No words can really explain how I feel about this weekend. Refreshing, needed, perfect. We hit a 30 second window right away when the English teacher at the school allowed us to hitch a ride with him as we were heading to the bus station. He took us to the next stop and 2 buses later we made it to Copan. After getting a little hustled and played for hotels, (the only bad part of the weekend), we met up with Phil´s friend who is volunteering in Honduras. We went to the Ruins in Copan which are some of the most complete in central america. As awe inducing as they were, I just enjoyed the peace of the place. There is way to much noise in Esquipulas and just to have 3 hours of quite felt different.
I started talking to another gringo (thank god for the attraction to familiarity). He informed us that every year the Peace Corps volunteers overwhelm the city on halloween weekend. This weekend was pushed back 2 weeks (unknownly) and the timing was perfect. They needed the weekend as much as we did. To put it lightly, we went out. Live bands, swings at the bar, lots of costumes, and a makeshift ¨change you can believe in¨ sign. We met up with Phil´s friend´s friends randomly, again good timing.
I slept in...to the afternoon. After recouperating and watching a really bad movie on tv we decided to go to the waterfall. Some guy doing laundry wanted to do the waterfall trip and we met up with him- I don´t know how. We didn´t want to pay the 9 bucks each (highway robbery here) for the ride, so we decided to find it ourselves with public trans. Luckily the freinds from the night before were on their way home and knew the way, we would have never found it. No signs, nothing. Again amazing timing.
The falls were spectacular. No one else was there, the rocks were worn from the water. I felt like I found my paradise. We discovered the water treadmill, where you can simply swim in place against the current. I wish we would have had all day and picnic supplies.
To close a brief note about buses. At first I thought public trans. was terrible and unorganized. Now I love it. You don´t have to wait long (I have always waited longer in the US for buses), it is cheap because everyone uses it. BUT, everyone use it. That means in something larger than a minivan, but smaller than a 16 passenger we fit in (and out cause people hang out the open door) 32 people. When I get home I want to try fit in 9 in my car. Maybe that is why Guatemalans are small- so they can fit more in a bus?
Refreshed, alive, and needed.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Babes, bikes, brujos and students
It´s been a while, sorry. The weeks seem to go by faster now that we are teaching English classes. We have about 15 students on top of teaching our old orange orchard boss and the guys in the library English. We play a lot of games but Hangman is great for the alphabet, Simon says for body parts vocab etc. We have one class from 2-3 and one from 3-4. It is fun.
The guys in the library like to goof around a lot, it is good for practicing and becoming confident in Spanish, but I don´t learn a lot of vocab. They are a couple years younger and good stuff. Definitely nice to have someone around the same age.
As for the babes, we saw that they was a bike race coming through Esquipulas last Thursday. Some of the promotion girls wanted their picture with us, we wanted to take some pictures with the girls. The main point of the whole thing was to send the pictures back to a kid volunteering in Central MN, and since we can´t go out much, we had to rub something in.
I missed pumpkin carving this weekend. But I did dress up in rainbow tights and brought cookies to class, those kids are going to have a screwy perception of what Halloween is. Phil bummed a monk´s habit. Brujo is the word for witch, which the monks call me when I play pool with them, really the table is so warped that you can make a shot from anywhere if you know how the ball rolls.
Some students were here this past weekend from the US (studying in El Salvador). A social justice orientated study abroad group. Quite the characters, I hope to visit them in late Nov. One kid, a camp couselour informed us that ¨aplostar¨ (a-plaw-star) is the verb to destroy, stick, and engulf in flames while intoxicated, actually it just means demolish, but it is a good word to know. You can also use it a vulgar way to say stick your butt down to the chair. Bombas is the word for butt too which I get a kick out of. I guess I am finally to the point where I can enjoy the language. Also with the students- who somehow knew more about the place than we did (maybe the fact that they actually got a tour helped)- we showed the monks how to play basketball; we actually only won by one point and it was incredibly intence. And we milked the cows.
We made cookies again- i think they turned out better.
The guys in the library like to goof around a lot, it is good for practicing and becoming confident in Spanish, but I don´t learn a lot of vocab. They are a couple years younger and good stuff. Definitely nice to have someone around the same age.
As for the babes, we saw that they was a bike race coming through Esquipulas last Thursday. Some of the promotion girls wanted their picture with us, we wanted to take some pictures with the girls. The main point of the whole thing was to send the pictures back to a kid volunteering in Central MN, and since we can´t go out much, we had to rub something in.
I missed pumpkin carving this weekend. But I did dress up in rainbow tights and brought cookies to class, those kids are going to have a screwy perception of what Halloween is. Phil bummed a monk´s habit. Brujo is the word for witch, which the monks call me when I play pool with them, really the table is so warped that you can make a shot from anywhere if you know how the ball rolls.
