Day 56(+2): Hasta Pronto, Familia

The last leg of my trip absolutely flew by. I planned several times to write- it just didn't happen. Last Wednesday night, we went out one last time with our group from Salsa class. Although the night was hectic and didn't end up like we expected, we had a blast.

Oh how I love and miss these faces.

We ended up in the road, in the middle of the night, eating tacos from a taco stand in the middle of the rain. They kept telling me it was meat from the street dogs. I chose not to believe them, because even if it was (which it wasn't), it was good.

Thursday, class was good as always. In the afternoon, we took a trip to Totonicapan, where Tuli is from. We visited his house and met his family, who were so ridiculously nice! We went to his uncle's house and got to watch a guy who was weaving a traje on a big machine. It was so mesmerizing!

Then Antulio's mom made a peach drink that was ridiculously good. They have lots peaches and apples in Toto, and they are so good!

Peach drink <3

We came back just in time for my last dance class- which I didn't know was my last dance class until the end. It was Ramiro's birthday so we hung out a little afterwards and had cake. Such a sweet but sad time!

My fabulous dance teacher. The pose was his idea- believe me ;)

Friday morning, Ángel left for his house because he is on vacation from school right now. Before he left, we filmed ourselves dancing the salsa so I could have that recuerdo. Saying goodbye sucked- it's hard when you live with someone for two months and do practically everything with them! You get so used to their presence. After he left, my teacher decided it would be a good idea if we went out shopping. So we left and went around town- buying some last minute gifts. We came back to the house just in time to celebrate Dorita's birthday with a Gallo and tomato juice drink, some nachos, and some delicious guacamole. We sat around hanging out for a while, then eventually class finished and I walked with Edna to the corner to drop her off.

After lunch, we went to San Cristobal for a big fair they were having there! There was a ton of rides and attractions, but nothing opened until later. We still had fun looking at everything, eating candy and churros.

When we got back, I said goodbye to my sweet Dorita and Sucely too. So many goodbyes for one day.

Love my Dorita.

That night we had a slow, easy night, listening to Cindita tell stories and talking about students that had come to the school. We watched the Titanic in Spanish (my first time!).

Saturday, we had a slow morning with chatting and pancakes. Almost everyone went to San Francisco El Alto while I stayed back and fixed and arranged some of my things. When they came back, we ordered Chinese food for lunch, then went to drop off a delicious chocolate cake that Cindita made with Dorita's son for her birthday. We came back and ate lunch- which was super yummy. 

Afterwards, Antulio and I took another trip to Toto, because his cousin was having her quinceañera and he was a part of the ceremony. We took a few buses to get there and spent some time with his family before the party. The party was such a blast- those people know how to party! We danced for hours. 

Sunday, we went to the misa with his sister and her boyfriend and spent some time in the market in Toto. Afterwards, we went back to the house and hiked the mountain with his oldest brother. I thought I was going to die- but we had a good time and the view was worth it!

View from the top of the mountain in Toto. You can see all the way to Xela!

We went back down the mountain and had lunch with his family. Then we took the buses back home and I packed up all my stuff and called the Lastrapes to come get me. How sad those last few minutes felt. I was so tired, I fell asleep on the couch at the Lastrapes, then went to sleep pretty early too, although I didn't sleep very good at all. 

I woke up pretty early with the results of a parasite or amoeba or something that I caught over the weekend. It was not pretty. I threw up for the first time in almost four years... Nevertheless, we headed to Lago Atitlán. And of course, Sarah took good care of me- making sure I had medicine and all the necessities for traveling with my amoeba friend.

Amoeba traveler's survival kit and amoeba traveler's tired face.

View from our hotel room.

Killer sunset over the lake.

Although I slept the majority of the day, it ended up being a good last day in that beautiful country. That night, the Lastrapes played card games in the hotel restaurant and I watched and laughed at them- they really crack me up and I so loved spending time with them. 

