From me and the turtles and the best sunsets in the world.
What...!? December already!? Okay, Okay, we have asked the question every month since the beginning of time, but really...its going too fast.
Fortunately for me (and you so you don't have to read so much) I haven't done tooooo much in the last two weeks so I should be able to finish this post by the end of the month.. Ha. Ha. Ha... :)
We finished up the course for kids nearly two weeks ago already. Every moment of every day of the last week I willed time to stop, loving every moment being with the kids.
I love how they fall in love with you and pull you in every direction to play and push them on the zipline or the swings, or ask over and over how to say things in English like cow and saddle and ladder and bottle and sky and every name ever invented. (How do you say Fernando in English? How do you say Mattias? Josue? Carlos? Paula?)
There are always a few babes who wrap their dirty little fingers around my heart and wont let go. This group was no exception. Their innocence is so beautiful and contagious.
Going into the course, I knew I was going to be teaching kids to ride horses and milk cows, but what I wasn't expecting was that some of these upper elementary age kids had no idea how to write their names, count to ten, or tie their shoes. I loved all the lessons, but somehow teaching a child something as simple yet important as counting, writing, or tying shoes, made me feel like I was actually doing something worthwhile.
But, despite my efforts to stop it, the week ended and I tried my best not to cry as I said goodbye to the 25 precious kiddos along with the opportunities to teach them...and play with them.
The best? One little boy wrote me a thank you note and gave me a snickers. Oh my heart. I live for these moments.
I stayed for a few more days at the farm, continuing to teach a few students English and save a few dollars before making the five (turned seven) hour journey to Guatemala City with my family.
They were going to vacation in Panama, and me, back to my heaven on the beach. We packed our things in the truck (along with a dog to deliver to a new owner) and I hopped in the backseat with Mattias and Rodolfo and prepared myself for a very long journey...but we kept it interesting.
And then they started fighting, but finally they fell asleep.
We made it to Guatemala city by dark, after stopping just two hours for construction! Luckily we had music from the car parked beside us blaring reggaeton loud enough for the entire construction crew to dance if they wanted to, so we didn't get bored by the silence... ;P
In the city, my family introduced me to the poorest parts and warned me where not to go to get killed by gangs. After driving in terrible traffic for an hour or two more, I was convinced I was never going to leave my house again. This was the part of Guatemala I always heard about but had never seen - dirty run down buildings, gang graffiti, not a single soul walking on the streets but every one in a car with pitch black windows and doors locked in fear of someone seeing them and killing them. Apparently, someone dies in GC every 90 minutes. The value of life isnt very high here; they have a saying that they kill people like rice...rice being nearly the cheapeat thing you can buy. Everyone is well aware of the danger, but no one seems overly concerned for themselves, just for me...
Needless to say, I was happy when we finally arrived to meet my friend Dan and head back to good old Antigua. I hung out with friends there for a day and had some good coffee and let some cute little boys shine my shoes before catching the bus to Monterrico...
Have I ever mentioned how much I love turtles?
From my first trip to Costa Rica where I lived with them for two weeks, I was hooked.
The week in monterrico was spent releasing baby turtles and searching for big turtles on the beach (we didn't find any:(...), making friends with a futbol team, practicing my dancing (I think i'm getting better!) and catching up with dear, old friends...
People are seriously the greate9st, and seeing people that at one time I was sure I would never see again is the absolute best.
And of course, making new friends to meet again someday.
As usual while traveling, I met some cool kids on the beach. Allie, shes from England and thinks shes cool. She's really just a snarky kid with an accent. It's kinda cute though. ;)
Renee is a nurse from Germany and was my turtle releasing partner for a few days.
She was also my encouragement to go race the futbol players.
Three times a day they would run by our hostel, so I finally went to race them. I lost, but I made some friends who are ridiculously fun to dance with, and dig holes in the sand with, and be lazy in hammocks with, and make fun of...futbol players are great. ;)
And I got to watch the game, which is always a plus...(They won.)
All too soon, my week of vacation was over and I headed back to the farm to continue teaching and making money like the responsible adult that I am.
(But first let me show you some more beach pictures because I like beach better than responsibility.)
(Best sunsets ever.)
(In our down time (Oh wait...) we practiced walking a slack line. I got one step, once...)
(The food is the best.)
(Fresh fish! This guy was line fishing from shore. he was pretty successful, too.)
(Lots of little turtles.)
(Daily turtles...the best.)
(Alright, back to the present.)
So I made it to Coban and prepared for my classes. Unfortunately, when students in Latin America say, "Yes, I for sure want two hours of class a day for two weeks." It usually means something along the lines of, "I really want to learn English so if I feel like learning one day I might come to class but maybe not, but if not today maybe next month..." and this time was no different. So instead of 11 students I have one, and he is great, but two hours for one student just doesn't keep me entertained, or make me rich. Plus, they took my horse and mule to another farm today, so, it's time to move.
(Dont let her cute looks fool you. Sheba is a devil. Pretty sure she is trying to bite me in this pic.)
I have been making the most out of these last few precious days at this place I've grown to love, though. I love being part of the family here.
And I love experiencing the culture. A a few days ago, we went to the futbol game, Coban against Guatemala City.
They took me to the stadium where we run daily, but it had been transformed from the 10 people running track to thousands filling every space, including up on the cliffs into the woods...
Yeah, I sat on a cliff to watch futbol, and it was cool.
Unfortunately we lost, but for at least the first half of the game everyone was jumping and chanting and playing music and lighting fireworks...towards the end it was nearly silent, except for booing the other team...but still...the atmosphere at these games is the greatest.
And we are safe thanks to these guys And their shotguns. :)
Now, just one more day on the farm with my family before I say goodbye...for now.
Next stop? Maybe hiking the third tallest volcano in Guatemala. After that? El Salvador. Then Honduras. Maybe try to find another job. Or maybe get bored and go home. (Haha. Just kidding mom. Sorry. :))
Until then, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Much love amigos. Xoxo :)
Oh yeah...the answer? I love them all. :)
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