Translated: Pues (or some slightly affirmative English word), Katharine.... This is the life.
This was said to me by the 84 year-old abuelo as we sat on top of the mountain in his forest overlooking the cornfields and entire municipality of Cantel and talking about the Catholic, Evangelical, and Mayan church relationships and history throughout the last 500 years. He's a walking almanac. He can tell you how the corn is growing, that it needs fertilizer in exactly 15 days, that I'm wrong... it's not going to rain now, it will rain at night (as the lightening is beginning at 9pm, he's right), that his daughter was born at 1am 48 years ago and exactly where he was at that time, and so much more.
This is my seventh house in Guatemala; fourth in Xela. Two of the six moves were planned in this yearlong program... the other four weren't planned by the program, but I'm realizing that they were planned, just not by Marcia, me, nor PC(USA). If this house were to have been my first through sixth, I wouldn't appreciate all that I have nor would I have experienced all that I have and made the friends/playmates that I now have at three different locations in Quetzaltenango (yay for bicycle adventures, futbol in the streets, and so much more!). I've definitely had some points throughout this year where I've questioned God's logic and called him loco, crazy, and cadocadopa (because saying, "you're crazy" in Spanish, English, and Japanese makes me feel like I might be heard), and I don't take away the fact that I still think he's a bit crazy, but I like crazy. At least when it comes from the Creator who knows all.
All that to say, I'm in a new location and pues, este es la vida.
Let me tell you a bit about my locale. My camera is currently hiking in my place from Xela to Lake Atitlan so you're going to have to wait for pictures. But, words are descriptive too.
Where am I? I'm living in Cantel - a Municipality outside of Xela. It consists of 9 villages - I live in Pueblo... the heart of Cantel. Tina lives in Estancia... also in Cantel but on the mountain on the other side of the highway (nope.... don't want to walk over there!). My family is indigenous so I'm learning/observing the art of woodburning stoves in the kitchen, the only running water being in one corner of the patio where the pila and scarcely blockaded toilet live (and shower! with hot water when we have water!), and life where I get to stargaze as I walk from my room to the corner of the house that has water! My room is actually the passageway to the outdoors (the other door is in the internet cafe (I HAVE INTERNET!)) so there are the occasional visitors headed out to "do their business" whether it being the dog to relieve himself, the grandpa to play his tuba, or random relatives coming as we play the constant game of sharing water based upon who has it at the time. It's a bit strange and random, but for the next three months, it will be a-okay.
The family that I live with consists of the 84 year-old grandpa, 77 year-old grandma, Elly (my host mom), and her son who is in his young 20s. Her daughter and her husband come by quite a lot as well and they're really fun too. Grandpa, as mentioned above, is great. Every meal is story time with Grandpa (which is usually me, grandma, and him because the son has school and Elly is working in the cafe) and I often hear the same stories which has really helped my Spanish improve. His passions are his fields and playing the Tuba which he seems to do in random festivals at least three times a week. Grandma stays in the house pretty much 100% of the time and takes care of the house and cooks a lot. She's not quite as mobile as the abuelo (okay, not even close) but she definitely has that kitchen/cooking stuff down to an art. She's teaching me a little and is learning that I'm really bad a peeling carrots with a giant knife. Both of their first languages are k'itché and sometimes they forget that, unlike the rest of the family, I can't understand it (no one else speaks, but there's this gorgeous flow of the abuelos speaking in k'itché and family members responding in Spanish; I don't even think they notice!). But overall, we get along great. It's been such a gift to have these gorgeous, wise people in my life. I never lived close to my grandparents and my energy level is such that I naturally gravitate toward the wee ones so this is my first time having a long, intensive relationship with this generation. It's great.
The rest of my family is awesome too. Elly is an incredible, loving, and strong lady who loves her family, her dog, and possibly above all, her cat (who just gave birth!). She's Marcia's favorite childcarer and has done the same for me and my angry stomach (that's a story in itself that will be saved for face to face conversations so the entire world doesn't think I'm crazy). I'm so lucky to have her! Her kids are also great and have included me in my muteness to join them in a lot of their friendship activities. I've learned a lot about what I want in my life in terms of community.
So... all in all... Pues, este es la vida. And pues, we've gotta love it and learn and see the blessings!
Now, I'm going to go sprint through the rain to brush my teeth and go to bed... bummer, the abuelo was correct!
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