Hola! I'm alive and well!
Where do I begin? I can't believe the time is flying and I only have 4.5 weeks left of studying. I can't wait to be done though as I'm psyched about traveling with Nolan for nearly 3 weeks. I'm working out a plan of how to cover as much ground as possible and renew my visa in the capital. Spanish is going well, I'm not going to get as far as I wanted, but at least what I'm learing I hope I'll learn it well. I have a new teacher this week, Carlos, I asked the director if I could have him because he's really into pushing you to talk the entire time. My other teachers gave me a lot of book work so it's great that I'm thinking on my feet constantly. I'm at an intermediate level right now. People told me that to truly be proficient you need about 6 mo. in a foreign country so I'm probably going to return next summer to finish up. That depends on if my future hubby doesn't kill me! It sucks I can't do it for 6 moths straight through, but I intend to work on it when I'm at home. Luckily, one of my friends from pharm school speaks spanish. My writing, pronunciation, reading, and comprehension abilities far surpass my speaking abilities. It's sad! However, I want to continue taking spanish classes when I get home too. I can't remember what other activities I've done...I don't have my journal with and I haven't written in it for about 4 days as I've been so limited in time. It sucks because I don't want to forget anything.
Let see...I've been to a ton of lectures some on the legal and illegal immigration of Latin Americans, the peace accords, the order for arrest for parties responsible for the civil war and genocide here. I'm going to about 5 or so more lectures! I've seen the lawyer talk about 5 times so far. He's incredible! He said he's looking for volunteers for his organization and I feel since my spanish is better I could really help, but I can't really do that much during the remainder of my time here. He gave me his business card and said that if I come back next summer than to contact him. I'll post a link to his website next time, I forgot his business card at home if anyone is interested. He actually lived in Mexico for about 10 years during the civil war here.
I stopped my dance classes as my dance teacher, who was incredible, was very unreliable. He has a drinking problem so I just can't expect to have class and wait around for him to show and maybe he does and doesn't. I can be doing a lot of other things. I've been doing aerobics classes in the meantime. It's really intense. I bought a month membership since that's how much time I have left until Nolan arrives. The classes are incredibly intense, the instructors incorporate step aerobics, kick boxing, these bar things, weights, etc. It's wild though everytime I walk into the gym the guys stop lifting and stare at me. We get cat calls and whistles the entire time we're doing aerobics. Ick! LOL! We completely ignore it of course! I've been going with some girls from school.
I went to Chi Chi on Sunday with some friends it was a lot of fun. I bought a blouse, skirt, and a wooden carving to put on our wall. The skirt and blouse aren't indigenous, but we're hand made and I can't wait to wear them! However, it's too cold here. It was fun haggling for the best price. We also at lunch. On the 2.5 hour bus ride back I sat next to this guy and he and I talked the entire time. I just love how friendly people are here. He and I talked about our respective families and significant others.
I went walking around the city last Saturday with some friends from school. It was nice to walk around so I could really judge the distance of where everything is and to really get a handle on where stuff is when Nolan gets here. I prefer walking than taking the microbuses. Everytime I take them there are like 25 people crammed into a minivan. Last weekend, there were 3 people hanging outside by the sliding door. I was so scared for them! I had my ass in my friends face and hunched over. I kept elbowing this old lady in the head. Public transportation is wild here! Nolan, get ready!!!!
This Saturday, I'm going on a 2 day trek to the highest point in Central America with Quetzaltrekkers.http://http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/guattajumulco.html I put the deposit down today and I'm going with 2 friends from school! I'm worried that I'm going to be freezing and it's going to rain the whole time. They have sweaters that we can borrow. I have to hike with my large pack as I have to carry food, tent, clothes, 4 L of water, etc. We have a meeting on friday to brief us and to get the equipment we need to shove in our packs. It can get down to 20 degrees at the top of the volcanoe. We leave at 5 a.m. on Saturday a.m. and take a bus for about 3 hours to another town have breakfast and then start hiking. We do nearly the entire hike in one day, but on Sunday we finish it and watch the sunrise at the top. I'm excited yet scared about being too cold and using the bathroom outside. However, I will hate myself if I don't do it. I'm also excited that I'm going with people I know too.
