Tuesday, August 25, 2009

¡Bienvenidos a Guatemala!









These photos portray our group at 2:30 in the morning, waiting for the Washington National Airport to begin serving customers (at 4:00am).
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Last night, as I was falling asleep, I was interrupted by a booming thunder. We’ve been instructed that, when it’s not cloudy, that boom comes from the active (but lazy) volcano outside my bedroom window when it decides to puff out some smoke. I ran up to the window to look and saw streams of lava coming out the top (no, sadly I did not get a picture)!!! Three different streams of glowing red, molten lava popped out of the volcano. Exciting, yeah? I couldn’t sleep. But the next morning when I shared the excitement I was informed it was a normal occurrence. Thus, sleep shall return this evening—sans fear of Pompeii II.

On to more exciting things:

Being in a room with a group of 33 people that are all comfortable with themselves, desire nothing of others except to share who they are and what they have to give to them, and that are just happy to BE is something I don’t think I’d give up for the world. I believe that this group is one whole part of the reason I came here.

The other part, the BIG, huge part is the people of Guate. SO HOSPITABLE they are, and so open to your presence. I’m staying with Doña Ana and Don Manuel (owner of a finca de café that produces AMAZING coffee—YES, I’m very much enjoying drinking it), and their three children (Jose, 22 on August 29th, Milton, 28 on September 2nd, Flor, 29) and one grandchild (Mariana, 7, so sweet—she likes to scare the bejeezus out of me). We sit at the kitchen table and talk, watch enthralling telenovelas (juicy ones), and eat AMAZING food, and I love it. I love everything about it. I’m going to attempt to make my cookies for the upcoming birthdays, and went on a successful quest to find real chocolate chips today in order to do so.

We cleaned beans my first Saturday to make them ready for cooking and Doña Ana described to me the art of making FABULOUS frijoles negros—I will have to practice with her during my three months here. I MEAN THEY’RE AMAZING! We went to church my first Sunday, and I met the volunteer who had lived here previously (Melanie). ¡Que calidad tiene ella!

We (me, Tricia, Shaila, and Annalisa) will be working in a small town between two volcanoes (one of which I have a clear view from my bedroom window). We’re here to help Artisans improve their sales either by adding value or diversifying their product, as well as finding buyers or better locations to sell. This is our training project for the next three months, which will help us gain the necessary skills to get to know and work with other Guatemalans for the next two years. We recently met some of our participants and got to taste the excitement of actually having the opportunity to be effective. We also introduced ourselves to the mayor: “Soy Amanda Baker, soy de California, y soy licensiada en ciencias políticas. En los estados, trabajaba con una compañia que trabaja por el medio ambiente sostenible.”

To fathom the invaluable experience I’m about to have is beyond exciting. I consider myself lucky to be a part of the Peace Corps and to contribute to its legacy of contributions. What an extraordinary opportunity to gain mucha from the opportunity to learn who I am, and what it means to be a part of this world.



At about 5:15 this morning, the local convention of street dogs, or cuchos, decided to have a conference right outside my bedroom window. It seems to be the regular meeting place for them as of late. I suppose it will become a regular thing, which I will learn to sleep through. It did, however, pose a grand opportunity for a spectacular photo of the volcano at dawn. Oh, and, there were two more incidences of booming lava last night. I don’t think I could ever get tired of it.

Later this morning, I was relieved of my guilt for making everyone a few minutes late for church by a parade that started on the street, again, right outside my bedroom window. You know, just your usual Sunday morning parade, with ALL the schools in the surrounding areas in their band-suit bests… an early start to celebrating the day of Independence, official date September 15th (Sara I will surely be celebrating your birthday here). We were serenaded with such popular hits as “YMCA” and the Pink Panther song, among several others. They were quite amazing (they’re actually still going as I write this), and even made me tear up just a little. Being the sap that I am, I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the joy of listening to the awesome Guatemalan performance, while looking at a beautiful volcano, watching it make tiny puffs of smoke, allllll right outside my bedroom window. How lucky am I???



To my family and “framily”, please know that I am there with you. My heart is with you.

I love you.