Feliz Año Nuevo

Feliz Navidad de Anna and Jellyto

Do you know how hard it was for me to catch this puppy? And then put this silly Christmas hat on him? He wasnt a happy camper. As soon as this picture was taken he took off the hat and threw it into the tall grass. Hahahaha, sorry. It was difficult though. To anyone who reads this, mainly my family and friends, Merry Christmas all the way from Guatemala. Let it be known, that I will NOT be eating tamales for Christmas. I love you guys with all my heart.

Zaculeu

This Sunday the family I live with invited me to Zaculeu, or Las Ruinas, the principal ceremonial site for the Mam at one time. It was nice getting out of my town, as much as I am growing fond of it. People are starting to call me Anita. Thats what my mama calls me. Anyway, the ruins were nice. Doña Raquel and Don Rubein ran into some family members so they spent the hour or two that we were there at the bottom of one of the structures just talking while Cristian and I walked all around taking pictures, checking out the souvenirs and trying to find Quesifritos Chileados (my favorite junkfood aside from Sanguchitos--ice cream sandwiches from Sarita). After the ruins we went to Don Rubeins sisters home in a nearby aldea. We played soccer with some of her kids (she has 15) and ate bread and drank coffee. We also spent a good portion of the night trying to chase a white rabbit.

New mailing address

I may or may have not inforned you all that you can send me mail somewhat directly to where I live. New address is:
My name (First and Last)
Voluntaria de Cuerpo de Paz/Peace Corps
Oficina de Correos Huehuetenango
Guatemala, Centro America

A Boy

Seño Anna? or Profe Anna? This is another one for mom and dad, to show you that I am still good and depending on how mom sees it, gaining or losing weight.

Baby chicks and some thoughts

The family I live with is concerned that Jelly Jr will eat this little chick and his brothers and sisters. I don´t think that this is likely, although he does like chicken. He just likes chasing them around. They are too damn cute. Wouldn´t you chase them?

Thoughts:

1) It does not feel like Christmas. Where is my tree? And where are my presents? Where is my white snow? Where is my family?

2) The week-long girls basketball camp is over, as is the dodgeball camp that was an amazing success. I think that Seño Anna is the talk at many lunch and dinner tables simply for playing dodgeball with these kids for two hours every day. Good Lord, it was exhausting but fun.

3) Finished reading A Thousand Splendid Suns...highly recommend it.

4) I´m finally getting furniture.

5) I need to s top spending so much money on food.

Alllllrighty then

The title to the blog has little to do with what I´m actually going to write about. But I was watching it the other day at one of my students houses and I remember that we hadn´t gotten to the end when he figures out that the woman is a man with everything put behind him (I´ll gently put it that way). Anyway, so last night I went to the papifut tournament that my community has every year. Cristian (my other P.I.C aside fro mVanessa) and I had just gotten our caliente (warm punch with pineapple, coconut and papaya) when this guy comes walking out of the fenced area greeting everyone. Hola, viejo. Then he goes on to me and says, Como estas, Malito?, almost knocking me on my feet as he patted me on my shoulder. Apparently, I look like someone named Malito. And apparently I look like a dude. It was dark. I had a hat on and my hair pulled up, sweat pants, and a big skiing coat...but still. Then right before I was about to leave another guy that had been playing is going to leave and he goes around saying his goodbyes then gets to me and says, Que onda viejo? as he takes my hand and shakes it. Then hes likes, Oh snap! Desculpe. And he feels super salty. But all the men folk were laughing about it. They had since the first misunderstanding and were dying laughing that it had happened again. Those things don´t usually bother me. I´ve never been super feminine, girly or however women are made to seem in tv and magazines, society in general. Except for maybe when I was ten and still wore that beautiful flower hat that Alberto still makes fun of me for. But yes, it bothered me and I couldn´t help but slip out, Does one have to wear a dress to let people know that she is a woman? I don´t know that that statement was important because the only people who heard were Cristian and his dad (he was part of the laughing folk).

Anywho, today I played dodgeball (matado) again with about 20 kids. They do not get tired of this game. Little do they know about the Pink Cobras from Aurora...But I see some definite dodgeball superstar potential in some of those kids. My girls´basketball game is also going on this week. Very few girls have come but I think that I may also have sparked the interest of some girls that don´t get out to play much. Oh and I got the lethargic 10 year old boy of the lady I used to live with to come out and do some exercise. He generally watches tv and plays videogames. So progress is being made. Oh oh...and I got a free desk. Did I mention that?

Thanksgiving

Yes I know this is late and not enough but enjoy anyway.

