Short Month, Lots of Actividties

A PCV from 48 years ago was in the second group of volunteers to come to Guatemala.  He served as an agriculture volunteer in Patzun. The co-op that he started nearly 50 years ago with about eight people is still functionig!  He pointed out a lot of things that did not exist while he was here.  He informed us that PC used to issue volunteers cars!

Students of Chuchuca doing a team building activity.

I worked with the teachers of Telesecundaria Felipe Lopez to organize Valentine's Day activities for the students.  Their original plan was to cancel school this day. Instead, about three different groups from each grade prepared a song and/or dance. We also did a gift exchange and, of course, had a snack.

BEST IDEA EVER!  Mary, Estella and I made heart shapped tortillas in honor of heart day.  I stopped by to drop off Estella's birthday present and ended up staying about four hours.  I really enjoy spending time with them...such a wonderful family!



We threw a surprise water themed birthday party for Lydia!!




Another unforgettable moment with Mary and family.  We celebrated Mary's birthday.  It was very nice being around such a big, loving family.  Not pictured:  the birthday cake I attempted to make for Mary. haha.  The basketball team came over after the game to enjoy the cake that tasted a lot better than it looked.



One of my teachers invited me to go to the pools in Patzicia to participate in a Valentine's Day activity with youth from the Catholic Church.  It was super fun!  We played basketball and soccer for 6 hours! Then ate a delicious picnic meal.  I got a terrible sun burn.

Hiked Pacaya with a group of Guatemalan friends.  It was a super fun experience.

Another memorable moment with Mary, Anacleto and family!  At the pools in Patzicia, enjoying the sun.

Peace Corps hosted a three day training about behavior change related to HIV/AIDS.  The social worker from the health center, Alicia, went with me.  It was a great training.  And I have a lot of faith that Alicia and I will follow up with the project!

January

This month was filled with family fun activities!! The first weekend we had a welcome back dinner, celebrated Reyna’s birthday, went to my first quincinera, had a Baby Shower for Reyna, baptized Giovanni and Lillian’s baby boy (who was born two days after Addy), and celebrated Noehmi’s 6^th birthday with a piñata.   I got to play Santa Claus upon my return from the US.  The Patzuneros are doing some serious advertising for Kelly's.  So when do I have time for work?  My director, Dr. Ball, came to Patzún and we presented the Youth Development project to the teachers and directors.  Not to mention, school started, which means lots of work.



Meet my host family!  This is the first photo they let me take.  Now you can put a face with a name and all of the wonderful things I say about them.  Since I’ve returned from the states I’ve enjoyed our ritual evening conversations, trips to the market, and learning how to cook.  I am lucky to have them in my life. 

 

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My cousin, Parker Phillip Reed was born on January 24 at 1:04; 7 lbs 11 oz. I want to hold him!!



Madelin Laura Corina was born on January 29; 8 healthy pounds.  She is named after my site mate, Laura and returned PC volunteer, Colin (Corina is the feminine form of Colin).  Laura and I played babysitter with the four other children while her host mother was giving birth to the newest.



Karla at her 15^th birthday celebration with her sister.  Karla looks like a princess.  It was a three hour Evangelical church service about adolescence, then the delivery of presents, a delicious meal and even better cake!

Noehmi's 6th birthday celebration

Reyna's Baby Shower!! 

Holidays in the US of A

I was able to take a couple week vacation home to America for the holidays!  It was absolutely wonderful spending time with my family, especially meeting Addison for the first time. As planned Maura and Jimmy picked me up from the airport, THEN Molly, Arran, Mum, Addy and Kimba all surprised me.  And then, my best friend from college, Bevan, came to spend a few days with me in Texas.  It gets even better, best friend from high school, Max, also suprised me with a Texas visit.  I am so blessed to have such loving family and friends.  Here are some of the photo highlights:


The Kelly/Stewart family clan of 30 something went to Charlie Brown's Christmas Ice Exhibit



Christmas with Mummy!  Arran, Molly, Addy, Me, Jimmy, Mum, Kimba and Maura.  On Christamas eve we ate tons of food at Aunt Rita and Uncle Alan's with the extended family.  We went home and started opening our family gift exchange presents.  Got up early the next morning to see what all Santa brought.

Christmas with Daddio, Jane, Jeff, Eric, Kristen, Brittney, Uncle Kyle, Aunt Georgie, Grandma Smart, Cousins- Mitch, Sarah, Katie, Conor; Babies- Rory, Claire, Addy; New Zealand family- Arran, Cam, Les, Peta, and Molly!  The trip to Kansas was not long enough- very short, but sweet.  Dad and Jane re-did the whole upstairs.  It was nice and cozy.  They also hosted family and friends gatherings every night, so I was able to see nearly everyone.

Addison's Baptism!  Peta, Arran's Mum, made her dress, bonnet and matching booties.  It is beautiful.  As you all know, I was the Godmother!  Such an honor. The service was nice.  Addy wanted to jump into the water.