I didn't get a picture with the whole Lastrapes family- only Maddie! But they are wonderful and she is such a cutie!

We got up Tuesday and headed to the airport. It was a long, sad day. But it finally ended in the arms of my parents and boyfriend! Being home feels a little strange, I kind of start crying at the little things, but I've got Hobbes here with us for a few days to help with the adjustment and my puppies too! We are picking Brody up from camp today and I cannot wait to see him!

Daily life without dancing, without my chapínes, without tortillas and rice, without speaking Spanish, without not flushing the toilet paper, without hearing "Tranquila" for no reason, without the beautiful Xela rain is going to be so strange. My experience in Xela has absolutely changed my life. It has given me a love for a people, a place, a country, a language that I cannot begin to explain. My blog will continue and be saved for my next trip, because I can't imagine not going back. Entonces, hasta pronto, familia. Hasta pronto, Guatemala. Tienen mi corazón.

Day 50: La última semana

Saturday night, there was an event in parque central that we (Helene, Suceli, Tuli, and I) went to. They had a big stage set up with various acts and singers- all raising money for children with disabilities. After grabbing some cotton candy and doing a little shopping with a street vendor, we sat and watched for a long time, enjoying the atmosphere!

Sunday morning, we woke up pretty early to meet up with our group from Salsa class to go to the Laguna Chicabal. We took a super-packed bus to San Martín and then walked almost from the highway to the base of the mountain (I don't know how long it was but it was a LONG time). We did encounter a picop for the last ten minutes, but we were already pooped when we made it to the bottom of the volcan. We started the journey up a few minutes later. I guess the salsa dancing has helped me because it was MUCH easier than the first time. As we were a big group, we kind of separated in the camino. Antonio, Antulio, Suceli, and I were in the lead. Antulio find out that I hadn't seen some apparently "staple" children's movie so he started to tell me the stories. On the way up, I got the whole story of Blanca Nieves (Snow White). It made the time pass much quicker! We made it to the top and took a few photos, then started our descent.

From the top!

We made it to the bottom (over 500 stairs) and ate lunch. Nery and Antonio talked to us about the importance of caring for la naturaleza and things of that nature. Then we walked around the lake and took more pictures. 

With Suce in the Laguna.

Yo, Tuli, Nery, Bianca, Alejandra, Javier, Antonio, Hilary, Ángel, Suceli, y Ramiro- surely the best dancers in Xela.

Tuli asked me if I knew the story of Pinocchio. I attempted to tell him what I knew of the story, but I think I was butchering it because he asked me politely to stop talking, then proceeded to tell the story himself. 

My very dear, reliably honest Guatemalan brother <3

We headed back up to the top then back down to the base, where we all crashed in a field for a little while. There was a really janky playground that we played on with a makeshift zip line that was somewhat alarming, but we did it anyway! It was loads of fun. I was counting on a picop to take us back to the highway, but Antonio was in charge and he was determined we were going to walk it and so we did. I was super pooped by the time we made it to the road. We sat waiting for a while for a bus, but nothing came so a picop passed and we all climbed into the back of that for the ride back to Xela. It was lots of fun too- a different experience for sure.

When we got back to the house, I took a long nap and woke up just in time to head to misa with the boys for the last time. The Padre from the week before was there, so we stayed a bit to talk with him again- because he is just that cool.

Monday started my last week here! It certainly feels bittersweet. I am certainly used to my life here and I love my friends here so dearly. Class went well- I have the best time with my teacher. Right after lunch, we went to the dance studio to learn marcación- like adding little details of expression to the moves we already know. We worked for about two hours, then had an hour break, then came back for another hour and a half. Lots of salsa, but so fun. We went to get ice cream during our break (of course...) and as we were walking through the mall, I heard an American man's accent: "Glennleigh! Glennleigh!" It certainly caught me off guard, but I turned around to see Geraldo Lastrapes! I laughed as I was talking to him, because I'm just not in a place where I expect to encounter someone I know! Then today, I was returning from running errands with my teacher (walking like four blocks by myself for the first time) and I ran into a salsa student I know so that made me a happy girl! Like I know people! 

