Day at Xetulul!

On Saturday, I went to a Guatemalan theme park named "Xetulul" (pronounce the "x" like "sh"). It was an incredibly long day. I have had a very long week, with 10-hour days each day this week, so I wasn't completely excited about another 10-hour day (it ended up being a 16-hour day). 

My host family waiting for the minibus at 5AM.

So I woke up at 4:45 yesterday and was ready to leave with my family at 5AM. My family had set up this trip with a church that my host mom’s family attends in the aldea of Paquip. We went to the center of town to wait for the van. We waited about 15 minutes in like 55-degree weather. I was quite chilly by the time the bus arrived. The van was completely full. There are five of us (including me), which were getting on the mini bus. The four rows were full and some people were sitting in the front. My first thought was "Oh no, 3 hours of crouched standing." The people who were in the front seats moved and my host mom, host sister, and myself climbed in. It was so warm; I thought the happiness might overwhelm me. (I would come to hate that warmth later.) And we were off! Yay! We went to Santa Maria (which is the muni maybe one kilometer from Santa Clara), and the minibus stopped. We waited; I am not sure what for. I went to relieve myself in the milpas, and finally (about 30 minutes later), we were leaving our part of Guatemala. It was 6AM now. 

Going down into Retalheleu. Look, you can see some of the coast!

I was sitting in the middle seat of the front. The driver was to my left, and my host mom with my host sister on her lap was on my right. I felt very tall, because the seat was raised. It also wasn't very comfortable, but I figured I would get used to it. My legs were squished to the side in the passenger side's area for legs. My seat didn't have a very long back; it met about 3/4 of the way up my back. We made it up the mountain that leads out of my town, and at this point I was starting to get really hot. I pulled up my sleeves. Didn't help. I took off my sweater, helped a little, but it was my legs and butt that were burning. I tried to sleep. I don't know how, but I ended up falling asleep, but I have no clue in what position, since there weren't many options. I woke up and we were passing Cantel, Quetzaltenago. I thought we were almost there. Just on to the next department, and we will be there, yay! Well after Xela, we went down the mountains of the department of Xela, into the department of Retalhuleu. We stopped on the road for a quick descanso, and I was so happy to be able to move my legs, and see the beautiful mountains of Xela. About 30 minutes down the road, we stopped in the town of San Felipe (I think). I wasn't sure why we were stopping, come to find out we had one hour for breakfast. One hour, really? Are we having a four-star meal? If my Dad was here, he would be outraged. And that part of me was kind of frustrated. I am all about enjoying the sites on the road, but not when we are on a day trip. 

Well we finished our breakfast of pancakes and cuchitos in about 20 minutes, and had plenty of time to spare. We sat in the park, and enjoyed the 90-degree weather. My family kept saying "mucho calor" (very hot), and it was hot, but I was just enjoying finally being able to sweat. I laid down on a bench in the sun, and tried to soak up as much sun as I could. It's as close to tanning as I can get, since I live in Santa Clara. We were finally able to leave, but not without a stop at Sarita for a helado (ice cream)! I got back in my hot seat, and we were off. Twenty minutes down the road we were stopped by some police. I think they wanted money, because we needed permission to enter Retalhuleu. Who knows? We waited for about 30 minutes, and then we were off again. Come to find out we were only another 5 minutes from the park, how frustrating! We parked, my host sisters changed, and we went to the entrance. It's 11AM now. 

Everything in Guatemala takes longer than it should. This day, a 3.5-hour trip took 6. Once we got in the park we sat and waited. I think we were waiting for other people, but then we got impatient, and went to another part of the park to wait. We didn't start riding any rides till about 12PM. We also came to find out that our admission, which was only Q10 per person, only came with 12 rides. We received this ticket, with 12 spaces on it. There were 5 of us, which meant about 2 a piece. What a rip. We then had another man join our group. He thought he knew all about the park, which always really bugs me when people think they know all. I just wanted to experience the park, and let things find me. He wanted to explain everything, and especially since I am a gringa; he really wanted to explain everything. I had just met him that day, but I was told he lives in Santa Clara. All day, he wanted to control things with machismo, and I wanted to challenge his view. So in my own little way, I challenged his view of machismo. He wanted to lead the group, so I walked faster and led. I didn't follow his heavenly advice, instead did what my family and I wanted. I challenged his advice, and questioned his knowledge. I was frustrated with how we were just walking around the park not doing anything, so I might have channeled my frustration there. 