Jelly´s all grown up

Eerie

Kind of like what Roy and I saw when we hung out in Chicago while I was home. Increased police presence in the downtown area. Way more than normal. The same thing is happening here. I´vé noticed it for the past two weeks. Tons of cops and soldiers in the downtown area, guarding certain shopping centers. Today as I walked to the bus stop, there were two helicopters flying overhead. I don´t know if its because of the narco killings that happened a couple weeks back. I don´know but it doesn´t make me feel safe--the increased police and military presence. So that makes me think that something is definitely going to go down any day now. A shootout maybe or something. Who knows.

Campamento En Paz, 2008

I miss these people

Happy Birthday to the Oso!

Please go here to LOL: http://caringforbear.blogspot.com/2006/10/ode-to-bear-thanks-clare.html

I was looking for a bear poem to put up with this picture and instead found a blog written by a lady that is married to a Bear. Pretty funny. Anyway, Happy Birthday, Bear. Thanks for being a great friend and sister. Love, Bird.

En Paz/Capaz

Today kicked off camp at one of my schools. I really wasnt sure what the expect, how many kids would come, if theyd like it. En fin, all that other stuff of self-doubt and assumptions. The camp was set to go one way a few months ago but in this last week, I completely changed it, focusing on Children´s Rights around the world. Stressing to them that they have rights as members of their society and citizens of their country and the world, conditions that must be met in order for them to have happy, healthy lives; they, in turn, must respect the human rights of others. Lovely UN stuff. I dont know what made me change but Im glad I did. Today went well. We had some get-to-know you activities, a grafiti wall, read a fairy tale about human rights, and had aserious geography lesson. Did you know that Venezuela was in Asia? Yeah, Im talking serious. I thought the inner city was bad. Anyway, in the next couple of days we will be celebrating Children´s Rights, via watching movies (hopefully even though my CTA let me down with the projector), playing games, and doing art (making Christmas cards for a local orphanage and one of our students that is very sick). I will post more stories and pictures soon. Love you.

Guat?

Feels slightly strange being back. Specially yesterday when I saw a bunch of people from town that I am kind of close with. Complete social awkwardness. Slight language barrier. Road blocks of different understandings. And also small talk. But today I feel better. Took the bus into town and everything feels good. I found out that the three classrooms that were going to be built at one of my Institutos are going to be used for more students unfortunately. Its great that they are sending more students our way because the majority of the teachers are pretty great here. A lot us were hoping that we could use those classrooms for special purposes, like a library or a Home Ec class. The walls are up though. And the schools being painted a bright yellow color. Next week is a camp at one of my schools. Im excited about it but feel no way prepared. Hard work the next couple of days. My host brother, Cristian, and I will be working away. More random thoughts... I made Mac and Cheese today over an open flame and it was amazing. I also made some black beans in a clay pot, took a nap with Jellyto, took a cold shower because the electricity went out and cleaned my house . I miss you guys.

Otown pwnt

Survey

1. Where were you at 3:02 AM this morning? sleeping with Mom but she kept telling me to move over because I was too close. I need warmth. Perla, you understand.
2. What was the first thing you thought this morning? I need some Fiber 1 and Honey Chex in a big bowl, STAT.
3. Is the person you like older or younger than you? I don't know if I even like this person but if I do, then he's older.
4. What did you do last night? watched the Biggest Loser and Dancing with the Stars with Mom, Dad, and Perla, then passed out on the couch until Mom made me go up to my bed
5. What do you hope to do this weekend? have fun with my family, with Phillip as part of it
6. Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now? its possible, but that'd be totally unprofessional
7. Do you own a stereo that costs more than $100? not sure, Roy, how much was that little boombox?
8. Have you ever told someone of the opposite sex you loved them and meant it? yes I have and will continue to do so, but always with extreme hesitation to even like them at first: baby, that's how I roll
9. How's your heart lately? strange, I kind of feel weird here and also in some kind of limbo for my brother, sad because I know he has to go back but then this other feeling I can't quite describe because I find myself trying to believe that he isn't going back
10. What were you doing this morning at 7am? still sleeping, trying to keep warm
11. What will you be doing this afternoon at 12 pm? stuffing my face with delicious food
12. Are there any previous relationships you wish could have lasted longer? no, probably would have been better if they would have been shorter then I wouldn't have gotten attached as I did
14. What was the reason you last cried? seeing Phillip after so many months
15.Have you ever talked to someone that was high? jajajajajajaja...
20. How many red lights have you ran? not too many, never on purpose
21. Have you ever cried in the shower? yea, how confusing
22. What was your favorite grade(s)? 4th grade or 5th
23. What were you doing at 12am last night? sleeping
24. Whats a sure way to catch your attention? beauty, humor, violence
25. Have you ever, in any way, been betrayed by someone you trusted? I'm sure
26. When was the last time you were given flowers? I don't know, it was that long ago
27. Is there anything that you are craving for right now? maybe some sushi and a delicious mojito
28. Where did your last hug take place? Perla possibly last night before she left
29. Do people ever make stupid mistakes when spelling or saying your name? in Guatemala they spell it with only one N and they dont even try saying the last name; they say "dejemolo asi no mas"
30. Have you ever started a sentence with "No offense, but..."? more like, "all im saying is..."
31. Do you drink tea? mmhmm, I'm somewhat chilean
32. When was the last time you saw a cop? yesterday on Douglas
33. Did you ride in someone else's car today? my old car, apparently GarBears's car now!
34. When was the last time you ran? I ran to the car the other day

