Where Did February Go?

I know it is a cliche saying, but when they say "Time Really Flies When You're Having Fun" - well, what can I say, it's true!!! And that explains February and why it's now the 25th and this is my first blog post of the month.

This February has been by far the most awesome month of my Peace Corps experience. I've had so many fun things happen this month - I'll give you a run down of all of them....

1. My parents and our neighbors from Eau Claire came to visit for a week. What a blast we had fishing for sailfish, visiting the finca, birdwatching, and showing them the best of Guatemala!

2. Field Based Training - Training the new group of ecotourism volunteers!

3. Beach trips!

4. Two grants written and submitted

5. Long term personal planning and brainstorming

6. Talking with my sister about her wedding - which is in September!!

7. Enjoying time with 2 RPCVs from Ukraine visiting the finca

So let me begin with the first bit of February. After a few days visiting my friend Steph and helping her and her muni write a business plan I headed off to Antigua to meet my parents and friends at the airport! I couldn't believe they were actually here in Guate when they stepped out of the airport doors! We immediately jumped into the van and headed down south to Sailfish Bay Lodge on the Pacific just a few km. down from Puerto Quetzal. What an awesome time we had there - just an awesome day of fishing! Definitely the best day of fishing I have ever had in my life! We caught 25 fish total, 22 sailfish the conventional method, 2 on fly (my dad and me) and 1 dorado (which we ate sashimi style about 5 minutes after it was hauled aboard :) I have never had fish so fresh in my life - I was telling the captain that a plate of that dorado would have cost about $100 in the states - it was heaping with fresh dorado - we put a little lime, salt, and soy sauce on it and MAN that was the BEST fish I have ever had!! It was nonstop action all day on the boat - we had double and triple strikes and did our arms ever feel it the next day after bringing in 100 lb sailfish all day. The greatest thing I like about the operations in Guate is that they have a catch and release rule for the sailfish and marlin. It is a great progressive law that I hope catch on in more countries so that these epic days of fishing can be sustainable into the future. The resort was beautiful too - wonderful pool, tropical drinks (Guatemalan rum!), right on the beach, beautiful sunsets - it was pure heaven for me! Plus getting to enjoy it all with my mom and dad and show them just how great of a country Guatemala is.

After the fishing days we headed to Antigua for a brief stopover then on to the finca where I live. The family in the community that I hang out with all the time invited my parents and our friends over for a chicken lunch and we brought up a chocolate cake from Reu. It was so fun for everyone to meet - my Guatemalan and my own family from America. I am treated so well here in the community and I think it was great for my parents to find out just how cared for I am here. After a night in the community, we headed to another finca for some bird watching the next day. We had a wonderful guide who knew all of the flora and fauna of the area and even spotted some rare birds such as the Mot Mot, Highland Guan, and the Chicharra. Plus, my parents were treated to some traditional Guatemalan fare such as pepian, chuchitos, and rellenitos!

After a few more days on the coast in "my world" we headed back to Antigua for a farewell dinner and some last minute market shopping. We had a wonderful dinner at one of the best restaurants in Antigua (Panza Verde) we were down to the last day! The week just flew by and I couldn't believe it was over. They'll have to come back again! Great weather, great food, great company - it can't get much better than that!

So after that awesome week, I headed back to the community where the next group of volunteers were expected in for a few days of Field Based Training. Well, after days of preperations, beds made, hotel cleaned top to bottom, flowers put out, a series of roadblocks by protesters made it impossible to get to the community. I was so excited for them to come but it wasn't meant to be. However, the good thing was that they still wanted me to give my presentations so I found a way to get out and meet them at the new training spot and got to meet all of the new volunteers. They are a great group - super psyched to be here. It is fun remembering back to being in that position last year at this time - not knowing sites, still learning so much about working in a new culture, and trying to wrap my head around everything. Now, a year later, it is amazing what I've learned, experienced, and how much I've grown and stretched as a person. So, I had a great time with the group and can't wait for their swearing in party later in March.

What else cool - going to the beach!! I love the beach - makes me so happy to be on the beach, playing in the waves, throwing the boomerang, relaxing, eating fish, drinking a cold Gallo, wandering down to the coconut seller, and just enjoying the wonderful breezes. I think all of this time in the tropics has turned me into a tropical girl - just love it!!

On a work side - I have been getting things done as well. I just turned in my 2 grants for the big stove project. If all goes well, I should have a check sufficient enough to build 40 of the 57 stoves that we want to get built here. Each stove has turned out to cost $99. It is a bit more than I originally thought - but the tremendous health and environmental improvements will be WELL worth it. Plus, the community members will be building their own stoves - so we will building capacity at the same time and if/when the stoves need repair they will be able to do it themselves with materials that are readily and inexpensively available.

Other than that - now that I'm over the year mark I am starting to think of all sorts of fun things to get involved in once I'm done with Peace Corps. I'm thinking of grad school, starting my own tour and travel company (focused on Central and South America) and all that fun stuff.

Also, my sister is getting married in September so it has been fun to talk to her as she things of dreams and plans for her big day. I can't wait for the day to come - just wish I could be there with her as she plans and be there when she tries on wedding dresses and all of that wonderful sisterly stuff that we could do. However, thankfully with technology I feel like I can stay in the loop and she is even checking out if the bridal studio has wireless so I can be Skyped in for the try on session :) Thank you technology!!!

Life is rolling right along here - big things happening! I've got the 50th Anniversary Peace Corps party to look forward to in March and also some fun time coming up in Antigua for my mid service medical exams. Also, my sissy is coming in April - so the countdown in on!

Cheers to all and thanks for reading!
Tara