Finally an update!
Trip Start
Jul 11, 2007
1
6
Trip End
Ongoing
Xela,, Guatemala
Saturday, October 6, 2007
We've thrown in some additional pictures of our school, our teachers, and two young and eager interns who worked at the school for a month in order to obtain job experience and practice their skills at English. The girls reminded us of the youngins we worked with in the states and we took an immediate liking to them. During their stay with our school we took them to Chinese food here in Xela (their choice:) and taught them to drive in our little car..an experience that proved to be equally rewarding on both fronts, for us and for them. Sadly, their internship placement expired and they had to return to their small villages several hours away.
With the arrival of Sarah's parents, our adventures continued. We returned to Antigua, to Lake Atitilan (where we stayed in one of the most beautiful hotels any of us had ever frequented), and for the first time, travelled outside of Guatemala to Honduras where we toured an expansive Mayan ruin site that had been excavated by some prestigious schools in the states. The site was an active hub of activity during the period of 300AD-900AD, when it was suddenly and inexplicably abandoned.
The bed and breakfast where we stayed in Honduras was a converted ranch site that oozed a rustic charm complete with an expansive view of the Honduran countyside. It was owned by an eccentric Honduran woman who had previously lived in the states (Kentucky) for 30 years and chose to return to her home country and rennovate her grandfather's ranch house. Throughout our travels we encountered fantastic vistas, exemplary food (both traditional and international) and even exposed the parents to several modes of Guatemalan transportation that proved to be a blessing and a curse at times.
We are currently approaching our final week of Spanish courses and will begin working for a domestic violence shelter next week. We toured both components of the program (a day care center located outside of Xela in a small pueblo called Choki) and the shelter, called El Hogar, located within Xela. The day care center hosted 25 little ones (all under the age of 11) who previously resided at the shelter with their mothers and whose mothers have since found employement and/or moved out to live with their families or independently. The shelter currently hosts 9 families, all women with little ones. The shelter staff teach vocational, educational and life skills to the women and have a school where the children gain much needed educational learning. The contrast in terms of funding, government support (or lack thereof), and resources cannot be overstated. This agency is trying to accomplish something extraordinary within a society that is heavily patriarchial, deeply religious and desperately poor...and they are succeeding!
We are in the process of planning a trip to Belize, with our roommate Chris, to visit the island of Placencia. This will be our final big trip before we make preparations to return to the States.
This weekend in Xela, there is a large celebration in honor of the Virgin Mary, which will take place in the square whereby the statue of Mary will be removed from the church and carried throughout the city. It is an incredibly spiritual and celebratory day for Guatemaltecos and we are going to be very eager and enthused observers. Late next week, the country will host its final presidential election as two candidates have emerged from the initial "primary". On November 1, the country celebrates "Day of the Dead" where everyone gathers at the cemetery and honors those who have passed by presenting them with their favorite foods,music, and gifts. One of the largest cemeteries in Xela is blocks from our apartment, so that is another event that is in our future.
Adios for now! Much love to everyone!
Sarah & Jodi
