one month down, five to go!

One month in Guatemala already!

Time has flown by, which I have been told is a sign that I might be having fun.

My compañera and I wrapped up our school workshops this week, despite having to plan around circuses, talent shows in honor of International Women’s Day, and absent teachers. The three weeks we spent presenting in Xepache went pretty well, especially since it was the first time either of us had taught a series of health education workshops in rural Guatemalan primary schools.
Here we are (albeit looking at two different cameras) with three estudiantes:

I’m looking forward to applying what we’ve learned the past few weeks to other lessons in other schools to come. As an example, we’ve found that techniques that work well include true/false quizzes at the end of each lesson, and interactive presentations that elicit student participation. Techniques that are less effective include presenting abstract concepts with few props, and talking about serious subjects without offering constructive or empowering suggestions.

Here’s a photo of the 6^th graders completing their self-initiated proyecto escolar, the subject of our last workshop with them. We only presented to concept of undertaking some sort of project that would benefit the school, and they came up with repainting their desks and doorway. They purchased/brought from home all the necessary supplies and the class had already almost finished painting by the time we came by to check up on their progress. Their creativity, coordination, and execution were impressive!

I’m not sure what next week holds for me as a health educator, since my compañera is returning to los Estados Unidos after this weekend and I can’t present in schools without a partner. Because I’m planning on volunteering with the clinic through August, however, the director of the education program has informed me of her plans to train me as her ‘mano derecha’ (right hand), so hopefully I’ll gain a better understanding of the program’s backstage workings and learn more about the clinic itself, as well. More updates to come, of course, as more details emerge.

To celebrate my friend’s last weekend in Guatemala, a group of us caravanned to Lago Atitlan. Wow! Here is a view from the roof of our hotel:

Not bad for $4.50 a night! Aldous Huxley said that Lake Atitlan was the most beautiful lake in the world.

I have to say I agree. We had lunch under an open-air, thatched roof lakeside cabana, took a boat from San Pedro to Santiago Atitlan that afternoon and enjoyed a music festival in the woods. It was hippie central - VW buses, impromptu camping, and bands of roving acrobats included – and decidedly not an authentic example of traditional highland Guatemalan culture, but it was still very cool.

We heard a mix of bluegrass, alt-country, Guatemalan protest music, and salsa-inspired dance tunes, and I even got to see the Texan guitarist whom I missed seeing at this week’s jazz concert in Xela. Who knew there was a Guatemalan tour circuit for Austin-based musicians?

We took the last lancha before dark back from Santiago to San Pedro, had a delicious dinner at an Israeli-owned lounge/restaurant, and fell asleep by 10 pm. I am already excited for my next trip to the lake, whenever that may be. It’s only about 2 hours from Xela by car, and while probably a bit slower by bus, it’s still an easy weekend excursion with a multitude of swimming and hiking options that I’ve yet to sample.

Aside from teaching and travelling this week, I was able to attend yoga class twice and get a jog in, as well. I eased into running around Xela given the altitude, cobblestone streets, and plethora of hills, but after 3 successful half-hour forays I think I’m ready to incorporate a run or two into my weekly routine. My challenge is to not become a gordita despite the large quantities of pan dulce and chocobananos (chocolate dipped frozen bananas, my favorite snack ever) I consume regularly. Thrice-weekly Spanish lessons are an on-going fixture, as well, and I continue to struggle with the subjunctive tense and the difference between por and para. The problem with learning Spanish in Guatemala is that everyone is so friendly and forgiving, so I rarely get corrected when I make mistakes. As long as my Spanish is comprehensible, Xelans just go with it. While this arrangement is great for communication and my self-esteem, it most definitely does not help me improve my command of the language. My lessons are the only 2-hour blocks in which I consistently get corrected and castigated for butchering verb conjugations, and it’s nice to have that space.

For now, that’s all the news I have from Xela. Until next week’s chronicle, abrazos y besitos, mis amigos!