First Day Off The Plane IN GUATEMALA!

To update my homeland familia y amigos: I am safely in Xela as of last night and have finished my first day’s work :)

I arrived in Guatemala City yesterday afternoon from Raleigh (thanks Dave and Kath!) via Miami.  On the plane I met Megan who will be traveling around Central America (shout out!) and Ika who is a couture wedding dress designer.  We all talked throughout the plane ride.  So fun, ladies (Ika, thoughts to your mama!)

Of course I got red-flagged at customs for having none other than children’s hand bells in my suitcase for the kids.  After that laughable moment, I met Alfredo, the wonderful A Broader View (ABV) taxi driver.  He swept me off to the bus station telling me to stay put until my bus at 3:00pm.

After making some friends, recording EVERY aspect of the Guat City to Xela bus ride in my journal (ethnographic observational style) and seeing countless volcanoes, jungles, pueblos, road-side markets, misty valleys, and beautiful Mayans cultivating their land, or hiking mountains with babies tied to their backs, I arrived in Xela. I jumped off the bus and hugged Petra (one of two country-coordinators) and she drove me to meet my awesome host family.

My host family consists of Veronica, mother of Susana, mother of Nicole (3 years), their 2 dogs, and a parrot.  I’ll have a roommate (Liz, 66, who rocks) for the next week and then I may be on my own, but they’ve already made me feel at home.  I called the parentals for a quick chat last night (you know, I’ve just popped over to Guatemala) and took a shower, then it was off to bed to prep for my first day’s work at Hogar Comunitario.

Here are a few photos to get your minds imagining!!! :)

Plane View over Guatemala City (an old volcano...no worries)

Waiting for el autobus a Xela y el autobus from the waiting room in Guat City!

  

The Courtyard at mi casa nueva con Veronica! (The rooms are all to the right)

 

The dogs...they are precious (#WordsMyDadUses) and the parrot Arturo (he attacks)!