I just choked on something in my water...and i dont know what is worse, that I (a) swallowed it or (b) am not really concerned about it ...meh.
Moving on…
Today Peace Corps Celebrates it’s 50th anniversary… so…I thought I’d do an update and support that 3rd goal by sharing some more of my experiences with you…my friends, family and fellow AMUR-KINS.
Yeah…
Please say Americans exactly as written above, thanks.
It’s funny how often I go back and fourth with being ready to leave Guatemala and wanting to stay here forever.
At times, I think to myself: Peace Corps Guatemala has been great for figuring out my next steps- I know what I want to do when I leave here…so I should just like, do that. Sometimes I get so excited thinking about the future that I make lists and research deadlines for applications and mark them on my calendar (even though they are about a year away) and stare longingly at it envisioning my new life in a post bac pre med program walking around, crunching dry leaves under my boots and feeling very smart on a campus that looks like a Harry Potter book.
Then, there are other times when I feel like my life is suspended in a good way here. There’s this little part of me that gets all anxious thinking about the future; what if I know what I want to do but what I want to do does not fit? Like the admission counselors are going to go, “okay, we’ve got a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, good college grades, good high school…oh, wait, would you look at that, 11 years ago she received a C+ in Advanced Earth Science? This girl would be entirely out of her league here. NEXT.”
I knew that Mr. Goodrich was going to be trouble…
Actually, now that I think about it I’m pretty sure I got a B in that class and the C+ in Spanish with Mr. Stewart…yes, that is exactly right.
Well, looks like I showed him.
I also go back and fourth between thinking the transition back to living in the US will be easy for me and conversely worrying that I will be overwhelmed and pushed to a nervous break from pretending I have any idea about what’s going on. Like someone will start to talk about a pop culture reference or anything about politics and the news and I will nod my head noncommittally and look like a real poser.
I figure it’ll be kind of like what happens when my computer performs a background scan and tells me it has fixed detected threats and gives me the option to click to view the them. Naturally, I click this link and it takes me to the data about the virus’ that my computer found and I have no idea what it means; I have no idea what I did to get that virus and I think to myself, “okay the next time I see a link that says, ‘download Trojan virus backdoor/E$Mca‘…I do not click it(?) problem solved. good talk, see you out there!”
I have to wonder, what good does that information do me if I have no idea what it means- and why am I compelled to click that link when I know that in no way will that information be useful to me? I kind of feel like the same logic applies to my catching up on current events from down here…once I have that information- what will I do with it? Is there a window where you can talk about something without coming off like a total jerk? Or are you more of a jerk if you say, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, can we go bowling?”
I was thinking maybe I should just start with events that are happening now and try and put those into my conversations but, a part of me doesn’t seem to want to rise to the occasion: excusing myself from reading the news online with the logic that, “if I’m going to watch that movie, I need to watch it from the beginning, otherwise it wont make sense.”
*Sigh* sometimes it’s just so much easier to just talk about the weather in Guatemala.
Speaking of the weather in Guatemala- it’s been lovely. Currently working with a temp of 85 degrees and sunshine for miles.
The dry season is here and it’s making me feel like I really should be traveling and seeing some more of this beautiful country before the rainy season comes and takes away my reliable transportation (the term, “reliable” is of course, relative). So here are the things I need to do before the rain arrives:
1. panajachel (the lake)
2. alta verapaz (the jungle)
3. My friends’ sites (everywhere)
I’d also really like to get up into Peten and see some ruins…but I’ve got a lot on my plate, better pace myself.
As for the state of things in Guatemala, the “state of seige” has officially been lifted and the volunteers who were evacuated from their sites have been given permission to return to the coban/alta verapaz area which is excellent news.
I have since heard murmurings about the possibility of the army coming to huehue now that they are leaving the alta verapaz region...and this causes some concern for me, but i dont know how much truth there is to that rumor and am tempted to call, "baloney."
…this is one of those times where I really have no idea what is going on but I try and talk about it like I do… My lines to the news, aka misc. chatty people in my town, have been known to be unreliable…(especially when concerning bus schedules) so please, rest easy; i'm safe and sound!
In other news, I have been having a pretty incredible time in Guatemala recently… I feel really lucky to have made so many great friends here and have been having a wonderful time with them. I also feel really lucky to have the support of my friends and family back home- thank you guys so much for the packages and cards! You have no idea how nice it is when the postman waves me in to his office and tells me I have something waiting for me; it’s such a lovely surprise.
As for my in-site life, we just had our Feria last month…and I took some pictures so here are a few...
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| the people in the masks are the "spanish" |
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| the worlds scariest ferris wheel. |
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| bulls covered in fireworks... |
Concerning my career as a budding musical sensation…I abandoned the guitar all together after I hurt my fingers a few months ago but have decided to take it back up with more discipline this month.
In my, “I miss the US” life… I miss the following things:
- washing machines (but especially dryers…specifically for my socks).
- ethnic food (or American versions of): Greek, Mediterranean, Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Mexican…mmm
- Driving
- Shopping trips in target
- reasonably priced cosmetics in shades that match my skin tone…
- drive thru coffee windows
- shower heads that are high enough and won’t electrocute me.
- garbage disposals.
- walking around with my camera or ipod/ not worrying about being robbed all the time.
- being able to tell when people are joking/witty repartee (wishing I could do it in Spanish).
Things I’m loving in Guatemala right now:
- pretty much everything about Xela
- less cat-calls on a daily basis in my site.
- PACAs (the used clothing/goods stores)
- the weather
- avocados: they’re awesome right now
- my new place
- having a shower: it’s INCREDIBLE.
- latin pop music
- free Peace Corps Volunteer to Peace Corps Volunteer calls
- roses blooming around my patio
- la hora de hygiene song one of my directors sang for me
- collaboration on projects with other volunteers.
Here’s a picture of an adorable Rincon de Salud that one of my classes had up…
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| Yes that is Bam-Bam in the background...no big deal. |
In my social life…well…it’s going well; I think my Spanish is going to really improve this year…
I will conclude this entry for now. those pictures took forever and three of them mysteriously disappeared...which is annoying. I will try and update again soon!
In the meantime thank you for reading; I hope everyone is doing well! Miss you all!
Peace & Love!
XOXO,
Kristin
Just caught up on your blog. I, myself, am going back and forth on wanting to spew forth compliments for some very witty yet informative posts and fighting the urge to shut my laptop and sullenly fold my arms in a jealous fit because you seem to have mastered the art of satiric writing -- a goal the continuously eludes me (as you can see).
ReplyDeleteI'm also jealous of the potential you found in that tiny little room. Holy crap, woman! Puts me (and my current living situation) to shame. And I'm glad you're enjoying the shower, even though you probably have to use it sitting down.
Glad things are progressing for you. We need a phone date soon.
P.S. Sorry I've been such a terrible ... replace-ee? (No, that's not it. They really need to come up with a term/s that defines the relationship between volunteers who have served in the same site.) I really am going to send you a package one of these days. My new digs are around the corner from the post office. Just need to recover financially a bit from moving and I'll get back on the ball, I promise. Jilkoba-chi!