School has started for me. Monday was my first day of classes. Classes at CSA are a lot different than any kind of school situation I have ever been in. Everything is one on one. When I first got to the school I took a test to evaluate my learning style. This was then matched to an available teacher. I love my teacher! Her name is Oliga, basically Olga. Breakfast with the family is at 7:00. I get to school around 7:45ish, sometimes sooner. That gives me time to talk with my new friends. Also, the school gives us free coffee, tea, and water. I love that part. At 8:00 I head upstairs to mine and Oliga's table. The school is set around a central courtyard. Basically it is just columns and and open walls facing out to the courtyard. It's really beautiful. All of the students and teachers have tables around the courtyard, there are two stories to the school. Each table has a white board. At first I thought that would be really distracting but it actually really helps to have the constant sound of Spanish around you. Class starts out with a half hour/45 minutes of talking with Oliga. We talk about my afternoon the day before, upcoming plans, family, friends, etc. The hardest part of the conversation is that I have to ask her some questions. So far I have no idea what to ask her. It's nice because Oliga is 28. Most of the other teachers are a lot older. I makes the conversation a little bit easier. Also, we have a very similar sense of humor. We are both sort of quirky, sarcastic. Anyhow, after conversation we review verbs until 10:00. At 10:00 we get a half hour break. So far I love that break. It gives all of us time to go to the bathroom, get more tea or coffee and talk. It is so amazing to talk to the other students here. Everyone here is here for a really good reason. There are future missionaries, teachers, activists, and people who know they want to do big things, but aren't quite sure what. People here have so much purpose. It is a reminder for me everyday that God is good and there are good people in the world.
All of the students are put into different levels based on a test they take before they start classes. The levels are A, the beginner, through G, the most advanced. I tested into level C. So far it has been a really good fit for me. It's a challenge but not undoable. I really won't know if it is a fit until the end of this week into next week. Right now Oliga is taking me through the verbs from level B as a good base before I go into more advanced things in level C. It really is a challenge. I'm definately not slacking off down here. There is lots and lots of memorizing, writing, and I'm really not used to doing that anymore. I hope that I'll get better at it as I go. The memorizing is especially hard. I was never all that good at memory work or spanish word lists in high school. Here I'm just going to have to get good at it and fast.
After break we do a mix of conversation, phrases, vocabulary, and verbs. The last hour and a half flies by. I'm done at noon. I usually come home after school and relax for a half hour or so. Before lunch at 2:00 I go to the internet cafe, blog, check e-mail, and all that good stuff. If I need to I go to the market, supermarket, or some other store I do that as well. After lunch I usually hang out with Carlos, Bryan, Kristen, Sarah, or sometimes Pablo. Bryan and I have been doing a lot of pintando lately. We color. The old Peeps coloring book is coming in handy. Pablo and I usually talk about books or our futures, family, things like that. Carlos and I talk about all kinds of things. Sometime in there I start my homework.
So far that is how my week days have been. More pictures should be up soon. I should have some of the house in my next batch.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
New Photos
Just to let you know, the slideshow on the right side of the screen now has photos taken on this trip, not from my July trip. I know they are kind of tiny. If you want to see them larger, click on the photo and it will open them in a larger slide show. The larger slide show also has captions.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Problem...
Most of you probably don't know but I sort of like shoes! (That was sarcasm) I loooooooove shoes. However, I have size 10/11 feet. This size doesn't exist in Guatemala. That size is a 41/42, really big. This place is the perfect place to buy shoes. Guatemala has a fairly large market for shoes. They don't mass produce shoes as much as we do in the USA, so the chances are if you buy a pair, you will be the only one who has them. The problem is everytime I walk into a store and ask for size 42 shoes, it is immediately followed with laughter. I actually really do need a pair of tennis shoes for jogging so I went out looking for them today. I'm about ready to cut my toes off. I suppose that in hind sight, this is probably a good sort of problem. It means I won't be able to add any more shoes to my collection. Muy triste. :-(
My other adventure of the day was going to church. One of the other students found some kind of Protestant something church. So a bunch of us decided to check it out. It was a really different experience. It is called Iglesia del Camino, church of the road. It was all very contemporary. One of the really neat parts about it was that everything was said or sung in both Spanish and English. The sound of two languages being sung at the same time is really beautiful. It is impossible to describe. You just have to hear it. The service was very simple. It opened with 4 or 5 praise songs, the kids left, and the pastor had a message type thing. Basically he told a Max Lucado story. So, Pastor Davisson says that I tend to over-analyze biblical things so I did my best to recognize the differences but look for the positives. Their really wasn't any Bible readings. The songs were definately full of the love of God and praise for salvation through Jesus. I think all that praise is going to be really good for me. I've spent so much time questioning God, praise is going to be different. Sometimes it felt like they were putting on a little bit of the show. One of the singers did this weird whispering thing in between every song. That really bothered me, it was really distracting. Overall, there wasn't a lot of substance, but the singing and praising was really uplifting and I think was probably really good for me.
Other than that, not much to report. It's been raining all day today, so Kristen and Sarah, the other two girls in the house, and I are just hanging out in the house. Everything is wet and soggy.
