A shout out to everyone saying i'm alive. it's been awhile since i've posted.
Thanks to all for the RESOUNDING responses to my request for notes of lovin' for KK's bday. She was surprised and delighted by the compiled card that Devin and I presented her last night during our Mexican dinner. KK and I headed home for a nap at 8:30pm and ended up sleeping the night away. No fire dancers or fiestas for us.
To go along with the whole theme of "SMALL WORLD" that seems to be a large part of our travels thus far . . . upon arriving in Roatan, Kristen and I were supposed to meet up with Johnny G, a buddy of mine from college who is out here working and living. Roatan is a very LARGE island with lots of little towns. We had no idea where Johnny was living and he didn't have a phone and we hadn't yet connected via email, SO . . . from the boatdock, Kk and I caught a taxi to the main tourist town of Roatan called "West End". We talked with other travelers on the boat ride over and decided on a place to stay. As we were checking in to "Milka's Rooms", I saw a strikingly familiar face walk by with ridiculous looking hair. The guy looked a lot like Devin Biviano, who was also a Seattle U acquaintance that I lost touch with. I was too shocked by the out of context possibility that he would also be living in Roatan (and by the hair) that I didn't say anything except to whisper his name under my breath.
A few minutes later, I saw Johnny G walking by. Turns out the two of them are roomates here. It also turns out that they live about 20 ft from our guesthouse! Talk about small world selection of a guesthouse. We did good.
So now, the four of us have been cooking daily breakfasts together at J and D's house and sitting out on their porch for long, lazy mornings. Feels like we've known them forever. Devin, Johnny and I have begun our diving certification process. We're watching the videos and waiting for the storm to pass until we go explore the underwater world. Might not be until Monday that we get our first dive in.
Oh yeah, another small world connection . . . Johnny introduced us to some of his buddies on the island. It turns out that one of them (Chelsea) was in middle school band with Kristen in SPokane and they both marched in the Lilac Parade together back in the day. What can we say.
Photos to come.
Love you more,
Hana T.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Birthday in Roatan
Today is my birthday, and I am in Honduras turning 24! Amazing.
Right now I am sitting at an internet cafe, watching as a storm comes in over the Caribbean sea. Looks like it is going to be a good Northerly storm.
This morning Hana and I awoke, went swimming in the Caribbean, went back to her friends house and they cooked me french toast and an egg scramble! It was so good! So far my birthday has started off right. Tonight there is a huge birthday bash for another girl on the island, with flame twirlers and the bar is staying open until 5 am, so we are celebrating my birthday along with the other girls. Crazy timing.
Oh yeah, and when Hana and I were walking to go swimming this morning, I found cash on the ground! Happy Birthday to me!
So far I am loving Roatan...There isn't much else to say, except that I am planning on doing several dives after this storm passes and Hana is going to try to get her diving certificate (since we are in the cheapest place in the whole world to get diving), which means we will be on the Island for at least 4 more days.
Just wanted to give a shout out to everyone, I am thinking about you all on my birthday!
Kristen
Right now I am sitting at an internet cafe, watching as a storm comes in over the Caribbean sea. Looks like it is going to be a good Northerly storm.
This morning Hana and I awoke, went swimming in the Caribbean, went back to her friends house and they cooked me french toast and an egg scramble! It was so good! So far my birthday has started off right. Tonight there is a huge birthday bash for another girl on the island, with flame twirlers and the bar is staying open until 5 am, so we are celebrating my birthday along with the other girls. Crazy timing.
Oh yeah, and when Hana and I were walking to go swimming this morning, I found cash on the ground! Happy Birthday to me!
So far I am loving Roatan...There isn't much else to say, except that I am planning on doing several dives after this storm passes and Hana is going to try to get her diving certificate (since we are in the cheapest place in the whole world to get diving), which means we will be on the Island for at least 4 more days.
Just wanted to give a shout out to everyone, I am thinking about you all on my birthday!
Kristen
Sunday, January 21, 2007
A look into the past and future...
Said Adios to El Salvador, and Hola to Honduras...