Home-y

Te estaria mintiendo si te diria que esto no se siente extraNo (for example, where is my n with a tilde on the keyboard). Its about 4am right now and yes, I passed out on Perla's couch like old times, way too early, leaving Perla, Alberto and Roy awake and maybe slightly disappointed that I didnt make it past 11. But I was tired. I had to wake up at 3:30 yesterday to be able to take a shower and be picked up in time to make it to the airport. Lying on this couch feels natural because maybe it really hasn't been that long since I've left. Six months. Maybe it's not enough time to make you forget specific feelings things and places give you (obviously not feelings you have towards people; those would never go away with certain people in my life) but the feeling you get from going down to the Fox River or from driving on Farnsworth. Or driving down Lehnertz Circle during Christmas. These next two weeks or so, I imagine I'll look at everything kind of like its new and make a comment about how it looks the same. I wonder if I will get the feeling I got in Huehue of being somewhere back in the states and actually feeling and seeing it as I moved through life. Will I imagine a Maxi Bodega instead of a Wal-Mart or the down-town with a bunch of one-ways no one cares to respect. Will I see Guatemala here in Illinois? Like everytime the camioneta passes by the terminal. Or every time I walk by the clinic and prepare myself to say hi to Don Polo. Or everytime I have to greet every teacher at my school with a kiss. Am I going to be trying to kiss everyone here? Maybe. Be prepared.

Blogspot is a rogue

I've been trying to post my clausura (graduation) pictures several ways and days now and no luck. What the hell does javascript void mean? Someone explain please. So its about 5:30am here and I'm up with my friend, another volunteer because last night was too damn cold. I spoke to my friend on the phone for about an hour, after coming back from getting Thai food, took a shower then tried going to sleep. But it is/was quite impossible. One, it is freezing in this place. There are a million windows, just like at Perla's house. There aren't enough blankets. And I'm sleeping on a couch that I am way too big for (even though I've lost 20 pounds...oh shit!) Numbero dos, my comrades (or maybe I should call them uno de los mios as my Guatemalan friends tell me to say when I see another American walking around Huehue, mainly Mormons)...the birds outside are insanely gossiping about me, or who knows what? They are mad snitching though because they have been comadriando the whole night. Don't they know that O-town has been telling me that I've been looking rough lately and need to fix myself up or no man will love me? I need my beauty sleep! Don't they get the same pep talk from their mama birds? Any who, today we all have informal presentations on the NEEDS, LOCAL RESOURCES, LESSONS LEARNED/SUCCESSFUL EXPERIENCES, and ACTIVITIES FOR 2009. This should be interesting. Then I'm hopefully going to go visit my host family for an hour or two. That is today but going back to last night. So my friend and I were walking, went to buy shampoo from a little tienda and decided since we were done we'd keep going and get something to drink or eat since we hadn't had dinner. We ended up at this Thai place with good Pad Thai but horrible Thai Iced Teas. It was about 19Q which is almost three dollars. It was basically a lot of milk with a few drops of peach flavoring. I was thinking, can I complain and return this or am I being culturally insensitive? I wasn't going to pay three dollars for something that tasted nothing like the goodness of a Thai Iced Tea, so I asked the girl, is this REALLY a Thai Iced Tea.?"Uh, yes, we, uh, mix it with a little bit of this and that." "BULLSHIT LADY! I know what a Thai Iced Tea tastes like." Ok, those words were never exchanged except for the initial question. I was going to take it and sadly sip on my milk in the corner but decided nah. I took it back and got something else. That, my friends, is what we call being assertive.

