Fuego de la Tierra y Agua del Cielo

In the last two days, a volcano erupted mere miles from us and a tropical storm hit everyone hard. Guatemala city is covered in ash, which has turned into heavy, heavy mud because we got over 30 inches of rain yesterday alone. San Pedro has turned into a river, other towns are experiencing landslides and flash floods, and as of this morning some houses have been completely destroyed and others are filled with feet of water. Children have lost their homes. Families have lost their loved ones. Many are stranded, with no way to get back into Guatemala (both major highways, to El Salvador and Mexico, have been totally shut down). Had we been an hour behind schedule yesterday on our trip, right now we'd still be on a little macadamia nut farm on the way to San Antonio with no way to get back into Antigua. An American man who lives in our house, a state department worker learning Spanish so he can go on a project in Honduras, didn't come home last night, even though we called and said he'd be back my 7. Our mom said, "Jeremy no viene y estoy preocupada", and I think she was speaking for everyone in Guatemala.



Everything is changing.

About 20 minutes ago, our whole PHA group was in Sevilla, sitting in a huge circle and sharing how we felt about yesterday, when the storm was completely in Antigua and we were all out in it. Lots of people talked about how much it "sucked" to be so wet, to be walking around in the incessant torrential downpour, how they were "annoyed" because it was so uncomfortable and because this wouldn't have happened back home. Yeah, we got wet. Yeah, we walked through puddles up to our knees and took pictures in the fountain en el centro because we couldn't possibly have gotten any wetter. And no, this wouldn't have happened in America. But wasn't that the point?! Wasn't it surreal to be such a part of something so big and out of our control, something we'd be part of afterward too? The only thing I could think about during this discussion was that this trip was becoming something much bigger. It's exciting and scary and unbelievable. This isn't Haiti or Katrina, we aren't just watching, we're a part of it. Tomorrow we're going to San Pedro not to teach, but to see if the kids need our help. We're bringing all our donated clothes, and all our biggest smiles, and we're gonna work our butts off for anyone who needs it. This project isn't about teaching kids how to say "naranja" in English anymore, it's about rebuilding families, and homes, and hope. I think that's much more valuable, and despite all the struggle this country is going through right now, I couldn't be happier. I feel like I'm in the right place at the right time.

Chillin' with the niños

This is the third day here and I've already fallen in love with teaching in San Pedro. Xavier and I teach the adorable little first graders, all of whom are both eager to get to know us and extremely shy of these big new americanos. We decided that our first lesson would be just the alphabet in English, since they're so little and have such short attention spans (just like American kids, only it's harder to communicate to them that they need to sit down and stop chasing each other around the room!). By the end of the hour-long class, they were all singing the ABCs with gusto and spelling their names with English letters. Activities they loved were coloring name tags for themselves and writing their names on the board. The latter was a last-ditch, in-the-moment idea that they all loved. One student comes up to the board, writes their name, and we ask the class what each letter is called (em!-ay!-arr!-eye!-ay!). They get so into it--they scream the letters and beg us to go next.

Recess is an ordeal, but a hugely fun one. The kids get half an hour to run crazily in circles and scream at the tops of their lungs--all with no teacher present. Some of the kids, though, would prefer simply to sit and talk (as would I; being here is exhausting!). Sitting in a corner of the courtyard and chatting (en español, of course) seems more like real teaching than when we stand in front of a class. These interactions are, by far and away, my favorite part so far.

Antigua v. America

It was the second day when I realized that I just wasn´t in the Estados Unidos anymore. I mean obviously I noticed that I wasn´t in America any more, but walking these cobblestone streets really opened my eyes. When we first arrived in Guatemala, we drove through Guatemala City, which really is nothing more than any other ciudad that could be in any other pais. Nothing special. Not yet. Pero then we entered Antigua. Totally different. Antigua is old- not like ancient grandmother old- but like antique old. Something to be cherished and kept safe. Everything is viejo and that means it has a history. In America, we are made to believe that the constant updating of our lives is what´s best for us. Pero in Antigua (which ironically means Antique), things are best when they are preserve.

