Rainy Season

Wow, they are not kidding when they say Guatemala has a rainy season. We have been receiving a TON! I think a lot of it has to do with the storms out in the Pacific but still, the rain is pretty incredible. It has been raining almost nonstop in my site for like 4 days, but I think it should return back to normal soon, with normal being rain only in the afternoons and nights.

I have been managing to keep myself fairly busy. We have another group in house right now but they are so well organized I feel like I haven´t had to work nearly as hard as before. I am trying to get a marketing plan together for the hotel and market it to other universities and Spanish schools in Xela and Antigua. Also, I found a great recycling place in Xela that buys plastic bottles and paper. If we get enough of it, they will even come down close to where I am and pick it up. So...that is in the works. Other than that, I have a lot of ideas. I am just trying to get the idea across to them that I am not there to DO everything and be responsible for everything. I am there to offer suggestions and give trainings and support them in their operation, but not DO the work and be in charge of everything. This is a frusterating situation that leaves me very busy and in the end it won´t really help anyone because they aren´t learning how to do these things. So, little by little I am trying to change this, but it is a slow process. Peace Corps is right in that it is the toughest job you´ll ever love. I would never classify a day as easy, but I still really enjoy the work and am happy to be here.

But in between all of this work and planning, I definitely have some down time and these are some of the things I enjoy doing:

1. Knocking avocados off the tree and trying to find them in the weeds.
2. Knocking limes down too
3. Making a tea of lime and honey
4. Paseando, which means walking around with no agenda, haha! I love to walk around and just talk to people, go over to Sara´s store to buy pan (bread), talk to the kids about the latest music, the rain, etc.
5. Going to the campo to play futbol or run laps. I still am not very good at futbol, but I LOVE to kick the ball as hard as I can. It is sooo fun and a good way to release some stress!
6. Going to Reu and ordering pineapple liquados
7. Watching the World Cup right now! Go Argentina!
8. Hanging out with Sara in the kitchen and helping teach her baby, Sarita how to walk with all of her nieces.
9. Cooking breakfast to my favorite radio station, radio PUM PUM! haha! That is the name of the channel!
10. Reading the Prensa Libre - the paper is such a luxury! I get one a week!
11. Trying to figure out new combinations of food to make with the ingredients of eggs, potatos, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and beans. Yes, that is my diet, pretty much in full, with the alternation of pancakes and oatmeal for breakfast. Oh yeah, some avocado thrown in now too.

Ok, that is basically my life now. Come on down and visit!