Volcan de Santa Maria

After a long, frustrating 48 hours of solid rain here in Quetzaltenango, the weather finally took a turn for the better...

However two days ago just as the rain really began to fall I biked my way out to the base of el Volcan de Santa Maria, 5km outside of Quetzaltenango. Justin and I were planning to hike it this afternoon. Anyway, while I was there I ran into Juan (changed name). I pulled over to ask Juan for directions and we got talking about his family and he invited me into his house to check out the family picture album. Juan spent two years living in Charleston, South Carolina. After fifteen minutes of pictures I saddled back up and continued to the base of Santa Maria.

On my way back I saw Juan hiking towards Santa Maria with a big bucket, shovel, and machete. He was headed to work work on his plot of land about 1/2 mile up the volcano. I asked if I could join him and he said absolutely... Its funny how these things work out. Turns out Juan crossed the US border in Nogales, the exact place I will be working in Mexico in the fall. He told me about his struggles crossing: Having to walk two days and nights through the Arizona desert with no water. He crossed with a group of 17 and from what I understood an elderly gentlemen in the group died during the journey due to exhaustion. He took this risk because he had to pay school fees for his four grandchildren and feed his large extended family that all live under his small small roof. He worked in SC for two years working construction consistently sending money home until he hurt his arm badly and had to return to Guatemala. He says things are much harder now for his family. He blesses the good harvest that he has yielded thus far but worries about the future... I was blown away with Juan's willingness to share and simply his overall demeanor.

We spent forty five minutes digging a large rain water hole. Then we headed back down the volcano. He taught me a bit of Pichel, a Mayan dialect, and I taught him a bit of English. This afternoon Justin and I made the 5km walk to the Santa Maria but got a call from one of the professors asking us not to hike the volcano due to mudslide threats... However I did catch up with Juan and left my copy of I, Rigoberta Menchu with him.


Juan y su familia preperando por mas lluvia.


Mine and Justin's White Whale: Volcan de Santa Maria

Tuesday is painting day... I'm pretty excited. Adios todos.

La Iglesia de San Andres Xecul

Yesterday Lizzie, Justin, Rose and I took the bus to San Andres Xecul to see one of the most bizarre churches imaginable...





It is a mix of Catholic and Mayan iconography that results in an extremely stunning church. After the bus ride we had a nice 2 mile walk into San Andres Xecul. Right as we reached the church is started pouring. We took the chance to eat a quick lunch under the church entrance. Right as the rain let up, the church opened and we headed inside...


The Alter


"Fisher of Men"

Julie and I headed to the orphanage to determine what kind of work we could help out with there. Thanks to an idea by Rose, we presented the idea of painting and refurbishing a few of their houses. The director liked the idea. So next week the group is going to spend an afternoon painting and spending time con los ninos.

The other day on my way back from finding paint costs and whatnot I stumbled upon this hole in the wall bike shop. The owners name is Miguel. He used to be a professional cyclist here in Guatemala. We spent the better part of an hour talking about his cycling career and my cycling aspirations. He pulled out newspaper clippings, medals, and photos when he was in prime form. It was clear he was eager to share this stuff with somebody. I am just happy that I was able to be an ear for him. I rented a bike from him for the week. A real beater, but it got the job done this morning...


Mi coche nuevo y la ciudad.

Grandma, you would have been proud. I biked my way out of two dog attacks with nothing more than a soaring blood pressure. They got mighty close! Also, I told Miguel about you and Grandpa's trip across country. He was very impressed.


Miguel y su tienda.


sigh*

Adios todos!

Amo mi bicicleta

We arrived in Quezteltenango on Saturday after a beautiful van ride through the mountains. We spent that afternoon unpacking and touring the city. I also was determined to find a bike shop where we could rent bikes from. Eventually I stumbled upon one and we rented 8 bikes for an amazing ride to Los Fuentes Georgeinas natural springs on Sunday. It was a great all day ride full of ups and downs.




There was a REAL bike race during our little trek...



The last 8km hugged the side of a mountain that is used by hundreds of farmers. While I was waiting, I stopped and "helped," well sort of, a family harvesting carrots. I have a new appreciation for the process of farming my favorite food.


Mientras esperaba por el group "ayude" un familia con sus zanhorias.

This morning I went for one more ride before we had to get the bikes back. I wound my way up into the clouds. I stopped at an especially steep part to take a break and grab some water and an elderly women with a huge sack of onions on her back walked right passed me and gave me a little smirk. I then walked my bike up the rest of the climb with a fella named Roberto. He is twenty and works Monday-Saturday, 10 hours a day, on construciton. He bikes to all of the construction sites regardless of the distance. Roberto and the old women are only two examples of the Guatemalan work ethic. Anyway, the rest of the ride was amazing and beautiful...


Mi Carro!


