To be a child...

Sidenote:  I was just about to cut and paste the text of this blog into blogger while listening to my ipod on shuffle and "Jesus to the Rescue" came on... I almost cried... I miss those WW kids!   But, it's a good segeway into this blog!  KIDS!

To be a child.  I think I’m learning how again this week. 

I talk like a child… or an adult that is always discussing things in the way of Taboo/Catch Phrase (such as shaving = erasing the hair on your face).  I like to think that I talk like a child.  It sounds more fun.  And, by talking like a child, it means that I learn like a child.  That’s why I made a lot of flashcards, with the help of Laura the kindergarten teacher, and with the help of my whole host family who joined me as we sat down at the kitchen table with children's textbooks from the 80s and pointed at pictures saying, "tu sabes?"  "tu quieres?" (you know? you want?).  Then, the mom and sister would cut the picture out and I would glue it to a flash card and the going deaf dad and sister would help me spell the word on the flashcard (which was challenging since I don't have a grip on the Spanish alphabet).   I think that learning in the ways of a child is one of the best things.  Ever.

I really like kids.  The YAV program has introduced the “Examen” to all of us, and Marcia took it to an additional level by having us read the book, Sleeping with Bread.  I decided to adapt it, merging it with Mara Abbott’s proposition of a Gratitude Journal (one of the best gifts my co-cake chef has ever given me), and every night, I write the things that brought me the most joy and made me feel closest to God as well as the things that did the opposite.  Every single day this week, my greatest joys have had to do with children.  I think I like kids.  I probably could have guessed that before I came to Guatemala, but now I know for sure.

Because I like them, this week has been one of the best weeks as I have lived with a fantastic new host family who have two great kids, ages 11 and 15, as well as a daycare/preschool with 24 of my new best friends, ages 2-7.  They are great kids!   Thursday, I had the opportunity to take pictures of all of them individually and I’m helping them make a birthday board (this was also a great excuse to get pictures of all my new best friends without being a creeper).  

Over the past week, I've been able to teach the kids some things... like Frisbee and Uno and silly hand clapping games with animal noises that I made up and attempted to teach with my limited vocabulary...

I couldn't figure out the word for horizontal, so our frisbee was thrown vertically...

But, the best thing that has happened from this past week is what they have taught me.That kids are different and all are the same.  I haven’t ever met a kid who is the same as another one.  I guess this is true for adults as well, but for some reason, we have the notion that we are obligated to hide our individuality. Kids haven’t caught onto that notion.  I really hope they never do.  Kids are different as individuals, but as a group, they definitely have a collective identity. 

For homework one day, I had an assignment to read and comprehend a page entitled, “Que Es Un Nino”.  (I am on my laptop and therefore don’t know how to type in Spanish on an English keyboard… my apologies!  If you know the shortcuts, tell me!)

Un nino tiene el apetito de un pirana; la energia de la bomba atomica; la curiosidad de un gato; los pulmones de un tenor y la imaginacion de Julio Verne; la timidez de una violeta; la audacia de una trampa de acero y el entusiasmo de un campeon olimpico. Les encata los dulces, las navajas, las sierras, la Navidad, los libros d laminas, el chico de los vecinos, el campo, el agua, los animals grandes; papa, los trenes.  Los domingos por la manana y los carros de bomberos.  Les desagrada las visitas formales, las normas, la escuela, las lecciones de musica, las corbatas, los peluqueros, las ninas, lo abrigos, los adultos y la hora de acorstarse. 

 

If you caught on to any of that, and you’ve ever met a kid, you’ll notice that there are some serious similarities in kids (case in point:  la energia de la bomba atomica… the energy of an atomic bomb).  I’m learning that it doesn’t matter if they speak Spanish, English, both, or neither.  It doesn’t matter if they’re sitting in the poop deck at Discovery Elementary, under a parachute at College Place Presbyterian Church, on a kick board at the Whitman College pool, on a cow in Touchet, or in an all concrete room that appears to once have been a garage with a leaky tin roof… collectively, they are the same.  They all want love, they all love attention, they all desire to show their individualities, they all show love in unique ways and receive it uniquely as well, they all like to play, they all are searching to learn, they’re all loved by God, and, at some level, they all act in the trust and faith that they know it is true. 

We can learn a lot from kids.  I sure did this week.  

The preschool/daycare

Eva reading with the kids... in Spanish!

History, Pain, and Scarves

On Thursday, we met an incredible group of women.  These women, along with others in their organization, make up the organization, "Corazon Scarves" They are a group of Mayan women who suffered in the Guatemalan Civil War that ended in 1996 (after 36 years of warfare). 

These women and their families were a part of the traditional Mayan communities that were tortured, persecuted, and/or destroyed during the war.  One book I read compared this war's attack on the Mayans to the World War II holocaust, to put it in perspective.

