Thanksgiving

This was one of the best Thanksgivings ever. Despite my bad cold that left me bed ridden for a few days, I was well enough by Thanksgiving to shop and prepare dinner all day long. My friends and I decided to cook for our host families and share this U.S. tradition. Between the 4 of us and our families, we had to prepare for 20 people. The food was strange for our familes, but they ate all of it down to the bones of the Turkey. Before we ate, everyone went around the room and said one thing they were greatful for. I have never done that in the U.S. so I felt like we really captured the spirit of giving thanks, family, and friends.

Mi Vida en Xela

It will be three months this weekend that I have been in Guatemala. I have a return ticket back to the U.S. for Decebmer 16th. But as many of you know, i´m not coming back...just yet. I can´t come back, I´m not ready, nor have I accomplished my goal. As my return date approached, I kept thinking about how could I stay longer. I can´t leave just yet. And then, there it happened, an unexpected opportunity was presented to me that would help me stay longer. The school´s student coordinator was going on vacation for 5 weeks and needed someone to work in the office in her place. She takes registration, conducts orientation for new students, and translates conferences. The thought of translating scares the crap out of me, but i´m going to do it anyway. For me the best way to learn is by doing, so i´m just going for it. My biggest fear is having people see me fuck up. So i´m just going to suck it up and accept that fact that i will make mistakes. I graciously accepted the job and I begin this Wednesday. Now for almost 5 weeks of work, i will get paid about Q2,600 which is roughly $350. So i´m not doing it for the fame and glory, but for the experience. So sorry friends and family, no Christmas gifts this year. Though i will be brining back burnt CDs of Guatemala´s hottest club singles. Thats the best i can do with my budget, but hey they really get the party started! I have a life here. My Guatemalan sister, Maria Jose, turned nine last week and there was a birthday party. Her mom made a cake with a cute clown in the center. After she blew out the candles her mom told her to kiss the clown and when she did, her mom pushed her face into the center of the cake. it was pretty hilarious and Maria Jose is such a good sport she just laughed it off. A good friend of mine at school had a dinner to celebrate the first day of Hannukah. I am taking a few salsa lessons and once a week I sing with my favorite teacher. My salsa teacher is a trip and constantly reminds me that my hands and arms are flowers and i must use them to "shine." Each dance move has a cleaver name, usually an animal..."El delphin, cobra, or conejo (rabbit)" I am really enjoying being a student again with no real responsibilities, though that will change once i start my job. Lately i have found myself questioning why I am here. sometimes i wake up and realize that i am currently living in Guatemala... how crazy is that? I often think that I didn´t come here to just learn Spanish, there is something else that has called me here.