Una familia con verduads en su tierra.


Mi carro y la ciudad.

Today I hunted down an orphanage that welcomes volunteers. I spent an hour or so walking and asking around for an orphanage in the area until Fina, an extremely nice women took me by the arm and dragged me onto a bus with her. She and the fellow riders discussed and eventually came to the consensus that I would continue riding with them until somebody got on the bus who knew the location of the orphange I was hunting for. After twenty minutes, a women got on the bus and Fina assualted her with the question. This women happened to know of an orphanage. So after another ten minutes on the bus I was pushed off the bus and told "Sigue recto!" I continued straight and found the place I had been looking for. I went in and had a nice chat with the director, Franciso. He is a fine fellow and told me about the different ways the group could help the center. I'm headed back there again tomorrow to tell him some of the activities, games, and work we could provide for the center. Looks promising!
It is the people like Fina who make this world such a beautiful place. Que bueno!


El Parque Central por la manana

Muchos gracias todos!

Plaza de la Constitucion

Today, our final day in Guatemala City we spent in el Centro Historico in the Plaza de la Constitution and el Cathedral Metropolitana. We bused our way to the Cathedral Metropolitana in the AM and were given a nice tour of the cathedral. Given that we are a group of 17 gringos, they busted out all the stops. We were brought up onto the roof of the cathedral. It was a nice view of the city. Four adventurous Guatemalan students followed us up and jumped in on the tour. They were a lot of fun to talk to and had a lot of good insight about the city. Further, like many of the men and women I have talked to, they are pretty excited about the World Cup. Much to my disappointment however, I have yet to have found a Guatemalan pulling for Mexico... I am going to have to be a bandwagon Mexican fan during World Cup...

Tomorrow we are off to the mountains in Quetzaltenango. I'm off to eat a quick dinner (PBJ and a huge carrot) and then un partido de futbol in el Estadio Mateo Flores. Gracias todos y adios!


La Plaza de la Constitucion


La vista del Cathedral Metropolitana


El grupp saliendo la aeropuerta

Llegamos!

Well after two real easy flights, all 17 of us arrived in Guatemala City on Monday. We are in Guatemala City until the 22nd taking classes at the Universidad Landivar, a Jesuit school just within the city limits. Our focus for the first bit of the trip is on early Mayan culture. Yesterday was Mayan epigraphy, today is Mayan music. Fun stuff.

Anyway... while Josh, Julie, Sam, and I were on a quick run yesterday morning we ran past Amigos de Los Ninos Hogar "Tio Juan". I stopped by quickly to find out more information and then in the evening Justin, Julie, and I spent some time talking to the director and finding out more about el hogar (home) and seeing if we could help in any capacity.

Tio Juan (Uncle John), the blessed individual who started el hogar 36 years ago told us about the history of el hogar... El hogar has been in Guatemala City since 1976 serving as a home to street children from all over Guatemala City. Currently it is the home for 318 boys from ages 4-22. What is cool about the place is that the older boys take care of the younger boys and every child at el hogar has some sort of responsibility around the house. So there is no need for maids, nurses, or parental figures. And Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm the boys have school right at el hogar. Teachers come in and teach all the way up to the high school level. Then they carry on to the university level. Mas informacion: http://www.micasa.org.gt/

Given the nature of our schedule, Tio Juan said it would be difficult for us to volunteer or at the very least hang out at el hogar mucho. I was very happy with his honesty. By the time the boys got to know our names, we would be gone. However, simply meeting Tio Juan was a blessed experience. I am happy we got to see how el hogar runs and even more happy that Justin, Julie, and I got to meet an individual so dedicated to positively changing the lives of thousands of children.

Musica de la Maya hoy! Gracias todos...

Howdy Everyone

Hey there,

I hope you all are doing well. I've never really been one to blog, but I figure it's the best way to keep you all posted for the next couple months (a bit selfish I suppose).

Until mid-December I'm going to be traveling and studying in Guatemala and Mexico.
Guatemala: May 17-June15 I'm traveling with some other Le Moyne students and taking classes and learning a bit about the country. Hopefully getting a bit better at Spanish... we'll see.

Irapuato, Mexico: June 15ish?-August 17 I'll be interning for ProLiteracy Worldwide at one of their partner organizations in Irapuato called PLAMAC. Fostering small savings clubs, PLAMAC allows women to support community development projects and establish small businesses.
http://proliteracy.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=341&srcid=325

Nogales, Sonora, Mexico: August 17-mid-December or so... I'll be serving and researching migrant education at the Kino Border Initiative, a soup kitchen and shelter that services recently deported migrants on the border of Arizona and Mexico. http://www.kinoborderinitiative.org

Thank you for checking this out. I sincerely hope I can share my opportunity to experience, learn, and serve with you all... even if it is only through a computer screen!

Take care all!