Some students were here this past weekend from the US (studying in El Salvador). A social justice orientated study abroad group. Quite the characters, I hope to visit them in late Nov. One kid, a camp couselour informed us that ¨aplostar¨ (a-plaw-star) is the verb to destroy, stick, and engulf in flames while intoxicated, actually it just means demolish, but it is a good word to know. You can also use it a vulgar way to say stick your butt down to the chair. Bombas is the word for butt too which I get a kick out of. I guess I am finally to the point where I can enjoy the language. Also with the students- who somehow knew more about the place than we did (maybe the fact that they actually got a tour helped)- we showed the monks how to play basketball; we actually only won by one point and it was incredibly intence. And we milked the cows.
We made cookies again- i think they turned out better.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Bikes, babes, baquettes (snacks)
First a special thanks to all of you who have sent me packages (snacks is baquettes) or letters or emails that made me feel missed this week. You are awesome and make it easier to be away when I know that people at home say they want me there- it is a strange paradox -that being missed makes me feel better about being here, but it does.
We were invited to one of the brother´s homes in the Sopas (soups). After going on an adventure through the mountains which no vehicle should be made to endure, I still have no idea why they call it the soups. I think the views may have been a better name. They grow corn and beans on the marginal hill-mountian sides and coffee on the better land.
We started to teach class today- yesturday was a bit discouraging when we had one student, but they messed up the sign and put the wrong day. So we started today and had 4 in the first and 8 in the second. Once word gets out that the gringos are teaching it, we expect a few more. It is good for learning spanish and I feel like I am doing something. Yoga and running 6k every other day and thinking about things a little differently have made it seem easier here. I think I am finally able to not care about things and just accept where I am. Que Sera, sera.
We are going to Copan this weekend so that should be nice to get away. Ruins, Rum, and Rapids baby.
Oh! Tuesday there was a huge bike race here. We decided to get our picture taken with the promotional girls (all 5 sets of them), or rather they asked if they could have our picture with us, maybe I have a future in Guatemalan advertising? Anyway, I want to send them all to Weichman at SJU to prove that volunteering in Guat is better than in Central MN (i.e. say what is up now bitch?). Padre Serafin, kept giving me the thumbs up and his friend said that the ¨Taliban¨ (my new nickname because I have a beard) looked as good as the models. Anyway the race was cool and I got two free shirts - yes levi- you can steal one.
I´ll miss pumpkin carving this weekend, but plan to find something to carve even if it is a watermelon.
PS- I found PB, butter, and black pepper here, but it is nice to have my own supply.
We were invited to one of the brother´s homes in the Sopas (soups). After going on an adventure through the mountains which no vehicle should be made to endure, I still have no idea why they call it the soups. I think the views may have been a better name. They grow corn and beans on the marginal hill-mountian sides and coffee on the better land.
We started to teach class today- yesturday was a bit discouraging when we had one student, but they messed up the sign and put the wrong day. So we started today and had 4 in the first and 8 in the second. Once word gets out that the gringos are teaching it, we expect a few more. It is good for learning spanish and I feel like I am doing something. Yoga and running 6k every other day and thinking about things a little differently have made it seem easier here. I think I am finally able to not care about things and just accept where I am. Que Sera, sera.
We are going to Copan this weekend so that should be nice to get away. Ruins, Rum, and Rapids baby.
Oh! Tuesday there was a huge bike race here. We decided to get our picture taken with the promotional girls (all 5 sets of them), or rather they asked if they could have our picture with us, maybe I have a future in Guatemalan advertising? Anyway, I want to send them all to Weichman at SJU to prove that volunteering in Guat is better than in Central MN (i.e. say what is up now bitch?). Padre Serafin, kept giving me the thumbs up and his friend said that the ¨Taliban¨ (my new nickname because I have a beard) looked as good as the models. Anyway the race was cool and I got two free shirts - yes levi- you can steal one.
I´ll miss pumpkin carving this weekend, but plan to find something to carve even if it is a watermelon.
PS- I found PB, butter, and black pepper here, but it is nice to have my own supply.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cookies and Tunes
Last Sunday we went to Chatun with the jefe (boss) and his family. It is a park with a pool, a nature hike, a campground, food, and a clown with speakers so loud they have to clean the pool from all the bleeding ears. It was fun, but I got a little sunburned and felt drained. I finished one of the three books I am reading- A sunburned Country by Bill Bryson. Hilarious, also funny that I had a dream about traveling there with a friend who I haven´t seen since grad. and Austrailia was two islands. Wierd. Must be the malaria drugs.
We went to the school to find out more about teaching English. We start next Wed. and will have two classes for an hour each in the afternoon. In the mornings I plan to spend an hour each day studying spanish because I am tired of not knowing what other people say. At the same time, I really enjoy knowing that other people don´t know what I am saying when I speak English. Probably a bad habit to pick up. Especially because when no one knows what you are saying, swearing doesn´t matter- so a lot of times I ask Phil ¨What the hell did he say, I swear every f´ing time I tell this guy to talk slower and he just speeds up...crazy bastard.¨ Of course this is said in an endearing way because he the guy is a kind soul. Anyway, on the way out of the school I saw some guy playing guitar with kids. I asked him where I could get a guitar, not only did he go with me to get a good one, but bought me a really good kind of lemonaid they have here, and offered to give me lessons.
