Thursday, February
13th marked six months that I have been in Guatemala. 1 year ÷ 2 = 6 months.
I have arrived at the mid-point of my stay.
Has time flown by?
Yes.
Does August 13,
2012 seem like a long time ago? Yes and no. Time has flown by, but I have
definitely changed which makes my first few weeks here seem like a long time
ago.
How does it feel to
be on the down-hill slope of your stay? Mixed feelings. Definitely mixed feelings.
Was the year
experience the right choice for you? Yes. Absolutely yes.
I am really amazed
as I take a moment to reflect how well I have adjusted to my life here in
Guatemala. I like it. I like the people, culture, my job, dancing. It’s very nice. Everything is not perfect of course. There are things (more specifically, people)
I miss from back home. There are parts
of life here that get tiring or bothersome.
Though, really overall, it is a good life. I meet many interesting and fun people. I am learning and practicing Spanish
constantly. I am working with a purpose
and mission with a community that has a similar goal and vision. I get to go out dancing regularly with
amazing dancers. Life is pretty good. :)
My home as now
changed from just me living here to a happy family of 4! First came my roommate, Talen, who is a
friend of a volunteer I work with. He is
originally from Norway but has lived in the U.S. for a lot of his life. He’s a great ball of energy and fun…and he is
currently dog sitting a tiny little puppy for his boss. So, we also have a pet. :)
My other two
roommates are Lauren and José. Lauren is
a new long-term volunteer at Common Hope and José is her boyfriend from Honduras. It’s a great balance with them two here as we
all get along very well….and who doesn’t like a full house???
To add to the
community, my friend Alejandro is also currently visiting Guatemala for about
two months to get some work done and also see what I’m up to do down here. He has a little place just around the corner
from where we are in Santa Ana.
With all these new
people in Santa Ana (and those who were already here) we have a nice little
community going which has involved game nights or “family dinners” on our
terrace. A lot of laughing…which is my
favorite!
Work has been
keeping busy as usual. I will be
starting my girls group this coming week and I have to do some re-vamping of my
other leadership group as some “bumps in the road” have come up. Please send some prayers for guidance and
wise decisions with that! Also, there is
going to be some movement in the office so that my cube mate Karen is changing
positions in the foundation and moving out of the office. :( It’s a bummer for us, but we are happy for
her because she is excited about her new position with the library on
site. She will only be a staircase and a
few steps away…but it will definitely be very different.
Our Saturday activity
program has REALLY grown. Last year we
were planning for about 90 youth to come (sometimes we’d make that number, but
usually it was a little less) but now we have to plan for 150!!! That is a lot
of kids. It makes Saturdays very busy,
but we are figuring it out and making it better each week.
I have been helping
to coordinate a profession sound course that a volunteer from Spain is
providing for 10 weeks to our youth and other employees. It is turning out to be a very great course –
the students love Pedro and he’s a great person to work with. He is on site with us on Saturday
mornings. It has been fun remembering
the Andalucian accent and word choices when talking with him…but I forgot how fast they talk in Spain! I have been spoiled here in Guatemala. :)
One last
update. On February 14th I
participated in the flash mob dance for the movement One Billion Rising which
called women (and the men who love them) to all dance together to stand up
against violence against women. There
was a choreographed dance you could learn on youtube. People all over the world got together to
dance and there was someone organizing a dance here in Antigua. I got connected with her and taught some of
my youth and friends at the foundation the dance and then we all danced in
Central Park at 5:30. It was a lot of fun
and very energizing!!!
Well, that’s all
for now!! I hope you all had a wonderful
Valentine’s Day and hugged many people you love!