I walked around the city with another friend who goes to a different school and we hiked up to an incredible view of the city. Any trip can't go smoothly, right? We walked by a house where people were showering in their front yard with garden hoses! Why must I see naked people all the time? LOL! We saw some really cool lizards too, they were 1/2 turquoise and 1/2 flourescent green. I tried to get a pic of them, but the moved so fast.
I'm healthy, finally. I had a 2 or 3 day relapse, but took more amoxicillin. I new the duration the doctor recommended wasn't sufficient, but I followed his orders anyway. Oh! Got to the bottom of the prices of the drugs. The doctor owns one of the most expensive pharmacies in town so that's why it was so costly. The pharmacy I always go here is where Josefina goes and it's for the poor. I love the ladies there! I want to ask them if I can volunteer there some time.
The great grandma is staying with us. She yells through out the night so I haven't been getting much sleep. She only speaks Kiche and she's an alcoholic! It's been interesting.
Anyone have any ideas of a great gift idea for Norma, Jeremy's mom, we have the same birthday and it's in less than 2 weeks on Saturday the 29th! Norma still has to work! I think she'll have that Sunday off. It's going to be so bizarre celebrating my birthday without my friends and family...kinda sad...I'm looking forward to hearing fireworks outside our door early on Saturday a.m. LOL! Josefina said she's going to cook a gigantic cake! Geez, I really can't take anymore sweets...we've been having cake every week Josefina says it's unusual...I'm not sure why we continue...
Yesterday, I walked with two friends to a Mennonite bakery and invited Nilda, another daughter of Josefina, as she has 3 weeks of vacation. She's so sweet and always corrects me when I say something wrong. She may go to an aerobics class with me too. The bakery makes yogurt and I had peach! They are only open Tues. and Fri. and it's best to go there in the a.m., but I have class. I hope I can get back on Friday to buy some more yogurt. I want to buy some more yogurt, but it sells out fast! It was the best I've ever had and so fresh! I also I had the best hummus at this restaurant in town. Thank god I'm exercising here the food is too damn good to pass up!
I'm trying to work out the details for Nolan's arrival. I know a married couple that are missionaries that make monthly trips to Guate so I may bum a ride with them. However, if not, I'm going to stop my classes two days early and take a bus up on Thursday a.m. and meet him at the airport. I wish I would've been able to experience my first time here and bus rides with someone I knew. Plus, I want to see him ASAP! Everyone here is so excited to meet him! Everyone has seen pics of both him and Bernie and know a lot about them!
I can't think of anything else...this is an overview...I can't be too specific as too much time has past...
I love you and miss you!
Let see...I've been to a ton of lectures some on the legal and illegal immigration of Latin Americans, the peace accords, the order for arrest for parties responsible for the civil war and genocide here. I'm going to about 5 or so more lectures! I've seen the lawyer talk about 5 times so far. He's incredible! He said he's looking for volunteers for his organization and I feel since my spanish is better I could really help, but I can't really do that much during the remainder of my time here. He gave me his business card and said that if I come back next summer than to contact him. I'll post a link to his website next time, I forgot his business card at home if anyone is interested. He actually lived in Mexico for about 10 years during the civil war here.
I stopped my dance classes as my dance teacher, who was incredible, was very unreliable. He has a drinking problem so I just can't expect to have class and wait around for him to show and maybe he does and doesn't. I can be doing a lot of other things. I've been doing aerobics classes in the meantime. It's really intense. I bought a month membership since that's how much time I have left until Nolan arrives. The classes are incredibly intense, the instructors incorporate step aerobics, kick boxing, these bar things, weights, etc. It's wild though everytime I walk into the gym the guys stop lifting and stare at me. We get cat calls and whistles the entire time we're doing aerobics. Ick! LOL! We completely ignore it of course! I've been going with some girls from school.
I went to Chi Chi on Sunday with some friends it was a lot of fun. I bought a blouse, skirt, and a wooden carving to put on our wall. The skirt and blouse aren't indigenous, but we're hand made and I can't wait to wear them! However, it's too cold here. It was fun haggling for the best price. We also at lunch. On the 2.5 hour bus ride back I sat next to this guy and he and I talked the entire time. I just love how friendly people are here. He and I talked about our respective families and significant others.
