One month at site... What can I say, Just another 23 months to go. Serving in Peace corps Guatemala, and being in my site has definatelly taught me some lessons in life so far. The most important one definatelly has been patience, patience, patience, and more patience. As if I was not already the most patient and calmest person in the planet, I guess not...
Life here is definatelly different from the US. And I,m not talking about having access to a Burger King or a reaaly nice Italian Restaurant anytime I feel like it. Im talking about the little things in life we take for granted. Life here moves pretty slow. I guess coming from a big city like New York has made my mind used to moving at 70 miles per hour when life here in the campo moves at 5 miles per hour LITERALLY, like when the local chicken bus has to go up a dirt road on a steep mountain and stuff like that.
Then there s that little thing we in the U.S value so much which is privacy, there is little to none privacy in the campo. Everyone knows each other and they all know your business. I have been living with a family for the past month but it is time to move on. I recently found a two bedroom house I will be moving into soon that i am very excited about. I will be buying my furniture soon and getting everything ready to move hopefully by September.
Yes, stress here is different from the U.S. Here you dont have to worry about credit card bills, or getting sued for looking at somebody wrong. NO, here you have to worry about how to avoid getting bit by territorial chuchos, how to avoid and dodge Bolos on the street, making sure you bring your rain jacket for the rain or making sure you have enough change for the chicken bus. YES this is Guatemala.
Luckily, Ive been keeping busy as you can see by the pics up top. The first pic is me with my kids in one of my schools. The name of the schools in called Instituto Basico Por Cooperativa Xetena. This school is my farthers and I walk 5K up the tallest mountain in my site to and from, which usually takes about an hour each way. I like this school alot mainly becuase the kids are very sweet and they love me being there. The walk is also an excuse to excersice which I dont do too much of around here. I like the walk because there are some really nice views along the way of some of the neighboring caserillos, and mountains. Although it is not fun when I have to walk in the rain, and in Guatemala it rains 70 percent of the time due to the rainy season, hence the picture of the Ule boots I bought in Momo.
Lastly, please excuse the lack of postings or bad gramar. The only one internet cafe in my town is very slow, not that any one really is interested in my experience here but if you are leave a message, drop me some love.
love ya.
Ney in Guatemala.
