The Best of the Best

The best part of waking up ...

BREAKFAST!

I love having breakfast here, it is sooo delicious. (Que rico). This is what I had the other morning, frijoles (black beans), hueves (eggs), and tortillas. Umm, umm good. I could eat eggs and beans everyday for breakfast, and I pretty much do already.

BIKE:

I bought a new bike today! With going to and from work so frequently, I decided that it would be much easier and quicker to ride. I currently have a bike, I brought it with me when I moved to Antigua. I took it on the plane with me, thank god I didn´t lose that!!

But because the roads are cobble stone

I decided to have another bike so I don´t ruin my favorite bike! Success!! This girl was around Antigua for a couple of weeks and needed to get rid of her newly bought bike, and I was around in the nick of time. I bought it for half the cost of what she paid…63 bucks. Can´t beat that!!!

It is a good bike, different than what I am use to, but does what I need it to do. Now I am working on dodging cars and learning to take more control while driving in between cars, and in between cars and the side walk. No bruises yet!

MOVING once again:

Good thing I don´t have much stuff…because this whole moving thing, sucks! When I went home to see my folks for a week, which turned into 4 – I tried to take my entire stuff home. Of course like life, I accumulated so much CRAP. I ended up throwing a bunch away, giving other stuff away, and then putting my bike and a box of other random stuff at a friend´s house. When I returned from the states I was supposed to be moving into a place with my friend, but that didn´t work out right away. So I moved into this cute, little place of a lady that I know. It is nice and quiet, and I once again get free meals cooked. My plan is to stay a couple of weeks until I can officially move in with my friends. Living out of a suitcase – it´s not all that is cracked out to be!

There is the cutest puppy there though...

IT'S ME! J/k ... it's a drink, Mirinda. But everyone calls me it anyway. So I am now known as an Orange Soda! Top that!

Last, but not least...MARKET SHIRTS!

Notice the blue one. It reads, No soy facil, pero tampoco imposible.....(I am not easy, but nor impossible) hahaha

Ohhh Guatemalans..crack me up!

photos...

Agua Volcano...pilas
Closer image
Church in Central Park- all lit up

Linda and Kate - before the hair began!
Me and Kate

Annie and I on Pacaya Volcano
Linda Li!!!

OCTOBER

October – wow, October. This was the month that everything changed. I quit my job, got offered a new job (goal #3), found a best friend, found a 2^nd job, dreaded my hair, had a friend visit me, and HALLOWEEEN!

I moved into the other guest house that La Union offered people to stay in. I needed the change. Mara, from Maryland came to visit me, and we had such a good time!

I began to dread my hair. Something I have wanted to do for years and finally found the courage. Linda helped me through the process, she was such a sport. It took weeks to finally get all of my hair braided, and she never complained once!! I had started dreading my hair, and Halloween was right around the corner. I went as a pirate, of course…

We all had to work on Halloween at Monoloco, but it was soo much fun. I was ridiculously busy, a couple of friends stopped by to say hi, and I had no time to catch up with them. After work, we hung out there for a couple of hours then went to my friend Juan’s house. He has a really cool place with a huge terrace, so there is where I spent most of my time. Sometime during the night, we were sitting out there together, and he keeps staring at my hair and then finally says, “What if you want to take those out in the morning?” (totally serious)... This is only funny because he thought I did the dreads for my costume…haha. I mean, I am in to Halloween, but not THAT into it. I turned to face him and said with a look of suspension and confusion, “What if I don’t want to take them out?” haha it is probably not as funny as it was when I was there…but that still cracks me up!

By now, you have read that I already quit my job, and have started working at Old Town. So the next story to tell is about my friend Linda. Which I met her in September really; I met her one night I was out with some friends grabbing dinner. I introduced myself, shook her hand and proceeded to walk towards the restaurant we were heading to. The only thing I can remember from our first encounter is the comment she made to me. “You seem crazy! I think we should hang out!” hahahaha I am sure we had a small conversation about why each of us where there, and what we are doing…but seriously would couldn’t have talked more than 5 minutes. At first, I was thrown off by her comment…what does that mean? How am I suppose to react to that? But, then I got to thinking…and the question I have for her was, “How did you KNOW???” hahha….

Best friends since!

photos...

A random street in Antigua...
A beautiful Church
A church ruin
and again
One of the side markets. Close to my house. You can slightly see Agua Volcano in the very back.
Fruit stand...yum, yum. Notice the fruit bags hanging.
They also put some salt, chili pepper on their fruit. Sounds gross, but really, really delicious.
This is La Tanca. This is where the pilas are (women wash their clothes in the pilas).
To the left - Fuego (very active) Volcano. To the right, Acatenango Volcano.

Moto Cafe...they do moto tours and serve food!
Palm trees, don't you love it!!

Linda!!!
Working at Monoloco!
Luis, Linda, me, Lindsay!

NOVEMBER

The month of November was probably my favorite month in all that I was in Antigua. I met some really cool guys from London, traveled a lot with Old Town, went dancing numerous occasions, and had some great nights out with friends!

It began with great ending of Halloween … I had one of the best nights in a long time. November was the month I really started working with Old Town a lot, and lead several trips by myself and other guides. I really love this job…what better place to work than with people that love people and nature!!! I was speaking more Spanish, setting up itineraries for clients, and leading hikes and mountain biking and kayaking trips! I was really finally getting to know the ins and outs of the company as well as Guatemala.

