Making the most of the last few days!

Goodness I have so much to write about I don't even know where to start. I feel as though these days my thoughts are either in Spanish or in blog form...

The day before I left for my weekend adventure was perfect. It was the first day in a week that I have been able to rise whenever I pleased and have no itinerary. I almost forgot how incredibly amazing that feels. Around 9 am I left the house without a worry or a care on my mind. I found a cute breakfast cafe called "y tu piña tambien" and got completely lost in my book for about two hours. I can't remember the last time that I have just read and read with no sense of time wasted or impending obligations. It is these little moments of traveling that are my favorite. The ones that remind me what it is to really live in the moment. To walk down the street and really experience every sound, sight, and feeling. I spent the day getting lost in the market. Rows and rows of handmade goods, second hand clothes and shoes, vegetables,and hanging meat. It is incredible how absolutely gigantic their markets are! 

That night I was lucky to be invited to experience church with Maryelsa, my homestay mom. She is jehovits witness. I have to admit that at home I have some preconceived notions about the religion, and un rightly so since I really don't know anything about it.  Therefore, it was even more interesting for me to be part of their church service. It was much different than any service than I have experienced. After the normal sermon it became question and answer time. The congregation gets an article to read before the service to prepare. This one was about forgiveness. How we will all feel better if we forgive the people around us and that when we do not forgive it will just make us feel sick inside. It was a really great message for me to take in and think about because I often allow things to bother me and eat me up inside. 

The next morning I left for the jungle. I didn't really know much about my trip, only that I was headed to samuc champey and it was said to be a really beautiful place. When I arrived it was better than I could have imagined. Nestled in the middle of the jungle, my hostel was right next to a beautiful river. The bunk that I stayed in was on the top floor of a small tree house with windows open to the outside air. From my bed I could see the clouds, the stars, the river, and hear nothing but the birds chirping. This was the perfect relaxing time to put a nice close to my trip. While I was there I walked through a long dark cave with only candles to light our way, swimming/waiting through water, climbing up small waterfalls, viewing amazing stalactites and stalagmites. I hiked in the jungle and swam in beautiful turquoise natural pools. Finally I ended the day with a relaxing tubing down the river. 

Now it is my last full day in Guatemala and I am back in Antigua. I have decided to return to the preschool and have one last morning with my cute 2 and 3 year olds and then head to school to watch a documentary about the civil war since I don't know very much about it but it was a huge atrocity in Guatemala's past. After that I plan to walk around the city and take in as many sights, sounds, and smells as my senses will allow!

This has been an amazing two weeks full of adventure, culture, and knowledge!

A good nights sleep and a better attitude!

With a single nights sleep, the angst that I was feeling disappeared as quickly as it came. Although many questions/thoughts still go unanswered, I have decided that living the experience in the moment is much more important than coming to any kind of huge realization.

Therefore, with a much better attitude, I got on the chicken bus and headed to my last day of volunteering. I could already feel that this was going to be a great day and that I was going to miss these kids so much. Just as I had imagined on the bus, today ended up being perfect. The kids are really starting to warm up to me. I began to have tiny human attachments on my arms and legs throughout the day. All of the sudden many of their words and requests became clear and we were able to have conversations. I am not sure if this has to do with how my understanding of the Spanish language is improving or if they are speaking more clearly, but either way our connection was on a different level today. To show that they like a teacher they share their lunch with them. A cracker here, a sip of juice there. For the past couple of days I have been watching them share with the main teachers thinking it was so cute. Today, they shared with me 2 crackers and 3 sips of juice, I felt so special. :) During the day I couldn't stand the thought of this being the last time that I visit the school so I decided to come back for one more day on Wednesday, the last day before I return to the States. 

I also had my last Spanish lesson today. I am by no means fluent but I do think these lessons have helped me a lot. My understanding has doubled if not tripled and I have been reminded of all those conjugations and grammar rules I hated the first time around. However, the best thing that I have gotten out of the experience is the renewed desire to learn and be fluent in Spanish! 