This weekend we spent it with my friend Lauren from camp. It was a bit of an adventure finding her, but with a bit of time with the spanish speaking pay phone, we got ahold of her. Here we are in Tegucialpa. The first night we went to this local bar called the Jaguar, where we all got our palms read by a local man. It was hilarious becuase Lauren and her friends had to translate Hana and I's reading. Amazingly, he was pretty accurate on my reading, knowing about two past relationships, the second one being more important than the first, a falling out with a good female friend, a past family tradegy...but he also read a bit into the future...and you will be happy to know mom, that I am going to have "un Hijo" (meaning one boy), as well as a good husband...but in my life, I will have mental problems. Hana's reading was a bit more fuzzy. It was said that she had 2.5 past relationships, her lifeline is long but very thin...also, that she will have one child as well. Lauren also said that her palm reading was pretty accurate.
(Hana getting her palm read)
It was nice to have a home to be in this weekend to chill. We didn't have to worry about getting around, because Lauren was an awesome tour guide with car and could translate for us. We met many of her friends down here and saw the local sites and towns surrouding the capital.
(Lauren, Hana and I at the flag memorial)
We have had a bit of plans changing. We are not able to do the rafting trip in Costa Rica (due to the company filling up their trip), so we don't have a time crunch anymore. Hana and I decided to head back out to the Caribbean sea! Roatan Island, a Bay Island off the north coast of Honduras. This island is the cheapest place in the world to go diving...so it will be more time of sun, snorkeling, diving, and hopefully meeting a friend of Hanas.
Kristen P.S. I fixed the pictures on the Model Gallo Post...Check them out!
This weekend we spent it with my friend Lauren from camp. It was a bit of an adventure finding her, but with a bit of time with the spanish speaking pay phone, we got ahold of her. Here we are in Tegucialpa. The first night we went to this local bar called the Jaguar, where we all got our palms read by a local man. It was hilarious becuase Lauren and her friends had to translate Hana and I's reading. Amazingly, he was pretty accurate on my reading, knowing about two past relationships, the second one being more important than the first, a falling out with a good female friend, a past family tradegy...but he also read a bit into the future...and you will be happy to know mom, that I am going to have "un Hijo" (meaning one boy), as well as a good husband...but in my life, I will have mental problems. Hana's reading was a bit more fuzzy. It was said that she had 2.5 past relationships, her lifeline is long but very thin...also, that she will have one child as well. Lauren also said that her palm reading was pretty accurate.
(Hana getting her palm read)
It was nice to have a home to be in this weekend to chill. We didn't have to worry about getting around, because Lauren was an awesome tour guide with car and could translate for us. We met many of her friends down here and saw the local sites and towns surrouding the capital.
(Lauren, Hana and I at the flag memorial)
We have had a bit of plans changing. We are not able to do the rafting trip in Costa Rica (due to the company filling up their trip), so we don't have a time crunch anymore. Hana and I decided to head back out to the Caribbean sea! Roatan Island, a Bay Island off the north coast of Honduras. This island is the cheapest place in the world to go diving...so it will be more time of sun, snorkeling, diving, and hopefully meeting a friend of Hanas.
Kristen P.S. I fixed the pictures on the Model Gallo Post...Check them out!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Last night I fell in love with El Salvador!!
Ay yi yi, where to begin??
I came to El Salvador completely open and empty. No expectations. And now . . . now I think I am in love.
The people we have met are incredibly kind and engaging, helpful and hilarious. There has been much laughter for me here in E.S.
The country is beautiful - from volcanoes and crater lakes to expansive beaches with not a soul in sight, only the encounter with the crashing waves! And who can pass up playing SOCCER with the local teenage boys on one of these beaches at SUNSET??
The food here is MUY DELICIOSO . .. we´re talking piping hot Queso Pupusa´s right off the grill of a ma and pa shop with one or two tables. AWEsome!
(Hana eating Pupusas)
(Our Beach House in El Salvador)
It all began when we arrived one evening in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. The bus dropped us off at a hotel. But the hotel was full. We caught a taxi (with a delightful driver who showed us pictures of his entire family - we´re talking grandchildren, nieces, nephews) and asked to go to La Estancia hostel. But the taxi driver hadn´t heard of the place, so he took us to a different hostel called Ximena´s. We checked in and the next morning both the owner and hte manager of the hostel stopped by to wish us a good morning and see if we wanted to catch a ride with them out to their beach front guesthouse on the northwestern Pacific coast of El Salvador. Umm, YES! Within the hour, we were loaded up in their jeep and on the road. Along the way, we stopped in different towns and got a flavor for local shops and foods. As we drove, the husband and wife team told us of El Salvador´s history and stories behind the natural landscape as we passed through it.
