Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in.

I really do miss and love you all so first off, sorry I have not updated!  It seems like five and half months in Peace corps time, but in actuality it has probably been about two months.  But don't worry mom I still have both my legs.  And eyeballs.

Sunrise from my home in San Antonio Aguas Calientes

There is plenty I could write about but would prefer not to bore you guys so if you guys could email me or comment with topics that you want to learn more about that would be great.  My home/work situation, food, dress, weather, people, where I go to the bathroom, how the corn is growin', how I cook my eggs in the morning?  I tend to have disorganized thoughts so it would help... while reminding me to write.

Ok, let me just start this thing finally-
Some days go by slow but the months seem to be flying by.  Practicing to appreciate all the moments.  So much stuff has happened and it keeps building so I am not even sure where to start. I think I'll just do this in sections to make it seem more put together.

LAST DAYS IN MY TRAINING TOWN

Me with Rob & Mike. The remaining people in my training  town.

11 o' March

After I gave my charla (chat) on forest fires, Edgar (our counterpart at the municipality) approached me a couple weeks later to tell me gracias and that the fire crew had already been working out in the field.  Coming back to town from the PC center last night, we jumped off the bus for some reason at a stop earlier than we normally do.  Up on the mountain was a forest fire!  We stood there watching the fire wax and wane under the starry sky.  Wondering what the community was going to do…  did they even notice?  Then after about 15 minutes of standing there and watching police cars drive up, Edgar comes rushing up with men behind him carrying hoes and machetes ready to scramble up to the fire.  They disappeared into the night with their t-shirts and the occasional paper mouth mask.  So weird that we got off at a different stop and it was the exact same corner and time that Edgar was walking up.  But I was glad that I got to see them in action.  

It can seem a bit boring or tedious preparing an emergency action plan.  Getting ready for something that doesn’t really seem like it’s going to happen.  But then when the scary/frantic moment comes, it is really easy to see the importance of preparedness.  Whether it be taking preventative measures beforehand, being ready to take control of the situation during, or having the resources/knowledge ready to help afterwards.

I just got another text from our security officer about the tsunamis hitting the Pacific coast of Guatemala.  I heard a little bit about the big earthquake in Japan but I am sure all you in gringolandia know more about it.  My heart goes out to all my Nihon-jin and Gai-jin friends in Japan.  I am sure that mom is worrying about all of our Soka Gakkai friends and our dear exchange students, Masayuki and Emi especially.

And stay tuned for 2012 here.  It just so happens that Guatemala has a really big earthquake every 40 years.  The last one was in 1976 and killed 23,000.  Times a tickin’.  Guatemala is sitting on top of three tectonic plates, which also results in lots of volcanoes.  No matter what I am doing at home now, whenever I hear a big thunder noise my head turns towards the volcano to watch the display.  My fear has slowly transformed into delight over the dramatic scenery.

Oh yes, and training…

is going by so fast now.  I cannot believe how much has happened in so few days.  For a while I was stressed out by the busy schedule, assignments, interviews, feedbacks, our last charla, and site assignment.  My host mom is always there and purposely tries to make me smile and laugh if I seem off.

Two days ago my group finished our last charla.  We presented to local teachers environmental education activities that fit into required competencies from the Ministry of Education.   A lot of education here is lecture and copy.  We showed them examples of creative and fun lessons that keep attention.  We got them to laugh a lot and in the end one woman stood up and thanked us for helping them learn so much.

Using bottles/grass/funnels to demonstrate water retention that trees provide

When I got home that afternoon I plopped down at the kitchen table like I usually do.  My mom said with a smile, “Now the only you homework you have is to eat at least 4 chocolate bananas”.  We just got a freezer so she had made tons of frozen bananas and dipped them in chocolate. 

My host mom's new husband

¡Puro Hombres!

And yesterday we received our sites! The day we have all been freaking out about.  Our sites determine our climate, food, culture, people, projects, and even language for the next two years of our life.  We could not concentrate in class all morning. 

Taking notes turns into making Ben's hand fancy

Finally in the afternoon our APCD took us out to the basketball court.  It had a big chalk map of Guatemala.  He gave us a special speech and then blindfolded all of us.  One by one he grabbed us by the shoulders and led us around the map, teasing each one of us with sites all over until he would say, “no my dear, I think this is the place for you, ----".  Everyone was terrified with horror stories of people crying when they find out their sites.  But it turned out great and he managed to give everybody a bit of what they wanted.  I think my site sounds amazing and this Tuesday-Saturday I will be doing a site visit.  