Tuesday was a fun day. We went to Bake Shop for snacks during class and then shopping afterwards.

Passing time in between class and lunch.

We had dance class and I got in trouble because I'm apparently not very good at the sexy hair-flip thing so I gotta work on that... We came back to the house, ate dinner, and watched movies at the table because Tuli had homework to do but he was afraid he was going to fall asleep in his room, so he decided sitting at the table and having a movie on would help him so we sat at the table and watched movies (I actually fell asleep on the table).

Tuli called us the "Tres Musketeers" the other day because it's always the three of us heading out together. I love these boys bunches and bunches and am going to miss them ¡demasiado!

Day 46: Yellow Churches

My apologies for waiting a while to post again! We've been busy! Prepare yourself for lots of pictures, because that's what's coming.

Monday night we celebrated the birthday of our dance instructor. We ate cake and sat and talked for a while. It was good fun! It's a great group of people and we sure love our fearless leader!

Much love and respect to Antonio! And an annoyed look to Antulio for putting icing on my face.

Tuesday, we had class, which was great, then Cindy and I went to Zunil, where there is giant vegetable market and a big yellow church (one of three yellow churches that I visited this week). 

There is also the church of San Simon Judas, which I still don't quite understand, but people see him as some god who protects drunkards on the streets. He also drinks and smokes. We peeked into the church, but you had to pay to enter, so we just got a glimpse of San Simon Judas, a mannequin sitting a chair with sunglasses and a handkerchief on his face. A little bizarre.

Here's a picture inside the market surround by lots of delicious fruits and veggies!

Wednesday was a pretty regular day! Class. Dance. We went out dancing with our friends from Salsa class because one discoteca plays salsa music on Wednesdays. Our instructor was not able to make it, but I'm hoping we would have made him proud regardless.

Thursday, everyone was a little cansado. We went to San Andres Xecul after lunch. There are two beautiful churches. A man from there invited us to visit his house where they dye the thread that is shipped off to Salcajá. That was a really neat experience!

Little yellow church and big yellow church!

You can see the big yellow church in the center!

By the time we made it dance class in the afternoon, we were pretty much pooped. Class was almost a little sad because of the lack of animo and energy. Ángel actually laid down and fell asleep. Thursday night was the last night for our med-school friends that we met so we hung out with them for a little while in Shamrock, playing giant Jenga and dancing. 

Shout-out to the best DJ in Xela.

Friday, class went well! I've been working this week on the past perfect subjective, which I find to be the most complex tense. I'm so glad that I am getting to work on it though! I have adored my time with Edna, she is amazing! I don't remember which day, but one day, we started talking about the Bible and she was asking me about some verses so I ran to my room and grabbed my Spanish Bible and my English Bible and we flipped through them and talked about some verses that she mentioned that she didn't quite understand. It was amazing and very exciting to share and talk about that. 

In the afternoon, we went to the Megapaca, a giant thrift store that I could have spent six hours in- I wanted my mommy so badly! I needed a replacement raincoat and I ended up finding a really nice grey one. I have also worn out my slip-on sneakers that I brought so I bought a pair of sneakers too. All for about $10 bucks. Mom- you would have absolutely loved it!

As soon as we got back to the house, I left with Onelia, because her mid-year vacations started and she was leaving to go back to Jacaltenango, but she wanted to take me out first. We went to a big mall (this is the one that has the Walmart inside) and we spent a long time in a super fun store called Bulock's. You know the cute, cheap clothing that you see advertised on your Facebook from those Chinese companies? It was basically that. It was just fun looking at everything!

Then we went to the food court and got Chinese food. It was so delicious! Thanks so much to my precious Onelia. I love her bunches!

