took pictures. 

The flowers and the hanging with the host family was nice-don't get me wrong-but i'll be happy to return to the costumed drunken debauchery, pumpkin carving, and bite sized candy bars next year. 

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.

Yikes...

Trying to reflect on my 6-months-left anniversary is proving a little difficult. Suffice it to say that I have a hefty to do list and intend to stay busy, hopefully making the remaining months both productive and quick to pass.  There are good days here-mostly good days actually-and I will miss so many things about life in a quiet mountain town in another country. 

I'll actually miss the chicken bus rides, open air markets, casual conversation with random people in town, bringing my dog everywhere with me (mostly taking advantage of being a gringa there..), awesome street food, paca (guatemalan thrift store) shopping, getting to know new places, rain on my tin roof.... *sigh*

But I'm really looking forward to wearing sweats outside without getting weird looks, not being stared at in general, being with family and friends, Barbecues, long drives in the country, being out after dark..... 

So even though I have one more big fat plus on the side of coming home (my awesome boyfriend), I'm still ambiguous about leaving.  The fact is that I love living abroad, and I love my job.  Every day is an adventure, and those little "peace corps moments' sneak their way in at the most unexpected times.  It would be easy to start counting down, hoping that that moment when I step on the plane to head home comes soon-but I'm tryning not to take for granted the time that I still have here.  It's a balancing act I'm still working out-and probably will be until that final day arrives.