Catching Up

I am sorry I have "disappeared"...I have not time nor access to Internet. I have been busy with Independence Day activities, then got a little throat infection. And THEN the most exciting news ever- I MOVED!! I am living with Raquel and Hector, two very well known retired teachers. I have my own "casita" or little house with a bedroom, kitchen, living area, THREE windows, bathroom with a toilet that flushes, hot shower, sink, my own pila (giant sink to wash clothes, dishes, etc), own entrance to my house AND it's the most perfect location- super close to the center of town! Our neighbors are really sweet, as well. 

Last weekend my friend from my training group, Pedro, two site mates, Lydia and Laura, helped me move everything and then we started painting! It's all concrete block, so we livened it up with some yellow paint. I am extremely appreciative to have such wonderful friends to help with the big move. To be completely honest, I am really spoiled here. Raquel has her own laundry business (with a washing machine)...Hector takes out my trash...they invite me to eat delicious food with them...they are just like my parents, "Don't forget your umbrella!", "Are you sure you know how to get there?!"...not to mention, they've helped a lot with telling me where to buy things...oh! and they help a lot with my Spanish (obviously, the whole teacher background). I am super fortunate to be here. Just having a comfortable place to come home to has such a positive effect on the rest of my life- work, health, stress, Spanish, etc. Once everything is finished I will post photos.


It gets even better- Mum is coming on Sunday!! She gets in Sunday night, her birthday is Tuesday, and she has to leave Wednesday morning. I am really looking forward to hugging her, having conversations face to face, getting a back scratch (I bet people reading my blog don't care to hear about this, oh well, it's important to me). And Mum is super creative and can help me design and organize my room!

Addison is over one month old! She is super healthy and more active every day. Molly and Arran asked me to be her Godmother! I am very excited. I need to take a class, then get a letter from the priest saying that I completed the course...all in Spanish. Hector goes to church five days a week, so he is going to help me out.
Things are super great,

Godmother Mags

Websites

I just found this awesome website that my site mate, Colin, created!  It is fabulous, with lots of good information.  In English too!!  http://www.patzunagricultureproject.com/patzun.php

Here is the website from the municipality of Patzun:  http://www.patzun.gob.gt/portal/.  This one is in Spanish or Kakchiquel...but you can probably translate it. At least click on it to hear Patzun's song.

"Work Schudule"

Here's my schedule. Mind you- flexibility is key...things are constantly changing.

Monday mornings I go to the Amigos de Patzun office, afternoons I go to my public school. I've been having some difficulties working with them. Last Monday they were short one teacher, so I got stuck teaching an impromptu class to 46 six grade students.
Tuesday mornings I just started working with a social service agency- Renacamiento. I will be working with Leonardo, using the PC life skills information, to establish a youth development program for 20 teenagers that are seen as leaders in the community. Eventually we will begin planning activities to do for vacation, which starts in October. Tuesday afternoons I go to my private school. I gave my first presentation on respect and rules of the classroom.
Wednesday mornings I go to the Amigos de Patzun office and the Resource Center in the evenings. At Amigos de Patzun I spend most of my time getting to know the program and the scholarship students.  We have a big phone conference coming up to discuss the future plans.  Right now, at the Resource Center I catch up on e-mails and help people with English.
Thursday mornings I go to the village. I am meeting with the director this week to complete the baseline survey, so I can start teaching classes the following week. This school has had all sorts of activities- sports, chior, dance, which has been a great way to integrate into this community.  Thursday afternoons I go to the Resource Center.
Friday evenings I work with eleven female teenage orphans. We are doing one week of life skills classes, one week of an activity- cooking, basketball, yoga, dance, crafts, etc.

There is a glimpse of my weekly "work" activities. 

I volunteer with Escuelas Abierta's every other weekend, doing activities and planning camps for vacation break. I am pretty excited to have the opportunity to work with Renacimiento, the orphanage, and of course, ADP and Recourse Center. These are experiences outside of the PC Youth Development program that I am taking advantage of. This month my weekends are filled with a 15K running competition, my host aunt is getting married, Guatemalan Independence Day activities, and host mom's birthday.  I usually spend my free time cleaning my room, washing my clothes, helping the family fold newspapers or sack sugar and salt, running, yoga, going to church, watching Glee, studying Spanish, etc.  I do not think I will ever be bored in Patzun...there is so much to do!

Tour of My House

This is the view from the front door.  The kitchen is to the left, as well as my family's bedroom.  My room is straight back.  Can you see the chicken coop to the right?  Super close to my room! And that red bucket collects rain water, so when we do not have water I can use that. Here is the kitchen!  Obviously...or not obviously?!  We use either the stools or the straw mats to sit and eat.  Everything is cooked over a wood stove...that's where I can heat my water to bucket bathe.  Eating utensils are hard to come by.  I have learned how to eat soup and meat with my hands.

   This photo is taken from the entrance to my room.  Purple curtains to help block the bugs.  I always keep my windows open to help circulate the air so that mold does not grow (as much).  To the left are my cinder blocks and wood planks where I store my food and cleaning supplies.  The other piece of furniture is my favorite.  I bought it in the market for super cheap.  The man who sold it to me carried it on his back about five blocks to my house.  Then I painted it pink!  I try to keep everything a safe distance from the wall or propped up on a stool in attempt to avoid mold from growing on it. 

  My bed, make-shift dresser, emergency water bucket, dirty laundry "basket" hanging, and awesome shoe/holder thing that I bought in Antigua.

Another view of my bedroom.  I keep my bed in the center of my room in hopes to prevent mold from growing on it.  Make-shift night stand...Family photos...Spanish vocabulary...Sumpango neighbors wall- they drew me tons of pictures...Welcome sign from my host mother!

The small blue bucket next to the toilet is used to flush the toilet.  When we have water I get it from the big red bucket.  When we do not have water, I get it from the red bucket outside of the door to my room that collects rain water.  The medium sized blue bucket is used for bathing- same thing applies for the water supply.  I set the blue bucket on top of the toilet to bathe, then use one of the tiny buckets to pour the water over my head.  Clear?