When we got back, we hung out for a bit, then Antulio, Suceli, and I went out walking. We went to parque central, where there was a charity event going on. A guy came out and sang a bunch of Cumbia songs, which was fun! On the way home, I got to test out my new rain jacket because it rained on us the whole time. It works pretty good!

This morning, Helene, Cyndita, and I went to the La muela which is the top of a non-active volcano. This is the volcano that I can see out my window. It was lots of fun and we took some really fun pictures!

Can't beat this view.

Thanks for reading! One week and three days remain! I can't believe how it has flown by. Stay tuned for the final adventures!

Day 41: R.I.P. to My Chumpa

Saturday was a really long day! I was awake for about 20 hours! We woke up around 5:30 to get ready to go to a pool that is in a few towns over called Chocovix. The water wasn't very hot, but it was nice! Antulio, Cyndita, Andreita, and I went. Andrea learned how to swim above water while we were there so that was really exciting! When we got there about 7:00, there was a fair amount of people there- some kids, some teenagers, some women. Then arrived a group of six or seven business men who walked into the pool area and proceeded to strip down to their underwear- their WHITEY-TIGHTEY or skin-colored or grey COTTON underwear- to SWIM. I tried to be cool but I couldn't help but give Cyndi my "what-is-happening-right-now" eyes. After they swam a bit, they proceeded to climb a little building beside the pool and jump off into the water. It was quite an sight and I just kept thinking about how appalled my mother would have been if she were there! ;) Tuli and I decided to have a race to see who was a faster swimmer and before I had time to protest, Cyndita was yelling, "Please clear the middle of the pool, we're going to have a race!" So then EVERYONE was watching. And everyone watched Antulio beat me. Such shame.

After swimming, we climbed rocks in the river that is right next to the pool.

Tuli y yo, the conquerors.

Then we stopped at a little store outside the pool and I bought the most delicious little marshmallow-covered cookies that came with a strawberry jelly to spread on top. 

Ridiciously yummy cookie things.

On the way home, we stopped at the market to get ingredients for pizza, celebrating Andreita learning to swim! I helped Cyndita and Mama Chaito make the pizza. It was so delicious.

 ¡Seis pizzas!

It looks like a lot of pizza, but it was gone by the end of the night!

I had a somewhat chill afternoon, watching movies, napping, whatever. The majority of the Guatemalan students have a big test week this week because their mid-year vacations start after this week, so they were all studying- then we went out dancing later that night.

Ángelito.

R.I.P. to my beautiful green chumpa because some jerk stole it at la discoteca on Saturday. I know some of you might have been wondering if I ever wore anything besides my chumpa, but that's because I loved it. Broke my heart a little bit. I am hoping to encounter the thief in the streets before I leave to recover my precious raincoat.

Sunday, the Lastrapes went to take bread to the shelter instead of church so I went with them. We brought UNO, Twister, and a beach ball. I ended up holding a precious little girl while her mom played UNO. It was fun watching them all play and laugh together. The rules for UNO are wrong- I mean, different- here. For a rule-follower, it was a bit of a hair-pulling experience at first. I had to learn to roll with it, but when you're a competitive person and you end up having to "Draw 18," it's a little hard to roll with that.

They dropped me off at home afterwards and we had a pretty chill afternoon. I Facetimed with mom and then Brittany Anne, which made me a happy girl! 

Sunday night I went with Onelia, Antulio, and Ángel to the misa. After the service, Tuli and Onelia INSISTED that we wait to talk to the Padre. I was super nervous for some reason. We sat and waited for about fifteen minutes while he was talking to other people, then he approached us and greeted us. We ended up staying for about thirty minutes, talking with him. He was one of the coolest people, so nice and down-to-earth. He was willing to talk about whatever with us and laugh with us. He kept laughing at the faces I made, probably because I was so enthralled by what he was saying; he was also especially curious about the Mennonite communities in the U.S. By the time we finished, the church was closed with all the pews upright. We exited out the back with him and said goodbye. It was a super amazing experience. 

