Hangin` in Xela!

The last few weeks have been a time to relax, get used to a new routine without Bryce, and mostly enjoy the company of friends in Xela. Not much news...just happy to have the support of good friends during a time of personal transition. Also, I cut and colored my hair. A whole new look for a whole new chapter! I can`t wait for my upcoming visits from friends! Over the next few weeks 2 of my best friends are coming to visit, Seth and Julianne!

the new do!

me, Laura, Lauren, James

Lauren and Laura being goofy

James cooking French Onion Soup. Lauren trying to look useful. It was so gourmet! And he made key lime pie for dessert!

Thanks to James being a cool engineer-ecologist we got to attend a BBQ at the AIDG house. AIDG is an environmentally conscious group of engineers that develops appropriate, green technologies in Guatemala and Haiti. Check them out! http://www.aidg.org/. They also happen to have a very cool house with chickens and a bread oven!

chickens!!

bread oven

bread oven!

MMMM...delicious homemade bread!

me, Laura, Lauren

just so you can get another shot of the new hair

It`s Carnaval! Let`s Throw Shit!

A couple weeks ago was Carnaval, a holiday that originated in Brazil, of which I know very little about. As soon as the Carnaval street fair ended a new fair was set up just outside my apartment, in Central Park. Now begins the 6 weeks of festivals leading up to Easter. I love Latin America!

The Origins of Carnaval (Compliments of Wikipedia):

The Brazilian Carnival, properly spelled Carnaval, is an annual festival in Brazil held four days before Ash Wednesday, the day of fasting and repentance that marks the beginning of Lent. On certain days of Lent, Roman Catholics and some other Christians traditionally abstained from the consumption of meat and poultry -- hence the term "carnival," from carnelevare, "to remove (literally, "raise") meat." Carnival celebrations are believed to have roots in the pagan festival of Saturnalia, which, adapted to Christianity, became a farewell to certain pleasures of the flesh in a season of religious discipline to practice repentance and prepare for Christ's death and resurrection.

Observations of Carnaval in Guatemala (Compliments of Jillian):

A large street fair (photos follow). An entire week dedicated to throwing things at people. Most commonly thrown object: hollowed out eggs, covered in paper machet, filled with confetti and glitter. I went to visit a school on behalf of the clinic and walked into a very lively Carnaval party. Needless to say, I left the school covered in glitter and confetti. Other objects you can throw during Carnaval: real eggs with the yoke still inside and flour.

Photos of the Carnaval Street Fair

popcorn balls?

sugar cane! They also sell it in little sticks, already shaved. So delicious!

peanuts...lots of peaunuts

choco frutas! you can get almost any kind of fruit covered in chocolate, here. My personal favorite: chocobananos!

dried fish...the smell is indescribable.

huipiles, the traditional shirt worn by indigenous women in Guatemala

I buy all my DVDs at little stands like this that burn movies illegally. Copyright laws, not such a big deal here.

Women selling the traditional bread/cracker of Xela. They look like giant Cheerios.

crocodile!!

Cheveres! Hot dogs! These stands are everywhere throughout the city. I used to be addicted but decided I was done taking risks with my weak, American stomach.

Señor Diente y Más!

My work at the clinic has gotten much more interesting and rewarding over the past few weeks. School started in February and classes started coming to the clinic 2 weeks ago. Each day (Monday through Thursday) we see one class, which can be anywhere from 30 to 50 students. The class is divided in half and while one half of the class sees the doctor and dentist, the other half of the class hangs out with me and other health educators while we teach them about nutrition, hygiene and if they are really lucky (5th and 6th graders) they get to learn about puberty! Soon I will start traveling to the schools to teach classes on additional topics.

Health Education Classes Begin!

This is me teaching a 4th grade class about how to properly brush their teeth. The boy is Señor Diente (Mr. Tooth) and the girl is brushing him using broom. As she brushes him, all the plaque comes of his little tooth body (masking tape in this case).

