Zoo Animal

Today is day #24 here in this country of Guatemala. I have settled into my routines and am enjoying the time in this new phase of life. Today also completed my third full week of classes. The time here has been and continues to be wonderful, with many great memories already added to the file along with new lessons in language, culture, appreciation, and simplicity. With so many things to write about and choose to bring to light, this is but another glimpse, a mere candle lighting, in this time where the sun shines brightly day after day. And with so much going unsaid and unmentioned, along with the inability to express my thoughts, love and admiration to all those I think about, love, and admire...I simply write "Thank You"...and if you are reading these words, you are the ones I thank and hope to send the message to. The message of love, encouragement, and inspiration in this day, this life.

After 3 weeks, I am settling into a routine, enjoying the pace here. Each week is beginning to look the same, kind of like my repeated weekly wardrobe, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I am definitely settled and adjusted to this life as a student, volunteer, gringo, funny-talking foreigner, amongst the many hats I get to wear...and on occasion, tourist. In my efforts to learn the language and become as much Guatemalan as possible while here, I try to leave behind some of my American ways...but regardless of my attempt, I am who I am.

I currently sit before an internet cafe computer screen and type out some thoughts I scribbled down the other night. And with this the introduction ends and the story continues...

(The following was written this past Miercoles night, the 20th of February, 8.25 pm)

So here I am in this Central American country of Gueatemala, sitting in a Mexican bar/restaurant, eating a plate of nachos and watching my beloved American game, the game of basketball, as 2 local Anitguan ladies try to draw my attention to the steps outside the restaurant to persuade me to buy their crafted blankets, but my attention is focused on the television screen while the sound coming from the surrounding speakers plays the familiar tunes of 80's American music. Walked and stopped at several places looking for a restaurant or bar that carried the sport that I enjoy, though it is one disregarded by most persons here, therefore making the effort somewhat challenging. I love the fact that futbol (soccer) is on here 24/7 and I get to "practice" listening to the language I am in the process of learning while watching soccer/"studying" my other beloved sport. But there comes a time in a young man's life when a certain game can speak a familiar voice and satisfy a craving that not even the great-tasting-supreme-nachos before me can satisfy. The game that brings me here tonight is the NBA match-up of the Lakers versus the Suns (Shaq's first game with his new team and now my for-sure favorite NBA team) and nearing the end of the first quarter, with my nachos 3/4 devoured...I have to say my craving is satisfied. As I complete my meal, I am reminded of a proverb. The heading in the Bible I read from notes them as sayings of Agur, a man of humility and little knowledge of the Lord. However, he asked the Lord of a couple of things before he dies... 1) to be made absolutely honest and 2) daily bread...not too much that he forget about the Lord but not too little that he be tempted to steal and disgrace the name of the Lord...simply what he needs. And with that thought there has been honesty and a fair portion of bread in this good day. And I am thankful and appreciative for not too much and definitely not too little.

The first quarter ends, as does my meal, Lakers 32 - Suns 29.

I have moved on to a cup of coffee now, with my preferred 1 milk, 2 sugars. I sip in between sentences and glances of the 2nd quarter. Shaq is a big specimen. Steve Nash wears the #13...which I have been able to sport twice in the past few weeks, with a couple of teams that allowed me to play balencesto with them. With the most recent team, we won the semi's and advanced to the finals...but due to a couple of factors we were not permitted to play in the finals. 1) the guy on our team who reports the names and numbers apparently reported a wrong name with number and 2) we played with an illegal player. I am writing with one hand and raising the other to indicate who the illegal player on our team was.

Queen's "We Are The Champions" accompanies my thoughts from the speakers above.

Fernando, the name of my new friend and fellow teammate, and I were planning on watching the finals of the championship (that we were supposed to play in... after our 3rd game place was a no-go due to the other team not showing up)...but not enough players showed up for that game either, so there was no final. But instead of it being a night bitter, it turned out to be a night sweet.

So there I am on the back of the motor-bike/scooter with Fernando, riding around Antigua and forced to speak and attempt to speak in the new tongue of espanol and trying to listen and comprehend as well, as the sounds of the scooter and the wind and opposing traffic also compete for my attention...nevertheless, a beautiful evening.

And with that thought I finish my great cup of cafe, even though I let the last 2 sips go cold. And as my bladder signals, I cannot risk the chance of leaving my table and the game...both could be lost upon return.

Back to the motor-bike night with Fernando...tis these moments in time when I enjoy being at the place I am at in life. That of riding around a fresh place with a new friend, communicating with and learning about someone else's life (albeit by way of a pre-schooler's understanding and grasp on a language). And the scooter ride allowed me to learn about this 30 year-old elementary school teacher to 8 year-olds...as I did my best to speak like one.

Halftime, Lakers up 65-57.

I learned Fernando has been at the school for 3 years, lives in the same town as me but only on the weekdays. It takes him about 45 minutes to get to school, a half hourof that walking. On the weekends he lives with his aunt in Antigua, a city which I have come to adore. It is where my school is located, where my studies continue incredibly well.

