I need to do better about updating this blog. There is so much to say, but I’ll try
to find some brevity—who am I kidding?
There is nothing brief about talking to me or my writing! :)
Since my last blog, I’ve completed 2 and a half weeks of
language school. It is going
well. Some things click and then
others take me forever to remember!
Someone told me I need to see a word 7 times and hear it 7 times and
then use it properly 7 times before I can truly remember it. I think that may be correct. So, you can imagine my language skills
are not much after 2 weeks, but there is definitely progression! I have to keep reminding myself I have
2 months—no need to panic yet. As
you all know, I am pretty type A and so that is just the competitive side
coming out in me.
Speaking of my competitive side. . . I am missing tennis and
an outlet for this competitive nature I have. And then my friend from language school started inviting me
and my teacher to play a game for the last hour at least once a week. We play categories! You have 4 columns (verbs, subjects,
adjectives and then the last one we make up different stuff each time—for
example, clothes, numbers, fruits, animals, colors). Someone picks a letter and then we write down Spanish words
for each category. “Basta!” is
yelled when you finish all four categories and all others must stop. At one point, we made our teachers play
in English and we play in Spanish.
Now, everyone plays in Spanish, but the gringos don’t stop until a
gringo says “Basta!”. It is very
fun and my friend Courtney is as competitive as I am! So, we get to have some fun and review our Spanish
vocabulary at the same time.
Tomorrow is Scrabble.
This weekend we went to the Hot Springs outside of
Zunil. We took a chicken bus to
Zunil and then a pick up truck the last 8 km to Fuentes Georginas. My guidebook describes it as “the
prettiest, most popular natural spa in Guatemala.” I think it is about
right. I loved it! There is nothing better than some
natural hot springs. I enjoyed it
so much that when my roommate invited me back with some of his friends on
Monday, I went again!
And here is another wow, the world is small moment—one of
the guys that goes to school with my roommate came to the hot springs with
us. When I asked where he was from
anyone want to guess the answer??
Yes, you guessed it:
Mississippi! He now lives
in Austin, but his parents and family are still in MS. What a small world. Twice now in Xela I’ve met someone from
MS. This is the very first time in
all of my travels I’ve met a fellow Mississippian on the road. Way cool.
Back to my weekend, Sunday we took two chicken buses to get
from Xela to Chichicastenango.
This is one of the largest indigenous markets in Guatemala. It didn’t disappoint. It takes about three hours to get there
so we only had about 2 or 3 hours in the market. . . not nearly enough! We started our day at the church, which
is in the center of the market.
This is a catholic church in Chichi, but it has Mayan altars down the
middle of the aisle. I couldn’t
get over the Catholics again allowing the Mayans to totally submerse themselves
into the Catholic Church. You were
not supposed to take pictures in the church, but I couldn’t resist. I didn’t use a flash and had to sort of
sneak them so I apologize in advance for the shots, but figured you had to see
these Mayan altars in the middle of the Catholic Church. Also, don’t forget to see all my photos
at www.me.com/gallery/alleenmclain.
After viewing the church, we headed to the market and
shopped until it was time to leave again.
And these chicken buses were quite an experience. These had the smallest aisles I’ve ever
seen. And then they’d fit like 4
people on a seat for 2 and then a person standing in the aisle. The money taker used both the back door
and the front door for people to get in and for him to take up money. It is amazing how you can fit so many
people into such a small space!
But that is part of the adventure.
The other main part of the adventure in visiting Chichi is the market;
of course, there are seriously tons and tons of vendors. And, as is local custom, you must
haggle over the price. That is my
favorite part. I love to negotiate
anything! And while Elizabeth our
school’s activity coordinator said to start about half of what the person asks
for, I usually started closer to a third.
And at least 2 times I had a person come after me two blocks away and
accept my price. I find it
strangely fun to haggle over these prices! I found a few good souvenirs. John A, hopefully I can make up for the sea lion! I bought you and I something at the
market. A belated birthday
present!
So, the weekend was full, but good. I enjoyed lots of good fellowship with
my fellow students. And this week,
I’ve spent a decent amount of time with my housemates. Roberto is one of the guys that has
been here as long as me. He leaves
Friday or Sunday, but I am leaving Thursday for Tikal and so I won’t see him
before he goes. We also got
another student yesterday. She is
from London. So, we have four
right now, but next week may be just 2 of us and then I think Devin is leaving
soon after? So, I’ll have another
group come through for my last month.
I still really enjoy the meals and practicing Spanish at
dinner. Last night we were
laughing so hard! The entire
family. My Guatemalan mother and father
have a really good sense of humor and are good at keeping conversation going no
matter the level of Spanish. And
that is part of this program, total immersion, so that is good! Overall, I still love it. I’ve seen a lot of Guatemala and made
some good friendships. I am eager
for the language to come more quickly or naturally, but let’s face it. . . if I
am lucky that will be in a few years!
Until then, I’ll just keep plodding along bit by bit!