This has been one crazy week and I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow for some relaxatio

When times get a bit hard..

Last night and this morning have been very hard for me. I am not really sure of the cause or if it is maybe a combination of many. I have to admit I didn't help matters by watching "The Last Song" on my i pad once I began feeling this way, especially since it just landed me in a pile of tears. However, I guess the fact that I am a week into my trip and this is the first time that I have felt any sadness or angst is a good thing, but nonetheless I really do hate the feeling.

Beginning yesterday, there became a lot that has been weighing on my mind. Part of my goal of this trip was to spend time reflecting on my life at home in hopes to come to some kind of clarity. Clarity of my direction in my work place, in what I want for myself, and most importantly clarity in my personal relationships. It's a week later and I have scaled a huge volcano, improved my Spanish, volunteered in a preschool and yet when I think about the life that I am returning to in the United States, I feel just as confused and lost as when I left. This trip, with its  intentions laying in a sense of deeper understanding, now feels more like one of running away. 

Another area of angst is this routine that I have created for myself. I have almost never before traveled like I am now; staying in one place for the duration of my trip or taken an almost purely educational track rather than one of exploration. While I have enjoyed every minute of what I have done so far, this morning, I began to have a longing to return to the hostel and adventure life. However, this longing will soon be met because tomorrow completes my week of both classes and volunteering and it will be time for me to decide what to do and where to go next. 

Although these feelings are not fun, it is days like this that make solo travel truly real. There have been many times in my past trips when I have felt similarly and it is these feelings, my reactions and ways I deal with them, are that which cause me to grow the most.

And hey, I'm in this beautiful town of Antigua, Guatemala for goodness sake! Life can't be that bad :) 

Deep conversations and 3 year old poo poo!

Yesterday afternoon/evening ended up being really interesting. I really got to know both my Spanish teacher as well as my home stay mom. I don't know what it is, but the way that my teacher speaks, I can understand everything she says. We are able to talk about so many things and I love it. Today she was telling me a story of why she has very little female friends and the ones that she does have she is not very close with. She explained that when she was younger she had a boyfriend only because her friends said that's what she should do. Then one night when she was walking her friend home she saw her boyfriend in an alley kissing her best friend! From then on, she never talked to the boy or her "best friend" again and she also never trusted girls. It is just so interesting having talks such as these with the women of Guatemala; it shows that everyone everywhere around the world is very similar and also it is so fascinating to me that I am able to have such conversations in Spanish! 

Then when I came home for dinner tonight, my interesting conversations continued. Maryelsa, the two other girls who are also staying there and I began talking about homosexuality and its acceptance in Guatemala. Maryelsa explained that in Guatemala homosexuality is not really accepted because of the machismo culture as well as the prevalence of religion. She said that there is more acceptance for the younger generation to be gay but no homosexual couple could be caught living together because if they were they would get molested and hurt. It is very sad to hear how hard it is for homosexuals in Guatemala as well as in all of the other Central American countries and in Mexico. I did not share with anyone that I am gay, however I was happy to hear that Maryelsa, herself, does not have a problem with homosexuality. 

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My time at the preschool today can be described in one word, POOP. Man oh man this experience is sure preparing me for kids! I was wiping butts, changing diapers, and...here's the kicker...I walked into poop on the floor of the boys bathroom. Ay! But even with all of the poop, they are just so adorable. I love being with the kids in the mornings because they have so much energy that it is contagious. They are also all so polite and thankful for me being there. Not to mention that they hang all over me and i get to pinch their cute little cheeks :) It is really turning out to be a great...and very messy...experience!

Spanish school and preschool kids...let the fun times begin!