This month was dedicated to crazy roommates….cause there was a handful!!

The first was a preacher from Japan that didn’t speak English and was learning Spanish. He was very interesting – couldn’t understand a word of his Spanish, but a lovely man. Met his wife and kids and they were soo adorable. I am not sure of his story, but only was in the house for a week.

*SIDE NOTE- "the house," refers to my place of residence. This was provided to me by La Union (where I use to teach English). The house was nice, and cost my a lovely $2000Q (250$) per month, but this included internet and food!! The food was ok, but still - FREE. The internet was good most of the time. The shower sucked, but I have yet to find a good one here in Antigua.**

Needless to say, didn’t really get to know him. Second was a guy from…. Hmmm… don’t know actually. Couldn’t understand his English or Spanish either… me and my friend Linda couldn’t pronounce his name, so we called him Matt. He would leave and return to the house at random hours, never with explanation. He would come into the restaurant and try to make conversation with me, then leave. It was…. Um, different. He stayed 2 weeks, then left to live in a local spanish house. Next, was a girl that was quiet and shy. She didn’t like me and Linda from the beginning…mainly because we would come home form work every night at 1am…and lets just say the walls are very thin. We were never rude…just like to stay up late…night owls. I really don’t remember a night in November that we went to bed before 2 am. Maybe the nights where I had to lead a trip the next day, but usually then I was up to at least midnight. I have trouble sleeping… runs in the family...

Well this girl was nice, and was with us only for a week as well. The only thing I really remember about her is the day I almost had to give her the hymplic. Seriously. We were eating lunch one afternoon and she began chocking. I told her to keep coughing and asked her if she was chocking?? (Thanks UMD and Red Cross for teaching me this KEY questions to ask…..hahah). Anyway, she was in bad shape, and as I am behind her, about to pull her out of her chair to get whatever she is chocking on out…she begins to talk and tell me she thinks she is ok. I feel a little bit of relief…phew…I can breathe again. She appeared to be fine, she was able to talk again to me. WELLLLL, come to find out, girl just chocked on water!!! I mean, WHAT!? How can one chock THAT much on water, really??? Hahaha I think I laughed really hard…a little at her, but mostly out of relief. I almost made her puke water. That would have really embarrassed her! Poor girl.

By the time the London boys moved in, we had enough with weird roommates. I remember when I first met them… I came out of my room for breakfast and sat with Muz (the older brother), he seemed ok. Although he had that strange, but adorable English accent, I could actually understand everything he was saying. He liked to talk, and seemed to have no problems talking to a complete stranger, so far so good. His brother came down the stairs shortly, and they quickly headed out of the door to Spanish school. They seemed cool, although I had my hesitations. 5 weeks later I was saying goodbye to them and pretty close to crying! I had grown so close and attached to them, and for me this is rare. I knew they were special, and I had to be spend time with them as much as I could.

Maybe I will see them again some day...I really hope so!

State Bound

*Old Blogs....

I am back in the states, Alabama to be more precise. This is where my parents are currently living; it is quite nice actually. They live right on the river, so my view is exceptional and very tranquil – which is what I need. I am not here for long, but long enough to enjoy the little things that you give up when you move to another country that speaks another language.

And really the only things I have missed was Chinese Food and BBQ – both of which I have had, and realized ok, not that good! I can live without them for sure! Ha

I do miss Antigua so much. I miss the people, the ambiance and the language. I knew I would miss Guate, but I never knew I could miss it this much! I miss speaking Spanish, not that I really did it that often, but the fact that I never do here in Bama…I miss it more than ever. Everything my parents or my grandma says, I translate it in my head in Spanish. Is this normal???

Still dreaming in Spanish, so it must be a good sign.

Well, since it has been almost 6 months since I left the States to move to Antigua, and about 3 months ago I gave up writing….I have decided to write again, but backwards. To tell my story in reverse.

The month of December in Antigua was simple and short for me. I only spent 7 days there. It was an emotional rollercoaster for me none-the-less. Said goodbye to my best friend there, said good-bye to two really good guy friends that I am scared I will never see again, said bye to 2 other real good friends, and a handful of coworkers, and other newly found friends. I was only saying good-bye to a few for forever…as I am returning to Guatemala soon. I love it there…my heart is still there…I still feel that is where I am suppose to be!

Work was good; still at Old Town and Monoloco. Working a lot, a full daytime job and a nighttime job at Monoloco – the sports bar/restaurant in town. I don’t know how I keep getting into these jobs…I tell myself over and over again, I am not going to have a fulltime job right now. Right now, my focus is on learning a language and achieving some goals.

1. Learn Spanish

2. Relax and do nothing….NOTHING

3. Get a job in tourism…. secretly Old Town (but didn’t want anyone to know)

4. Make a couple good friends

5. Travel around Guatemala

Little did I know that Goal #3 was going to come a lot quicker than I had ever dreamed…nor did I expect they would offer me a fulltime position. GREAT!!!!! I couldn’t say no, that would be throwing everything I wanted out of the window. And with that job, I accomplished goal #5. I still haven’t been everywhere…but I plan to.

Goal #1 has been started and I would say that I have been doing well. I can understand what most people are saying to me. Some people are harder than others to understand, but hey I feel I have learned a lot in 5 months. Goal #4 I have done! I have several really good friends that I hope to keep in contact with as they head back to the States, and South America. And as for #2 – easy! I have that one down!!

Great trip so far…can’t wait to get back!!! Until then, time with the family.