Guatemalan Pride

I recieved one of those FWD:FWD:FWD emails from a guatemalan friend recently that has some funny/exagerrated truths about reality and pride of being guatemalan. So here I want to share with you (in my english translation) some of those that now also apply to my daily life :)

What it means to be guatemalan (or to work with guatemalans, haha)

1. Have a breakfast of coffee and a "pirujo" (although in reality it's two you always say "a" pirujo)

2. You come home late, wanting to accomplish alot but without time to do anything

3. You wait for wednesdays to go to the movies for 1/2 price, and wait for thursdays to get pizza 2 for 1

4. You sit around whichever day of the week, knowing that the 'next' day you have to go to work.

5. Save your money all week to buy minutes for your phone on a promotional day of double, triple, or cuadruple minutes

6. You have the most expensive cell phone you can buy, and hide it in places the most covert (like in my pants) so that they don't rob it from you on the bus

7. Always dip whatever bread or cookie you have in your coffee

8. Eat a roll with cheese, beans, or butter

9. Repeat proudly that the Guatemalan National Hymn is the best in the world, although most don't know all the verses (however beautiful, it does happen to be the longest song I've ever heard in my life, haha)

10. Eat "caldo de res" (a broth with vegs. and beef fat) while listening to the marimba

11. Wait in anticipation for the 15th of september (Central American Indepence Day) for the parades yet you end up not leaving your house to see them because it always rains the 15th of September

12. Plan the whole month to go to the beach and when the day comes noone goes because this day it rained of course (this includes planing just about anything)

13. Asking the obvious "Your just NOW getting here?," "Oh my god!," "You get wet?," "Did that hurt?,"

14. Also emphasis the evident and repeat it as if repeating it will bring about to change it... "It's so cold, really cold" "Geez luiz, how hot it is..." "Today yes, it's raining, like cats and dogs" and each person that comes in to where you are returns to say the same thing as if noone ever knew it, haha

15. To go to bed later Sunday than any other day of the week so that when Monday comes you want even less to go to work

The email continues on and says, "Are we or are we not special?" "Are we or are we not the best?" "Bless this my Guate, her earth, her customes, her people, and her future..."

Guatemala surely is a special country, and I'm glad I can share the traditions and "life" in a little humor with you all.

Peace, Love,
Robin

More Fotos Uploaded

Photos of the 15th of September (Indepence Day, & the Muni Birthday Cook-out)

http://community.webshots.com/album/574959981ozURfm?vhost=community&vhost=community

23rd Birthday

Well I meant to write earlier than this but last week I felt pretty bad with a sinus infection and stayed in bed taking Benydrl for 2 days, then went to Peace Corps for a VAC meeting. My birthday was fairly low key but the Friday before my co-workers at the Muni had a cook-out and we went swimming at a private house that had natural hot spring pools. It was nice and the BBQ chicken was amazing! Another co-worker (Julio from Treasury) has his birthday the day after mine so we celebrated together. Then on Saturday I went to Chiquimula to shop some and see a movie but they were only playing one I had just seen and "The Orphan" which is scary/stupid so instead I watched Happy Gilmore at my house.

Sunday (the 27th) I went to a really good Soccer game in Jocotan, we played Livingston and won 2-0 in the last 15 minutes! Octavio came to visit as well and as his birthday is the 28th we celebrated together and did a hike in San Juan Ermita (where Kristy the closest volunteer lives). We hiked to a village named Buena Vista, which means "Good View" and it lives up to its name! We went searching for Pre-hispanic paintings done on the side of these huge rock formations; however, we never actually found them although maybe we did and didn't know it... but the view was worth it anyway. :)


The week passed by quickly with me being sick, and the Volunteer Council meeting was very successful. The birthday celebration continued further into this weekend when on Saturday most of the volunteers in the Oriente all met at a Water park. We were also celebrating the end of service for several volunteers, and just really enjoyed a good day in the sun with slides and the lazy river. Then we all came back to my house for Spaghetti and Strawberry cake, yummmm

Today it's back to work, trying to get a list together of book requests and soliciting help. Wednesday I have a presentation in a village on Community Group Organization and Responsabilities which I need to prepare for. I am also trying to start up an art class at the local orphanage so I will be meeting with the Director sometime this week as well.

As always thanks for reading and all your support!!!

Peace, Love,
Robin