Yesterday was a big day. I began my first day both my first day of Spanish class as well as my first day in my home stay. Both turned out better than I could have hoped for. I will be attending one on one Spanish class from 2 pm to 6 pm every day for 5 days. The school is out doors with small tables lining the sides of the building, each with its own dry erase board. I have no book besides a notebook and my professor. This is actually a really fun way of learning. We have long conversations and when I come to a word I don't know how to say, she will tell me the word and I write the meaning in my notebook. I was surprised at my ability to keep up with the conversation. We talked about our animals, my trip so far, her husband, poverty, and abortion in regards to the comparison between Guatemala and the United States. I never thought I had the capability to have such conversations in Spanish, being that the last time I actually studied the language was ten years ago in my freshman and sophomore years in high school. We even were able to joke and laugh! I guess I was paying more attention than I thought :) However, we did also get into a less fun, but very necessary, subject; the conjugation of verbs. Apparently this was not something I retained very well over the last ten years. I never did like grammar in Spanish or in English for that matter. 

Surprisingly, the four hours went very fast and I only got really antsy in the last half hour or so. When class ended, it was time to return to the house and have dinner with my host family. Everyone is very nice and we all enjoyed a delicious dinner of eggs, beans, platanos and homemade tortillas; a traditional Guatemalan desayuno. The other students who are also staying there and I did the dishes. MariaElsa, my home stay mother, had a student coming over for a lesson so I went upstairs to relax, something I have not done in the past couple of days. I was feeling so lazy and so relaxed that I even chose to take my shower in the morning before volunteering (if you know me, this is crazy because I never wake up earlier than I have to to roll out of bed and get to what ever obligation I may have).

In the morning I woke up at 6:45 to shower. When I got in I found what I have been dreading this whole trip....COLD WATER :( I couldn't even bring myself to stand under the water so I first dipped my head in washing only that, then quickly washed each part of my body sending it into the water just long enough to rinse off the soap. I have been very spoiled with hot water since arriving in Guatemala. I knew I couldn't be that lucky forever. 

After my shower and breakfast, I was off to volunteer. I took the chicken bus about 7 minutes south to a small town named San Gaspar. The town is very cute with not too much going on. I found the preschool and was shown around the classrooms by the director. I discovered that I will be working the rest of the week with the 2-3 year olds. 

Just walking into the classroom I knew I was in for some hard work. The class was composed of 32 children and 2 teachers, and the kids were running all over the place! I soon discovered how difficult it is to keep children in line with only an advanced beginner Spanish level. Another thing that was quickly brought to my attention wad how difficult it is to understand the kids when they are mumbling and/or crying. Much of my time was spent saying "sientate " (sit down)  "Donde esta tu Silla" (where is your seat) "no necessitas esta" (you don't need that) y "cuidate" (careful). I also got the pleasure of changing many wet pants and wiping away a lot of tears. We also made art projects with torn newspaper and pelotitas (little balls) with colored paper and tape. The kids, although quite rambunctious are very cute and I am excited for tomorrow. They definitely keep me on my toes, and I am excited to see what experiences the next few days bring. 

Sleeping on the summit of volcan Acatenango...yep I can cross that off of my bucket list!

I have just returned from the most amazing most challenging activity that I have ever undertaken. It was just two days ago that I stopped by a small shop in Antigua, Guatemala and spontaneously signed up for a two day, overnight  hike up Volcán Acatenango.  In doing this, I asked no questions. I did not find out how tall the volcano was, what gear I would need to carry up, or how hard the hike was. Following my usual traveling ways, I paid the money and didn't think much more about it until it was 6am Friday morning and I was with the group preparing my bag to depart. 

With a backpack full of 4  1/2 liters of water, a pair of pants, a sleeping bag, a north face, hat, and gloves (all of which I would really appreciate later that night), and my share of the groups camping equipment, we were off. Durning the hour and a half ride my fears grew, but as much as I was sitting there nervous, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

My first mistake was assuming that there would be a bathroom at the bottom of the volcano...WRONG! This was apparently not the tourist friendly hike that I had ignorantly assumed it was going to be. By the first 5 minutes of climbing straight uphill in loose dirt (what I can only compare to running in the sand), I knew I was in for a challenge unlike any I have ever done before. This vertical climb lasted for the entire first hour! Very quickly I made friends with three others who collectively and proudly dubbed ourselves "the caboose". I should also mention that the group consisted of 11 people; the guide, 8 boys, and 2 girls, myself being one of them. This should already paint the picture of how crazy I was to go on this hike. 

