Earthquakes and Parties

Yesterday I had a new experience. We had an earthquake. I was sleeping in the afternoon before lunch and then my bed started shaking. At first I thought I was still dreaming but it just kept going so I got up and went outside of my room. Pablo comes running over and tells me we have to go out into the courtyard. It was a very weird feeling. It was sort of like trying to stand still in a bouncy castle. To be honest, I thought it was fun. However, apparently it was rather large and pretty serious. Somebody told me the number on the scale but I forgot what it was. I guess earthquakes are fairly common after the rainy season. I honestly did not know they had them in Guate, but now I know.

Other than that, things are pretty laid back for the weekend. Tomorrow is my birthday. The family was going to throw a party but Adita´s mom is really sick. The family is leaving early in the morning to go see her. They are all really worried and upset. I really hope everything is okay. When they told me about postponing the party they were so incredibly sweet about it. Adita basically said that they were so sorry and she felt as if she had broken a promise to me. She told me that if I wanted to have it on the same day, they would stay and we would have it. Obviously I told them they should go. They are still going to give me the party, but it has just been moved to Monday. I told them they didn´t need to worry about it at all but they just dismissed that idea completely.

My group of friends are in Coban for the weekend so it is going to be a quiet birthday, which I am actually kind of excited about. All of the parties that people want to give me have been moved to next week so it is not as if I do not get to share it with friends. Tomorrow morning I am going to sleep in. Then I am going to help Pati, the maid (although I hate using the word maid, she is really more of a friend) clean the house. Normally the family and she does it on Saturday but since they will be gone, she would have to do it all by herself and it is a big house. I usually help out anyways so tomorrow she and I are going to clean together. Sarah and Kristen are gone for the weekend so it is just me and the family. Saturday afternoon I am planning to go to the ruins of this monastery in town. Someone, I don´t know who offhand has created all of these flower gardens in and around the ruins. It is apparently really beautiful. I am excited to go. After that I am not sure, but I am sure something will come up. I did get my first birthday present today. Yesterday in our conversation time my teacher asked me what my favorite color was, and I said that it was red. Then I asked what her favorites are and she said, brown and pink. I didn´t think anything of it until this morning there was this really pretty red bag on my chair. It was a really nice surprise.

Of course I miss my family and friends. It really hit me today that I was going to be away from my family for my birthday for the first time. I don´t really know how I feel about it, definately a little lonely. I suppose it had to happen sometime. Another year, new adventures.

Love,

Anna