I went walking around the city last Saturday with some friends from school. It was nice to walk around so I could really judge the distance of where everything is and to really get a handle on where stuff is when Nolan gets here. I prefer walking than taking the microbuses. Everytime I take them there are like 25 people crammed into a minivan. Last weekend, there were 3 people hanging outside by the sliding door. I was so scared for them! I had my ass in my friends face and hunched over. I kept elbowing this old lady in the head. Public transportation is wild here! Nolan, get ready!!!!
This Saturday, I'm going on a 2 day trek to the highest point in Central America with Quetzaltrekkers.http://http://www.quetzaltrekkers.com/guattajumulco.html I put the deposit down today and I'm going with 2 friends from school! I'm worried that I'm going to be freezing and it's going to rain the whole time. They have sweaters that we can borrow. I have to hike with my large pack as I have to carry food, tent, clothes, 4 L of water, etc. We have a meeting on friday to brief us and to get the equipment we need to shove in our packs. It can get down to 20 degrees at the top of the volcanoe. We leave at 5 a.m. on Saturday a.m. and take a bus for about 3 hours to another town have breakfast and then start hiking. We do nearly the entire hike in one day, but on Sunday we finish it and watch the sunrise at the top. I'm excited yet scared about being too cold and using the bathroom outside. However, I will hate myself if I don't do it. I'm also excited that I'm going with people I know too.
I walked around the city with another friend who goes to a different school and we hiked up to an incredible view of the city. Any trip can't go smoothly, right? We walked by a house where people were showering in their front yard with garden hoses! Why must I see naked people all the time? LOL! We saw some really cool lizards too, they were 1/2 turquoise and 1/2 flourescent green. I tried to get a pic of them, but the moved so fast.
I'm healthy, finally. I had a 2 or 3 day relapse, but took more amoxicillin. I new the duration the doctor recommended wasn't sufficient, but I followed his orders anyway. Oh! Got to the bottom of the prices of the drugs. The doctor owns one of the most expensive pharmacies in town so that's why it was so costly. The pharmacy I always go here is where Josefina goes and it's for the poor. I love the ladies there! I want to ask them if I can volunteer there some time.
The great grandma is staying with us. She yells through out the night so I haven't been getting much sleep. She only speaks Kiche and she's an alcoholic! It's been interesting.
Anyone have any ideas of a great gift idea for Norma, Jeremy's mom, we have the same birthday and it's in less than 2 weeks on Saturday the 29th! Norma still has to work! I think she'll have that Sunday off. It's going to be so bizarre celebrating my birthday without my friends and family...kinda sad...I'm looking forward to hearing fireworks outside our door early on Saturday a.m. LOL! Josefina said she's going to cook a gigantic cake! Geez, I really can't take anymore sweets...we've been having cake every week Josefina says it's unusual...I'm not sure why we continue...
Yesterday, I walked with two friends to a Mennonite bakery and invited Nilda, another daughter of Josefina, as she has 3 weeks of vacation. She's so sweet and always corrects me when I say something wrong. She may go to an aerobics class with me too. The bakery makes yogurt and I had peach! They are only open Tues. and Fri. and it's best to go there in the a.m., but I have class. I hope I can get back on Friday to buy some more yogurt. I want to buy some more yogurt, but it sells out fast! It was the best I've ever had and so fresh! I also I had the best hummus at this restaurant in town. Thank god I'm exercising here the food is too damn good to pass up!
I'm trying to work out the details for Nolan's arrival. I know a married couple that are missionaries that make monthly trips to Guate so I may bum a ride with them. However, if not, I'm going to stop my classes two days early and take a bus up on Thursday a.m. and meet him at the airport. I wish I would've been able to experience my first time here and bus rides with someone I knew. Plus, I want to see him ASAP! Everyone here is so excited to meet him! Everyone has seen pics of both him and Bernie and know a lot about them!
I can't think of anything else...this is an overview...I can't be too specific as too much time has past...
I love you and miss you!
posted by USFBULL2002 | 3:44 PM
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