Nearly two months late- November Update

 



The first week of November we had “Reconnect” which included project presentations and language classes.  The Ambassador came for lunch and we did a Q and A session.  It was an overwhelming, yet enjoyable week.

The following weekend, Karen Towers, the PCV from 10 years ago who started Amigos de Patzún, got married in Antigua. It was an amazing wedding! Absolutely gorgeous, as well as cultural- not only we were in an old church in Antigua, but they had Argentinean (her husband is from Argentina) tango dancers and a little Patzunera flower girl. The day after the wedding a bus load of Karen and family members came to Patzún. The scholarship students prepared skits, songs, dances, and words of appreciation for all of Karen’s work.

I continue to be amazed at the huge impact Patzún has had on Returned PC volunteers’ (RPCV) lives.  Obviously Karen got married in Guatemala and went straight to Patzún the next day to share her life here with her family from American and husband’s family from Argentina.  I received an e-mail from an RPCV who served in Patzún from 78-82 as a reforestation volunteer.  Hi Michael!!  Thanks for reading.  And an RPCV who was in the second PC Guatemala group in 1963 is coming to visit in Februray!

Lydia, Elliot, Mary and I participated in a 10.5 K from Tecpan to Ixchimche.  That last .5 was killer, let me tell you!  Mary and I crossed the finish line together in like an hour or so.  We ran to the ruins, but did not go into them.  One of my friends from Patzun invivted me to ride bikes to the ruins

So, this isn't the best photo, but it was such a wonderful experience!  I sat around the campfire and attempted to tell jokes, mainly just listed, with neighbors/family/friends.  FYI- most jokes do not translate well.

This is a photo of one of the students from the village graduating!  It was a nice ceremony.  The director asked me to teach the students a song in English to present to the American donors who support the school.  They learned "What a Wonderful World".  Teaching English is not my most favorite thing to do, but we made the best of it.

I was tempted to go to the beach to celebrate Thanksgiving with my American friends, but overwhelmed, so decided to stay and celebrate Dia de Gracias Guatemalan style.  After basketball practice Anacleto and Mary invited me over to their house for dinner. It was absolutely wonderful!  We ate turkey, vegetables, potatoes, fruits and lots of food.  We went to Mary’s sister’s house, which doubles as a bread store.  They have this HUGE stone oven thing.  I will take photos next time.