I saw a monkey!

So crazy, so for the past few days at the orphange, I have been hearing monkeys in the trees but hadn´t seen on yet. Today, in the afternoon, I went with another volunteer to a river with seven boys ages 7 to 8. On our way there, we stopped to check out the monkeys. It was really enjoyable, we ran some, walked some, swam, and the boys all covered themselves with clay. A fun little adventure away from the orphange and nice to meet other kids.
To backtrack a bit though, my last week in Coban was incredible. I went to a tea farm, where a Peace Corps Volunteer works, and saw the makings of tea... and am bringing some home for all of you to sample! I also went to San Cristobal, a beautiful village a 20 minute bus ride away, which has a lovely lagoon. On the weekend, the other student and I went with our teacher to Sachicha, where we were once again cave explorers and also got to swim in a waterfall... And I shouldn´t forgot to mention this was 2 o´clock in the afternoon on a Friday... man, I am a lucky girl! Saturday, we went to some really incredible, gigantic caves! Monday was the day to saw goodbye... My teacher came to the house to pick me up, I gave Dona Martita and Claudia thank you cards and big hugs, and off we went to the bus station.. All worked out beautifully, I took 2 buses and was dropped off at Hotel Backpackers, where I spent the night. All the funds received from Hotel Backpackers go directly to Casa Guatemala....
Which is where I am now! I absolutely love it! I am responsible for the chiquitos, the little ones ages 2 to 4. We have 4 right now, but one if moving up to the next group next week, so we will have 3. There is another woman from Spain who is working with me. So, to give you an idea...we wake them up at 530, give them showers, breakfast at 6... at 730 they go to school. We pick them up at 1130 and they take a nap until 1230... back to school at 4. We pick them up at 4, play, showers at 5, dinner at 530, other activities which other volunteers run from 630 to 730 and 730, they go to sleep. Right now, I am working on figuring out what to do in all the free time... def going to spend time running because it is a beautiful place to run. I also went to a English class the other day, and would like to spend a lot of time helping with those kids. There is also a student with special needs who I am going to work with for a few hours a week. I like the fact that like Peace Corps, I can really do as much as I want. Of course, my little ones are my first priority...and it really is amazing how much Spanish I have already learned from 3 year olds!.... but then we can get involved with all other sorts of things. All the volunteers are incredible.. so fun and loving. They are from all over too.. Spain, Italy, Scotland, Chech Republic, Austrailia, America... all of course with millions of incredible stories of all the places they have traveled too... okay, we only get an hour and a half in town, about once every week or two... so I and going to get going to, and buy some fun things.. like chocolate!..to bring back with me. I am thinking of all of you in the 10 degree weather back at home! It is in the 70s and 80s here! Love you all! Sally

Orchid farms, coffee farms, national parks, 70th birthday parties, Konkian...

What a week! To sum it up, the week consisted of: a huge orchid farm, a coffee tour, Mayan art museum, hiking in a national park, learning, winning, and losing a Guatemalan card game called Konkian, attending the 70th birthday party of the lady of the house I am staying in which began at 5am with firecrackers and mariachi players, and exploring a cave! Of course, I have been learning a ton of Spanish too, in the 4 hour language classes. Another week here and then to Casa Guatemala. I have to say it is now 70s here! I think this is my kind of weather...

Inside of a cave, just discovered in 1998... Grutas Rey Santos
Beautiful park where the cave was
The mariachi band which began playing at 5 am for Dona Martita´s birthday
Some members of the sweet, caring family I am staying with
Overlooking Coban
My tour guides at the orchid farm
Vivero Verapaz, a huge orchid farm!
Trying some coffee beans.

Coban!

I don´t know where to begin. First of all, I have to say it is 56 degrees! I was expecting 80! I am going to get good use out of the 1 sweatshirt I brought! Anyway, Preston dropped me off at the airport at 3:45 am yesterday morning. ¿Was that only yesterday? (I love this keyboard...you can put in upside down question marks!) I slept on the plane to Houston and then again to Guatemala City. The first plane was early arriving to Houston which was nice, so I didn´t have to worry about making my connecting flight. On the plane, the lady sitting next to me asked if I knew Spanish. I told her a little bit and she proceeded to ask for my help filling out the customs forms. Our conversation confirmed that Samoan is still taking up the foreign language part of my brain, and it is going to take awhile to get my Spanish going again! I went through customs, walked outside of the airport and my Spanish language teacher, Jaime, was there with a large sign "WELCOME SALLY BRIGGS." We began talking and I immediately realized this was going to be a total immersion program...I think I only heard him speak one word of English! He called a taxi, which we took to the bus station. We then took the bus to Coban, a 4 hour ride. To my surprise, the bus was incredibly comfortable --cushioned seats, we watched a DVD, we are talking Leprechaun! I was definitely expecting more of a Samoan bus experience... We talked for awhile and I napped a little more. We arrived in the center of town and took another taxi. We got out of the taxi and were at the house where I would be staying. We went inside and Jaime introduced me to the lady of the house, Doña Martita, and a few other people who live there, and then he left! Fortunately, after Samoa, I think I avoided making the "Oh my, what do I do now?" look on my face. She asked me if I was hungry or if I wanted to rest. I said that I would unpack my bags first, and she told me that dinner would be ready in 30 minutes. About 10 minutes later, there was a knock on my door. A little boy, who also lives there, told me I was being called downstairs. He definitely put a smile on my face, and I had to laugh, remembering all of the times I had a knock on my door in Samoa, usually accompanied by little Linda's smiling face. I went downstairs, and to my surprise, was introduced to three Peace Corps Volunteers! Gosh, I am so blessed at these crazy things that always just seem to happen! Two of the volunteers only have two months left and the other one is toward the beginning of her service. I left them to eat dinner, a delicious mix of beans, tortillas, and some sort of vegetable dish. We later had punch, with a ton of fresh fruit in it, yum! It was really nice to share experiences with them and also to get their advice. Go figure that the first night in Guatemala, I ended up watching a movie with Peace Corps volunteers! I went to sleep well fed, with a wonderful feeling that I would be well taken care of for the next two weeks.

Breakfast this morning was at 7:30, more beans and tortillas, eggs, and papaya. The tortillas I have to say are incredible, they are made of corn, and are way better than any tortillas I have even tasted! The papaya also brought me back to Samoa. 8:00, class began. The school is right around the block, only a 2 minute walk. Jaime was all ready for me when I arrived. I met his mother who also lives at the school. I have to say I know I am going to learn more in the next 2 weeks than I did in atleast 2 years of college. One on one classes are incredible...I have no choice but to be 100% attentive the entire time, can say anything, ask about any topic, and am not afraid to make mistakes. And there is absolutely no English allowed. I was telling Jaime about when I went to Spain and if anyone if the class said a work of English, he or she would have to pay 1 euro. He laughed and now if an English word slips out of my mouth teases me about how I am going to have to give him a quetzal. He is so patient and can somehow figure out everything I am trying to say, and can help me to say it correctly. Of course, when I start speaking in Samoan, I just get a really interesting look!

After class, I went back to the house, ate some delicious soup with tortillas, and then ventured out. I found the dirt track which is around a soccer field and ran 3 miles around it. Even though I did not expect it to be 55 degrees, I have to say it is perfect running weather! Jaime said he would take me to run in the park this weekend, and we are also going to go and explore a cave.

So, life is good. I thank you all for all the great conversations before I left, the party at work, and all the fun times hanging out. Buenas dias!

Con un abrazo,
Sally