My maestra returned from sickness this week and I am back on track and back to good-student mode, after being a bit frazzled by the teacher change...though it was nice getting to know another maestro.


My alarm goes off around 5:05 every morning...and I snooze to about 6. I then up and ready (with my shower usually just consisting of pouring a bucket of water on my head--and that is by choice, there is a perfectly fine shower available--I just opt for the 35 second version with less drying off responsibility), make my bed like a good camper, pack my backpack for the day, then make my way downstairs for breakfast. This is where I have my first language-practice-session for the day, which also serves as morning entertainment for my host family I am sure. Breakfast consists of anything from eggs (scrambled to poached to other-ways-not-really-sure-what-the-right-word-is, sometimes with hot dogs mixed in), usually some beans somewhere, to fresh fruit (papaya, cantaloupe, pineapple), bread is always available in abundance, sometimes cereal--have even seen Toucan Sam on occasion which is a tasty treat, gotta love the Froot Loops. But the most frequent is an oatmeal-like soup, sometimes pink --which I hope to be strawberry, and sometimes white, which I will just call white. And I am glad over the years I have become accustomed to mixing my food together before eating--which I think has killed or confused many of my taste buds, which now welcome any, well at least most, foods. I am then out the door a little after 7 and it takes about 5-7 minutes from the time I leave the house until I am doing what I call the chicken-bus-dance-game. How you play is 1) get on the bus 2) try to stay standing as the driver always takes off before you are ready 3) try not and bump head on railing 4) try not to hit fellow chicken-bussers in head with backpack 5) do 2-4 while squeezing through the space between seats that is about the size of a #2 pencil 6) If there is a seat available and can manage to make it there while dancing in stride to all of the above, you win. I have yet to win, I think I am like 0-73. Nonetheless, it is always an adventure. The driver pursues his reckless pursuit of recklessness and it takes about 10 minutes to get from the city where living to the city where studying. The fare is 2.5 quetzales (the equivalent of 33 U.S. cents), quite the bargain for providing both transportation to school and a small taste of a theme park roller coaster. How I have yet to see a pedestrian mowed over or a cyclist recycled I do not know. I am constantly thinking about what-if scenarios and it is not uncommon for the following thoughts to flow through my head...


What if this bus (camioneta in spanish) turns over...what if we hit that poor guy walking...how did we just make that turn...surely we are not passing, ok we are really passing...and many more. It always is entertaining and a great way to get the blood flowing in the morning.


I get dropped at a spot called Garita and then I have a 10-12 minute walk to school(though curiosity did get the best of me one day and I know I can make it in 4.5 minutes by run if need be...that is with backback and with shoes- the time in sandals was not too pleasant). But by walking, it is a good time to think, pray, and gaze upon the sky and the beauty of a morning view.


I get to school around 7:25 or so and am usually the first student there, then review my notes or study or...do the homework assignment from the day before. Marina is the sweet lil ole lady at the small store close to the school where I like to get my orange juice or chocolate before classes begin for the day.


Class begins, I talk with Amanda, my maestra, and we go from there into the 2 hour session before break. After the 30 minute break, I return for the remainder 1.5 hour session and the cabeza is filled with more information, poco a poco, little by little, with each passing day. I have to say my teacher is a blessing. She is the sister of the director of the school and it is her family that pretty much runs the school. Her father, Maco, is the greeter at the entrance of the school, always smiling and very welcoming. One brother, Manuel, handles the tour operations and transportation, the youngest sibling, Julio, manages the front desk. Coni, a sister in the fam, is also a teacher. Alfredo, the elder of the Martinez family is the supervisor and manager. Juan Carlos, the director of La Union (http://www.launion.edu.gt/), and I hit it off back when I visited last year and he said he would look after me, which after receiving his sister as a teacher, amongst other things, I am finding him true to his word. And blessings come, as I am very thankful and view it as nothing short of answered prayer...as through my perception so many are being answered. At high noon classes end. Mondays and Fridays are my days to get errands done, as I am less rushed on these days. Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays I am allowed to volunteer at a public school in the city where I am living, Ciudad Vieja, so I usually chicken bus back not long after class dismissal to catch lunch and a cat nap.

(I pause to watch the game and listen to a Cold November Rain)

2 men talk at the bar, as people constantly come in and out, the liqours line one wall and there is a painting of a woman on another that could use more clothing. On another wall, there is a framed picture of some lady who I have not a clue who she is, but she has a uni-brow. T-shirts of the restaurant, Frida´s, are hanging on the other wall. And I sit in the middle of this room at a circular table with my backpack at feet, writing, watching, listening...thinking, remembering, and enjoying the moment. The ticket for the meal comes, I dig through my bag to find some money, quetzales is the currency here, named after the bird.

Coldplay´s ¨In My Place¨, great song. Mellow and tranquil. Lakers 95-91 at the end of 3.

It is currently 10:05 pm and the last chicken bus to the city where I sleep left an hour and a half ago. A bridge to cross later. Bladder still signaling. Game still on.

