Buenos Dias Todos!

So, Im here at an internet place with every intention of filling you in, pardon the bullet point setup but its down to business (although my keyboard is extremely sticky and keys arent exactly where they should be)...

Work: I have 14 schools in Almolonga and Zunil, and as the Healthy Schools Municipal Coordinator (who says Peace Corps doesnt have fancy titles?) Ill be working with the teachers and principals to develop plans that will certify them through the Guatemalan Ministry of Education as Healthy Schools. Right now Im just going to visit them, getting to know the principals, kids and the situations at each school. Most of them dont have water, Almolonga only gets water for a few hours each morning but most people have tanks that fill in that time so they have water all day. The kids are great, some schools are huge but others are really tiny out in villages.

Home: Im living with the most amazing older couple in their 60s, Don Jose and Doña Maria! I rent a room in their house, and cook for myself (did I mention that Almolonga is a vegetarians heaven?). Doña Maria and I ussually chat for a few hours each day, shes been telling me all of her cooking secrets. The house is very comfortable, hot shower, washing machine, stove top! Kind of crazy, right? But dont be fooled, its no palace (dont get me started on my war with the flies)... Im extremely thankful to be with the Xiap family, I havent felt the least bit lonely!

Food: As I already mentioned, Almolonga has a fantastic market! Main market day is Saturday, and a lot of it is bulk (they send the veggies all over Central America). This week I bought beets, radishes, carrots, tomatos, cucumber, spinach, bananas, mangos and daisies (dont you think that they are the friendliest flowers?). Every morning I have my instant coffee and oatmeal with a banana, delish! I have big plans to start making my own tortillas (like Doña Maria) but let me tell you, its no easy task (stay tuned for an update)

So Im trying to get you all caught up on my life here, dont worry, future posts wont be nearly so boring... There are lots of anecdotes to come and hopefully pictures too! Until then...

Hola from Almolonga, Guatemala!

I´m very excited to start sharing this journey with you as I make my way through the next two years as a Peace Corps Volunteer. There will be lots of ups and down, heartbreak and smiles so prepare yourself for drama, excitement and adventure (sounds just like an Indiana Jones movie, right? I promise that it´s not as imperialistic as that)...

“If you have come to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us walk together…”
--- Lila Watson, Australian Aboriginal woman

coming up for air

beautiful things often happen
when you don't know anymore

i've never worked for a cause where it's two steps forward, three back...every single time...

until now.

snow is magical.

my computer is sick.
with the equivalent of the swine.

30,000

'i cried myself
to sleep
last night...
for the world' -ss

'i have seen the others and i have discovered
that this fight is not worth fighting' -d

i love watching my mood change right before my eyes.
i was tired, irritated and sassy before i even stepped out the door this morning.
but my lebanese grandfather made my day.
and so
i'm making big plans
that involve law school.

i have some sort of sick obsession with listening to one song over and over for days, weeks even. i can't explain it and that's what makes it so freeing.

"she was the one to hold me
the night the sky fell down
and what was i thinking when the world didn't end"

thanksgiving was full. of love and food and laughs. just as it should be.

friendsgiving was beautifully cliche and madly us.

december is knocking and i'm running to open the door and twirl in the snowflakes.

sometimes it just feels so right to tell the people that mean something,
that they mean something.

i cannot tell you how much i loved this film...

it's the weekend. and it's november. and it's amazing.

i'm well rested and back to normal. and the sun is shining and everything is yellowish. and the leaves are crunchy.

i've had my morning mocha and i've been productive.

i'm working on research on the Iraqi Economic Sanctions and it makes me not believe in our government. they're just people i guess, but it seems to me, that they're pretty incompetent people. confession: i didn't vote. i'm exercising my right to disprove of democracy.

i just caught a glimpse of my goals for 2009 and i've got some work to do before jan. 1st!