Señor Diente checking out some teeth that did not have such good fortune as he. ¡Guacala! Gross!
Carlos (health education director) helps the students wash their hands before snack

... and emphasizes the importance of water conservation

Marissa (another health educator) teaches the 4th graders about nutrition

More 4th graders at the clinic! So far the clinic has seen four 6th grade classes and four 5th grade classes. We are going down in age as the days continue. Can`t wait for the little párvulos, (kindergarteners)!

Carlos teaching a nutrition class. Carlos lives in Salcajá, the town I visited a couple weekends ago (see photos from previous post). He is also the clinic´s psychologist.

The Women´s Program at Primeros Pasos

I am not directly involved with the women´s program but I had the opportunity to attend an open house at the clinic a few weeks ago, for women from all 10 communities. It was a wonderful afternoon of getting to know each other, playing games (to evaluate their knowledge of nutrition and hygeine) and snacking, of course! The women were so eager to be invovled in the program and so appreciative of the services of the clinic. It was wonderful to see them all taking the time out of their busy schedules to participate in such a positive program.

Miriam (director of the women`s program) welcomes everyone. She is an amazing youg woman with a baby of her own. She travels over an hour by bus to work with the clinic.



Nutrition Jeopardy!

Miriam and Elizabeth (Miriam`s assistant,UVA grad, also amazing!)

Feliz Dia de los Enamorados! Happy Valentine's Day!

Recent Changes

Since the holidays, life has changed for Bryce and I in new and challenging ways. We have been in Guatemala for 4.5 months now. We have also been together for 4.5 years as best friends and a happy, healthy couple, if I do say so myself. Over the past month, however, we've decided to pursue our own futures independent of each other. It's very difficult for us both, but we appreciate the outpouring of support from friends and family and are doing just fine, all things considered. So on Valentine's Day we toasted to new beginnings and a great friendship. From now on the blog will mostly follow my Guatemalan adventures but I will, of course, give updates on Bryce's life as well. He returns to the States in a couple weeks for an interview in NY and may be in the States for a while, visiting friends and family and waiting to hear back from other schools.


Saturday- Hiking Cerro Quemado

Saturday I went hiking with 3 girlfriends to celebrate Valentine's Day in style, as strong and independent women! I have no pictures, unfortunately, but it was a beautiful hike up an inactive volcano. At the top we encountered a couple religious ceremonies that seemed to be mostly Christian with Mayan influences. We also saw lots beautiful wildflowers being farmed for the local markets.

Sunday- Visiting Salcajá and San Andrés Xecul

Sunday I traveled with my friend Lauren to 2 different towns near Xela. The first, Salcajá, boasts the oldest church in Latin America (of those that are classified as historic landmarks), La Iglesia de San Jacinto.

We befriended a woman who lives in Salcajá and she showed us to her home and tienda where she sells indigenous mayan clothing, or traje tipico. Her husband insisted on searching high and low for a magazine about the cultural sights Salcajá to give us as a gift. The wife showed us to the church where we met a man who showed us inside and gave us a brochure about the history of the church. The man at the church took our picture but didn´t really know how to operate a camera, which is why that picture is not included here.

Then we scoped out some caldo de frutas, an alcoholic drink made only in Salcajá from rum, fermented fruit and cinnamon. The town is also known for a very yellow drink similar to eggnog called rompopo. We visited the one shop in town that sells rompopo and chatted with the family for a while. This family has been making rompopo for generations. They were lovely and told us about their travels and family in the U.S. I recently learned at a conference that somewhere close to half the population of Salcajá has immigrated to the U.S. A very friendly and proud town.

Lauren tasting caldo de frutas!

rompopo!

In the second town, San Andrés Xecul, we visited la Iglesia San Andrés Xecul, the coolest church ever! I love all the color and the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously. It's not perfectly symmetrical and the figures look almost cartoon-like. The fat angels are my favorite detail!



It's just the facade that is so elaborate. (ahem, Kate...)

painted rotunda, Iglesia San Andrés Xecul