With each step the hike did not only get easier, it got more and more grueling. The guide said that the first part was the hardest and it would get easier from there. I guess he was right if you consider continuing straight uphill for the entire 7 hours with changing terrain easier. 

However, enough about how difficult this climb was, it's time to talk about how incredibly worth it each painful step was. Hiking up the volcano we went through four different ecosystems. The first was the farm land. This was incredible to see. The Guatemalan people in the village hike straight uphill everyday to farm and the hike is not even the beginning of their work day! It was really incredible and humbling to see the locals pass by as they hiked up with their farm tools or down carrying large piles of wood on their backs. Next we entered the cloud forest. This was probably my favorite part of the hike! It was so beautiful, a jungle filled with tons of green trees, bamboo, and beautiful flowers. My favorite part was listening to the trees blowing in the wind. I think I loved the sound so much  because it reminded me of my childhood town in Connecticut. 

From there we continued on to the alpines, both sub alpine and high alpine where none of the trees are over 6 feet tall. This was also very beautiful and the point where the views from the volcano became spectacular! At this point of the hike my legs felt like jello and they did not want to move any more. Finally there was the volcano itself. 1,363 meters and 7 hours later I made it to the top! It was the most grueling hike and I felt so incredibly accomplished when I reached the top! The view was unlike anything I have ever seen. I felt like I was floating on the clouds. We sat and watched the sunset with active volcan Fuego in the background. 

Wow is all that I can say about the whole experience. This was a test of everything I am and everything I am able to do. That night was freezing but magical. In 10 degree weather I enjoyed a fire, vegetable curry, and star gazing with no light pollution! I didn't think about it at the time I signed up for the trip but this hike was something I can cross off my bucket list. I have always wanted to hike with a backpack and tent on my back and sleep at the top of a mountain. This time I got the added bonus of the mountain be

Antigua, you've won me over!

Yesterday when I arrived in Antigua, I felt kind of like a lost puppy. I arrived around 8 am in a small van and spent a good hour walking around, big bag on my back, looking for a hostel to stay in. I loved Antigua immediately, especially since it reminds me so much of San cristabol de las casas, my favorite little city in southern Mexico. However, Antigua has a characteristic that I am not used to; the doors to everything were very old, VERY large and all shut! For a while I was thinking I would never find a place to sleep and was beginning to buckle to the idea of buying the lonely planet on my kindle to give myself a bit more assistance on the getting around front. Then I stumbled on a very cute place called the gato negro inn with a friendly owner, breakfast included and a cute terrace with full views of the surrounding volcanos. Since Antigua has proved to be much more expensive than expected, I settled with a dorm bed for 65 quetzals or about 9 US dollars. 

My plan was to nap when I got there but the day was nice and I couldn't wait to get out and explore. I was also on a hunt for a volunteer opportunity I had heard about in a home for children with disabilities. Lots of questions and searching got me nowhere with my hunt, but in the end I was really impressed with the amount of Spanish I have retained from high school. On my journey, I ended up stumbling upon a Spanish school and thought I would check it out. Taking Spanish lessons abroad is something that I have always wanted to do. Walking out of the school a half an hour later I had set myself up with a week of one on one Spanish lessons and a week homestay with a Guatemalan family for 230 US dollars. Not really in my 300 dollar spending budget, but I thought what the heck! It was quickly decided that (although Antigua is somewhat of a tourist trap) the bright colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and friendly locals have won me over and I will be spending much of my two weeks in Antigua, with the occasional excursion.

