Patrizia y Gritta

Patrizia and Gritta are two women from Germany that I met at school in Quetzaltenango (Xela). They studied Spanish for a month preceding their internship at a day care center near Antigua. Both are studying to become social workers in Germany and have to spend 18 weeks volunteering as part of their program.

I became quick friends with Patrizia and Gritta and they took very good care of me once I became sick. They checked on me several times a day and Gritta even lent me her laptop so I could listen to music and watch movies in my room. And... they let me follow them to Antigua...

After the shuttle dropped us off at our separate destinations, (they were staying at a volunteer house where they tried to find space for me to stay but it was full, and I was staying at the Black Cat hostel) I felt lost and alone. I didn't have a phone so was wandering around trying to find a phone card when I heard my name being shouted across the grocery store. I ran into Patrizia's arms crying as it was so nice to see someone I knew even though I'd only been alone for about an hour. I ended up going back to their house where we cooked and hung out for awhile and they tried to convince me to stay after I told them of my decision to return home.

We went to the artisans market the next day so I could buy some souvenirs before I left and they trained me in the fine art of bartering. Gritta perfected this art when she was in Thailand and she is quite good at it. I've always been nervous to do it but I finally did some real bartering on my own however, I always got a better price when Gritta and I could play off each other. It was an amusing game to play.

This is just a shout out to them as I am so thankful for having made their acquaintance. They are two wonderful and caring women! We talked about visiting each other in our respective countries... they have never been to the States and I've never been to Germany... I hope they do come and visit.

Muchas gracias Patrizia y Gritta por todo!

System Failure...Mission Aborted (or simply relocated?)

Due to the inability to fix a dysfunctional system, my original mission was aborted after 3 weeks and a new mission has been undertaken in a new location. I am now living with my sister in East Wenatchee Washington and am currently formulating a plan of action.

Yes, I am disappointed. How could I not be? I've looked into going back to Guatemala for a month, but finances are prohibitive. And I really don’t want to get a job to save more money. I worked hard enough over the past year to take this much time off and damn it… I’m going to take the time off! I’ll definitely return to Guate in the future.

Plan/Goals:

1. Learn Spanish: Granted it won't be as easy to learn here, even with a large Spanish speaking community, but I will continue to study on my own and take a class at the local college in the winter quarter. I thought there would be more opportunities to take classes here, but I was mistaken.

2. Volunteer: I’m trying to find an opportunity at a local social service organization.

3. Get into Shape: While working 6-7 days a week over the past year, I had no time or energy to do anything physical…dance, hike, run, swim…all things that I miss. Wenatchee is conducive to many outdoor activities. I’ve already gone on two hikes with my sister, we’ve rollerbladed next to the Columbia River, and I’ve gone on a bike ride. I think I’m going to join a gym so I’ll have some more options once it starts snowing. Or maybe pick up some used cross country skis???

4. Visit Friends: I’m hoping to make a trip to Oregon and maybe to California.

I will continue to keep this blog… I’m still distant from my NY home, distant from work, distant from my usual life…

There are a couple more things I’ll write about Guate in future posts.

Inky is still with me.

Finally...a link to some pics!

Fuentes Georginas

EntreMundos Conference

Last Tuesday I went to a lecture at EntreMundos with some classmates. EntreMundos is a non-profit organization which supports and helps local community non-profits. An ex-guerilla talked about his experiences during the Civil War and how it changed his life (there was an interpreter, thank goodness, as I could only catch a word here and there). He moved to the mountains and started fighting when he was 14. It was cold, there was little food, and conditions in general were harsh as to be expected. He did have his guitar though which he pulled out and started playing to keep spirits up when there wasn't enough to eat. It was a tragic story and I am not going to recount all of it here. When the war was over, he didn't know what to do with himself as he had no other skills. He drank for awhile, but eventually joined up with some others and started an organization to support others affected by the war and to document and archive radio shows that they have produced.

Fuentes Georginas

In the midst of my sickness, I did manage to make it up to Fuentes Georginas last Sunday (it was only day 2 on the flagyl). I took a chicken bus with two classmates to the village of Xunil where we hired a pick-up to take us to the hot springs. We rode in the back of the truck and got to see some beautiful scenery. The hot springs were gorgeous and the water divine. There were 3 separate pools. The top pool was muy caliente, the middle pool less so (where we spent most of our time), and we never got in the bottom pool which I assume was cooler. It was a great way to spend the day and relax. I do have pictures, but am having a difficult time downloading due to a slow internet connection. Please be patient.

