Out on the Townnn

     My host family invited me to go out with them the other night! We went to a restaurant/bar called Monoloco where we sat at the bar and ate and drank some. I tried to keep up with their conversations and add my thoughts when I could. We had a good time, and I got a lot of Spanish practice! They think I am the most spoiled student haha - they invite me to do everything.

Me, Dr. Gustavo and Flor (my parents), and Flor's sister Ines

Trip to Guatemala City, September 19 2011

     A couple weeks ago we took a trip to Guatemala City to go to the dump. Yes, the dump, what is here called "basurero." The dump in the city is unique: it is the largest landfill in all of Central America. It is also the workplace of many people who spend their days digging through the trash that is dropped off looking for items able to be recycled. This is how the "guajeros" make their living; they dig through EVERYTHING that is taken to the dump. They sell the things they find to people who buy the recyclible items to then sell to recycling plants. We were inspired to go to the dump after watching a documentary called "Recycled Life" which tells about the guajeros' lives. The trailer for the documentary can be found here: http://www.recycledlifedoc.com/

Trash trucks, mounds of garbage, guajeros, and vultures. What you can't see is the stench.



     It is heartbreaking to see the conditions these people work and live in. (Some do actually live in the dump even though there are regulations in place to protect the guajeros). Our trip was very somber to say the least. I couldn't imagine working in a place like this to earn 5 quetzales, or 70 US cents each day.

     Amongst this terrible situation there is hope for many children of guajeros, that they won't fall into this cycle their parents are caught in. A non-profit organization called Safe Passage has opened learning facilities for adults and kids as well as a day care where they are taught skills that could allow them sustenance outside of the dump. The kids' facilities employ mainly learning reinforcement programs that encourage education. Our tour guide was a staff member of Safe Passage so we were able to tour their facilities. The children there were adorable!
     Although it was disheartening to see this for ourselves, I'm greatful to be more aware of the inequality there is in this world.

Other Events

     Last Sunday, I went to a soccer game here in Antigua with my host family, and it was so fun! Antigua G.F.C. played against the team from Guastatoya, a city in east Guatemala. Everyone was really into it: there was a small band cheering for Antigua and making a lot of noise and everyone in the crowd was yelling. For most of the game, the score was tied 1-1, but in the last minute Antigua scored another goal to win! Sooo exciting. Oh, and the scenery of the stadium is beautiful.

     Today all the students and professors in my group and I went to Finca Filadelfia, a coffee farm about 5 minutes from Antigua. There were thousands of coffee plants there (it's hard to say whether they're trees or bushes because they're around 3 meters tall). We learned ALL about the process of producing coffee from the coffee plant nursery to the bean roaster, and at the end of the tour we got to drink a cup. I'm not really a fan of coffee, but this was delicious, much better than Folgers.. Will have a picture soon!

Trip to surrounding towns

BTW, we were in Guatemala City today when the earthquake happened, but we didn't feel anything and we are fine!

Last Friday, our group took a trip to some of the surrounding towns of Antigua. Our tour guide told us there are 23 small towns in the area, but many of them merge together so it was difficult for me to distinguish one from another. At one point we finished walking through a convent and museum, got back on the bus, drove another 5 minutes down a few streets, then got out again because we were in a new town.

Our tour guide Manuel talking about San Juan del Obispo, the first town we visited

A public wash. Some homes here don't have running water, yet some women come here to just to wash and socialize



Our last stop was at a women's weaving cooperative where Maya women weave traditional pieces like this blouse called a "huipil"



It was an interesting trip, especially to see towns unlike Antigua that aren't catered to tourists.

Independence Day!

 Guatemalans celebrate their independence with many parades, fireworks, and much music. The country received independence from Spain in 1821.

Quetzales flying in the parade. They are the national bird of Guatemala!

Ricardito



Gabby and Ricardo, my host siblings, watching the morning parade

     The morning of Independence Day, I went with my family to watch the parade that marched throughout the whole town. There were so many people crowding the streets of Antigua! In the parade there were many school marching bands. They have been practicing playing their instruments the whole year for this day so it didn't surprise me when at 9pm I heard the bands continue to play. At one point in the day I was at school and a band was marching on the street right outside. In the classroom I was in there are very large windows that extend out over the street with bars covering them. Four of us were able to stand in the window and watch the band pass below!

And at night...

This is Parque Central, where all events happen





Update...

In my last entry I was at a political rally supporting Otto Perez. The elections took place on Sunday, September 11th. The results showed that he did receive most of the votes, but he did not receive over 50% so now he and the second place candidate, Manuel Baldizon, will be competing against each other in the run-off election on November 6th. Hmmm! More illegal political rallies in the future?

Festivities in Antigua

A couple days ago there was a political campaign event here in Antigua promoting one of the candidates for presidency, Otto Perez Molina. It was an illegal event! He was ordered to stop campaigning because he has already spent too much money doing so, yet he continues. It was so crowded; we could barely make it out of there. Guatemaltecos will vote on Sunday for their new president!

Typical class

                                                               Religion in Guatemala

Pepián

Yesterday for lunch Doña Tina, the lady who cooks and cleans in my home, made Pepián! It is a delicious typical Guatemalan dish. Before coming here, I had read and heard that I would probably get many chances to eat Pepián, and I finally did. It was goooood. It is a type of stew with many spices and chicken. It is served with rice, a couple other vegetables, and tortillas of course. Guatemalan food is great!

People I know!

Today as I was approaching the Casa Herrera coming from lunch, I noticed there were a group of people knocking on the Casa's door. As I got closer, I recognized one of the faces in the group! It was Dr. Valdez, the professor who runs the Belize archaeological field school I attended. I was so happy to see someone I know after seeing so many unfamiliar faces the whole time I've been here, I think I practically shouted his name out hahaha. Also, he was with Liby, another archaeologist from the field school who I know. Seeing them kind of made me feel like I was at home and it was nice.
I miss you guys!

My Home in Antigua

This is my home in Antigua on the street called Colonia Calendaria. It's such a cute place. There is a courtyard inside which my room faces and opens into.

El Volcan de Agua, the large volcano to the south of Antigua. Usually clouds cover the top but in the morings

it is sometimes visible.