We arrived at the beachhouse - a lowprofile set of rooms with a couple of hammocks and the ocean. OH! THE OCEAN!! I absolutely delighted in body surfing the waves. I had no idea of the enormity and power of the ocean until I was right there in it, listening to the low roar crescendoing as the waves formed, blocking out all other sounds and then being pummeled as the waves crashed down on me, around me, sometimes tearing at my hair and swimsuit. I loved it!
(Hana BodySurfing)
(Kristen BodySurfing)
Right at sunset, a hundred pelicans appeared on the horizon, flying in formation. As they passed overhead, they turned and took roost in the two towering trees in the very middle of our beachhouse lot!
The next morning Kristen and I met up with the neighbor boy, Hector and jumped in his dug-out canoe. Kristen and I took turns paddling as Hector (who paddled the ENTIRE way) guided us through a maze of protected mangrove forest. We saw lots of fishermen out in their launches, either standing in their boats and throwing their nets into the air or submerged in the water with their spearguns. We watched fish called ¨Quatro Ojos¨ worm their way across the water like a mini-muskrat. We stopped at one mangrove island and with barefeet, we followed a little path through maiz (corn) and frijole(bean) fields until we came upon the residence of several campesinos (farmers). Upon meeting one of them by the name of Narcicio Garcia, he proceeded to pull out his machete and chop open three sweet coconuts for us to drink out of. He also handed each of us an aguacate (avocado), which Kristen was quite content to receive (a favorite food of hers).
(Kristen Paddling the Canoe)
(Hana Paddling the Canoe)
(Fishing net)
(Our tour guide)
That evening, Hector came by to see us on his way to play the usual sunset soccer game on the shore in front of our residence with his buddies. He invited us to play, so I grabbed my bright green soccer shorts (gracias Mary Slav!) and joined them down by the water. We played and we played HARD! I picked out one of the guys from the other team (Yermo) - he was quick and good (and I like a good challenge) - and I stayed on him for most of the game. There were several times that I outwitted him! (though not nearly as many as he outwitted me, but I like to celebrate small victories!) Once I kicked the ball up and over Yermo´s head when he was goalie. I even made three goals! I was quite impressed with these guys - my teammates often passed the ball to me, even when I had just messed up the play before. I really appreciated their playing ethic and I know that made a difference in my confidence and playing ability. (Beline, you would be proud of me. I imagined your delight if you were here with me. I know you would´ve been first in line to play, so inspired by that thought, I got right in there with the guys! We ladies gotta show these boys what soccer´s all about :). I can´t begin to count how many times I stopped in the midst of the game to remind myself that I was playing soccer on a beautiful beach at sunset in El Salvador. It just doesn´t get much better than this!
And then it did. After the game and under a bright starry sky, Hector took Yermo, KK, and I to his aunt´s house for Pupusa´s. (Pupusa´s are a traditional El Salvadorean food, made of cornmeal grilled with cheese, beans, or a variety of meats in the middle. Think quesadilla-ish. I have been craving these since before we arrived in El Salvador, but hadn´t had any yet). We arrived at the intersection of two dirt roads, where a table and a grill were set up to one side. Tia (aunt) Malina was busy making Pupusa´s at the grill, while the whole neighborhood hung around eating or chatting. I ate FIVE Pupusa´s! They were fresh and piping HOT! Heaven to me, I must confess. The moment when I felt most alive and in my element (aside from the entire evening) was when I was trying to get a point across at the dinner table with my broken, simple spanish, and everyone was laughing, even Tia Malina! The entire evening was a highlight because of the SPARK of connection I felt with the Salvadorean people, first with the soccer guys and then with this community gathered around the dinner table.
(Sunset Soccer)
There is something about El Salvador that has me in high-spirits, my body feels light, I´m chatting with the locals, overflowing with joy, laughing for no reason and constantly grinning from ear to ear. I feel intoxicated, but I haven´t had anything to drink. Except the water.
On our way back to San Salvador this afternoon, KK and I stopped by the University of Central America (La UCA) to see the memorials for Oscar Romero, six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her 16 year old daughter - all of whom were killed here in the 1980s because they stood up for the marginalized peoples of El Salvador and spoke truth to power. This is a whole other story that is important for me to tell you, but I will wait for another day.