Clausura de 3o SL

Today started off with Jellyto peeing on my floor. Typical morning. I gave him his food but he wanted my human food (oatmeal chocolate chip cookie). I listened to my Keyshia Cole CD, as I do almost every morning. Gotta start the morning out right, singing about how your ex did you wrong. Crazy, Keyshia Cole. Then I ran my behind to the Institute because I had to print off a bunch of documents to give to my teachers, basically a overview of what the Youth Development Proyect is (in writing) because some still dont get it, but Im sure by January most of them will be set to go. But anyway, finally made about 400 copies and ran to the bus stop only to find out that the Vuelta Ciclista was still going on and no buses were passing by. WHAT? I have a graduation to go to. Waited, waited, and waited some more. Just when I was about done waiting, the bus came. Got off and waited for the next bus (for about 45 minutes). Should I walk, should I not walk? I have heels on. I will be harassed by men the whole way there. So I waited and finally the bus came. Got there and the graduation still hadnt started. I think it started 2 hours late. Thats a good thing about events in Guatemala. You can count on them being late. So when youre late, its all good and very acceptable. So the shindig started and all my 3o babies were looking super cute in their uniforms, they got their diplomas and some of the mamas got emotional. So did some of the students. I was really taken back by one boy he got really choked up and made me start crying. It was really special for them because these kids come from familias de escasos recursos, many from single-parent homes so its been extremely difficult journey for some of them. I was so proud of them. Unfortunately, only about half of the class graduated. Hopefully we can change that next year. After the graduation, we had lunch (Pollo Campero) and the choir sang and a girl danced for us all. It was very nice. Pictures to be posted soon. Love u guys.

Los Cuchumatanes son visitados por una chascona

Jellyto aka Son bka Bebes

My kiddiepoos

Moved in

So I am finally moved in to my new house. Everythings pretty good. My own space. Space for Son to run around and poop. Cleanliness to my satisfaction. Only one problem. I think this family thinks I am going to get them a visa. They straight-up said that maybe your parents can send us an invitation to go the US. I ackwardly responded that theyd have to get in line because all of my moms side of the family was still in Chile. Now, I have no problem with helping people get visas (though the likelihood of me doing it and it even working is very slim), I dont like barely meeting someone and being asked for that. In fact, the father of the house told the lady I used to live with that you had to treat these kind of people (gringos) the right way because you never know when they could help you out... Tis life. Aside from that, alls good in the new hood. Yesterday I ate tangerines, oranges and misperos from my backyard, played with this giant cat named Muñeco, helped the 13 yr old with math and went to see a soccer game. Today I cleaned up, washed clothes, took a shower with running water (not a bucket bath!), and ate a rooster for lunch (only his leg, not the whole thing).

Imaginese Campamento de Verano

Imaginese
Campamento de Artes y Letras 2008
INEB ¿
Aldea ?

Misión: Usar el arte, en sus varias formas, igual como los idiomas, para reforzar previos conocimientos y desarrollar nuevas destrezas en los jóvenes, en un espacio seguro con un ambiente que los anima y apoya

Objetivos:
Dar a los jóvenes actividades creativas y educativas, reforzando las asignaturas de Idioma Español, Ingles, Estudios Sociales y Artes Plásticas
Proveer aprendizaje a través de varias formas
Ampliar sus conocimientos de temas e ideas relacionados a destrezas para la vida
Proporcionar un ambiente que anima y se preocupa por los alumnos, asimismo un espacio seguro para que los jóvenes se desarrollen
Desarrollar las destrezas de liderazgo; dar un papel útil a los jóvenes en su comunidad; los jóvenes valoraran ayudar a los demás

Generalidades: Del 1 de diciembre hasta el 5 de diciembre participaran los alumnos del INEB ? en Aldea ? en un campamento de enfoque en el arte y los idiomas. El campamento esta abierto a todos los alumnos del Instituto, con los requisitos que tengan permiso de sus padres o guardianes, sigan las reglas del campamento y se comprometan a participar positivamente en todas las actividades. El campamento tomara lugar dentro de las instalaciones del Instituto. Iniciaremos a partir de las 10 de la mañana hasta las 1 de la tarde.

