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.