Love and prayers,
Hana T.
I came to El Salvador completely open and empty. No expectations. And now . . . now I think I am in love.
The people we have met are incredibly kind and engaging, helpful and hilarious. There has been much laughter for me here in E.S.
The country is beautiful - from volcanoes and crater lakes to expansive beaches with not a soul in sight, only the encounter with the crashing waves! And who can pass up playing SOCCER with the local teenage boys on one of these beaches at SUNSET??
The food here is MUY DELICIOSO . .. we´re talking piping hot Queso Pupusa´s right off the grill of a ma and pa shop with one or two tables. AWEsome!
(Hana eating Pupusas)
(Our Beach House in El Salvador)It all began when we arrived one evening in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador. The bus dropped us off at a hotel. But the hotel was full. We caught a taxi (with a delightful driver who showed us pictures of his entire family - we´re talking grandchildren, nieces, nephews) and asked to go to La Estancia hostel. But the taxi driver hadn´t heard of the place, so he took us to a different hostel called Ximena´s. We checked in and the next morning both the owner and hte manager of the hostel stopped by to wish us a good morning and see if we wanted to catch a ride with them out to their beach front guesthouse on the northwestern Pacific coast of El Salvador. Umm, YES! Within the hour, we were loaded up in their jeep and on the road. Along the way, we stopped in different towns and got a flavor for local shops and foods. As we drove, the husband and wife team told us of El Salvador´s history and stories behind the natural landscape as we passed through it.
We arrived at the beachhouse - a lowprofile set of rooms with a couple of hammocks and the ocean. OH! THE OCEAN!! I absolutely delighted in body surfing the waves. I had no idea of the enormity and power of the ocean until I was right there in it, listening to the low roar crescendoing as the waves formed, blocking out all other sounds and then being pummeled as the waves crashed down on me, around me, sometimes tearing at my hair and swimsuit. I loved it!
(Hana BodySurfing)
(Kristen BodySurfing)
Right at sunset, a hundred pelicans appeared on the horizon, flying in formation. As they passed overhead, they turned and took roost in the two towering trees in the very middle of our beachhouse lot!
The next morning Kristen and I met up with the neighbor boy, Hector and jumped in his dug-out canoe. Kristen and I took turns paddling as Hector (who paddled the ENTIRE way) guided us through a maze of protected mangrove forest. We saw lots of fishermen out in their launches, either standing in their boats and throwing their nets into the air or submerged in the water with their spearguns. We watched fish called ¨Quatro Ojos¨ worm their way across the water like a mini-muskrat. We stopped at one mangrove island and with barefeet, we followed a little path through maiz (corn) and frijole(bean) fields until we came upon the residence of several campesinos (farmers). Upon meeting one of them by the name of Narcicio Garcia, he proceeded to pull out his machete and chop open three sweet coconuts for us to drink out of. He also handed each of us an aguacate (avocado), which Kristen was quite content to receive (a favorite food of hers).
(Kristen Paddling the Canoe)
(Hana Paddling the Canoe)
(Fishing net)
(Our tour guide)That evening, Hector came by to see us on his way to play the usual sunset soccer game on the shore in front of our residence with his buddies. He invited us to play, so I grabbed my bright green soccer shorts (gracias Mary Slav!) and joined them down by the water. We played and we played HARD! I picked out one of the guys from the other team (Yermo) - he was quick and good (and I like a good challenge) - and I stayed on him for most of the game. There were several times that I outwitted him! (though not nearly as many as he outwitted me, but I like to celebrate small victories!) Once I kicked the ball up and over Yermo´s head when he was goalie. I even made three goals! I was quite impressed with these guys - my teammates often passed the ball to me, even when I had just messed up the play before. I really appreciated their playing ethic and I know that made a difference in my confidence and playing ability. (Beline, you would be proud of me. I imagined your delight if you were here with me. I know you would´ve been first in line to play, so inspired by that thought, I got right in there with the guys! We ladies gotta show these boys what soccer´s all about :). I can´t begin to count how many times I stopped in the midst of the game to remind myself that I was playing soccer on a beautiful beach at sunset in El Salvador. It just doesn´t get much better than this!