Contrapartes:
Docentes/Estudiantes (por ser determinado)

Materiales:
Películas
Edward Scissorhands
Bajo la Misma Luna
Cantonera
Computadora
Materiales de Arte
Papel
Fotocopias
Pliegas de papel de cartulina
Marcadores o lápices de color
Tijeras
Espejos
Refacciones
Palomitas
Agua Pura (bolsas)
Fruta/Vegetales
Platos desechables

hey canchita, hey canchita

This is my homeboy, Pablito. Actually we have more of a love-hate relationship. He comes into my room when Im home and not home and takes my stuff. He cries every fifteen minutes (not lying at all) and gets super angry if I sit in his chair (which changes every week). Hes a darling, this one is. If you look closely you can see he has a mustache. No, he hasnt hit púberty at the age of 2. That is a frijol mustache. Hilarious. And there I am smiling through it all. Today though he decided that he was going to ride his little yellow big wheel and that I should ride the familys dog, Floatey (who has been eating all my dogs food and snapping at him when he wants to play). I will prob be moving into my new crib in November. Its brick...oooh, fancy and they have a built-in bbq pit on the roof. Fruit trees. And well-behaved children most importantly.

My worst enemy

Name selection

So I bought this puppy at the terminal this Sunday; only he has no name yet. Ive thought of many. Trust. Like Bear. Empanada. Oreo. Ours (bear in French). Old Man. Mr. Nilsson. Jelly Belly.

So if you have strong feelings for one of those names, speak now. The children at my house are already calling him Bonbon. I personally like the last three names, especially Old Man and Mr. Nilsson (from Pippi). Ya know...

Happy Birthday to the O!

My puppy doing a birthday dance for mama. Feliz Cumpleaños mamita. La quiero mucho.

Today, twoday, tooday

Started off this day watching King of California (good movie with Michael Douglas on a search for Spanish gold) and drinking some good instant coffee with Cremora. Then went for a walk with the teacher I live with. We walked all the way to an atm machine down the road because she needed to see if she finally got paid this month (you may recall she hasnt gotten paid since January when school iniated). So we enter this gas station (kinda fancy looking from the outside; Id never been). To my grand surprise they had gelatto there...Oh yea! I think I will go there tomorrow and get some lemon kind. I doubt they have Fruits of the Forest like at Freddys Pizza. Needless to say, anytime I am feeling down or missing home, that is where you will find my big behind. So then I came back and did my Dia de Limpieza (Clean-up Day) with the kids at the Instituto. It wasnt obligatory but 46 students showed up which was cool. Some didnt do the best job cleaning but I thanked them for coming with a bag of water. Yes, we sell water in bags here, as well as milk. Yum, yum. All in all, went well. The principal helped out too. Now we wait and see how long it takes to get dirty again. We collected about 15 big bags of garbage. Walking to the bus stop, I already saw fresh trash. I think we will have to petition the Muni for some garbage cans and put up some signs too. After that, took a shower because I was stanky stanky from all the garbage. Then the lights went out. The teacher thinks its because there was a mudslide in a nearby town and about 80 people were buried in the mud. I dont really know though. Now I am here at the internet cafe on a Saturday afternoon waiting for a phonecall from Mom, talking to Perla and eating chicken. Love you all.

Things Ive been up to as of a few days ago

Community clean-up day lead by my two tree-loving girls from Segundo

Trying to get funds for our cancha polideportiva

Teaching girls how to use the internet (I like how they tell me they dont know how to use the internet the day the homework is do. Come on, ladies!)

Meeting the social worker that works with youth on habilidades talleres

Making a syllabus a la Dr. Frolick (No one earns an A in my class!... Classic Frolick)

Listening to Evanescence (shoutout to Bear and Apryll) and watching Two and a Half Men, as well as Denise Richards Its Complicated (dont judge me)

Para mamita

Personally

Tu tipo de personalidad:
Tranquilos, reflexivos e idealistas. Interesados en servir a la humanidad. Sistema de valores bien desarrollados, se esfuerzan por vivir de acuerdo a ellos. Extremadamente leales. Flexibles y relajados a no ser que un valor fuertemente arraigado sea amenazado. Generalmente son escritores talentosos. Rápidos de mente y capaces de ver posibilidades. Interesados en entender y ayudar a la gente.

Carreras adecuadas para ti:
Escritores, artistas, consejeros, trabajadores sociales, profesores de inglés, profesores de bellas artes, trabajadores en el cuidado de niños, clero, misioneros, sicólogos, siquiatras, científicos, activistas políticos, editores, periodistas, educadores religiosos, científicos sociales.

Oh snap!

From the top down:

Two new kitties. One is called Kitty Cat Bear and the other one has no name yet.

Drawing of my Rab.

Drawing of my Pinguino. I think it looks pretty good.

Picture of an altar patrio. First place.

Another picture of an altar patrio. Firey torch.

Pregnant secretary. She is uber cute.

Students giving a dramatizacion on literacy.

Some Primero Basico kids. The girl looks like Maggie but with brown hair. Swear.

Not very descriptive but I have to go grocery shopping. Cereal. Eggs. Oil.