It is now my second day in Antigua, and I am sitting in the parque central, a lively place full of daily activity; Guatemalan men and women relaxing on benches, children playing, Mayan women and children dressed in their traditional garb selling their handmade crafts, birds singing, and travelers taking photographs. Today There is also a special treat of a musician playing what I can only guess is traditional Guatemalan or Mayan music. I feel so full and excited about life right now, but I guess who wouldn't in this quaint, gorgeous city,the wind blowing a soft hum through the trees, the music in the background, so much going on around me, yet still so calm that my head is clear and my thoughts can be free. This break was exactly what I needed to get back to myself and clear my mind. 

This morning I was able to meet my homestay mother, Elsa. It was a real treat. She is a beautiful, friendly woman with two children 20 and 24 and a husband who is an extraordinary painter. Their home is located right on the outskirts of the small city and is so cute, splattered with flowers and plants, with a little terrace with amazing views of the surrounding volcanos. I am excited for Monday to not only improve my Spanish, but also get to know a local family. 

Everything so far has been very relaxing, but adventure is also calling my name. I am about to leave to hike up Pacaya. This is only about an hour hike up but if I'm lucky I will be able to see the active volcano spewing ash and lava! Don't worry everyone, it's safe :) This hike will prepare me for the real deal tomorrow when I hike up Acatenango which is a 6-8 hour hike up. I will be spending the night camping near the top where I will be able to see the stars and experience the sunrise, two of my most favorite things! Last night I heard a horror story of how hard the climb is, but I think I can handle it :)

I will not be able to write again until I return to Antigua Sunday night. Until then, hope everything is well and miss you all! 

Next stop..Guatemala

It's been 9 months since I took what could fit in the bag on my back and got on a one way flight from Vietnam, where I ended my four month Southeast Asia trip, to San Diego, which I now call my home. I wish that I could go back and blog all the trials, tribulations, and more importantly fantastic times that I have had so far in San Diego, but now I have once again caught the travel bug and have an even more interesting subject for my entries; Guatemala. 

How I chose Guatemala is kind of an interesting story in itself. When I began my "planning" stage 2 weeks ago, I intended to go to India. All the stars were lining up in my favor. I could get the time off from work, my friends ,Anne and Dixie, who have been traveling for almost a year were going to be there, and my friend Xemina wanted to come. It was all perfect....then I saw the $1,100 plane ticket. 

Plan B...well, time to come up with a plan B. How to do that? I absolutely love kayak.com for these last minute plans. I just typed in country after country viewing the monthly rates on the side of the screen and came up with the 3 cheapest options; Honduras (already been), Belize (could be a bit more expensive to travel within especially since I will want to spend most of my time diving), and Guatemala (a country full of volcanos, Mayan ruins, and jungles). It was decided and my trip to Guatemala was booked!

From there I did what I do every time I leave the country; ignore everything and plan nothing until the day before (in this case I had a late flight so the day of) I leave. I think I do this because it saves me from getting nervous about the crazy, impulsive, yet amazing and life changing decisions I make. Man what one click of a computer key can do...

Now, after a crazy day of preparing and not quite preparing, I find myself awaiting the flight from LA to Guatemala. Although my nerves and excitement are somewhat high my subconscious is still ignoring  what is about to happen. Right now as I am writing I feel as though I could be just going home to Connecticut with the comfort of my family, not to a foreign county by myself. However, I know that the adrenaline will kick in as soon as I arrive and it will all become real, fun, adventurous, and frightening. It is so interesting how our bodies work when presented with each new and different situation. 

So, my plan so far. I arrive into Guatemala City around 7am. I don't really want to have much to do with Guatemala City itself so I am going to find a bus straight to Antigua, a quaint city surrounded by volcanos and  paved with cobblestone. I am pretty positive Antigua will be littered with hostels, one of which I will choose when I get there and take a nice long nap since I will only be getting four hours of plane sleep tonight. 

And with that I am off. Next stop Guatemala City. Buenos noches. Escribire pronto. 

:)