The people are different tambien. Friendly in a surprising, sincere way. When they ask, ¿como esta? they actually care for an answer. Like, because I am human and they are human we should automatically care for each other. Its nice to know that gente still care and they aren't afraid to show it. Its beautiful. It shows strength. Y that not all people are the same. I was going to Antigua primarily to teach ingles and learn espanol, but I ended up learning that people are different and being cynical is going to get me no where fast.

And now I'm wondering why. Why in America are we constantly trying to get better? Why can´t we stick with what we have? And when did we decide that was the best course? Why do Americans always need things? And if being rich and always changing and trying to make things new, the best course of action, why are people in Antigua always smiling? Why are they happy? And why are they contento with what they have? And how do I end up like that too?

¡Me estoy quebrando la cabeza pensando!

The only word I can use to describe this trip so far is OVERWHELMING - it's not bad, or good, or fun, or scary, it's just all of the above. The second we got here Eva and I went straight to our house, where we walked in and I promptly forgot how to say 'nice to meet you'. This realization was followed by lots of 'hola' and 'gracias' and smiling, despite how disappointed we were that we had different rooms. we put our stuff down and sat down in the sala with the family, and I have NEVER been in such an awkward situation. Everyone was silent, and Eva and I were beyond nervous, and it was just such an outlandish experience that no one had any idea what to do. After about 10 painful minutes of silence, we went to Sevilla.
...And I was going to try to go through the last couple days event by event, but as I'm writing I'm forgetting. I feel like I'm learning and experienceing and storing SO much in my head that there's not room for anything that isn't extremely memorable. So here are the things I remember:
- That horrifyingly awkward host family meet-and-greet
- Me and Eva's first walk home (MUCH further than anyone else by about 15 minutes), where NOTHING could have prepared us for the sight of the monsterous volcano in front of us, and the mist-covered mountains that completely surround Antigua. I know we're really high up, but it feels really deep here
- Our salsa class, which was SO fun and so much more enjoyable than I had been expecting! It was the perfect chance to let go of a lot of the stress I'd been holding in
- Last night, when it was my host sister's 18th birthday, and unbeknownst to us, her friends decided to surprise her with a cake at dinner, they showed up at our house ringing the doorbell maniacally and setting off FIREWORKS, OUTSIDE. Looking back it's funny, but it was definitely in the top 3 scariest moments of my life - Eva and I were completely convinced it was a drive by (it sounded like multiple machine guns, really), and in one or two more seconds I would've been hiding under the table. It was terrifying and my heart was still beating a little too fast when I went to bed

Again, I'm losing my train of thought. There's no possible way for this much information to fit in my head, especially because now I need to designate half my brain to Spanish. I even find myself simplifying what I say in English before I say it, like I do when I try to speak Spanish. Like my profe says, 'me estoy quebrando mi cabeza pensando!' I hope I can find a better system to internalize all these new words and experiences, however subconciously.

I can't believe it's only been 3 DAYS...and I can't wait for what's to come. Thinking about it and realizing what a RIDICULOUS amount of stuff we've done is overwhelming, but DOING it, you're in the moment. I'm really happy I'm here!

Series of Unfortunate Events (Yet We're ALL FINE); My First Impressions and Where We Go From Here

It's Day 4 and much has changed since I woke up tired (after Wednesday night salsa classes). The food is still incredible, the weather is still grey and rainy (yet exotic in the valley covered in mist Antigua sits in), and the route to Sevilla from my home is only getting more familiar, but Thursday's developments have clearly affected some anxiety in me. For one, on Thursday morning at the school in San Pedro, Sergio and I discovered the irregular schedule of our sixth graders and the time frame that we would have difficulties fitting our envisioned science lessons (part of our PGP) into. Secondly, the eruption of the volcano Pacaya (safely 60 miles from Antigua) has cancelled classes for today and has thrown off our lesson plans further.