Riding the coaster!

We finally got to ride some rides!!! My host sisters, Andrea and Vivian, rode the Carousel. To see the joy in their faces made me so happy! Then I rode a small roller coaster with them, and we all rode a train around the park. Then we were out of boxes for riding. It was like 12:45, and we were done. That isn't how a day at an adventure park is supposed to go. So I was nice, and went and bought 12 more rides for Q50. It was so worth it. I just wanted to see some more happy kids! So we went to ride some more rides, like the log flume (my favorite), a swirly thing, and a swinging ship. My host dad rode the big roller coaster, crazy. 

We were hungry. It was a big deal looking for a place to eat. They wanted to leave, but I suggested we stay, because I had seen some cheap places to eat in the park, and I wanted to continue to enjoy the park.  It was really only the stranger man who wanted to leave and go to Xela. We started to look for places to eat, which was really hard for them. I suggested we just look around, and find something, but they wanted everyone and their mother where a good place to eat was. This isn’t like normal adventure parks where you receive a colorful map on the way in. We found some places, eventually. So I had a cheap, almost crappy, cheeseburger with Andrea. It was pure joy. Everyone else had chuchitos. I am not sure why you would come to an amusement park, and eat the same thing you eat all the time, but people are different. 

Some decorations at the park!

Trying to get Vivian excited to take a picture, as we were leaving.

We left and went out to the car. More waiting. We got in the van, and more waiting. I decided to take off my leggings because I was already hot, and I knew the ride would be hotter. We finally left. And Oh My God, it was so hot in the van. I found out why I was so hot. My legs were by the motor, and I was sitting on another important piece of the car, which was also hot and not meant for sitting on. We stopped to get some fresh plantains, and on our way again. I fell asleep, somehow, and woke when we arrived at a gas station near Xela. I was sweating in every part of my body, but I was determined not to complain, at least not that much. Everyone was saying how it’s cold again, because we were back in the Highlands. I couldn't feel it. Still super hot. We were off again, and we stopped for another descanso at Cuatro Caminos. I had some Pollo Campero, which is fabulous as always. I got back into Hell, and we were on our way. It was about 6:30 when we left Cuatro Caminos, so it was pretty much dark. On the way back, my host mom and I talked about various things. I told her how dad died, and she shared with me that two of her siblings had passed away when she was younger. It was nice to be able to talk with her.

Once we arrived back in Xiprian, which is an aldea, about 3 km from Santa Clara. It was 8PM, and I was still sweating. I was starting to get crabby, I just wanted to get home and shower. Oh no, not yet, we needed to be in a parade. No joke, after the whole day of traveling and walking, we were going to be in a parade. Some kids were doing a torch run. I was actually really impressed, after a very long day, some kids were going to run the 5 miles pack to Paquip. So we followed them, very slowly. I felt like I was never going to get my shower. We finally got to Santa Clara, stopped for another 5 minutes, and back to the parade. I couldn’t take it, so I said that I was going to go to the back, and get out of the hell seat. It was so much more comfortable, and now I was just ready to get home. We finally were left off of the minibus, and we walked home. I took a cold shower, and because I was so sweaty and hot, I LOVED my cold shower. At 9PM, I had finished my shower, put some aloe on my sunburn from the day, and collapsed into bed.

It was a very fun, long day. I want to go back again, but maybe next time with some gringos, who know how to enjoy an amusement park. I will never sit in the front of a mini bus again for long trips, well not if I can help it. For the good and bad, it was a trip I will never forget.

Paz y Amor

Un Poco Gordo

So something happened today during school, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it. I was talking to a teacher that I haven't spoken to yet, and I was telling her how much I love Guatemala and Santa Clara. She then told me that she lives in Xiprian, which is one of the aldeas I work in. I was saying how I have walked up the huge hill in Xiprian, it has to be at a 25-30 degree angle. It is steep, and I was telling her that it was difficult. She then said "es porque usted es un poco gordo." The translation is "its because you are a little fat". I was completely taken aback. I wanted to say something about how that was a little rude, but then I remembered that this is Guatemala, and gordo is not a bad word. So I just continued with the conversation.

