I’ve gotten to this great place in my life. And it’s part of this journey, this coming to
an understanding with one’s self about the realities of life (mostly that I
will never be Julia Roberts). I don’t
know where I’m going- I’ve got ideas, I just have to figure out how to get
there. Thank god for the wonderful
people in my life- some who have been there since day one and some who have
crossed paths for only a moment. You
have made all the difference.
Forgive the 20-something type of thought process (i.e. ‘poor
me, what shall I do with my life?). But
the truth is that March was a month of putting one step in front of the other,
instead of just talking. And those first
steps are always hard.
My third year extension finally went through. Aka I will be a Peace Corps volunteer until
April 2014. I’ll be working at the state
superintendent’s office to help implement a children’s literacy program in the
schools (called Leamos Juntos). So I’m officially not a Healthy Schools
volunteer and Monday I start at the office!
And as much as I planned and pushed and actively participated in the
process, it was still unreal to watch my friends pack up their lives here and
say their goodbyes. Being left is always
scarier than leaving.
I had the opportunity to help out on a trip to Guatemala
hosted by the National Peace Corps Association.
It was 10 days with some incredible people, honestly incredible. They were so open and curious and interested
and kind and the best huggers. Those ten
days helped me to recharge, to get centered, to talk in English, to talk to
people who have the same culture and the same way of processing things and
people who started out just like me (aka peace corps volunteers) and went on to
do wonderful things with their lives. People
who believe in me. And I just really
needed that, at that moment (I get choked up just writing this).
Easter week was beautiful here in Zunil. Each day leading up to Easter there are
activities: processions, mass, special foods.
My favorite activity: One
teenaged boy is declared Judas and other teenage boys are declared ‘the jews’
and the whole town comes out into the streets to capture and hang Judas in the
park. Sounds less than impressive, but if you could have seen hundreds of people chasing this teenybopper into the mountains, you would have thought it was cool too! Thursday night there was a special
mass to commemorate the last supper and then a candle lit procession with
everyone singing hymns in the streets. I
ate lots of sweet bread (averaged 5 pieces a day) with sweet garbanzo or miel
(not honey from bees but just a sweet mix of fruits and garbanzo).
Highlight of this month was talking to my Grams. I love her oh so much!
Some pics from Easter week:
The church in Zunil, all prettified for Semana Santa
One of my host brothers (Victoriano) showing off his noisemaker while watching a procession
Soldiers in a procession (wish I could explain but from what I got, there really isn't a good explanation)
Huge noisemakers that (go figure) make lots of noise.
Procession
