Oranges and Goodbyes

We started working in the orchards with Leonidis. At maybe five feet, it is fun to work next to him. We figured out today that 6 mandrin oranges sell for 1 quetzal. 7.5 quetzals is a dollar, figure that out and you get about 5 cents each. I see why I am considered a volunteer now.

I had a tough week. I felt a little homesick and didn´t sleep well. Then to make matters worse the slaves left yesturday for home. I felt like I lost two of my 4 good friends. Many of them will be attending semenary school in Quetalzenango in Nov. Huge bummer though, becuase they were one of the best ways not only to learn Spanish, but to goof around. They will be missed, but they will also be replaced with new kids, sometime.

But everything gets better. We had a little fiesta last night with Guac (yes I found where the avos are!), chips, cheap booze and copius amounts of lemons from the orchard. And we found the mystery folder that Liam and Michael (the 1st volunteers here) left for us. It gave us a lot of ideas and seems like we will have a purpose with too many things to do instead of nothing as I initially thought. Tomorrow we are going for a hike with Leonidis and in the afternoon doing something with the IT guy´s friend (I am not sure what, when you don´t understand the language usually the best answer is ¨Sí¨ and a lot of times that means you don´t know what the hell you are getting into).

And the economic bailout plan included the renewable energy tax credit!! I was thinking about staying here with how shitty everything sounds like it is in the US, but finally something went right so I will be home in June.

Anyway, stay in touch. If you want a letter- send me a email with your address to taeggermont@gmail.com.

Starting Work

Things are looking up. I got over the travel flu in a day and my knee is maybe a day or two away from being able to play soccer again. We had a feast day last night. Which meant that we not only got a break from the typical food, which is getting as repetitive as me asking ¨Como se dice?¨-but we also took a shot of tequia with the abbot, after which he shook his head and went whoo! (Br. Paul I think our feast days may be better) He seems like a fun guy. The other day when we were playing volleyball with the slave children one kid missed the ball and said, ¨Shit!¨ He covered his mouth with both hands. Every one stopped and looked at the abbot (who was honestly dressed like a gangster). The abbot said, ¨Well at least your pronouciation was good.¨

We started work this morning and we started going to prayer at 6. Oye. Leonidis is our ¨jefe,¨he is about as tall as my chest. This morning we filled up 200 bags with dirt to plant orange trees in, then we went got a tour of the orchard complete with taste tests of mandrins and tangerines. I could get used to this job. Really I feel like the real work is trying to learn Spanish, but he speaks slowly and keeps up a converstation, so it will help. He also has a sweet tooth so I might bribe him to help me a little extra. We also tryed what I am pretty sure was a fresh cardomon pod. He said it was like a sweet, but it was a little strong. We also have orange trees, limes, lemons, in about 15 years avocados, and pomeloś that are honestly bigger than my head. I put up a picture cause we might use one for a soccer ball.