starting...

Library reading class finale with the kiddos and my sitemate Maggie!

I love December!  It means Christmas, my birthday, new years...  But this year it was especially special, it meant a visit to Rene's house and back to Cleveland for one of my best friend's wedding!

Girls group secret santa...

Rene's house in La Democracia, Huehuetenango

Christmas day with a coffee plant (the coffee is the seed of the red fruit)

Christmas day smoothies

We got a puppy for Rene's little sister's high school graduation gift

Roasting coffee to take to fam/friends in the US

From right to left Rene, his mom Rosenda, his little sister Vicky, his nephew Emanuel, his brother Juan, his sister in law Celida (Christmas tree in background!)

My birthday cake (25 and soooo mature)

The bday get together with all 18 of us, cake and hot chocolate!

Many people asked me what the Christmas traditions are like in Guatemala.  Generally speaking, it's a Christmas Eve dinner with the family (mass if the family is Catholic) and staying up until midnight to light fireworks (and almost burn down the house!).  Normally families do not give formal gifts, they might go shopping together and give kids money (which most little boys spend on fireworks/firecrackers).  Families eat grapes and American apples and of course MARSHMELLOWS...  I did not open one single gift, and you know what, it was nice.  I would urge you to take the gifts out of Christmas, try it!

My birthday was wonderful!  I took my laundry to the Laundromat and had icecream with a friend.  I then went shopping and splurged on a pair of shoes and Rene met me for a subway lunch (what a treat), we bought the cakes and hot chocolate and then I went back home to prepare for the family party...

I am now back in Cleveland for my dear Laura's wedding (soooo excited)!  It is wonderful to see family and enjoy the snow and eat tons of delicious food (although I have been stomach sick here, probably all of the dairy and rich foods and processed junk). 

Thanks to everyone who called, wrote, emailed, and sent me love and light during these beautiful days.  Here's to getting older and starting new....

we´re just country boys and girls gettin down on the farm

This past weekend my amazing counterpart, Riva, invited me to spend the weekend with her and her family in a town called San Carlos Sija!  It was the town fair, and so there was lots going on...

First there was the Female Convite (women dress up in these incredible costumes and dance intricately coordinated moves to live music)





This costume was my favorite!





At the end of the event the women take off their masks so that everyone can see who they are!



Riva´s family had their corn out drying in the sun...  Check out the variety!

I named this cutie Moonbeam!  (Santa, all I want for Christmas is a baby cow)

Riva´s kids and her nephew and niece, as we walk to town from the house...

Sija´s soccer team playing verus Cabrican

Sija´s female basketball team playing for the championship!



The last day there was an Argentinian Horse Race!  All of the men watching were decked out in boots and cowboy hats...  Check out the little cowboy (too. cute.)



Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope that you had a wonderful time with family and friends.  This year (drumroll please) I made my first turkey!  A few weeks ago my host dad told me that he wanted to do the ´real american thanksgivng´ and so, we got ourselves a 12 pound, south carolina turkey (yup that´s right, imported). 



My host mom with the turkey all set for the oven!



The hardest part?  We only had 24 hours to defrost it!  After a frantic google search turns out you can leave the bird in water for a half and hour and then change the water, for 6 hours.  It worked!

Along with turkey, we had stove top stuffing (thanks to my mom, and my aunt Nancy and uncle Jim who brought it with them on their visit), steamed green beans, and rolls.  The whole family came together to sit down and eat (18 of us!)...

The evening ended with all the women cleaning up, the men watching tv and the kid cousins being crazy hooligans...

My life lately:  

The people I work with at the Independence Day parade!



My best photo bomb ever!

Officemates (Hector and Susie)

Big school newspaper project I just finished...

Forum for International Indigenous Peoples Day

Went all out in the traditional Zunil traje for the parade!

Maria learned how to wave!

Zunil's Independence Day parade



My dad hiked Mt. of the Holy Cross (my inspiration this month)!!!!



Life is good.  And by good I mean:  hard, happy, tiring, sad, fun, restful, stressful, really sad, painfully sad, inspiring, educational.  Life is good.

As you might guess, things have grown into a hairy jungle of events/obligations/chores/outings/responsibilities that most of you know as life but as a 24 year old, I am still getting used to this ´grown up´ concept. 

All of a sudden I am worried.  About?  Wrinkles.  Work.  Mouth wash.  My best friend´s mom.  My boyfriend´s mom.  My mom.  My family.  Colonoscopies.  Jobs.  My credit score. My dog´s rabies vaccine.  What I will eat for dinner.  Savings accounts.  Drinking too much coffee.  Sunscreen.  The 401k that I don’t have.  Dying on the chicken bus.   If my compost worms have enough to eat. 

No wonder my niece calls me ´crazy Aunt Sam´ (in a condescending 4 year old voice).  But honestly, it´s been a bit rough.  My doctor says it´s normal, a mid-twenties coming-of-age if you will.  I say, culture shock from returning from THE AMERICAN EXTRAVAGANZA OF 2013.  Who knows.  All I know is that I am mortal, and I can´t believe I´ve gone 24 years without flossing.  WHAT WAS I THINKING?  (answer: Obviously not about gingivitis. )

Life lately:  

Reading Fair with middle schoolers 

´Reading without reflecting is eating without digesting´

A tent at the Reading Fair

Bingo at the Reading Fair 

A man weaving thread to make the traditional skirt (corte)

´Future Journalists Workshop´  I led in Almolonga

My girls at the Garden of the Gods, CO

No caption necessary

If you haven`t seen it, you need to!

Awarding the winners of a drama contest in El Palmar

Acting as a way to promote reading!

'life lately according to my iphone'

 

(yeah right)

 

Basketball with the girls

From the left: Rene, Myself, Pia and Manito the turtle (portrait by Rudy on cement wall with ash from the fire)

Cruz's weaving, isn't it beautiful!?

My sister! (note the two different colored socks) what a cutie!

My friend Rosa got hitched at city hall! (she was beaming!)

The party!

Rudy and Victor learn to play a Dora the Explorer game on the computer

Pia sees herself in the mirror and freaks out that there's another dog in her room... ZA WUPPIES!