After eating lunch with them, we had the opportunity to hear their stories.  One woman told of how they had to live in the mountains in order to save their families and themselves.  She lived in the mountains with her family, hiding from the soldiers, for 2 years, some people she knows were there for 15. They lost family members and friends, and saw horrible things.  Compounded on that, after the war, the Mayan people experienced racism of great levels and the men were unable to attain job (due to the economy, this is often still the case).  Through occupational training and counseling, these women have begun to weave, sew, and make soap, etc to sustain their families and they support one another through this cooperative.  Their stories are incredibly powerful, and their work is gorgeous.

We had an opportunity to look through their work after talking with them and hearing from where they had come.  It was so sad, so recent, and such as depressing state of humanity... I hurt for these women, I didn't know how they functioned.

But then, there were their children.  I don't speak their language, I couldn't really understand their names, but I did understand their joy.  We played soccer, jumping games, the "cinco" game (high 5), and stuck our tongues out making faces.   Suddenly, I had these friends with whom I couldn't communicate verbally, however, we spoke through emotions, and emotions are universal.

I haven't lived their pain, but I believe in their joy.
I don't understand how these people can be resilient, but I believe we can all learn from the next generation's fresh start.
They don't always know where their next meal is coming from or how their children will be educated, but they do know that they can survive.  And, it's our job to help them.

Now, I just have to figure out how.

Dia de Indepencia!

So, I used to think that the 4th of July was cool.

Our celebrations pales in comparison to Guatemala's!

Independence Day is a two day operation here (longer if you live further from Antigua).  My observations of it were, in general, lots of community, lots of traditions, lots of costumes, and lots of loud explosions.  It was great!

The day began on the 14th (Dia de Indepencia is the 15th) with a parade of children walking down the streets of San Juan Del Obisbo (or any other small town, I suppose).  They were in fascinating costumes that I didn't really understand... all black with black cardboard "cars" over their heads, white wedding dresses, large animal costumes... they had it all.  After the parade, everyone went to the central park where it seemed that everyone for miles was gathered and they had music playing from a stereo in the back of a truck as well as from miscellaneous marching bands.

Then, the older schools and private schools (evidently, the president outlawed the public schools due to the economic crisis) ran a torch from their school to Antigua.  This included us.  So, we lit the torch and we went for a 5k run to Antigua.

Teachers came along side on motorcycles handing out water that we couldn't figure out how to open

That night, there was a big festival in the park in San Juan (and once again, I suppose that is true for many other communities).  It included lots of motivational speakers applauding Guatemala as a country as they simultaneously pointed out the injustices and encouraged those to be remedied, the national anthems (it seems like there are more than one here), school groups performing, and numerous other events.  This fiesta went way past my Guatemala bedtime (approx 9pm)... which is quite impressive.

This crepe paper balloon had a candle go inside it and floated in the air drifting in the wind in the atmosphere.  The only downside was the one attempt where the balloon burst into flames only 30 ft above everyone and little fireballs fell down very close to Andrew...  yet another thing probably not allowed in the US

Lots of people in the evening festivities...

In the morning of the actual holiday, they had a parade in Antigua (which I missed because of my trip to Pacaya) and numerous activities and lots of energy throughout the town of Antigua.  One of my favorite things was the mime... he was performing in the middle of the street, and within no time, there were loads of people surrounding him and blocking the street... the best part: no one cared!   I love the community feeling around here...

LAVA ROASTING!

So... if you just read my previous post, you may wonder, "why, katharine, did you purchase marshmellows in a bag the size of a small child?"  Well, for all you inquisitive friends of mine, let me tell you! 

On Independence Day (explanation coming in the next post), Tina, Eva, Tina's boyfriend Chris, and I celebrated by going on a trip to Pacaya, one of the 3 active volcanoes in Guatemala that blew in May. 

The hike up was really fun - we were a part of a group of about 16 (all of whom fit in a tourist van not meant for that many people, but that just gave me more points on the "count how many things you would get arrested for in the US" game).  Out of the 16 of us, we had 6 or 7 countries represented.  We got to know a guy from the US, a girl from Australia, and another guy from Israel decently well - it's fun to talk to people from all around the world and who have been all around the world.  Their lives and stories are fascinating. 

The hike was phenomenal - we had gorgeous views including seeing the mountain we live on (Volcano Agua) and it's friendly neighbor who is active (Volcano Fuego).  I even got a picture with Fuego letting off steam.

 Our guide was fascinating.  On our hike back down, I got to talk to him a fair amount about the volcano explosion.  As you can tell from the picture at the top, the volcano is still very much active... it's smoking all the time!  The man lives just down the valley from the Volcano and was talking about the destruction the volcano caused - his pueblo wasn't hit the worse and they lost 7 people and 37 horses.  He also spoke to the psychological trauma that the kids experienced.  When we were meeting people at CEDEPCA (the organization Marcia works for), one of the social workers was showing us the photos that kids had drawn when they were asked to remember the volcano.  The pictures drawn in watercolor of a mountain exploding, people running, and houses burning were foremost in my mind as this man talked about how his family of twin 5 year old boys and a 2 year old girl have been living in a school as they save up money to repair their house.  FEMA, home owners insurance, and the red cross dropping off doughnuts to displaced people doesn't exist here.  The picture on the left is of his town...

