¡Hola!
So, as you know ( and if not, now you do!) I´m off on another adventure. This time life has taken me to Guatemala...busy existing in the second biggest city of Quetzaltenango, but more preferably refered to as Xela.
Now, i debated for some time whether it was even worth my effort to update you all on the past year of traveling I experienced in Italy and Thailand...I decided to sum it up. Both changed my life forever.
Italy was an escape to never forget, literally.
Thailand will forever be indescribable. My time spent there was the most amazing and rewarding thing I´ve ever done. Thailand, the culture and it's people will have a special place in my heart forever.
Shed a few tears and move on...
...to more current things...I´m in Guatemala!
First of all, i´ll update you on why i´m even here...
I lost my job and was going semi insane at home ( sorry parents ), pero Yo digo la veridad! I decided on Guatemala because
One- its cheap.
Two- I figured, if I was taking a long vacation I may as well also gain some sort of skill and do some volunteer work.
My wonderful cousin had taken Spanish courses here in Xela before, so I enrolled! I am studying Spanish at a school called Celas Maya, 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. As part of the program I am also living with a host family. 5 dollars a day for a room and 3 wonderful meals, can't quite complain!
So, my blogging skills are subpar and I've now been in Xela for 3 weeks without even attempting this. So, bare with me as I rapidly inform you on the on goings of life here.
I've studied for three weeks and feel like my spanish is atleast coming along, perhaps not as well as I had hoped...but its a process. There have been 3 msall tremors since I've been here, all within a few days which was a very exciting new experience! ( don't worry parents! ) I've also been growing fungus/mushroom in my stomach, which have been wonderfully painful AND contracted some nasty cold on top of it...AND, to top that off..the nearest volcano has been angry lately and spewing lots of wonderful ash into the air which is making my cold soooo much better.
Outside of class, I've swam in volcanic hot springs, climbed a volcano ( dormant- again, don't worry parents!), traveled to nearby village visiting these beautifully YELLOW churches, visited a glass factory and was able to Blow Glass!, wandered aimlessly through the never ending mazes of markets, riden on many a chicken bus- with actual chickens!, and swam in the Pacific Ocean for the very first time.
I also have been overwhelmed by the amount of volunteer organizations in this city. I spent a week volunteering at a Day Care run for single working mothers. The kids will melt your heart with one smile...and i've been dissapointed that my studies have been overtaking my free time lately, but its a hard balance. I also plan on helping out with the construction of a home with Habitat, and it takes about a month to build one house, so I look forward to seeing the whole process. I also have a the prospect of volunteering for a women's weaving cooperative, helping in the office and HOPEFULLY treking around to nearby villages to take photos and interview the women who take part in the cooperative to put together a story on them and the organization.
Ok- well this doesn't even begin to describe everything i'm experiencing. There just aren't enough words and never enough time. For now, this has been a little taste and as time goes on I'll fill you in on the important stories and new adventures occuring here, in my life, in Guatemala.
Adios por ahora. Hablamos pronto.
So, as you know ( and if not, now you do!) I´m off on another adventure. This time life has taken me to Guatemala...busy existing in the second biggest city of Quetzaltenango, but more preferably refered to as Xela.
Now, i debated for some time whether it was even worth my effort to update you all on the past year of traveling I experienced in Italy and Thailand...I decided to sum it up. Both changed my life forever.
Italy was an escape to never forget, literally.
Thailand will forever be indescribable. My time spent there was the most amazing and rewarding thing I´ve ever done. Thailand, the culture and it's people will have a special place in my heart forever.
Shed a few tears and move on...
...to more current things...I´m in Guatemala!
First of all, i´ll update you on why i´m even here...
I lost my job and was going semi insane at home ( sorry parents ), pero Yo digo la veridad! I decided on Guatemala because
One- its cheap.
Two- I figured, if I was taking a long vacation I may as well also gain some sort of skill and do some volunteer work.
My wonderful cousin had taken Spanish courses here in Xela before, so I enrolled! I am studying Spanish at a school called Celas Maya, 5 days a week, 5 hours a day. As part of the program I am also living with a host family. 5 dollars a day for a room and 3 wonderful meals, can't quite complain!
So, my blogging skills are subpar and I've now been in Xela for 3 weeks without even attempting this. So, bare with me as I rapidly inform you on the on goings of life here.
I've studied for three weeks and feel like my spanish is atleast coming along, perhaps not as well as I had hoped...but its a process. There have been 3 msall tremors since I've been here, all within a few days which was a very exciting new experience! ( don't worry parents! ) I've also been growing fungus/mushroom in my stomach, which have been wonderfully painful AND contracted some nasty cold on top of it...AND, to top that off..the nearest volcano has been angry lately and spewing lots of wonderful ash into the air which is making my cold soooo much better.
Outside of class, I've swam in volcanic hot springs, climbed a volcano ( dormant- again, don't worry parents!), traveled to nearby village visiting these beautifully YELLOW churches, visited a glass factory and was able to Blow Glass!, wandered aimlessly through the never ending mazes of markets, riden on many a chicken bus- with actual chickens!, and swam in the Pacific Ocean for the very first time.
I also have been overwhelmed by the amount of volunteer organizations in this city. I spent a week volunteering at a Day Care run for single working mothers. The kids will melt your heart with one smile...and i've been dissapointed that my studies have been overtaking my free time lately, but its a hard balance. I also plan on helping out with the construction of a home with Habitat, and it takes about a month to build one house, so I look forward to seeing the whole process. I also have a the prospect of volunteering for a women's weaving cooperative, helping in the office and HOPEFULLY treking around to nearby villages to take photos and interview the women who take part in the cooperative to put together a story on them and the organization.
Ok- well this doesn't even begin to describe everything i'm experiencing. There just aren't enough words and never enough time. For now, this has been a little taste and as time goes on I'll fill you in on the important stories and new adventures occuring here, in my life, in Guatemala.
Adios por ahora. Hablamos pronto.
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