When we got back to the house, a new student had arrived! She is a sweet, energetic lady from California and I'm excited to have her here! 

Classes went well this morning with Edna. Still feeling a little wounded about the loss of my jacket, but we have dance class this afternoon and it is also Antonio's birthday, so we are going to be celebrating and eating cake, which is cheery! I hope you all have a great start to your week and thanks for reading!

Day 39: San Francisco El Alto

Wednesday and Thursday were pretty regular days. You guys should know that I super love my teacher. She made me read a story out loud the other day and while I was reading, she wrote down a list of words that I pronounced wrong (first, she wrote them how I pronounced them, then she wrote how they are supposed to be pronounced). It was super helpful. When I pronounce my vowels wrong, (if you're wondering, it's the i, e, u, and o that I mix up) she says, "What? I didn't understand that word you just used." Now I catch myself self-correcting pronunciation, which is awesome!

Here's our board this week. It's a stark contrast to the way it looked a few weeks ago.

Dance class was great both days. We are working on la cargada, which a super awesome move that looks great. It takes a little trust though, because the woman kind of throws her weight on the man... Generally, the men here aren't very bulky... so it scares me a little. The move needs perfecting, but we're getting there!

Stopping for ice cream has pretty much become a habit so we do that each day and fight over who pays. I have bought ice cream for more people this trip that in all my life combined, I think. It is just easier to convince them to go get ice cream if you add an "I'll pay" on the end.

Today we went to the market San Francisco el Alto with Cyndita and Edna. They told me it was a great place to buy huipiles (the tops to the traditional trajes), so I was pretty excited.

Our view en camino.

The market was really full. We walked through the first part and ended up at the church in the middle of the market. We paid 5 quetzales to go to the top and it was the perfect place for a few pictures!

Edna!

We walked through the meat market. Of course, I had already seen some of the stuff (piles and piles of dried, smelly fish), but I hadn't really been in a meat market yet. It was just packed full of raw meat. Then Cyndita and Edna started to ooh and ahh over some meat I didn't recognize and they were like, "It's cow tongue." After that, things went downhill because we saw whole cow heads for purchase with their brains piled in a bowl next to them. I was trying to be cool. They just laughed at me. Later, we were talking and Cyndi told me that it was likely the tacos we ate in Huehue were cow tongue. I felt a little shocked, but I really liked those tacos, so if they were cow tongue... Cow tongue isn't that bad.

The guys here like to cat-call and say somewhat obnoxious things. Today in the market was one of the first times that I walked past two different guys, realized they were talking about me, and understood what they were saying. I felt equally accomplished and creeped out at the same time.

We saw several huipiles that I liked, then we found a guy that had SO many options it was a little overwhelming! After searching through all the designs, I was eventually able to choose two beautiful ones for my mom and myself, but so many beautiful options!

Afterwards, we went to the animal part of the market. I was joking about buying a chicken and telling the airport that it was my therapeutic animal. Then Cyndita told me that a cow would have to do, so I took some pictures with a cow, but then he started touching me with his nose and stuff so that was enough therapy for me.

There were tons of cutesy baby pigs and lots of animals, but it was kind of sad, thinking about their tongues and stuff... 

We ran into traffic on the way out of San Francisco because there was a big accident at Cuatro Caminos, which is where roads from several of the major cities in Guatemala meet. We had to reroute and sat in traffic for a really long time! Cyndita said if we had my therapy cow, we would have gotten home sooner.

Desafortunadamente, no dance class today because Antonio had to go to the capital for a doctor's appointment. Such a shame, but the weekend is approaching so there is no telling what adventures we might find. I did get to FaceTime with my mom and grandmother today so that was super exciting! Love them both bunches! Thanks to all for reading.