When we got to the top of the volcano, I got a cross-cultural sugar experience.  We walked on a trail through the lava (probably another point in the "things you'd get arrested for in the US" game) to a place where it was really, really hot.  That place is here:

Inside this hole, if you and the sun were at agreeable angles, you could see the red lava.  That stuff is really warm!

But, warmth leads to excellent heat for marshmellow cooking, and cooking we did!

Due to my excess of marshmellows and chocosittas (read former post), I began sharing with everyone up there.  After some strange looks, we had successfully introduced people from Australia, Denmark, France, Chile, Israel (including three Israeli girls who were deaf), and Mexico to the joy of S'mores.  Evidently, S'mores are not a universal delicacy, however, after Wednesday, we're one step closer!

All in a day's shopping!

These items comprised my purchases of the day on Tuesday. 

It is an amazing collection of items, and with explanation, they are rather representative of my time here in Guatemala.

The yellow bottle is conditioner... I think.  It is huge, it smells good, is creamyish, and was next to Shampoo but doesn't say shampoo.  Therefore, our process of elimination has declared that it is conditioner.  I still have hair after using it a few times, so it can't be that bad.  Additionally, this bottle is HUGE and it only cost Q8 (approx $1).  I won't have to buy conditioner all year!

Then, there's the marshmellows.  Like the conditioner, they are HUGE (the size of a small fist) and they come in a 1kg bag (read: approx 150 marshmellows in a bag the size of an infant)

After the marshmellows, you need to have graham crackers and chocolate, right?  Well, when you're purchasing these for a hike, it's necessary that they are compact.  That's why you buy chocosittas... graham crackers and chocolate TOGETHER!  PERFECT!   Except, the chocosittas are about 1/3 the size of the marshmellows, so the proportions are a bit off... and they come in groups of 3... strange...

Finally, there are my favorite things.  I can't remember, let alone spell, the name of these amazing things, so I call them "spikey fruits" and that name is fitting.  They're a bit of work to eat, but the eyeballish fruit is to die for.

The beauty of nights

There are some nights that would be criminal to not share the beauty...  

Here's the sight from Parque Central in San Juan after the bus last night.

And... there's the fire poking through the window...

Mercado in San Juan

Sunday was a great day.  I woke up early... 5:30... for Spanish Catholic Mass.  My host family and I got in the green 1970s car and drove to church.  The mom insisted that I sat in the front and I couldn't figure out why.   It was later, coming back home, that I realized that they were telling me I had to sit in the front because I'm "muy alta".... HA HA HA!  I'm not tall!   But, I guess I am taller than my host brothers (24, 21) and host parents.  What a weird thought...

Anyways, after church, we returned to the casa and I got ready for church #2... the English Episcopal church!  It was a great service... both talked about (evidently everyone in the Christian world is on the same liturgy) the parables of the lost coins, sheep, and prodigal son.  They have gotten me thinking alot... when those thoughts are more processed (aka have grammatical structure that is understandable), I'll share.  Until then... I'll continue with my story!

When we returned from church, we were treated with a market in San Juan Del Obisbo.  It was gorgeous!  And so much fun!   I loved the community feel and the great food!    Here are some pictures from the market...

The market tents... and let me point out to you the bells at the church... the nuns ring them BY HAND!

A girl playing hopscotch on the market squares

Two brothers were playing with homemade kites

A family sitting at the square observing the market

El Pilar

Last Saturday, we saw nature at it's finest.  We went to El Pilar, a finca outside Antigua (I think a finca is a farm type thing... but I'll confirm that as I learn more) and took a gorgeous hike up this mountain.  This place was a little paradise.  Not only did it have a swimming pool (guess who's going to go back there!!!), but it also has bird watching, a fancy hotel, an industrial park, and gorgeous houses and picnic tables on top.  Walking through, Juli said, "how could someone not believe there is a God when they see this?"  It was that gorgeous.

Pictures can't do nature justice, but I'll try!

Even if you don't like spiders, you have to be impressed by their creation

The landslides had taken out some of the stairs (there were a lot of stairs...) so it sometimes took some creativity to get up the trail

Some men were fixing them... look at the pretty new stairs!

Unfortunately, the stairs led to nowhere so we had to scurry up a muddy hill until the friendly old man came and offered us a ladder.  He was really, really nice!

The coolest root system EVER.  It didn't even fit in my lens!

And then, at the base of the roots, there's a cool cross.

Did I mention that there was a water tank along the trail that had a plaque thanking God for their water?  That doesn't happen too much in the US...

And then... at the top, there was the coolest hippie van... with an amazing hippie inside.  He was very nice and had a great view from his house

 

 

The view!

I want to live down this road...

What a gorgeous country!