Sylvia Does Not Exist

Well...last Friday I started feeling worse stomach-wise and decided I needed to go to the doctor. My teacher went with me to translate what she could into English and what she could not, into Spanish words I know. The doctor looked at my original test results and proclaimed that I never had an amoeba. The flagyl attacked my system causing much inflammation of my stomach and colon. He gave me some homeopathic injections and medicine. I´ve pretty much been bed-ridden the past two days and am only eating soup and drinking gatorade. In my current condition, all I want to do is buy a plane ticket to Seattle and go stay with my sister. However, I would be extremely disappointed if I didn't at least get to see more of Guatemala before heading back to the States. My new plan is to stay in Xela one more week then go with two classmates from Germany to Antigua for a bit. If I´m feeling better, then I will try and visit Lago de Atitlan and Tikal. I don't think I'm going to make it 6 months at this point. Maybe I´ll try and be with my family for the holidays then visit friends on the West Coast before heading back to New York. Plans are in constant flux.

Sylvia

I arrived in Guatemala on Independence Day. There were celebrations all week including a fair in Xela with carnival games, rides, music, food, etc. Two classmates and I went to the fair on my first day here and that is where, I think, I unknowingly met Sylvia. Sylvia is the amoeba that is residing in my intestines at the moment. She found her way there via the choco fruta (chocolate covered fruit) I ate from a street vendor. They were strawberries to be specific... something every guidebook tells you not to eat if you don´t know how they have been or not been washed. I knew better, but ate them anyway and they were muy delicioso! Sylvia took up residence and started to blend my food into liquid causing me many unwanted trips to el bano. I have since been to the laboratory for tests, thanks to the Director of my school, and once the results came back she called a doctor friend who interpreted them and told her I needed to take Flagyl (which is very affordable at any pharmacy without a prescription). I´m starting to feel a bit better now...thank goodness. I´m sorry Sylvia, but you´ve outstayed your welcome.

I Am Here

I just attended my first day of one-on-one Spanish classes at la escuela El Mundo en Espanol. I have a lot to learn. The trip here went very smooth. I awoke at 2:30 in the morning on Monday, caught a cab to Laguardia, flew to Ft. Lauderdale, flew to Guatemala City, stayed the night at Hotel Dos Lunas, then took a 5 hour bus ride to Xela where I currently reside. I met a librarian (imagine that) when I got off the plane in Guatemala City. We were staying at the same hotel and hung out the rest of the day. We went to Zona Viva where all the fancy hotels are to find a place for lunch. And we found...McDonalds, Burger King, Applebees, TGIFridays, Taco Bell, and yes... some traditional Guatemalan restaurants. I also met, at the same hotel, a ski patrolman from Washington State... he works at Mt. Baker. It´s such a cliche, but it really is a small world. More later...

Introducing...

Hi. My name is Inky and I will be traveling with Tracy over the next 7 months. I belong to her cousin, Matthew, who just entered the 3rd grade this year. As part of a geography project, I will be sending postcards to Matthew from all the exciting places I'm going to visit for him to share with his class. I will also be periodically writing on Tracy's blog and posting some pics of myself on super cool outings. Oh...and hoping to learn a little Spanish along the way!

!Hasta luego!

On September 15th I will fly to Guatemala for the beginning of a 7 month journey. The past year and a half have been spent working at the library during the week and doing massage on weekends in order to pay off my credit cards and save enough money to make this trip possible.

My last day at the spa was on August 31st and my last day at the library was September 5th. Yes, it's true, I'm finally quitting the library for good! I can barely believe it myself.

I plan on spending about 3 months in Guatemala studying Spanish and volunteering. After that, I'll travel throughout the rest of Central America and maybe into South America if time and money allow. I plan on traveling up the West Coast of the States in March or April and visiting family and friends in Cali, Oregon, and Washington. For the Left Coasters... let me know if you'll be around and I'll try and swing by! I'd love to see everyone.