And then it did. After the game and under a bright starry sky, Hector took Yermo, KK, and I to his aunt´s house for Pupusa´s. (Pupusa´s are a traditional El Salvadorean food, made of cornmeal grilled with cheese, beans, or a variety of meats in the middle. Think quesadilla-ish. I have been craving these since before we arrived in El Salvador, but hadn´t had any yet). We arrived at the intersection of two dirt roads, where a table and a grill were set up to one side. Tia (aunt) Malina was busy making Pupusa´s at the grill, while the whole neighborhood hung around eating or chatting. I ate FIVE Pupusa´s! They were fresh and piping HOT! Heaven to me, I must confess. The moment when I felt most alive and in my element (aside from the entire evening) was when I was trying to get a point across at the dinner table with my broken, simple spanish, and everyone was laughing, even Tia Malina! The entire evening was a highlight because of the SPARK of connection I felt with the Salvadorean people, first with the soccer guys and then with this community gathered around the dinner table.
(Sunset Soccer)There is something about El Salvador that has me in high-spirits, my body feels light, I´m chatting with the locals, overflowing with joy, laughing for no reason and constantly grinning from ear to ear. I feel intoxicated, but I haven´t had anything to drink. Except the water.
On our way back to San Salvador this afternoon, KK and I stopped by the University of Central America (La UCA) to see the memorials for Oscar Romero, six Jesuits, their housekeeper and her 16 year old daughter - all of whom were killed here in the 1980s because they stood up for the marginalized peoples of El Salvador and spoke truth to power. This is a whole other story that is important for me to tell you, but I will wait for another day.
Love and prayers,
Hana T.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Adventures and Misadventures from Xela to San Salvador
Made it to San Salvador, El Salvador! It is hot here and we read in the quide book that a lot of people get colds when they enter into this country...and I feel a cold coming on. Maybe it has to do that Xela, Guatemala was freezing, and when we caught the bus to El Salvador at 6:00 in the morning, Hana and I had to wear 6 layers and we could see our breath in the bus! It was crazy cold!
We got here last night, and are staying in some guest house from the guide book. This morning when we woke up, we got an offer to ride in the owner's car to their other guest house on the beach. So, we are hitting up that offer and off to the beach for a couple of days. Finally going to see the ocean again and maybe hit up the surf, or go in dug-out canoes through the Mangroove forest. Should be fun!
Thanks for the comments, Lisa, MATT, Kyla and Dad! It is a small world Kyla, and Ryan says hi! Also Lisa, I am totally up for that cookie making when I get home! Sorry Matt for not saying goodbye in San Pedro! Also, not sure why the pictures are not working on the last blog...I will try to fix that when we get back from the beach.
-Kristen
From Xela to San Salvador . . . adventures and misadventures:
For those of you who know Shasti Conrad, she´s a dynamite woman and fellow student from SEattle U! A couple weeks before we headed to Central America, SHasti found out I would be in Guatemala and suggested I look up an awesome guy by the name of Ryan Richards. Ryan has been living in Quetzaltenago (Xela), Guatemala working at a wonderful school that I will tell you more about later.
... So Ryan and I kept in contact and sure enough, KK and I headed out from language school to go visit him in Xela. Have you ever met someone who you feel at home with right off the bat and a sense of familiarity? Well that was Ryan. And to top it off, it turns out he´s from Coopville (where my dad spent a few years of his childhood) and Ryan went to school in Oak Harbor with KK´s lifelong friend Kyla, who we visited in Oak Harbor back in the day! small, small world.
Misadventures:
1. 5 hour long chicken bus ride from San Pedro to Xela -- we bumped along winding mountain roads (w/ INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF THE LAKE!), stopped in construction for a LONG time, found out skirts make for great roadside-pee-stops-attire, met 2 Germans on the bus, I got sick, couldn´t hardly standup once off the bus, luckily one of the Germans grabbed my bag and we walked the half hour to Central Park (near Ryan´s house). I spent two solid hours in the restaurant´s bathroom. And to top it all off, I missed the curb by the park and with All MY gear on (front and back), I slowly fell and sprawled out in the middle of a busy street. My bags were so heavy, I couldn´t move, so I opted for the alternative, which was to lay there and laugh until some Guatemalan women ran over to make sure I wasn´t broken.
2. Upon arrival in San Salvador, woke up in the middle of the night with a giant cockroach crawling on me! Yikes! Slept with the lights on while the creature skiddered back into the darkness under Kristen´s bed!!
Take care,
Hana T.
