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| The all-powerful microbus |
About three weeks ago, I was informed that we were going to go on a 5 day family vacation to the beach. What fun! There were people with a microbus who were going and there was room for us. As the time for the beach vacation approached, the trip went from 5 days to 4 to 3 to 2 or 3 to, decided on the day we were going to leave, 1.
So, we get up at 4:30 and get in the bus at 5. Based on my former information, I assume that we're going to go to one of my host dad's coworker's houses and get in their bus (ours is not always in a great state of repair), so I stay awake, waiting to stop. I eventually drift into dreamland and reawake to our bus sliding backwards down a dirt hill. We're surrounded by corn and clearly not in the city anymore. As we come to a stop on a random driveway thing, my host mom exclaims, "Jairo, there's 10 people!" After the initial 10 came down the hill, 6 more appeared, and we strapped all their things on top of the van and began on our way. As we were getting ready, I crawl up to the front bench where our whole family has squeezed into (because Microbusses have seats for 13 people comfortably sitting... 22 is a bit intimate) and I asked my host mom who these people are. "The grandparents of Jairo's brother," she replies. Well, that explains why the 92 and 97 year old (pictured on right) are on the bus, but I still have questions about the rest of them. As it turns out, my host family did too... we only knew one person before all this started and she is the 15 year old daughter who was left when my dad's brother went to the states 10 years ago! So, during the 4 hour trip there, we got to know the 92 year old woman who has had 14 kids and some of her family, including the 2 year old who was a bit vocal (as were my 4 and 7 year old sisters... given, they were sitting on our laps).
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| Boat taxi dock |
Anyways, we finally get to the house of the relatives who we are going to visit, and it turns out that we don't know them either. But they have some really cool hammocks, so it's all okay. We have breakfast with them, and then all 25 of us (we traded out the grandparents for 5 locals) hop in this boat taxi and take a tour of the area post hurricane Stan. The storm was 5 years ago, but definitely left an impact... it was really crazy and sad to see so many destroyed houses that are still in disrepair yet still being occupied because people have no other choice.
After our boat taxi, we went to the beach. We drove the bus all the way on the beach (by now, my expectations of this vehicle have been far surpassed), and then walk out. It is COVERED in trash, so I get my frisbee and Jairo and I play catch while we debate if we want to swim or not. My decision was sealed when a dead dog carcass washed up on shore. We were all watching it, and then another dog came up and started eating it. I was outta there. I've come to be able to handle a lot of stuff that is considered gross in the States - men peeing on busses, strange food, meat hanging on the side of the streets... but canine cannibals are beyond my comfort level. So, we all jumped back in the bus and I pretended to be the Ayudante as we headed back home (aka hanging out the bus (because there wasn't room for me) and yelling "allay allay allay!"... they thought it was hilarious).
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| Watching the sea is always captivating |
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| So is sand. |
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| This man has his own business of walking around and taking pictures of people with this alligator and then selling them a polaroid. As one who grew up with this toy being a staple of my childhood, I found it to be completely hilarious and sentimental... |
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| Coconut juice and coconut milk... a delicacy |
After lunch and a really thought provoking conversation with a guy who just got back after being deported from the States, all 22 of us, ages 2-97, jumped back in our van, this time with a cooler of fish and 5 branches of coconuts. We headed back to the corn, slid down the hill again, and let off all our new friends.
I still have a lot of questions about the day, but life in Guatemala, as I mentioned earlier, is a lot more about questions than it is about answers. I'm quite satisfied with the fun memories :)
So, we get up at 4:30 and get in the bus at 5. Based on my former information, I assume that we're going to go to one of my host dad's coworker's houses and get in their bus (ours is not always in a great state of repair), so I stay awake, waiting to stop. I eventually drift into dreamland and reawake to our bus sliding backwards down a dirt hill. We're surrounded by corn and clearly not in the city anymore. As we come to a stop on a random driveway thing, my host mom exclaims, "Jairo, there's 10 people!" After the initial 10 came down the hill, 6 more appeared, and we strapped all their things on top of the van and began on our way. As we were getting ready, I crawl up to the front bench where our whole family has squeezed into (because Microbusses have seats for 13 people comfortably sitting... 22 is a bit intimate) and I asked my host mom who these people are. "The grandparents of Jairo's brother," she replies. Well, that explains why the 92 and 97 year old (pictured on right) are on the bus, but I still have questions about the rest of them. As it turns out, my host family did too... we only knew one person before all this started and she is the 15 year old daughter who was left when my dad's brother went to the states 10 years ago! So, during the 4 hour trip there, we got to know the 92 year old woman who has had 14 kids and some of her family, including the 2 year old who was a bit vocal (as were my 4 and 7 year old sisters... given, they were sitting on our laps).
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