A Calm Week in Xela

Hello Friends,

This past week in Guatemala has been very relaxing. I have spent time exploring the city, trying out some local foods, improving my Spanish, and just hanging out! I hope the following pictures will help to explain what my life is like in Guatemala and what I have been up to this past week.

This is the picture of my bedroom. I am very lucky in that I get my very own room and desk. The bed and pillow would not really classify as such in the US, but it is my own and I am very appreciative to have my own space.

This is a view from the doorway of my bedroom. My family lives with two others families in a small complex type set up. So instead of it being a typical house with everything connected to one another, the bathroom, shower, kitchen, and bedrooms are all accessible via going outside. The care is pointed to the doorway of the complex and the two doors to the left of it are the shower and bathroom that everyone shares. I just discovered how to get warmer water in the shower, which makes bathing a lot nicer now.

One of the classes at my school this week was to observe and then learn how to do typical Guatemalan Weaving. It is always a womens job, but believing in equality like I do, I felt the need to give it a shot. It was very difficult. I have developed a whole new respect of the women who have been practicing this trade since the age of 10. It takes them months to create large intricate table runners that they sell in the markets for as cheap as $8.

In Guatemala, and especially in Xela, the Lenten Season is extremely special and important. In preparation for ¨Semana Santa¨ Holy Week, each Friday, a new church in Xela celebrates the season with a carnival, fiesta, and a procession from the church that leads to Central Park. This is a procession of the children of the church. It is really touching to see how much the people in Xela prepare for Holy Week and Easter. The spiritual gatherings within the churches each week are absolutely gorgeous, with so many people coming to spend moments in prayer and fellowship. Outside the church, it is like a carnival with small rides for the little children and a ton of great food and drinks. It is not done in a distasteful way, but rather brings a special significance and contemporary focus on Lent.

Overall, things have been going pretty well. I have overcome my sickness and am working to get to better understand the culture of this town. I will send some more pictures of Central Park, where I often meet people to go do things. It is the center of Xela where the large Cathedral is located and people generally hang out there in the nights.

Starting next week, on Mondays & Thursdays I will be teaching three different English Classes at the local public school here, which should be quite the experience. I am definitely looking forward to it, especially since it is such a need in the schools where they do not have enough money to spend on hiring English teachers. Other than that, I am enjoying the fact that every day is new and I never quite know what to expect. I am learning more here just by doing things and enganging in conversations, with my broken spanish, with the people than I ever could studying the language and culture in the states.

Thank you all for continuing to read my blog. I hope you are doing well. Please let me know if there is anything in particular you would like to hear about. It is difficult to include everything in just a short blog.

Peace!