So now we come to this moment. I have been thinking about this little comment, and trying to analyze it in a way that was acceptable. And I cannot for the life of me think of one acceptable reason, other than its culturally accepted. For example, in the States, you do not call people fat. If anything, you say the word chubby about someone else, behind their back, for descriptive purposes. If you are describing their athletic ability, you would say "they are out of shape." But never to their face, as that would just be pointing out a flaw that they have. In the States, we put a lot of weight on image. I know that this cultural pressure is what influences me to be offended by the word "fat".

So I thought outside of the realm of personal beauty. I thought about inner beauty. I would never say to someone, "well that's because you aren't smart" or "Well thats because you aren't a supportive person". Then I thought about commenting on someone's flaws, which I usually only do in a joking manner. Say I say to my sister "My room is so messy", and she would say back, "well that is because you are messy/lazy." I know she is right, but she only gets to say it because we know each other so well. If someone I just met said "well that is because you are a little lazy", I would think that person is very rude.

Let me also say, I am sensitive to the word fat. It has plagued me all my life, and I definitely have issues with my weight. I always have, and it is something I am always working on. Since I am sensitive to the word, I know that triggered a bigger reaction, hence this blog post.

This has become one of the first things in Guatemala in which I am not comfortable with. If it continues, I will have to say "Maybe next time, please don't use the word gordo, because that is offensive where I am from" or "that kind of hurts my feelings". Who knows? I am sure this will happen again, and I think I am more prepared. However, I still find it offensive.

Peace and Love.

The Great Plan

The past two weeks have been entirely busy. It made me really tired, but I would much rather be busy, than be bored. Last week was feria in my town, which means that its the annual celebration of the awesomeness of my town. I also had a Spanish teacher come from Cuerpo de Paz, so I wasn't able to enjoy the feria as much as I would have wanted. But I did enjoy what I saw. There were food booths (of food I couldn't eat), 3 ferris wheels, and booths selling stuff. Stuff would be the best word to describe it, because it is such a cornucopia of stuff like pots and pans, shoes, jeans, remote controls, illegal DVD's, watches, and much more.

I have been watching so many movies lately. They just make me so happy, that I almost watch one every day (Holy cow!). One movie I just watched was 127 Hours, and now I have illegally downloaded the book, and I am reading that now. It is such a great movie, and an even greater book. (I mean when is the movie ever better, almost never!) Well, one of the things that really struck me was how much Aron Ralston really believed that it was fate that the boulder fell on him. And while my situation is NOTHING like that, it got me thinking about fate.

Fate: There is a plan for your life. Now I am sure some of you have heard the story of my mom buying a photo of Lago de Atitlan a couple years ago. Well I will tell it again. My mom was at a gallery opening or something, and it was a photography exhibit. She was struck by this one photo, which was a dock leading off into a beautiful blue lake, with the edge of the lake leading to three volcanoes. My mom liked the photo, and continued with the exhibit. A couple of days later, my mom was still thinking about the photo. My mom is an artist, and is not one to buy art. All of the art in our home was either done by her, or given to her as a gift by her artist friends. Well I couple of days later, she decided to purchase the photo. We hung it up in the living room. (I must say I wasn't the biggest fan, because it was a copy and the paper was wrinkled, and it could have used some work with presentation.) A couple years later, we redid the living room, and took it down, and I think we put it in the attic. While all of this is happening, I am applying to the Peace Corps. Well I get accepted, and go to Guatemala, and end up in a town right next to Lago de Atitlan. When my mom remembered the photo, then I recognized it as Lago de Atitlan, well I felt it was a sign of fate. I live behind Indian's Nose, which is a mountain right next to Volcan San Pedro. Another cool thing was Indian's Nose is also in the photo, so you can almost see my town.

The point of this story is how much I truly believe in fate. When I was applying to PC, I was being a slacker. I just did not want to fill out the application. I was actually suffering from a bout of my lovely depression, but didn't know it at the time. So it took me forever to finish, like 10 months. Why did it take me so long, fate. I was meant to come to Guatemala, to live on Lago de Atitlan, and to have some amazing experiences. Whenever I feel frustrated with my work or living in a different country, I just think about this. This is meant for me for a reason, and I have to have faith. It will be all be okay, because this is all part of a bigger plan.

I am not a religious person, I am spiritual. I believe this wholeheartedly. I wont go into my qualms with religion. But I truly believe that me being here, not just in the Peace Corps, Guatemala, Lago de Atitlan, Santa Clara, but sitting in my room right now, that this is all part of a higher plan. I know that The Great Spirit has great and difficult things in store for me, and I cannot wait to see what they are.

Peace and Love o Paz y Amor