Today...

Today: My teacher and I went to, ready?...Guatemalan Wal Mart, no sh*tting you...It is called something completely different, but has the Equate brand and the blue vests, etc. OH MY GOD!!! One cannot even get away from the devil in the third world!!!! Then we are feeling a little better so Jacob and I stole away to eat fried chicken and fries...it was fabulous! I could only eat 1 wing, 5 bites of a breast, and 8 french fries and I was totally full. I had not eaten anything substantial in 3 days.

Guatemalans favorite foods:

Bread, rice, bread, sweet bread (not the meat), bread, noodles and did I mention bread? If I see another piece of freaking bread when I get back to the states, I´ll die.

This is probably compounded by the fact that Jacob and I have DYSENTARY. On antibiotics and we should feel better in 3 days according to the Guatemalan Dr.

Well......

First, this is an absolutely amazing experience. The classes are very difficult, but I feel like I have learned more in this past week, than all of last year. And yes, I have teared up a couple of times because it is so frustrating. But what an opportunity for Jacob and me.

Bush made it so difficult for anyone to get into the country that only 3% of the thousands of Guatemalans that apply have a shot at getting any kind of visa. And of the 3%, maybe 5% actually get a visa. Now, let me step on my soapbox for a minute...I am horrified. Do you want to gut chickens or work picking up trash? Well 85% of those jobs in the US are taken by immigrants because EVEN WHITE TRASH WON´T DO THEM!!!!!! They are not TAKING JOBS from Americans, they are DOING THE JOBS that white and African Americans don´t WANT TO DO. I hated the Bush machine when he was in office, I loathe them now.

OK, so back to the travelogue: The weekend was challenging. We went to the black sand beach in Guatemala and a rogue wave killed my ipod, which is why I am not answering or receiving emails, or posting much. It was beautiful and the fish we had for lunch was amazing. Then Saturday, we went to the market. I bought so many textiles, customs is going to think I´m an importer. I am giving away my clothes before I leave so that I can pack more textiles. Then Sunday we went, in the rain, to a volcano. First, Sat night I got the runs. So, the teacher said the hike wasnt bad. However even a couple of the 20 somethings threw up. I had to stop half way. I though I was going to pass out. I think it was a combination of being sick, the altitude, not being in shape, and the freaking hike was just stupidly difficult. So, I sat in the rain for 4 hours while the group went hiking. I spoke with 4 Mayan children. We gave each other English/Spanish lessons. Then the mother came home and I spoke with her for a while. She asked how many children I had, I said -one. She said, How old are you? I told her. She was SHOCKED and asked me why I only had 1 child. It was easier to tell her that my husband was dead than get into the whole culture difference thing. Very funny. So because of the rain, etc. I had 103-4 fever last night. Yuck. I think I am better, but still not great. My stomach is still kind of yucky.

This week, we are going to help build stoves for the villagers on Wed., go to the largest market in Guatemala on Sat. and then leave at 4am to begin our journey home on Monday.

My Guatemalan family reminds me so much of my own. They are loud, there a zillion kids (1-19) and their friends and relatives. Eating is an event. Well, that´s all for now. I have to go visit the bano. More later...I hope.

Day 2 of class

Classes are very intense. We work solidly for 2 hours, then a 30 minute break, then another 1.5 hours, one on one. I am EXHAUSTED when class is over. I go back to my family´s house, eat lunch and take a siesta. Too many verbos!! I have trouble when I have to pull the verbs out of my head quickly.

After I rest, we have to go to the bank to change money. We will probably also go to the market.

Today, I bought my mother and me beautiful tapestries from a Mayan woman. The textiles here are beautiful! With everything I want, I don´t know how I´m going to get it home. I will probably give away most of my clothes...really. Then I will have more room for tapestries and rugs, and and and....

This weekend we hope to go to the beach, which supposedly has black sand. The country here is gorgeous! The living conditions are very different. I don´t mind so much, but I think most Americans would not find it to be comfortable, clean, enough.

Off to lunch. The meals have been really interesting. This morning we had fried plantains, with a black bean sauce and sour cream. Jacob is IN LOVE with the coffee here. I am allergic to coffee. I may try some on Saturday (when a bathroom will be close).

Hasta luego para ahora!!!!

Nosotros estamos aqui!

After a VERY harrowing 4 hour bus ride, we are here. First there are piles of ash and mounds of bags of ash everywhere in Guatemala City. The Mayans say it is not finished. As a matter of fact, we get to go to a Mayan religious ceremony on Sunday. They are attemping to appease the gods of weather and the volcano ...COOL!

Then, on the 4 hour bus trip, we devistation from the tropical storm was incredible. Lanes of the road were completely blocked by dried mud. And the driving was an adventure all in itself. These are curves similar to those in Arkansas. YIKES!

However, the country is BEAUTIFUL! I hope to post pictures sometime. Unbelievable scenery. At one point, Jacob looked at me and said,¨I can´t believe we´re here in this beautiful country.

The Spanish school is very tough. No English speaking here! My teacher sent me alone to get photocopies made. My brain really hurts. The family that we are staying with is a Mother, Grandmother, 5 daughters (Jacob is in heaven) and 2 male boarders. Only the mother speaks very little English. Jacob is antsy to go exploring. More later...

Hasta luego!

9:40 pm off to bed

We have to get up at 3:15am to get out of here by 4am. Flight is out of Myrtle Beach at 8am. Stayed tuned! More great adventures!

And 52 hours before we leave...

Jacob splashes hot grease all over his arm and chest because...ready...he was frying meat without a shirt on...OMG the teenage brain... Aaaahahhhhggggghhhhh...... If I don't kill him before we go...it will be a miracle. So we had to make a quick trip to the doctor. He gave him 2 Rxs - some Silvadene and antibiotics in case it gets infected. The burns are not too bad, but there are many blisters.

I have forced him to pack his bag today because tomorrow he is out doing last minute "things" with his "girlfriend." I swear, if we leave and he has no underwear, he is going commando...

A nice little elderly lady told me a couple of weeks ago, after I had given a speech about being "brave" that, "well, I think the bravest thing I heard you say you're doing is taking a 16 year-old with you to Guatemala!" She is absolutely correct!