No mas

Another week of Spanish school and I’m so relieved it’s my last!! I chose the school, Celas Maya, because it advertised great activities in the afternoon and I’m all about the activities. We visited a local weaving cooperative benefiting Mayan women, toured the local important historical buildings in and around Xela via a trolley, and visited the largest outdoor market in Central America not geared towards tourists. So I got to see how most Guatemalans shop for their goods: spices, dried stinky fish, clothes, purses, cloth, animals (pigs, cows, you name it and it was for sale), and even chicken claws! The ride to the market was by chicken bus, a very “fun” experience as you are always squished between people while the driver blares Guatemalan hip-hop music. I was even asked by an adorable girl for a dollar. My teacher was with me and told the girl sternly this was a bad thing to do, yikes. To further add to the uncomfortability level of the situation, there are always people coming on board while we’re stopped to sell food or ask for money. Out of everything I’ve seen and done here, riding the chicken buses are the most authentic Guatemalan experiences. I just want to see a chicken on one of them!

In general, Xela attracts a more humane crowd of people and this was apparent immediately. Students and locals here are more likely to volunteer and more into social justice as opposed to partying, although there’s still a fair share of that going on. There are ample opportunities to support organizations such as women dealing with domestic violence. My original plans were to teach Mayan children English but they require a longer stay than 1 week for this.

Unfortunately, Xela is not a pretty town and this combined with just an ok teacher and a bad homestay family has me leaving tomorrow to go back near Antigua. My favorite thing about Xela was my visit to Fuentes Georginas (hot springs) and hanging out with my friend Becky and 2 new friends, Amy and Marjolein, as well as others from the school. This whole experience of traveling has been a great way to meet people from different countries and see how differently people live. Last night, for instance, I attended my first soccer game (or futbol game to the rest of the world) with a whole group from the school. We really stuck out, a big group of western looking people who didn’t know the team’s cheers, etc. But we sure did learn them in a hurry! Well, really we just yelled Juego! when the other team kicked the ball, except when my friend yelled Jugo (juice) instead at one point!! It’s a good thing we can laugh at ourselves, there have been a number of times when I’m not quite saying the right thing and the local will look at me like I’m crazy while I think I’m saying it correctly. Anyway, Xela’s team was pretty horrible, they lost 3-0. What might have been the weirdest part of the experience was we couldn’t take in water bottles yet fireworks were allowed and were constantly going off during the game and there was even a fire from all the paper confetti at the end. Another cultural experience!

One of the more interesting things I’ve done on this trip was to visit a professor of Mayan culture and have my stars read according to the Mayan calendar!! This next paragraph is long and if you’re not into my psychology, please read no further. I went with Becky and Amy, and thank goodness I did, because Becky helped translate the parts of Spanish that I didn’t understand. Overall, it was on target and explained a few things. The color that most describes me and that will protect me is Lila, a purple/lilac color (the same color of my bridesmaid dresses, dining room wall in Guam, and current color of our second bedroom!). This color symbolizes happiness and sweetness, sweet, huh? I was very strong (the highest number, 13) in the nurturing area and family life, the downfall of this is that because I support others so much I do not always take care of myself. True of so many women, huh? So perhaps a family is in my future after all…. I am also a good judge of character, a visionary, I feel bad if I don’t have all the answers, it’s important for me to share with others, I worry a lot about others (part of the nurturing aspect, I think, and from my mother, love you, mom!), and I will have 4 earth-shattering changes in my life. The animal that most describes me is the crocodile, I’m going to have to do more research on this part as I didn’t understand this explanation. Also Mother Earth is very important to me, which I think also relates to my earth sign, Taurus. My negative energy, or character flaws are that I am very flexible to the point where I do not listen enough to myself. The trouble that I have is with my feet, a metaphor to explain that I’m having difficulty making decisions with my life right now, I’m stuck, can’t move forward or backward. Hmmm, perhaps the reason for this extended trip where I have the chance to figure things out for myself… I’m going to take this problem with my feet literally and go get a foot massage or reflexology!! In addition, money and jobs will not be hard to come by, yes! I also have frustration with losing things, whether it be friends, money or keys, not sure I buy this one. Interesting enough I need to live by water whether it be rivers or the ocean in order to recharge my energy (Seattle couldn’t be a more perfect place, especially living right by Green Lake!) and flowers and water are important for my home space. What a great excuse to buy myself flowers! Professions that suit me are social communicators, sociologists, lawyers or those working for just causes. Interesting enough, I had already come to the decision during this trip that I need to change the direction my career is going. I aim to find a job with a non-profit using my RD and CHES, if possible. So this reading was not a bad way to spend a few hours, some money and practice my Spanish….

So tomorrow morning I take the bus in to Antigua and will stay there until my plane leaves this coming Saturday!! I’m staying at a place outside of Antigua for 2 or 3 nights to just relax, study Spanish with a private tutor, hike near the volcanoes, and maybe do some yoga. Then I’m off to see the biggest touristy market in Chichicastenango and just hang out with friends in Antigua for my last 2 days!!!

Abrazos fuertes y besos