Friday, September 10, 2010

the sunniest day

i could not wear pants today. it is that hot. i got ingrid out of the house today and we walked over to the 'gringolandia' part of san pedro. i´m so glad that i´ve spent two weeks here already without seeing it. exactly as the books say- the shops, restaurants, bars and cafes are completely hippiesque. everything is more expensive over there, but it was good to see that there are actually tourists here this time of year. after spending time only on the local side of the hill, i was beginning to think i was one of very few.

next week is independence day, and all the store fronts are decorating with flags and balloons. there will be a parade, probably wednesday or thursday. but i´m going to try to avoid the traffic and spend the holiday in antigua so i can meet kevin when he arrives. i am very much looking forward to next week :) the expression here is 'tengo ansias.' literally- i have anxious... but meaning an anxiety of a positive nature.

i learned many other expressions during my first week of classes, but i may look for another school or even try out some teachers that give private lessons beginning on the 20th. there are so many spanish schools here to choose from and it´s important to feel that you are getting what you`re paying for.

i have some cleaning to do this weekend, but if the weather is good ingrid and i may try to hike near volcĂ n san pedro. next week i´ll remember to bring my camera cord to upload some photos. although most days feel the same, i´m feeling more and more comfortable as i recognize faces in the streets. i can definitely understand how a person can visit this place and never want to leave...

Friday, September 3, 2010

day five in guatemala

it´s been raining since 6am today, but life here does not stop. the market is still open. construction on buildings continues, but with this weather it´s obvious why some buildings are on their third year of construction and not even half finished. today is the perfect day for writing.

ingrid is not feeling well today so i came to town to pick up some supper to bring back. we´ve been reading a lot. she´s enjoying "the girl with the dragon tatoo." i have been eating so well here, much better than i ever did at home. so ironic. and no sickness has affected me. whether luck or health, i´ll take it. ingrid has no running water in her house, but she keeps a rain barrel outside. we get all the water for washing from the rain barrel. however, i brush my teeth with filtered water from a tank. she said "you`re having a real guatemalan experience today," when i began heating up water for my shower. you have to fill a plastic tub mostly full of rain water and then add heated water to it, however much you need for warmth. it worked out fine. not ideal, but nothing i can´t get used to... and anything is worth it when you need a shower. when most of your surroundings are dirty, there´s nothing like being clean.

after that we ate an omelet with the filling of yesterday´s ratatouille inside and bread with mashed avocado and fried plantains. i´m keeping a close eye on her ways in the kitchen so i can cook with kevin in our own house when he comes next week. i´m getting used to the pace of life here... and it helps that i don´t have much to do. but the days seem so much longer because they start early, but everything is done in an order. preparation, action, cleaning, resting, and so on. tomorrow i hope that we can do some hiking. today´s plans were interrupted by the rain, which i think is coming from the tail end of a tropical storm that is headed toward florida today. there´s a coffee house that ingrid wants to take me to in the next town, and she likes to walk there even though it´s a big hike. hopefully i´ll have some photos to share of that trip when it comes. i´m preparing for my language class, which starts on monday morning. there is a banana farm behind the school and a big garden. my goals have extended to learning how to grow my own food. i think it may be a skill as useful as learning the language.

even without doing much each day, i´m giving myself time to take everything in. i´m looking forward to holding everything like a sponge... and for what i can´t hold in my mind, i´ll share with you here.