Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Update from Week 2!

All is well!  If it's possible though I think my spanish is getting worse.  But I think it's becasue #1 you can only talk the basics with your family for about a week and #2 I'm trying too hard to conjugate and make sure Im doing it perfectly instead of just talking. 

Over the weekend I went to a wedding and it was really neat.  My family stays really busy so i like it alot. Once we got to the house there were pine needles all over the floor which symbolized there was a fiesta!!!  And we were immediately fed.  I was like- dang we're the family that showed up just for dinner.  Ha- but no, actually after everyone was done the wedding started.  It was really bneat bc the bride and groom sit together and their families sit beside them.  The parents and grandparents say a few words of advice and bless the couple.  It was really neat.

Also over the weekend was the final championship for the basketball team my host mom and cousing and some other family members are on.  We placed second and it was a really good game.

And... I think I've had about 40 corn tortillas since I've been here in the last two weeks. I'm trying to keep count but I think I forget some.  And... visited the mercado again- we have one of the best becasue it is so large- and i totally dig it.  I'm getting better with the carniceria thing- ha!  It's just the smell but the one my family goes to is pretty legit.

And... you all waited for it... here it is.... the entry about poo.  It happens.  And it is happening alot. Ha!  But it's cool- Im not dying or anything. Just more practice putting the TP in the trash can and not the toilet.  It's seems unhygenic but it's totally not bad.  And... I wash my hands more than I ever have in my life... and I take daily HOT showers (definite emphasis on the hot).

Hope everyone is doing well!  Send me emails on what's going on in your lives!!! I don't wanna just talk about me!!!  Ok, well maybe on the blog :o)

And I def get access to the internet every Tuesday from 12 ish to 1.. so everyone be on skype or facebook.

:o)

Kim

Monday, January 10, 2011

Hola!

Everything is going great!  It has only been a week but i think i am adjusting well.

My first host family was a husband and wife and they were very gracious. I experienced a bucket bath for the first time and it was actually kind of easy.  I did get electrocuted a little bit at one point (you put a metal rod in water so it will get hot) but it did not hurt.  It actually makes for an interesting story.   Alot has happened in the last week so I will try to be brief!  SOrry if I lack all of the details! 

I should get my cell phone tomorrow-not sure how international calls work- and I hope to get my own internet soon as well.  Right now Im in an internet cafe with 3 other volunteers in my group.  There are 4 of us bc we are in the same progam (Healthy Schools) and at the same language level (high beginner).  We need to be at intermediate medium which is only 2 more levels and I think i can totally do it in three months. Immersion is definatley the best way.

What else, what else.  My new host family in SUmpango is great!  There are three kids ages, 3, 6, and 9 and they help me with my language alot!  But so does watching lots of I Carly, Hannah Montana, and Drake Y JOsh.  If it is on Nickelodean or Disney channel we watch it together! 

The food is really good.  Im probably eating beeter here than in the US because it is very fresh.  The meat is tasty and I eat it... but I dont recommend being the person to buy it.  It can be a little bit of a cultrue shock becasue the meat is just hanging there out in the open! But... I totally eat it!  And I don{t think Im going to lose any weight even though we walk everywhere becasue my family constantly feeds me.  I was able to get out of eating two sandwiches for breakfast :o)

I have seen a bunch of neat things and experienced lots of firsts.  First bucket bath, milk straigh from the cow in the frint yard, eggs from the chicken in the front yard, veggies from the front yard... etc etc.  And lots of veggies Ive never ate. And saw Volcan Fuego erupt.  Just mainly smoke and Im ok with that!

Guatemala is pretty modern, right now in the internet cafe im at Nirvana is playing... and now Pantera... ha!  Almost all house have electricty, water, and internet.  My family has internet (we went on the look at Nickelodean characters) and i actually have hot water.  My room is really nice too.  The whole house is great.  Plus the extended family is really big and they come over on the weekends and we have tons of food.  And some of the family palys on a basketball team so we watch them play too.  One of the volunteers in my group lives with the aunt of my mom so we get to spend weekend together also. 

Anywho, love you all lots!  Dont forget to email or write (address below)!

Lots of love,

Kim
Cuerpo de Paz
PCT Kimberly Duncan
Apartado Postal 66
Antigua Guatemala
Sacatepequez 03001
Guatemala
Centro America