So things are good. Yoga, reading, guitar, learning spanish, and running-working out (they have a really strange weight lifting system where you use your own body wieght) should keep me busy for a while. Not to mention Phil and my side project (you´ll have to ask about this one cause I am not going to mention it). My i-pod broke, so I miss music.
Phil and I made monster cookies tonight (they don´t have reg. m&m´s so we used christmas mini´s- and I doubt they are from this coming christmas. Since they don´t have many good sweets the monks loved them. We made a double batch and they are gone now. Thieving monks snuck into the kitchen and grabbed bags and bags.
One last thing that I love- You can go up to most people, not just good friends (one monk who is about 55 says it every morning to me at breakfast) and say ¨Que putas?¨ which litterally means- What´s up prostitutes, (or bitches). Cool.
-i´ll put up a new picture or two soon
We went to the school to find out more about teaching English. We start next Wed. and will have two classes for an hour each in the afternoon. In the mornings I plan to spend an hour each day studying spanish because I am tired of not knowing what other people say. At the same time, I really enjoy knowing that other people don´t know what I am saying when I speak English. Probably a bad habit to pick up. Especially because when no one knows what you are saying, swearing doesn´t matter- so a lot of times I ask Phil ¨What the hell did he say, I swear every f´ing time I tell this guy to talk slower and he just speeds up...crazy bastard.¨ Of course this is said in an endearing way because he the guy is a kind soul. Anyway, on the way out of the school I saw some guy playing guitar with kids. I asked him where I could get a guitar, not only did he go with me to get a good one, but bought me a really good kind of lemonaid they have here, and offered to give me lessons.
So things are good. Yoga, reading, guitar, learning spanish, and running-working out (they have a really strange weight lifting system where you use your own body wieght) should keep me busy for a while. Not to mention Phil and my side project (you´ll have to ask about this one cause I am not going to mention it). My i-pod broke, so I miss music.
Phil and I made monster cookies tonight (they don´t have reg. m&m´s so we used christmas mini´s- and I doubt they are from this coming christmas. Since they don´t have many good sweets the monks loved them. We made a double batch and they are gone now. Thieving monks snuck into the kitchen and grabbed bags and bags.
One last thing that I love- You can go up to most people, not just good friends (one monk who is about 55 says it every morning to me at breakfast) and say ¨Que putas?¨ which litterally means- What´s up prostitutes, (or bitches). Cool.
-i´ll put up a new picture or two soon
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Green goo and the zoo
On Sunday we were taken to a park by our boss and his wife. We waited for a bus for an hour and then decided to walk to a closer one. It included a zoo and I am quite sure they don´t have PETA here. We went in a handmade cave that clearly was not made for Americans (aka people over 5.1¨). Then we headed out to meet another friend. After a 20 minute truck bed ride we ended up at a place that grows and sells sugar cane. They boil the stuff in a big witches cauldron, it looks like boiling algae. Some guy who picked his nose and then stuck his foot in the brew skimmed off the foam which we ate with lemon leaves. The next course of cane juice was much better but that doesn´t say much. They also make candy there and grow coffee.
This week we went to the high school to tell students about books and find out about teaching English. While we were playing basketball some girl came up and told us she had a problem. She said some of us want to play basketball with you and some want a picture. This is not the first time we have been asked. If only girls in their 20´s were as excited as these 15-6 year olds. Naturally Phil and I didn´t let up and dominated them, as they cried their way back to the school we met up with the director. He led us around the school and we told the kids about the book drive we are putting on for the library the people before us built. I like doing the book drive because working in the orchard isn´t really helping with Spanish and if I get bit by one more frickin ant, well I am going to take a machete to their home. I haven´t decided which is worse the ants or the two guys that sit on top of the Basilica and bang pots and pans at 6, 12, 4:30 and 6.
This week we went to the high school to tell students about books and find out about teaching English. While we were playing basketball some girl came up and told us she had a problem. She said some of us want to play basketball with you and some want a picture. This is not the first time we have been asked. If only girls in their 20´s were as excited as these 15-6 year olds. Naturally Phil and I didn´t let up and dominated them, as they cried their way back to the school we met up with the director. He led us around the school and we told the kids about the book drive we are putting on for the library the people before us built. I like doing the book drive because working in the orchard isn´t really helping with Spanish and if I get bit by one more frickin ant, well I am going to take a machete to their home. I haven´t decided which is worse the ants or the two guys that sit on top of the Basilica and bang pots and pans at 6, 12, 4:30 and 6.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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.
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.
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