Day Three and Some Corrections

The rat was definitely imagined, and likely the result of a book that I am reading that describes a similar scene somewhere in the world. All I´ve seen so far is a couple of mosquitoes and some of those tiny little ants. So, I am safe from insect attack. And also, the name of the older girl in my house in Karla Isabella, not Karla Maria.

I had a great conversation with little Tiffany about Bob Espongo and she has promised to show me ¨el mundo de Bob Espongo¨ on the computer so we can play some games.

Language class today was pretty good. I asked to review the subjunctive tense before the week is over, but diverging from the lesson plan isn´t something my teacher though was a good idea. So, I´ll go find some books. I´ll show her! (Just like 10th grade math class!) During the six hours today we had some great conversations about culture and (in)equality between men and women and dress. I told her that, given everything I read in guidebooks, I was very surprised that the women walking down the street in Antigua look the same as the women walking down the street in New York City. I read that it´s best to cover your legs and your shoulders. She said that she thinks the people who don´t cover enough skin are dressed like prostitutes, but she definitely wears short sleeves because it´s too hot to do any different.

Last night I went to the church of ... (a tiny little bugger just bit me!!) ... San Francisco to see ¨la valacion.¨ I´m not sure what that translates to, but outside it was like a carnival with churros and light-toys for the kids (Minnie Mouse, Dora, Pokemon), made-in-China plastic jewelry, and tons of food. Inside, there was a beautiful carpet made from colored sawdust surrounded by an offering of local vegetables. Where the altar usually is, there was a giant scene of Jesus and some other folks, with Jesus in manequin form and the rest like Flat Stanley.

Tonight I am going to check out the night scene with some people from my school, though I am thinking one drink will do it before bed. Six hours of class, Spanish meals, and the gym is a lot in one day still. Perhaps by the end of month understanding and speaking Spanish won´t take calorie-burning effort...

Days One and Two

I forgot my hairbrush. And the currency conversion makes me very averse to buying a new one - Q48!! No way I am spending 45 anything on a hairbrush!!

It turned out to be a good thing that I got two hours of sleep the night before my flight, because I left Boston, and then woop, all of a sudden awake in Charlotte. Didn't even have to get off the plan, and then woop, awake in Fort Lauderdale. And on the final leg, I woke up to look out my window to see what I assume was the Yucatan Peninsula. In my little notebook, I drew some of the coast, a distinct fish-shaped island, and a seahorse-shaped coastal lake. Hopefully when I have the time, I can scan a map and figure out where I was.

Esvin from the school picked me up at the airport and drove me through billboard heaven (Burger King, cell phones, cars, travel, Chuck-E-Cheese, Domino's...), up and over and around some hills, and toward Antigua. Other interesting things that I noted along the way - tons and tons of people everywhere, but no sidewalks; Guatemala City constantly smells like the Fourth of July because of all the diesel smoke and brush burning smoke and broken car smoke; Guatemala City is very noisy from music sharing of all sorts; most of all, it was nice to see some leaves on the trees.

As soon as we got to Antigua, Esvin brought me to the school to get some paperwork and pay, and then I headed to my homestay with Jose and Karla Sanchez. The Sanchezes run their own language school out of their home, and I am thinking about studying with them one week because they are so nice. They've got three kids, Carlos, Carlosmaria or Karlamaria (?), and Tiffany, and two dogs, Princesa and Oichi. My room is big, with two beds, a desk, and a cute little armoir. I am convinced that there are rats living in the wooden ceiling because I can hear something munching at night, but I haven't seen any glowing eyes yet. Hopefully they enjoy their ceiling home and don't want to spend some time in my bed with me.

Also at the house are three other students, one from Canada, one from Minnesota, and one from England. The one from England sneaks out before lunch every day and gets some fried chicken. I think that he and I will be friends (because I see the hilarity in that, not because I have some special fondness for fried chicken).

Language class started today, from 8-10, 10:30-12, and 2-5. Right now we are flying through grammar that I know is in my head somewhere and doing a ton of vocab. I think my kindegarten-level Spanish skills (being generous there) are going to put my teacher, Olga, to sleep. She yawns at me a lot. I say, "Is that correct?" a lot and most of the time she looks to the side and says "Ugh." Either I am awesome or beyond help.

I joined a gym today so I can have some time to clear my head. For a month it costs three times my gym in Plymouth, $34, but since it wasn't listed in Quetzales I was able to handle it. Seriously - $34 for a month at the gym or Q48 for a hairbrush - which seems like a better deal to you?

I told my family that I am a vegetarian, and I think they are secretly feeding me vegetables with meat powder.

This week is Saints Week or holy week, so there is quite a bit going on. Last night I took a walk and came across a procession of people dressed in purple robes and pointed hoods with signs regarding the stations of the cross, other people swinging metal baskets of incense, and a giant structure that I can only call a float being carried by forty or fifty people representing the crucifixion. Like always, such religious devotion puzzles me. I wonder how people are feeling when they participate in something like this. I wonder if the three boys dragging along the generator to light the float feel that they are receiving some special favor in God's eyes.

And for Caitlin, regarding your questions, the weather is perfect. MV's best earlier summer day where you can wear shorts and a t during the day but you want jeans at night. And the colors. Awesome. The indigenous women dress like I am sure you have seen in pictures, all of the buildings are stucco or some sort of concrete and many are painted nicely (my house is red), and the central park has those trees that are full of purple flowers. Along with a fountain that is surrounded by mermaid shooting water out of their nipples, which they are holding in their hands. There are tons of great textiles to buy, but things aren't nearly as inexpensive as I would have thought. I'll need to explore before I find goodies to bring back for everyone.

Tomorrow is six more hours of class, and then who knows!

A week before heading to Guatemala, I spent a day on Martha's Vineyard figuring out my new camera.

From Martha's Vineyard - March 2010