Photo credit to Brandon Napoli!

 Above is the beautiful moment where we all crowded around the map afterwards, desperately searching for the spot where would live out the next two years.

They speak K’iche, in the chilly Western highlands, and a short bus ride from one of the coolest towns in Central America.

My projects include:

Arranging a cultural walking tour with a main attraction that a lot of tourists come to visit, local artists, the market, etc.

Designing or helping with interpretive trails.

Developing marketing materials like brochures, websites, posters.

Helping the Department of the Environment with business plans, management of natural resources, water conservation.

Teaching English.

Environmental education.

Trash management.

Reforestation.

Helping local indigenous people open an ecological park.

March 21, 2011

We had a day where our future counterparts all came to the center and received Peace Corps training.  I have one counterpart in the Office of the Environment at the municipality.  And I have another counterpart from a different town in an association who wants help with the local forest health, trash management, and making their community green.

The next day we all left with our counterparts to visit our towns! I got to get a glimpse into the life and work of a current volunteer because she was nice enough to let me stay for four nights.  She gave me great advice and it was interesting to see how the healthy homes program works.  I am the first ecotourism volunteer at my site so I will probably have a tough time at first.

March 22, 2011

Today we had our first Mayan language classes. I was first for the oral Spanish exam so I had to come in late.  Right away I started laughing because I thought everyone was making popping noises with their mouth as a joke.  So many crazy sounds!  And so much more exhausting than Spanish classes.  Compared to K’iche lessons in Spanish, normal Spanish classes are un pedazo de queque.  I feel like after 8 hours of K’iche class you could become a professional beat boxer.  Fun fact, K'iche is the most common Mayan language in Guatemala with almost a million speakers (7% of the population).  

Well anyways, here are my last random pictures from my training town:

babysitting for an event in my town (international women's day)

An intriguing offer in the grocery store: Free pen with your deodorant!

Robert's host mom Barbara killing her rabbits for a soup

SWEARING IN AS A VOLUNTEER

Now I can officially say I'm a Peace Corps volunteer.

My swearing in ceremony was particularly special and unique because it corresponded with the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps worldwide.  It was held at the Ambassador's gorgeous house with probably about 400 people including all the current Guatemala volunteers. The key note speaker was Stacey Rhodes, the PC Chief of Staff in Washington DC.  The Peace Corps has a long history in Guatemala, crazy that my close of service ceremony will correspond with the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps in Guatemala.  

We also scored a spot on the front cover of the main newspaper here in Guatemala, the Prensa Libre.  Here is an online article: 

http://www.prensalibre.com/noticias/Cuerpo-Paz-celebra-anos_0_451154918.html

For those of you who do not read Spanish here is the translation of the beginning:

"Before more than a hundred young Americans, the U.S. ambassador Stephen McFarland, greeted in Quiche and swore in 50 volunteers who start community service in villages and hamlets in the highlands
of the country, with health, education, agriculture and sustainable tourism.
The Peace Corps is seen as one of the most prestigious institutions of the U.S. Government. It was founded by President John F.Kennedy in 1961 and has operated in Guatemala since 1963.

The agency is independent, nonpartisan and dedicated to helping developing countries, with the support of citizens who volunteer for two years."

The last part talks about how volunteers are sent to the most remote and needy parts of Guatemala, we receive Guatemalan wages, transport by bus, and some even walk 6 kilometers to where they work.

After we took our Oath of Service to protect the constitution of the US, the same one that is used for the military, etc. My host mom and dad came up to me to say goodbye with tears in their eyes.  Very unexpected and touching.  I miss them a lot.  On a happier note, here are some fun pics from the injuriamiento:

The San Antonio crew at swearing in. Me and Mike look like Robert's children.  He is HUGE.

Beautiful traje tipico.  I didn't know at the time, but the volunteer on the left lives in a hamlet of my town!

Creepy tree guy that stood like this for an hour.

Once again, Ben lookin' fancy

my lovely eco amigos

Rosie, Kim, Ben, Rob. Now PCVs, yes!

Ok I think I'll stop here, this is getting really long and I haven't even started on what my site has been like this past month.  Another update soon to come!