Yepocapa

Today we got to take a road trip; I love road trips, even if there is no talking because in my head I know we are traveling and going somewhere exciting and on the way back I know that I’ve had fun at the place and had a good day. Our trip to Yepocapa was one of our shorter road trips, only taking three hours. We started going through the cobblestone streets of San Pedro and the next town over. Some people were complaining about how bumpy the cobblestone was, but Juan Carlos told us to stop complaining; the cobblestone was nothing compared to the poor infrastructure in the mountains. We came out onto a main paved road, and people were happy again. The car was quiet because of the paved road, and how smoothly we were going, which bugged the back seats (Jasmin and Shawn). So they started singing and others started to join in; we sang everything we knew. It started with all the greatest Christian worship songs, then it moved into Disney music after about an hour into the road trip, and then country, rock, rap, and musicals. It distracted us from the rocky roads that we moved onto, but it didn’t distract us from the lush green rainforest that we were traveling through. The roads weren’t as bad as the “shortcut” I have taken to Monteverde, Costa Rica; but the roads were still very bad. The couple of kilometers that were paved had huge potholes that almost completely stopped the car. We have to slow down to a halt because if we took the potholes any quicker than five kilometers per hour, we would have lost our bumpers and suspension. We stopped a few times for picture perfect opportunities: the volcano exploding, the valley with the volcano on the other side, and other picturesque occasions. On the non pothole paved part of road, there were rocks and dirt, and the dust it produced kept our windows closed for half the trip there. I still enjoyed the trip, seeing parts unknown and God’s beautiful creation. We arrived and went to the school that was there. Apparently a storm made a tree fall through the tin roof and the school was unusable, but what I saw the roof was still on. We then went up the hill to the school that Pacific Academy has been funding for five years already. Barely anything has changed since Kristen (grade 12 PA student) went up almost a year ago. PA has been giving money consistently and commitingly for five years, and hasn’t seen much production the past couple of years. It is suspicious and they are concerned thinking if they should still support this school. In Canada it took under a year to build a high school in the country. I give Guatemala some leeway, but five years is too long, when they are no where near done. I should have been up and running for a few years already. Apparently this half done school was supposed to open on Monday to 150 incoming students with no bathrooms or equipment; interesting. Maybe the contractors thought other stuff was more important, or maybe the building was more than they expected. If PA stops funding it, the school will be left as it is and the project will be dropped because the Guatemalans aren’t able to fund it: decision time. Some kids were up at the school, so we got a chance to play with them. I took out my football and we started to play catch. It was their first time ever playing football, and I must say they are pretty good. Soon enough we went down to Yepocapa’s central park. It was just as striking as all the other ones I’ve been to, with a flowing fountain in the center in it, with a mustard yellow church to the side of it. There we had our lunch. After our lunch, the kids came and wanted to play more football, so I did. We got kicked out of the park, so we decided to play on the streets. A couple of the kids also gave me a quick tour up and down the main street of Yepocapa. It was a cool place to visit because Yepocapa is a town flourishing with color, people, and economy, even in the midst of a volcano and being so isolated from every other town.

What an Experience

Today after Spanish class we wanted to stay in Antigua, but we had to go home for lunch first, then Bob drove us back into Antigua. The whole group got some ice cream, and then from there we walked back to the market. We decided to split up and go our separate ways. John, Jen, Caleb, and I had already done most of our shopping the first time we came to Antigua. Though John still needed sunglasses, so our group split up, we went to look for John’s sunglasses. We found some at a little shop in the market; John tried on a few before he found the ones he liked. He bought the pair that he liked, working out to a few dollars, Canadian. We then decided it would be fun if we just randomly hopped on a bus and went somewhere else because we’ve already seen most of Antigua. On the way to the bus depot, behind the market, Caleb decided that he was thirsty, so we stopped to get drinks. We decided to get our pop in a plastic bag; we’ve heard of it being done before and thought it would be cool to experience it ourselves. It tastes just as good in a plastic bag as it does in a bottle, but it looks cooler this way. I wasn’t sick tonight, so it must have been sanitary. You can also squish the pop around in a plastic bag. The reason they like putting the pop in a plastic bag is so that they can return the bottles. We walked to the buses with our pop in hand. We wanted to get on the first departing bus, but we decided it probably wouldn’t be a good idea, so we asked one of the bus drivers what other cities were close to our house. He said to the south is San Pedro (where we live), San Juan, and Santa Maria (we had already gone there). We only had a couple hours so we couldn’t go too far from home, and we had already been to Santa Maria, so we decided it was time to scope out San Juan. It was a fun bus ride, as always, with the music going and all the Guatemalans around you. Upon arrival we made way into their central park, (which every town seems to have). It was an amazing view. Antigua is situated in the valley; San Pedro is just a fifteen minute ride from Antigua; Santa Maria is up the side of the volcano, but is around the corner, so you can’t really see into the valley; San Juan is about fifteen minutes from San Pedro, half an hour from Antigua, but it is ascended up a little from San Pedro on a hill. It is a nicer view than the one from San Pedro because from San Juan you can see San Pedro just over the edge, and Antigua in the distance. I started taking all the pictures I could, taking scenic photos, group photos, and church/central park photos. All the cities tend to have a church with a cross a certain amount of feet away, in a central park. Some have fountains, some don’t. We spent about forty five minutes exploring before heading home. It was a neat experience just going off, the four us, just taking a bus to a new place. When we got home, we got to boast and brag about the experiences we had making the others jealous.