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2 in the afternoon until 5 I get to team up with the physical fitness teacher at the public school in Ciudad Vieja and recess and exercise with the kids. It has been a great way to get involved and be exposed to this culture and their children. The kids seem to enjoy being around me, as I do them, and they especially like sharing one of the gifts I have been blessed with, the blessing, of course, of...hair. The kids pull and tug and pet the hair on my head, face, arms, and legs- as if I am some kind of zoo animal. It has been a blessed time with the children as they share their youth, laughter, energy, culture, language and smiles with a newcomer. It is a good time to interact and be a kid amongst kids in a non-threatening environment. I am also enjoying the time with Donaldo, the 19 year-old p.e. teacher. The environment is completely spanish, which is helping the learning curve, poco a poco.

(That ends the writings from that evening and now my thoughts turn to the present, on this Saturday afternoon in Antigua)

Some friends of mine walked in to Frida´s as the game was ending and I talked with them. I sat and talked with Chloe as the game concluded. Lakers won 130-124. I asked Chloe if she could do 2 things for me: 1) excuse me as I go use the restroom and 2) please watch my bag. She did. I went. I returned and we talked and hung out. David, Kim, Chloe, and Sky...we hung out and shot the breeze. And here in about an hour I am going with them on a camp in a forest, where there are tree houses and tents, amidst the beauty of nature and a supposed gorgeous view of Antigua, so I am excited.

A couple of other things:

On Monday nights I get to partake in the free Merengue and Salsa lessons. I get to dance with women of all shapes and sizes, from places the world over, as I do my best to move about like, not a fish, but a human in water...or a fish out of water, both work.

Another strange and odd occurence has been the sighting of 2, yes 2 Guatemalans wearing the crimson sweatshirt of the University of Alabama. One, a young boy, and the second, an older lady. The only thing that would have topped off the occurence would have been to see their reaction to a ¨Roll Tide¨, which I am kicking myself for not doing...next time the fellow Bamians at heart are getting the ¨Roll Tide¨ no doubt...wonder what it translates to in spanish...

Another thing I am enjoying is the time with my host family. From meals to watching television and movies or just struggling to let them know what my plans are, it has been a good time thus far. I love their togetherness and love and care. A story from last weekend. Here in Guatemala, their are many traditions that have been neat to see and visit surrounding the religious time as Easter approaches. Their are processions every weekend and the local churches are decorated in vibrant colors as are the streets. Flowers and time-consuming sand designs will line the streets in preparation for the procession to come through. The designs in the streets are beautifully crafted and carefully placed and perfectly designed, only to be trampled on and over when the procession comes through. All that time and effort and energy, wiped out. Though it serve as a pretty good analogy for the King of kings and Lord of lords. Anyway, last Friday night I hopped in the back of the family truck and we drove about 30 minutes to a church to see the decoration and display. On the drive there, in the cool of the night, I sat on a blanket in the bed of the truck, next to the 12 year-old Rodolfo, and also with Alejandra(16) and Jose(11), with another blanket on our legs to help keep warm. I rode the familiar drive, the same route the chicken bus runs every morning , except this time it was from a different perspective. Yes, twas still bumpy and a bit dusty, yet it was worthwhile to be able to tilt my head and look at the stars. And to think about being in this new country, with a new family, speaking and attempting to converse in a new language, just many many new things. Yet, as I gazed upon the starry sky, I could not help but feel a tremendous peace as it was the same northern sky I have gazed upon many a night. And so in the midst of the newness, on the larger scale there remains a sense of the Greatness and Grandness of this world in which we live. We made it to the church, I witnessed a beautiful display of the spiritual light, as there was a huge crowd of people, much like that at a fair. There was God, Jesus, and mother Mary on display inside the church; then there was cotton candy, toys, and many products on display and for sell outside. I enjoyed the cultural experience and the time with family. The taste of the fresh mango was nice as well. The drive back was again good to tilt back and enjoy. The dark and dim lit roads allowed the stars and and clouds to appear mystical. The mountains and trees and volcanoes silhoutted in view. The low hanging, much dispersed powerlines added to the picture as well. And so the night concluded, as this post soon will, and a simple prayer will be left to share, a prayer influenced by a few proverbs:

Oh Almighty Great and Powerful and All wise God

May this day bring:

Rightness and Fairness for the situations I find myself in
May a good crop be produced in thought, word, and action
May there be a plan with hard work and not just hurriedness
May there be innocence
May there be instruction and sensibility
May the poor be helped, as I too will need help one day
May justice be done
May good sense be used
May I not just live for pleasure
May there be precious treasures stored up
May there be kindness and goodness
A prayer for wisdom
May I watch what I say
May I not be proud and conceited
May I obey You and be generous
May I be a reliable witness
May I be a God-person and think before I step
May I realize no matter how much or little I know and regardless of my plans, they will not defeat Yours

Even if an army has horses ready for battle, the Lord will always win.

Amen.