We got here last night, and are staying in some guest house from the guide book. This morning when we woke up, we got an offer to ride in the owner's car to their other guest house on the beach. So, we are hitting up that offer and off to the beach for a couple of days. Finally going to see the ocean again and maybe hit up the surf, or go in dug-out canoes through the Mangroove forest. Should be fun!
Thanks for the comments, Lisa, MATT, Kyla and Dad! It is a small world Kyla, and Ryan says hi! Also Lisa, I am totally up for that cookie making when I get home! Sorry Matt for not saying goodbye in San Pedro! Also, not sure why the pictures are not working on the last blog...I will try to fix that when we get back from the beach.
-Kristen
From Xela to San Salvador . . . adventures and misadventures:
For those of you who know Shasti Conrad, she´s a dynamite woman and fellow student from SEattle U! A couple weeks before we headed to Central America, SHasti found out I would be in Guatemala and suggested I look up an awesome guy by the name of Ryan Richards. Ryan has been living in Quetzaltenago (Xela), Guatemala working at a wonderful school that I will tell you more about later.
... So Ryan and I kept in contact and sure enough, KK and I headed out from language school to go visit him in Xela. Have you ever met someone who you feel at home with right off the bat and a sense of familiarity? Well that was Ryan. And to top it off, it turns out he´s from Coopville (where my dad spent a few years of his childhood) and Ryan went to school in Oak Harbor with KK´s lifelong friend Kyla, who we visited in Oak Harbor back in the day! small, small world.
Misadventures:
1. 5 hour long chicken bus ride from San Pedro to Xela -- we bumped along winding mountain roads (w/ INCREDIBLE VIEWS OF THE LAKE!), stopped in construction for a LONG time, found out skirts make for great roadside-pee-stops-attire, met 2 Germans on the bus, I got sick, couldn´t hardly standup once off the bus, luckily one of the Germans grabbed my bag and we walked the half hour to Central Park (near Ryan´s house). I spent two solid hours in the restaurant´s bathroom. And to top it all off, I missed the curb by the park and with All MY gear on (front and back), I slowly fell and sprawled out in the middle of a busy street. My bags were so heavy, I couldn´t move, so I opted for the alternative, which was to lay there and laugh until some Guatemalan women ran over to make sure I wasn´t broken.
2. Upon arrival in San Salvador, woke up in the middle of the night with a giant cockroach crawling on me! Yikes! Slept with the lights on while the creature skiddered back into the darkness under Kristen´s bed!!
Take care,
Hana T.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
San Pedro Highlights
1. BESOS de los NIÑOS! (kisses from the kids) There was no opportunity to feel down in San Pedro because the LOVE of the children was everywhere! My host sister Sindy always had hugs and kisses to share whenever she saw me. While Kristen was posing [en Vogue) for the camera, an 8 year old bread vender by the name of Rosenda Rosalia, came over to me, sat in my lap and whispered into my ear how beautiful I was. She gave me lots of kisses while we kept KRisten entertained and in good spirits to look natural for the camera.
2. THERE WAS A BLACKOUT one night in the entire town of San Pedro. At that moment, I was walking along the cobble stone streets with my host mom, both of us in a traditional Mayan shawl, heading up the mountain to a FIESTA of Evangelical churches. Two things happened the moment the lights went out: first, the NIGHT SKY came alive at once, as the stars shone brightly and innumerably in the utter darkness. Second, my little host mom (we´re talking half the size of me), grabs my hand and we continue up the hill, walking hand in hand with her leading the way by memory. When we arrived at the church, all was still dark, but as we entered, we were met with the wonderful sounds of a live mariachi band - playing from memory in the dark!!! I was blown away! I had never expected a mariachi band at church, but why not!? The darkness made for a great ambiance and the fiesta of music and preaching was wonderfully entertaining. Groups of women, including my host mom, went up on stage to sing. I was struck by the beauty of the mayan women, especially the wrinkly old ladies up there singing their hearts out!
3. 7am MORNING SWIMS with uncle PEdro ... Every morning, my uncle pedro headed down to the lake to bathe and every day he asked me, are you going with me tomorrow?? Finally I said yes. As we headed down to the lake just past sunrise, I was surprised to see the rocky shoreline lined with mayan women washing their clothes and bathing in the water. I dove in and being in the water made a refreshing start to another wonderful day.
