Living Above the Clouds

Right now I am faced with the most difficult task I’ve encountered in the last week, besides saying goodbye to some great people who I will miss greatly and a great country that has taught me so much. This current task is sharing with you all that has happened within the last week in a reasonable amount of words that won’t take you two hours to read.

Friday afternoon, we headed out to the community of Santa Anita and learned about their coffee and tourism industries. They are a struggling community filled with great-hearted people. We joined in an epic hike with the destination of a waterfall, but our path was washed out by a small newly formed waterfall that was the result of recent rains. We also played an epic game of futbol (soccer) on a cement court with the town's youth. SO fun. :)

Hiking through the forest down the mountain near
Santa Anita

Yesterday we returned from Chuitziribal, a small village of 30 some families near the town of Cantel about 15 minutes outside of Xela. We spent 4 days continuing our Spanish classes, learning about the community, and living with the families.

The village of Chuitziribal (you can see all but
just a few houses) and Volcan Santa Maria in the background to the left

Sunday we moved in with our host families. Two other girls and I stayed with a rather large family. They live in, what I think, is a pretty nice and big house. However, the house didn’t consist of its own servicios, and we had to walk about twenty feet out our front door into the cornfield to use the restroom, aka a small tin shack containing a concrete stump with a 10-foot hole within it. But nothing can replace walking out every morning to the view of a volcano to the left, rolling hills in front of us, and the small city of Cantel to the right. All drenched with clouds, both above and below us.

Cooking invueltos!

Monday we continued our Spanish classes. Our school’s location for the week was the local Evangelical church…or next to the river or sitting beside a cornfield—wherever teacher and student decided to “study” for the morning. Each morning our professors showed up in pickup trucks, ready to spend the morning teaching in a different location rather than the usual school in Xela. Monday afternoon after classes and after lunch, we met back at the church for a “clase de cocina local,” or a local cooking class. We learned how to make invueltos—fried goodness consisting of vegetables (including wiskiel, papas, and cauliflower!) wrapped in whipped eggs. They were SO delicious!

Tuesday after class we had a lecture about immigration and its presence/effects in the area. Can you believe that almost 1.3 Guatemalans live in the United States? Many of them only make it to Mexico. In this community of just over 30 families, 9 people are currently living in the US. In our home, one of the men had spent some time in the US, and there were a few other men in the community who had lived in the US for a short period of time. Immigrating to the US can be a long and hard process, and many don’t return back to Guatemala. It was very interesting to see how this issue that is a huge deal in the US also affects so many of these families personally.   In the afternoon, we traveled to some natural hot baths to bathe (which we all needed!). An hour in a prívate room with two feet of steaming hot water while listening to the rain fall upon the roof=ULTIMATE relaxation. :)

Mi maestra (professor) and me next to the river

Wednesday for class a bunch of us hiked up the mountain, and back down a little ways on the other side to the river. I love the fact that most of my class for the day consisted of hiking and chilling next to a beautiful river. :) After class, we all traveled to the glass factory in Cantel. We were able to watch the men make hand-blown glass ítems. I never knew why it was called “blown” glass until I witnessed many of the men participate in the very-much-skills-necessary process of standing off the ground and using a long hollow metal tube with a small piece of melted glass product on the end to create a dinner glass. Also, this particular factory participates in fair trade practices and has many respected rights for its workers, including benefits and decent working conditions. This was probably one of the most fascinating places we’ve visited yet. It requires a lot of skill to blow glass, and the process was intriguing. Wednesday afternoon we were going to visit Cantel again and see some more sites, but could not because of heavy rain. Wednesday night we had a celebration with the families, including a bonfire, s’mores, a pinata, and some fun games with the kids. And when we returned to the house, we spent at least an hour teaching our host family kids some English and learning a few words in Quiche. :)

A couple of the talented men adding the handle to
a pitcher at the factory

Thursday morning after class we visited with the director of the primary school in the community. Currently, it is “free” for kids to go to school. I say “free” because although the government is funding the school, the school does not receive its funds in a very timely manner and not in time for school to start. This year, the government has only sent half of its funds to the school, and there is only 15 days left of this school year. Where is the other half of the money? After the talk, we said goodbye to our professors. :( I am really going to miss my professor, Marleny. She and I had some great conversations, and discussed some great topics. She encouraged me a lot. I feel a lot more comfortable in my Spanish, and I think it’s mostly because of her. She also gave me a new love for literature, especially by Latin American authors. After this we ate our final meal with our families and said goodbye to our families. Also sad. :( Then we returned to Xela for the night.

Today we traveled to Antigua (a difficult trip! With many stomach and head aches due to decreasing elevation), and we’ll be here in the hotel for tonight and tomorrow, just to chill and relax some. On Sunday we head to EL SALVADOR! (I’ll blog more later about my Guatemala experience in general…I have so much to say!)

One thing I forgot to mention earlier that I’d like you to be praying about is my host family in Xela (Gloria and Ericka). Gloria just recently quit her job, is searching for another, just lost a nephew, and has a sister who recently had surgery to remove a cancerous tumor. She’s going through a lot, and I highly appreciated all that she did for me although she was going through a rough time. I will miss Gloria and Ericka so much. Please keep her and your family in your prayers.

Also be praying for safe travels for us as we travel to El Salvador. Words been getting out about a potential storm that’s brewing, and I’m hoping and praying it doesn’t bring more devastating landslides to the area.

Even though this post is long, I’ll probably be posting another soon! I want to share more about my thoughts during this time of transition to a different country. Hasta la próxima! :)