Firsts…

Sorry I haven’t written in a while.  In the past couple of weeks Thomas and I went back to Lake Atitlan and visited the large artisan market in Chichicastenango.  There hasn’t been too much to report about those excursions.  After that, Thomas and I were busy planning a hybrid focus-group/information session for the parents in Paquip. 

Jill's Students

A group hug on the last day

One of the fathers weaving fabric used for traditional skirts

On the drive to Paquip
-we literally drove through the clouds almost every morning

The home of one of our families-the large stone square on the right is their stove

For those of you who don’t know, Thomas and I have been spending our week days in a small rural town outside of Tecpan.  Thomas has been spending his days visiting 5 different families on a regular basis and I have been teaching English, observing, and helping in the Kindergarten class (or the equivalent) in Paquip.  I also had the wonderful opportunity to accompany Thomas on many of his visits with the families (due to school being unexpectedly closed), and I got to know a couple of families fairly well.  All that I have learned and seen is too great to write in a blog, but the experiences I have had in this town will be sure to stay with me for the rest of my life. I will miss my students and the families I have come to know greatly.  

On a lighter note, I have decided to compile a list of firsts-things that I have seen or experienced while on this trip.  I hope you enjoy!

FIRST TIME…

1.     being serenaded by a taxi driver

2.     seeing a live hummingbird

3.     climbing through a cave

4.     climbing a volcano

5.     riding in a tuk-tuk (a 3 wheeled motorcycle that is covered with a heavy canvas to make a car)

6.     riding a running horse

7.     getting a back massage (no offense Thomas)

8.     a taxi driver has requested that we all pray together for protection from buses before beginning our journey… don’t worry we made it there and back safely

9.     witnessing a stray dog eating a diaper (most disgusting thing ever)

10. being offered directions with a straight face that include “you can turn left down this street but just go slowly for a little while because you'll be going against traffic for a few blocks since this street is one way.”

11. in a police station (no we didn’t get in trouble!  Unfortunately, Thomas was pick-pocketed in the Tecpan market, and we had to file a police report.  Hopefully this will be my last time in a police station).

Today we left Tecpan permanently for this trip.  We traveled back to where we started our journey, Antigua, whose beauty and climate I can appreciate even more having been in Paquip and Tecpan for so long.  Tomorrow we will be traveling to the capital and then spend a short vacation on the Caribbean coast before our flight home.  I’m very excited for this leg of our trip as it is sure to bring some new experiences, and it marks the beginning of the end of our time in Guatemala-I’m very excited to be back with my family in the States!