Author’s (that’s me) Note: In the first week or so of blog entries, I will be trying to give more simple details in order to provide you, the reader, a better feel for Guatemala and my surroundings. After that, I will probably post more funny stories, observations, and deep thoughts.
I woke up around 6am in order to catch my bus for Xela. I took the first class bus which cost about $7.50 one way. The ride took about five hours even though I believe Guatemala City and Xela are only about 120 miles apart. When I was looking at the map at home in the States, I failed to comprehend how it could take so long to go between two places that were so close. Maybe this is because I grew up in the flattest state in the US, or maybe because I am used to highways where 70mph is the normal speed limit. Now I know how it can take so long. The entire bus ride curves through the mountains on a two lane road and I believe the max speed limit is about 40mph. Little trucks holding passengers, livestock, and other materials passed our bus like it was nothing. There was also a lot of construction in order to make the road four lanes in some places, which created pockets of road that only had one lane. This means that we probably stood at a standstill for 30 minutes of the ride. We also took a 30 minute rest stop about two hours into the journey where 25 minutes of the 30 were spent doing absolutely nothing. Seriously, we stopped at this roadside stand and some people got food, but more or less the last 20 minutes were spent just sitting around. It amazes me how little significance is placed on time in other countries and I believe Guatemala will prove to be the same.
Anyways the scenery on the ride was absolutely gorgeous. Rolling hills, green everywhere, volcanoes in the distance, little villages scattered along the way, and clean mountain air. I tried to take some pictures from the bus, but justice cannot be done to how beautiful everything was. Finally, we arrived in Quetzaltenango, (remember this is the same as Xela for you slow learners) and I took a taxi directly to Pop Wuj, my number one choice for a language school. Pop Wuj advertises as a teacher’s cooperative where all the profits go to community service projects so I thought that was cool. Only time will tell…. I arrived at the door of the modest, old building, rang the bell, and waited, and waited. Five minutes later someone finally answered the door and ten minutes after that, I was signed up and my “family” came to pick me up. I took a quick ride to the house and then went directly back to the school for my first Spanish lesson. I guess some things do move quickly here!
First impressions of my family and house: The family consists of Francisco and Elby, married, seem to be in their 50s or 60s and very sweet people. When I asked if they speak English, they said no….should be fun. At first, I have no idea if they have children or not, or if there are even others living in the house. Later, I figure out that they do have kids, one of which lives in Ft. Lauderdale. The house is modest but nice. My room is about 9 by 9…not too bad at all and I have close to a full size bed. Almost immediately, I learn that Francisco and Elby are evangelical Christians. There are pictures and decorations of Jesus everywhere around the house and they tell me that they will not be celebrating tomorrow’s holiday, The Day of the Dead. They ask me if I will celebrate the holiday and I tell them that I will not because I am Jewish. Immediately, I regretted that decision. Not that they seemed to care too much, but I realized I had divulged too much information right off the bat. So I will not be telling others I am Jewish for now. Being Jewish always provides for an interesting dynamic while abroad, as it is impossible to know when it is okay to talk about it…more on this another day.
At dinner comes my first real surprise. I return from my first Spanish lesson at the school (5 minute walk) around 7pm and go to the table to find another guy sitting there. Eventually, after a very confusing conversation in Spanish, I learn that he lives here as well. His name is Fernando, he is 24, and goes to school in Xela but lives in another village a couple hours away. About 30 minutes later, a couple of other guys come to the table, Jaime and Alberto. Both of them live here as well! Jaime, a Guatemalan, is also an engineering student in Xela and Alberto, Mexican and 29 years old, works in the city. I remain extremely confused because I do not see any other rooms in the house so I am wondering the entire time where they are living. After we all talked for a bit, gave the normal courtesies, I asked them where they rooms were. So they took me out a door, which I thought was the back of the house, to an upstairs section consisting of two rooms. Both rooms are about the same size as mine but are being used as doubles. I also am told that they can get a free Wifi signal from the room which will definitely come in handy.
In the evening, Fernando, Alberto, and I went out to the center of the city for Halloween. Around central park, there were hundreds of little kids dressed in costume, walking around with their parents, and asking for candy. Many of the bars were decorated and advertising for Halloween parties. Everything seemed pretty similar to Halloween in the States minus the slutty costumes. We then went to a bar called Kokoloco (good name) for a drink. Nothing eventful happened…I kinda just sat there as it was loud and I do not know much Spanish. I watched some people salsa dance, drank my beer, and wondered what I was doing here. Have I mentioned yet that none of the other students living in my house speak English either? Well, they don’t. Actually I think that they may be able to speak/understand a little bit but just refuse to. Anyways, it will be great practice for me and I am looking forward to speaking with them more as I learn more words.