Oh, I have to mention this. This morning on the way to church in our alley, oh we have an alley that goes from the main street down to our house. There are a few houses along it. At night there are often guys out their urinating. This is sort of okay because there is a drainage ditch out there and that is generally where they go. I'm just careful to avoid the puddles. Anyhow, we were walking down the alley and a man was out their taking a dump, pants down and everything. The realization of what was actually happening was reallyy startling. Sometimes this trip can feel like a bit of a vacation. I live with a fairly wealthy family and I am surrounded by beautiful mountains and warm weather. It's things like seeing a homeless man in the alley in the middle of the day with his pants down that truly reminds me of the reality of life down here.
So now I am going to sign out and relax. Buenos dias!
My other adventure of the day was going to church. One of the other students found some kind of Protestant something church. So a bunch of us decided to check it out. It was a really different experience. It is called Iglesia del Camino, church of the road. It was all very contemporary. One of the really neat parts about it was that everything was said or sung in both Spanish and English. The sound of two languages being sung at the same time is really beautiful. It is impossible to describe. You just have to hear it. The service was very simple. It opened with 4 or 5 praise songs, the kids left, and the pastor had a message type thing. Basically he told a Max Lucado story. So, Pastor Davisson says that I tend to over-analyze biblical things so I did my best to recognize the differences but look for the positives. Their really wasn't any Bible readings. The songs were definately full of the love of God and praise for salvation through Jesus. I think all that praise is going to be really good for me. I've spent so much time questioning God, praise is going to be different. Sometimes it felt like they were putting on a little bit of the show. One of the singers did this weird whispering thing in between every song. That really bothered me, it was really distracting. Overall, there wasn't a lot of substance, but the singing and praising was really uplifting and I think was probably really good for me.
Other than that, not much to report. It's been raining all day today, so Kristen and Sarah, the other two girls in the house, and I are just hanging out in the house. Everything is wet and soggy.
Oh, I have to mention this. This morning on the way to church in our alley, oh we have an alley that goes from the main street down to our house. There are a few houses along it. At night there are often guys out their urinating. This is sort of okay because there is a drainage ditch out there and that is generally where they go. I'm just careful to avoid the puddles. Anyhow, we were walking down the alley and a man was out their taking a dump, pants down and everything. The realization of what was actually happening was reallyy startling. Sometimes this trip can feel like a bit of a vacation. I live with a fairly wealthy family and I am surrounded by beautiful mountains and warm weather. It's things like seeing a homeless man in the alley in the middle of the day with his pants down that truly reminds me of the reality of life down here.
So now I am going to sign out and relax. Buenos dias!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Bryan
I think it is important to tell about all the interesting people that I live with. Bryan is the youngest sibling in the Lopez family. He is seven years old. Adita, his mom, calls him una sorpresa, a surprise. His next oldest brother is 20.
Bryan has absolutely non stop energy. He literally bounces off the wall. Not kidding on that one, Bryan runs into everything. It is a good thing his dad is a doctor. However, Bryan is after my own heart. He plays piano, loves soccer, he talks non stop, and he loves to read. Yesterday we spent an hour running up and down the stairs throwing a giant ball into their basketball hoop. This was actually really fun because we had to throw it over the roses and the laundry that was hanging off the balcony. Everytime we got a basket Bryan ran around telling every single person in the house about it.
It is fun to have a little brother, un herrmanito. He keeps me on my toes.
Today I am still just hanging out and relaxing. I have my morning coffee and I am going to go to the park and people watch, oh and I need to run to the supermarket for a few things. The supermarked is a hit or miss kind of place. You never really know if they are going to have what you need that day. It is still fun to walk around and see what they do have. After the store I will probably read, maybe draw, photo walk, I have no idea. On the weekends, Antigua turns into one giant fiesta. Tonight the girls and I might go out dancing or something fun.
It is a beautiful day here. I hope that all of you are well and having as good of weather as I am.
All my love.
Bryan has absolutely non stop energy. He literally bounces off the wall. Not kidding on that one, Bryan runs into everything. It is a good thing his dad is a doctor. However, Bryan is after my own heart. He plays piano, loves soccer, he talks non stop, and he loves to read. Yesterday we spent an hour running up and down the stairs throwing a giant ball into their basketball hoop. This was actually really fun because we had to throw it over the roses and the laundry that was hanging off the balcony. Everytime we got a basket Bryan ran around telling every single person in the house about it.
It is fun to have a little brother, un herrmanito. He keeps me on my toes.
Today I am still just hanging out and relaxing. I have my morning coffee and I am going to go to the park and people watch, oh and I need to run to the supermarket for a few things. The supermarked is a hit or miss kind of place. You never really know if they are going to have what you need that day. It is still fun to walk around and see what they do have. After the store I will probably read, maybe draw, photo walk, I have no idea. On the weekends, Antigua turns into one giant fiesta. Tonight the girls and I might go out dancing or something fun.
It is a beautiful day here. I hope that all of you are well and having as good of weather as I am.
All my love.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Shrimp and Chicken
My adventure has finally begun. It is hard to believe that after a month of frantic planning I am here.