Guatemalan Kids - Part 2

Today after Spanish class we came home for lunch, finishing it as quickly as we could. After we finished lunch, most of the group just put their homework aside and we went into our town, San Pedro a las Huertas. We dropped Michelle of at the town square, so she could do her "studying" in peace. We went up to the place we went to last time. Up the hill, to the end of the road, where the cemetery is, and then right to the end of that road, where the kids live. There was only one at that moment, but then they all started to come out: the two Brians, Adonai, Cindy, Maria, and Alexander. It was a joy to see them all come out again. Not all of them were there, and they all didn't stay the whole time, but there were also new kids and friends to be made. We communicated and played with them for a while, then we decided to take a little walk. We went up the street with them to an enclosed house where the kids thought wolves lived; in reality they were actually big dogs that barked really loud, but we ran in fear. We ran to a tree in fear for our lives and acted like monkeys for quite a while. We talked some more, played some more, ran a lot, and took photos, until it was time for a new location. We went through some trees to a clearing where we thought we could play some soccer, but once we arrived, one of the kids apparently said that some filthy, rich American owned a house, just down the way and might whip out his shotgun if he caught us on his property; at least this is what I understood, I may be wrong. We then traveled to the horse's stables, which were just across the street from the kids house. John and I started bugging a Brian and Alexander, saying that horses eat little Guatemalan boys with black hair and brown eyes. I think they reversed the joke and started saying how they eat tall, white gringos. After some time at the stables we walked back to the town square with my two personal favourites: Maria and Alexander. We played some more in the square, as we met some of their other friends in the square, and we also met up with Michelle again. I let Alexander and Maria run around the square practicing their photography; they aren't half bad. Everybody was heading home for supper, but Jasmin and I weren't ready to go yet. We stayed and played in the central square a bit longer with all the kids, then Jasmin and I walked Alexander and Maria to their aunt's house (which is on the way to our house) and then said goodbye until next time. It was an awesome day, just playing and communicating with the kids. It is nice to get outside of the house every once and a while, and immerse myself in the culture and kids that I came down here to see.

Second Trip to Antigua and Chicken Buses

Today after Spanish class, instead of going back to our house for lunch, we went to a restaurant in Antigua; it was called Monoloco. Our whole group ordered three plates of nachos that tasted very delicious and satisfying, only working out to about four dollars each.After we devoured the nachos, we headed to an ice cream shop for more cheap and delicious food. I had amazing lime ice cream. We ate those on the way to Antigua's market, which was about five blocks away. We didn't get to do much on the tour of Antigua, so we decided to come back and do some shopping on our own. I have to cut back a bit on spending now because I spent a bit of money at the market. I bought a black, cool looking cowboy hat, and a machete that fits nicely into a dangly sleeve that says Guatemala on it. I also bought some stickers for my laptop. I now have all the countries I've been to: Canada, US, Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica.
Everyone else did a little shopping of their own, but didn't purchase anything as extravagant as what I purchased. It was similar to Mexico in that you were able to barter. I got my cowboy hat at almost 50% of the asking price and the machete was about 40% of the initial amount. The market is such a big lot of land, but there is so much stuff that it is all squished together. You got clothes here, CD's there, fruits and veggies everywhere. It was like a shopping mall, but outside. There were personal items for hygiene, cooking equipment, tools, and more. There were the touristy items: lots of jewelry, clothing of all shapes and sizes, bags, blankets, and hammocks. The bus depot of Antigua is just behind the market, the market a few blocks from our Spanish school, so we will have bussed to school Tuesday to Friday. After we finished shopping we paid our one quetzal (about 15¢) to take the chicken bus home. Their transit system seems so much more convenient than in Canada. I enjoy taking the chicken bus; you just get immersed into their culture. The chicken bus is a school bus where a bunch of Guatemalans (and gringos) pile into, sometimes three or four to a bench and the aisle full of people. The back of the bus is also full. People get on in the front door, or the back emergency door of the bus. They jump on and off at street corners, sometimes even if the bus is still moving; there are no designated bus stops, (I don't think). I am able to converse with the Guatemalans for about the twenty minute bus ride to and from Antigua, enjoying almost every minute of it; except the speed bumps, which sometimes make you sick. Although, the speed bumps can be fun. The chicken buses play Spanish cds (I love international music; especially latino) and when you go over the speed bumps it is as if you are bobbing your head to the music. Personally I think it is an awesome experience, if you don't mind people, being squished into a culture, and if you are not claustrophobic.