I got to go to Maura's trial gymnastics competition!  She did such a wonderful job.  Cutest and most talented looking gymnist I've ever seen.  In her official competition last week she got FIRST place in her trampoline routine!  Wish I could have been there Boo.

Addy's first Mav's game!  SUPER fun.  Go Spurs!  Anacelto and Mary (and any other basketball fans) look at how huge the stadium is! I have more photos to share with you- motivacion por el proximo jornada.

Some things I was not accustomed to in America:

5. Not greeting everyone with a kiss on the cheek and por lo menos a brief conversation

4. Hardly ever speaking Spanish or even seeing it

3. Having a million options for food, products, to-do’s, etc.

2. TECHNOLOGY:

Hearing Jane being broadcasted on the radio, which was actually blue tooth

The urine activated advertisements in the urinals at Kelly’s

At the Maverick’s game, what appeared to be advertisements quickly turned into a mirror while standing in front of it

1. Remembering to throw the toilet paper in the TOILET



diciembre

I keep forgetting to share this website with you:  http://www.zunal.com/webquest.php?w=74005.  This website is an account of an International exchange between a fifth grade Spanish class in Connecticut and a sixth grade classroom in a small village in Patzun, Guatemala. This connection was made through the World Wise Schools program in the Peace Corps organization.

Went to a PC Welcome Party at Lake Atitlan (with my site mates) to get to know the new group of volunteers.  First we had a safety and security meeting, then a murder mystery themed party.  Ironically, Molly and Arran had their annual murder/mystery party in New Zealand that same night.

I hosted a birthday lunch for Laura with 12 other PCV's!  Raquel and Hector helped me prepare for the celebration.  In the photo I am wearing the "delantal" or apron that Anacleto, Mary and family surprised me with for my birthday!  I love it!

PLAN DE VIDA CAMP!  For the past couple of months Lydia, Leonardo and I have been doing life skills presentations to this selected group of teenage leaders in the community.  Some of the themes included values, HIV/AIDS, family planning, healthy relationships, etc.  One weekend we went to Comolapa, which is about 45 minutes in bus to this camp area that a PCV created a few years ago.  The goal of the camp was that each teen left with a life plan as to what they would do regarding famliy, career and personal life over the next five plus years.

It was f-f-f-freeeeezzzing at night.  We had a campfire at night.  They wished me a Happy Birthday, played guitar and sang me a song- not the typical happy birthday song, but a different one.  Lyd and I went to bed when they started playing truth or dare.  I laid some pine on the ground, then my yoga mat, then a sleeping bag, wore ALL of my layers...and was still really cold!  I had a wonderful time with the youth and learned a few things that I would do differently in the future.

I did most of my Christmas shopping at the giant market in Chichicastenango.  It was super nice- a handful of people stopped by my house the day before I left with gifts to bring home to my family.  The gift exchanges at Christmas were exciting, sharing Guatemalan treasures, New Zealand riturals and obviously our American traditions. 

I absolutely love this photo! My team made it to the finals, which were played on Christmas evening at 6 pm.  I think that shows how important basketball is in this community.  Unfortunately I was not able to play because I was with my family in America, but I was there in spirit (taped onto a bag).  We ended up with a second place trophy.  Looking forward to next season which starts in February!

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.



True Guatemalan Experience

A great start to a wonderful day with a perfect rainbow!  Patzun is gorgeous.  Mari and Anacleto invited me to their land for the day.  I was not exactly sure what we would be doing.  They told me to wear my working clothes, that we'd be gone most of the day, to bring fruit, and there aren't any bathrooms. 

We left Anacleto's house at 7:20 am with Mari, Estella, the three kids, and myself in the car.  It's about a 10 minute drive to their land.  At their land we meet two of Mari's nephews (13 & 14), Anacleto's brother-in-law, his son (13), and his father.  Before I go any further, although I am from Kansas, I have NO experience whatsoever in the farming business.  I will do my best and hope it all translates well.

They have 1.5 cuadros of corn.  I am really not sure what that translates to in English.  They don't measure in acres.  It's enough corn to feed a family of five for one year!!

The Process: (from the eyes of a Youth Development PCV from Kansas, with NO previous experience with farming)



The first step is chucking the corn.  There are a few different methods.  You can grab one hand on top, pull down, rip off the corn, and then begin to peel the leaves.  Or you can peel the leaves, and then twist the ear of corn off.  If the leaves are good and healthy, you leave them on the corn because they can be used to wrap chuchitos.  Chuchitos are super thick tortillas with a tomato sauce and meat inside, wrapped in the leaves.  Every single part of the corn is useful.  Whatever you think might not be useful can most likely be food for the chickens and roosters.

 

We each had a little tool, which I have in my right hand.  It is a large nail with like a thin leather belt wrapped around two fingers.  You poke the sharp end of the nail into the top of the corn to help you peel the leaves.



