A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

 I am so sorry I have neglected you all for so long. I figured photos would be an efficent way to try and express what I have been doing. I hope you enjoy!

The first host family that I stayed with for three days in Santa Lucía

My bed in Sumpango!  It is HUGE!! And comfortable and no fleas. Sometimes cold at nights, but I have lots of layers.

My host father and brothers on the roof of our house.Probably my favorite place.  It is has wonderful view.  I am waiting for a clear day to take a photo of the volcanoes.

    

Audra and I with our host mothers at a wedding.               At a beautiful church in Antigua!

My language group at a coffee and music museum in Jocotenagno.









Family dinner with my host mothers side of the family.
















One Saturday afternoon my family- brothers, parents, cousins, aunt, uncle, neighbors, auydante, and I went to  Los Aposentos in Chimaltenango!

JALON= ride in the back of a pick up truck.  One common form of transportation in Guatemala.  I am planning on doing a blog entry about transportation in Guatemala. It is quite the experience. 

Los Aposentos is a giant park with four different pools, a giant lake with canoes and paddle boats, street vendors, play grounds, and carnival rides (that I would be scared to death to ride on).

Great family photos!!

This is Christina, me, Audra, and Jenya before Field Based Training on the overpass by the bus stop.  I actually had this photo taken to show the stairs in the background.  Look closely. When I do have the opportunity to work out I do it Rocky Balboa style- high altitudes, tons of clothing (because it is culuturally unacceptable for women to show skin), and repeat climbs on a 200 stair climb.  My current PR is 10 times.  My goal is 12!



On Field Based Training we had the opportunity to help one of the current Peace Corps Volunteers with her secondary project- building a latrine out of recycled bottles.  Pretty amazing. Our main job was to fill small spaces with trash so that they could pour the concrete over it. This is a terrible description of this project. There is so much more to it. I am not even doing it justice. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Grandma- I hope you like them.

During Field Based Training our language group also had the opportunity to record a radio announcement!! It was super fun.  We did a short blurb on reaching goals.

Our amazing mentor took the Sumpango group to a Macadamia nut farm in San Miguel de las Dueñas.

Language group (plus Audra, minus Pedro) at my house for a nice seafood lunch.  Kyle really enjoyed it! 






Another wonderful language group experience (plus Lizzie, minus Pedro) at the Rose farm in Xenacoj. Mum I think you would really like this. We learned all about the process, business, nutrients, etc.  

Seven days until I find out my site where I will be living and working for the next two years!  AH!  Positive thoughts and prayers.

Tropical Storm Agatha

I apoligize it has been so long.  Thank you for your concern about the storm. It is very sad what Guatemala is going through right now...11 inches of rain in thrity six hours, 130 bridges out, 10s of thousands of people displaced, landslides, and much more.  One of our language professors house is destroyed. Our training group is trying to come up with ways to help out.  I have been totally fine throughout this entire storm.  PC Guatemala is the best when it comes to safety and security. They were constantly checking on my status throughout the storm.  I was required to stay in my house for 24 hours, mainly because they roads turned into rivers.  We lost electricity for a while, I had standing water in my room, and a pipe broke, so we do not have water for a while.  Oh! And I am scared of thunder even in the comfort of my home in the states.  In the big picture, I am totally fine.  Please do not worry about me.

Tomorrow I leave for Field Based Training in Totonicipan.  Field Based Training is the core of training.  The Youth Development volunteers spend a week training, learning, and preparing for what we will be doing for the next two years. We also have the opportunity to visit current Peace Corps volunteers and hear about their experiences.  Here is an abbreviated schedule of activities-
Monday-individual presentation on self esteem
Tuesday-help build a latrine
Wednesday- teacher training
Thursday- presentation for parents
Friday- HIV AIDS presentation
Saturday- radio presentation

I am looking forward to this week!  I wish I had more time to keep you updated with all of the excitement. I will do my best!

Please keep Grandpa Smart in your thoughts and prayers.  Thank you!