Guatemalan Food

Well I suppose you all want to know what is on the menu. What do you think of when you think of Guatemalan food? Rice and beans? If you think that you think similar to me, but not similar to Carmen (our on site cook)!!! We have had chicken chow mien, pancakes, subs, pizza, salad, lasagna, brownies, and more delicious food. I know you're jealous. All these foods would leave you satisfied and feeling fat, they taste super good. Everybody here is very jealous that I brought my pasta maker and can't wait until I cook dinner for them in a couple of Sundays. Shawn and John get to break the ice on the first Sunday, with whatever they may whip up. (John and I are excited; we are pretty sure Shawn is making some of her world famous brownies. soooo good)

Spanish School

Today was the first day of Spanish class. I had to wake up at six fifteen to get ready for some breakfast by six thirty. We had the usual, porridge and bread with peanut butter and jam, for breakfast. We were in the car by seven, and were supposed to be at the school by eight, but we were there a bit early. We took some group photos, then Jose the director of the school gave us some sheets to fill out. It was the hardest part of the whole class. After we filled out the forms we were separated into groups of twos: a student and a teacher. The teacher soon picked up on our level of Spanish and started teaching us accordingly. My teacher and I talked mainly about me. We talked about my familia, mi padre, madre, hermano, y dos hermanas. We talked about my future and what I may plan to do. We talked for a good two and a half hours in near perfect Spanish, and then between 10:30am and 11:00am the groups took a break where we just talked amongst ourselves. After our break we went back to our tutors and mine talked some more practicing some Spanish stuff like regular and irregular verbs in their different forms. School finished at noon, and our first four hour day of Spanish tutoring was complete. This similar schedule between 6:15 and noon was to continue for another four days. What we did after Spanish school was completely up to us. Being the first day, we got picked up from Spanish school by Bob.

Guatemalan Kids

Today I had such an amazing experience. Sunday is our day off and seven of us decided to walk around the actual town we live in, San Pedro a las Huertes. We got to the gorgeous town square, and looked around. There was a monument with a cross, an old church, a place to wash clothes, and beautiful scenery. After we finished with the square we decided to go up the hill into the residential area. We topped the hill after passing tightly packed houses, horses, and more scenery. At the top there was a cool looking cemetery. and a wonderful view of San Pedro a las Huertes and the surrounding area. After taking photos we walked back down. We ran into the other part of our group. They wanted somebody to keep walking with them, so I decided to. We walked up the same hill, but now, near the top were some little kids. They called me over to take photos of them, so I did. After the photos the only two Spanish literate talked to them, Jasmin and I; We both had a great time communicating with them. Later a kid came with a soccer ball and we got a good game of soccer going. It was fun to play soccer with them, but I just enjoyed the company of the kids even more. I would talk to them while we played, asking them questions and telling them random stuff. Eventually their parents came out to see what was going on, and while the ball was in the other zone I talked to the mom and dad, They were super nice people. Once we needed to leave we took some group photos and the kids told me which two houses were theirs. One had a green door, the other a black door. It was just such a blessing forming relationships with a couple of families that I never would have imagined by just going for a walk. It was neat to see the parents didn't seem to mind that their children were talking, communicating, and playing with white, different race, hardly know Spanish strangers. They were so open and joyful to see us and we didn't even know them, but there was a connecting bond somehow. God works in some amazing ways, making my Sunday afternoon enjoyable.

Church

It is the first Sunday we've been here in Guatemala, so Bob showed us what his church was like. I love the international worship. The Guatemalans are all into the worship, it is an amazing atmosphere. I love singing in a different language where everybody, no matter what race is singing the same song, to the same God. I could have done without the sermon though; I probably decide a different song when it comes for me to decide which church I want to go to. The preacher was from Philadelphia, USA, and he preaches like somebody I know back home. He yells at you, putting you down sometimes, and just the way he was treating the translator. Almost every time the translator started speaking, it being her first time, he cut her off. If he wanted it this way, he should have done the whole sermon without a translator. It was her first time, and she was surprisingly hiding her frustration. I thought the message wasn't that bad, and could have been done by any other pastor and it would have been good. The worship singers came after what seemed like a sermon that took forever, to do a couple more songs. Both I knew, sang, and clapped along to, getting me back on a high.