This is some delicious looking corn!  A lot of the corn was ruined this year due to heavy rains.  My students mentioned how bad the crops were this year, because of the weather, but it wasn't until this experience that I realized what a huge impact this has on their entire lives.

FOOD!  We had juice and bread with jelly for a morning snack.  After the snack break, I stayed with Mari, Estella and the kids.  We prepared caldo for lunch.  Caldo is a vegetable soup with meat.  Very yummy.  Of course, we had tortillas too.  Oh! And I brought watermelon.  And we ate oranges, as well.  We ate under their giant avocado tree.  Every time the wind blew strong, we covered our heads in fear of falling avocadoes.  For an end of the day snack we ate papaya.  We had worked up quite the appetite.

This part was super fun! Immediately after we chucked the corn we would throw it into a pile.  There was corn flying everywhere.  I was pretty nervous about my aim- shocked I did not hit anyone.  So after lunch, we went back to the piles, walked around to look for ones (mostly the ones I tossed) that did not make it directly into the pile, and then started putting the corn into bags. 

This next part was the most impressive- all of the males, including the 13 year-olds, carried these GIANT bags of corn (approximately 120 lbs) about a quarter of a mile to the road.  Ok, this is hard to explain, and I didn't take photos.  They used this headband type thing with a big string to carry the corn on their backs.  This part looked super exhausting.

The tower of corn!!  Here's most of the crew (minus three men and myself).  We loaded the corn into the bed of a pickup.  Drove to Anacleto's house, then unloaded the corn. 

It was an exhausting, yet culturally enriching day!  This eight hour process was just one part in the big picture.  I am not exactly sure what more they have to do, at least clean it and sort it. 

I have a much greater appreciation for anything related to corn. I am so thankful being able to participate in such an important Patzun experience. I am looking forward to next year!!

October Photo Update...in Mid November

Oh goodness...I am so behind on my blog. Please forgive me. I wish I had all of the time in the world to share my experiences with you. I will just share some photos...they do most of the "talking".  Whatever is not clear in the photo is up to your beautiful imagination.

Daddio's visit to New Zealand...supporting the Kelly's gear.  I love her big eyes!  What color do you think her hair is?!  She's growing healthily, talking on the phone, smiling, picking things up,doing laundry, etc.  I cannot wait to hold her! I  don't think I will let her go.

  

Melissa is my friend from my training group that lives the closest to me.  She lives in Zaragosa, which is about 30-45 minutes away.  I went to visit her for her fair/rodeo.  It  is amazing how different two towns can be.  First off, her town is not indigenous, like Patzun; therefore, no one was wearing traje (typical Mayan wear), women were drinking, men were smoking, etc.  Zaragosa is known for being cowboys!  Nearly everyone was wearing tight jeans, boots, big belts, flannel shirts, and cowboy hats.  Two of Melissa's friends are in the photo with us.  We had a wonderful time!

October is the month of graduations!  These are the graduating students from the private school that I work with.  Don't they look so sharp?!  They are a great bunch.  I have a the opportunity to work with a few of them throughout "vacation" time.   I am working with a local NGO, which funds their school, to do a life skills camp.  So I get to see a few of them at least once or twice a week for presentations about life skills.   December 10-11 we are doing a "Life Plan" overnight camp!

 

I am playing in a basketball leauge. Our team name is "Teachers" (in English) beacuse we are all teachers.  It is such a fun group of women.  Definitely the highlight of my social life in Patzun (plus Glee nights with my site mates). Basketball is a really big deal here.  A lot of people come to watch; people are constantly talking and asking about it.  It is more "street ball" than basketball.  I have a few sausage fingers, damaged head bands and a broken toe nail to prove it. Playing basketball definitely helps my Spanish. They are always yelling stuff at me. One thing I learned early was, "aprovechen la altitud de Maggie"= "Take advantage of Maggie's height". I really did not realize how much taller I was until I saw this photo.  We've only lost one game, so hopefully we will make it to the championship!


One of my site mates, Colin, completed his PC service.  We had a lot going away celebrations for him- lunches, dinners, and brunches with his host family. We also celebrated Colin's birthday. And welcomed in our new site mate, Elliot Thomas. Never a dull moment in Patzun!

Halloween in Honduras!



It doesn’t get any better than that.  Long story short, Peace Corps Honduras organizes a big Halloween celebration ever year. They contacted us here in Guatemala.  One of my good friends from my training group coordinated everything and I went to El Copan, Honduras! El Copan is located close to the border of Guatemala. 

 


This photo is of me on top of the famous Copan Ruins!  They were beautiful. I was not prepared for the warm weather in Honduras…better to be warm than cold.  Aside from visiting the ruins in el Copan, I also enjoyed reading a book in a hammack, playing volleyball on the beach for six hours, eating lots of delicious burritos, dancing as Minnie Mouse, and shopping in the market.  It was a very fun vacation. I am fortunate for the opportunity to have these experiences (and on a PCV budget).



I made it back to Patzún just in time to see the beautifully decorated cemetery for Dia de los Muertos.