I have not posted on this in about a month, and I am kind of embarrassed to admit it. I have had the feeling “hey, I want to post on my blog”, but instead I post pictures on Facebook, and update myself with Facebook. Well no more, I want to make some kind of commitment to this blog. I really believe in posting on a blog, and all of the positive features a blog can bring.
Anyway, so June has been very hectic! I am nearing the end of training, and I could not be more excited or bittersweet. June started out with a bang! It was the first of three birthdays, which I will celebrate in Guatemala. I had a blast with my friends on Saturday, June 4th, and then on the fifth I had a lovely relaxing day with my family.
On the 6th of June, I left for Field-Based Training! We went a town called Salcaja in the department of Quetzaltenango, which is about 3 hours east of Sumpango. It was Riley, Richard, Sahisha, Linnea, Lucy, Elizabeth, Brady, and myself. It was really nice to be able to get to know the a group from another training town a little better. FBT was really nice, but it was not all rainbows and flowers. It was incredibly stressful. We had 4 charlas to give, in 4 days, or 1 charla (or “talk”) per day. Another thing to add to the scenario is that we only had the night before to prepare. By the time we got back from dinner each night, it was about 8PM. I had a couple late nights during that trip. I gave charlas on non-verbal communication, being assertive, self-esteem, and HIV/AIDS. Most of my charlas were with children, and one was with parents.
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| The town of Cantel, Xela. Beauty. One of the many towns we saw on FBT. |
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| Salcaja flagpole. Monument dedicated to the peace of Guatemala |
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| My FBT group. |
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| Salcaja has many yarn stores. I had to buy some! |
It was so nice to really dig my hands into the work, and get a tiny preview of what I will be doing for the next two years. Field Based Training, overall, was a blast. Because all of us were so exhausted, we became very silly. I laughed without being able to breathe many times on this trip, and I will never forget all of the good times that we had. For instance, watching Dawsons creek, having pizza twice, having 4 burgers, amazing coffee, playing with yarn, the oreo game, playing spades for 3 hours, being able to sleep in the bathroom, speaking spanish in front of kids for the first time, playing with the kids, freezing cold showers, and the overall adventure that was Field-Based Training.
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| The Youth Development trainees. |
The rest of the month has been normal, well as “normal” as you can be in a foreign country serving in the Peace Corps. It has included Spanish classes, youth development classes, trips to the Peace Corps office, hanging out with my family, and being clumsy. I have figured out that I am one of clumsiest people here, which is something I don’t love to be. There is a pedestrian walkway over the inter-american highway in San Lucas, and I swear I have fallen on it about 5 or 6 times. Passing over that passarella (name in Spanish), is something I dread every Tuesday when we go to San Lucas. I know I am going to fall and get another big bruise. Even if I wear my hiking shoes, which have a lot of tred, I still slip and fall. This is who I am now. Lol.
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| The feast of Corpus Christi in Sumpango today. |
This past week was Individual Directed Activities for most trainees. Instead of going to visit a volunteer for a couple days, I stayed in my training town, and had 3 full days of Spanish class. I was a little jealous that I was not able to go, but I am feeling so much better about my Spanish with those three days, so it was worth it.
Finally, on Thursday, I find out my site! I could not be more excited and nervous! I am so excited to find out where I will be living for the next two years, and start preparing for it!