2. THERE WAS A BLACKOUT one night in the entire town of San Pedro. At that moment, I was walking along the cobble stone streets with my host mom, both of us in a traditional Mayan shawl, heading up the mountain to a FIESTA of Evangelical churches. Two things happened the moment the lights went out: first, the NIGHT SKY came alive at once, as the stars shone brightly and innumerably in the utter darkness. Second, my little host mom (we´re talking half the size of me), grabs my hand and we continue up the hill, walking hand in hand with her leading the way by memory. When we arrived at the church, all was still dark, but as we entered, we were met with the wonderful sounds of a live mariachi band - playing from memory in the dark!!! I was blown away! I had never expected a mariachi band at church, but why not!? The darkness made for a great ambiance and the fiesta of music and preaching was wonderfully entertaining. Groups of women, including my host mom, went up on stage to sing. I was struck by the beauty of the mayan women, especially the wrinkly old ladies up there singing their hearts out!
3. 7am MORNING SWIMS with uncle PEdro ... Every morning, my uncle pedro headed down to the lake to bathe and every day he asked me, are you going with me tomorrow?? Finally I said yes. As we headed down to the lake just past sunrise, I was surprised to see the rocky shoreline lined with mayan women washing their clothes and bathing in the water. I dove in and being in the water made a refreshing start to another wonderful day.
The new model for Gallo, Cerveza
(Hana looking out at the sunset in San Pedro)Xela, Guatemala
We finished with Spanish school with great success. Our last night in San Pedro, I took my host family out to the bar for drinks and dinner. It was a joke throughout the week that I like to drink a lot, (due to the fact that I couldn't work the keys in the door, so I crashed at Hana's one night, making them think that I was so drunk I couldn't find my way home), so I invited them out. They took me up on it and we went to El Barrio, where I bought them beers and dinner. Afterwards, the two daughters snuck back out of the house and met Hana and I at the bar. Good times!
I feel that I have learned a lot of Spanish, or at least got my mind refreshed from the Spanish I did learn back in high school. Well, pretty much I am not timid anymore to at least try to speak the language. My mind was a lot more interested in the local Mayan language, and I learned some words which made my host family laugh. I felt like I was everyone's entertainment for the week.
In San Pedro we met with Anthony for lunch and he filmed us, maybe for part of the Discovery Channel show, or just for fun...but after filming us, he told me that I should be a model. Well, as some of you might know, that was always a secret dream of mine, to either model, be on TV, or even better, in the movies! So, Anthony is this great photographer and journalist, so he offered to take my picture to start my portfolio. That afternoon we had a photo session over looking the lake. It was amazing. At first I was so nervous and was thinking about ditching out, it was the high school shy Kristen that came out fo me again. But, I sucked it up and showed up. Anthony was great. He totally made me relax and hopefully we got some great pictures! He even offered to develop them and make a contact sheet for me. I was so lucky to meet him and run into this situation. Later, we went back to his hotel and talked about life...It was a great conversation. He is planning on writing an Angel book, about certain people's encounters. I am going to write up my story of Eric for him to publish. Amazing how life just works out. Anthony was so generous and I am very grateful to have this opportunity...plus it was a blast!
(Photo Shoot with Anthony)Now we are in Xela, Guatemala visiting a friend of a friend that Hana knows. Ryan met up with us and is kindly letting us stay at his house, called the Yoga House. Yes, they do practice yoga there, but we haven't done it yet. Last night we went to the market and bought food for a huge community meal and ate like kings. A lot of the house mates helped cook...it was wonderful, but didn't feel like Guatemala, more like a college setting in the states. Another crazy small world connection is that Ryan is from Coupeville, Washington and went to the same highschool as Kyla, and actually knows her! Strange! Today we toured around Xela and are planning on heading to San Salvador, El Salvador tomorrow.
(Ryan, Hana and I at the Market in Xela)Other crazy spanish language stories...We were having break at school, where we get to eat snacks and rest our brains. Well, when the teacher came to tell us it was break time, I said ¨Tengo hombre¨. All of the students and teachers laughed, but of course I didn't get it until they explained to me that I said ¨I have men¨. I meant to say ¨Tengo hambre¨, I'm hungry.
Also, Hana and I have talked about every subject possible, so how we are sitting around the table, like old women, soley talking about our aches and pains, and of course our bowel movements.
Life is Good,
Kristen
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