OK, here is where I make the clarfication. We are completely safe! During my Thursday language class at Sevilla, I did feel the slight tremor that shook the ground of Antigua, which was an exhilarating yet mysterious experience at first, but since then there has been no actual sign of impacts of a disaster (that IS affecting Guatemala City). At my host family's home the TV has been on all day, but everything is running normally in Antigua. The streets may be more empty because of the lack of public school children, yet the Centro is still packed and it's business as usual at Sevilla. Additionally, my Spanish teacher assured Maurina and I for 10 minutes that volcano eruptions are a normal event for Guatemalans, meaning there may be a State of Emergency in the capital city but life goes on for Antiguans. There may be a lot of "but"s in my thought process, but I truly feel safe and trust Mr. Cantu and our team leaders 100%, as well as all the students, to responsibly react to the adversity (which was expected when we left for Guatemala) that we are being faced with.

The reality is that with such an incredible experience there come dangers and risks. However, we are behaving and making wise decisions when it comes to managing the accompanying risks of being foreigners (of relatively wealthy standing) in situations that are unusual to most of us. The consensus from our first journal-sharing meeting was pretty clear on this point: we're realizing how fortunate we are and how important it is to be respectful (yet also aware) in our relations with our host families, local citizens, and the kids in San Pedro.

Personally, I'm doing very well. We all have our minor issues with food, with our peers, or with our physical state (minor fevers or colds), but we're all intact and are looking forward to the breathtaking sights of Lago Atitlan. Every day is another step forward (a philosophy Alex previously referenced), and I'm optimistic about the doors I'm going to open by expanding my skill with Spanish and breaking ground in creatively inspiring San Pedro's kids with lessons about their world from the scientific perspective. In sum, I'm living by postive-minded phrase "lo vaya bien", with hope and determination.

First Impressions of Guatemala -- WOW !

The first day in Guatemala was a lot to take in . I met my host family and it was just nerve-wrackinggggg ! Yes , I can speak the language but honestly , I was speechless . That first night we also met our spanish teachers & my teacher looks EXACTLY like my Tia Tita; scary but funny :) . The best part so far was the salsa and merengue class; I did not think I would actually learn something , knowing that its usually the same thing over and over again . Teaching is the most unpredictable thing I have ever done; I was not expecting to be teaching such different second graders . I have two second grade classes at San Pedro and they are completely the opposite from each other . One has all males who dominate the class and the other evens out but of course , there has to be that ONE trouble-maker . Overall , its been going pretty goodd -- Cant wait to see whats nexttttttttttt !

Take it one day at a time ...

Today makes day 3 that I've been in Guatemala. I'm already home sick, snapping at people, and getting on peoples nerves and yes, it's JUST day 3. Yet, I love it here. My host family is amazing and they can speak English. You're probably thinking " Score, thats great for you ! " But no. They don't speak English to me nor will they ever. It stresses me out, but in the long run, it'll help me out a lot. The food you ask? AMAZING ! I can honestly say I'm not just eating the snacks I have stored away in my room. My roommate? Well that's a different story. Haha, i'm kidding. Alex is helping me out a lot and I love having my best friend as my roommate ( it's a plus ! ) My teacher is very understanding and sometimes I feel bad that she has to repeat everything at least 4 times. She says she doesnt mind because that's what we're sitting there for 4 hours a day doing. She's a huge help and i'm actually learning a lot while having a good time with her. This morning wasn't our best day, just for the simple fact that I broke down crying when she said hi to me. She helped me relax and the rest of my day was much better. The kids are adorable and they even help me with my Spanish. Hopefully I come back speaking a little better ! Well, as you can tell as soon as you get here, you start going ! Now I'm off to dinner, tell you more about it later :)