Yesterday my day was very long. In the morning my mom drove me to OHare. I checked in, said bye to my mom and went through security. My first flight was from Chicago to Houston. I said next to a man who was playing Sims 2 the entire flight and looked like he was going to hit me every time I shifted in my seat, must have been a good game. The plane arrived in Houston about 15 minutes early which was not any help at all because I already had a five and a half hour layover there. I shopped, went to this ridiculously expensive but tasty fish restaurant in the airport. I really do not know why that was where I went but the place was nice and did not look like an airport so that was nice. I had shrimp and chicken! Silly, but worth it. After the layover I flew to Guatemala and got there at 9:00.
The minute I got out of the airport I started seeing familiar things. The man who carried my bags was the same guy who had played the clapping game with us in July. My driver took us down the same streets we went down and I saw all the huge American restaurants. No lie, three story Taco Bell. Yuck. My drivers name was Eric. He was really nice and he was good at filling all the awkward silences. Also I did not fall asleep on him like I did the driver we had in July. Driving into Antigua was sort of like coming home. Things are familiar here. This place is sort of like Brigadoon. It seems frozen in time. I am staying with Carlos and his family in their other house. In July I stayed with Carlos at his own house but he is refurbishing that house right now. He knew that a student was coming but he had no idea it was me. It was so fun to see his surprise when he opened the door. That definately felt like a homecoming. After greeting me he said, "Since it is you I need to give you the better room!" I definately did not argue with that. This house is beautiful. Ornate tiles cover the floors and walls. There are beautiful carved wood windows with frosted glass. All of the doors face out to a garden courtyard. It always feels like you are outside. One of my favorite parts is that in the bathroom the plunger we gave Carlos and Andrea is right next to the toilet. Carlos made sure that I saw it even before I saw my room. When he showed it to me he goes, "We do not use it, we have a different one, this is part of our decoration." I definately traded up for a really amazing room. Queen sized bed with an armoir and a dresser. There is also a desk, TV, and stereo. One of my favorite parts is that they have a really nice cat who I have already made friends with. Nobody tell Orla.
Today I am just walking around finding my favorite shops and places. I went to the infamous ATM, I am at my favorite internet cafe, and I have been mawing down on pan dulce since 7:00. Classes do not start until Monday so I have this weekend to settle in and have some fun.
Everything about this trip feels so perfect and so right. I am so comfortable here. While right now I do not really know many people and that makes it a little lonely I still have this sense of calm mixed with excitement.
Please send me e mails, leave comments, and facebook. me. I love all of you.
Yesterday my day was very long. In the morning my mom drove me to OHare. I checked in, said bye to my mom and went through security. My first flight was from Chicago to Houston. I said next to a man who was playing Sims 2 the entire flight and looked like he was going to hit me every time I shifted in my seat, must have been a good game. The plane arrived in Houston about 15 minutes early which was not any help at all because I already had a five and a half hour layover there. I shopped, went to this ridiculously expensive but tasty fish restaurant in the airport. I really do not know why that was where I went but the place was nice and did not look like an airport so that was nice. I had shrimp and chicken! Silly, but worth it. After the layover I flew to Guatemala and got there at 9:00.
The minute I got out of the airport I started seeing familiar things. The man who carried my bags was the same guy who had played the clapping game with us in July. My driver took us down the same streets we went down and I saw all the huge American restaurants. No lie, three story Taco Bell. Yuck. My drivers name was Eric. He was really nice and he was good at filling all the awkward silences. Also I did not fall asleep on him like I did the driver we had in July. Driving into Antigua was sort of like coming home. Things are familiar here. This place is sort of like Brigadoon. It seems frozen in time. I am staying with Carlos and his family in their other house. In July I stayed with Carlos at his own house but he is refurbishing that house right now. He knew that a student was coming but he had no idea it was me. It was so fun to see his surprise when he opened the door. That definately felt like a homecoming. After greeting me he said, "Since it is you I need to give you the better room!" I definately did not argue with that. This house is beautiful. Ornate tiles cover the floors and walls. There are beautiful carved wood windows with frosted glass. All of the doors face out to a garden courtyard. It always feels like you are outside. One of my favorite parts is that in the bathroom the plunger we gave Carlos and Andrea is right next to the toilet. Carlos made sure that I saw it even before I saw my room. When he showed it to me he goes, "We do not use it, we have a different one, this is part of our decoration." I definately traded up for a really amazing room. Queen sized bed with an armoir and a dresser. There is also a desk, TV, and stereo. One of my favorite parts is that they have a really nice cat who I have already made friends with. Nobody tell Orla.
Today I am just walking around finding my favorite shops and places. I went to the infamous ATM, I am at my favorite internet cafe, and I have been mawing down on pan dulce since 7:00. Classes do not start until Monday so I have this weekend to settle in and have some fun.
Everything about this trip feels so perfect and so right. I am so comfortable here. While right now I do not really know many people and that makes it a little lonely I still have this sense of calm mixed with excitement.
Please send me e mails, leave comments, and facebook. me. I love all of you.
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