the impossible

So this year I spent my birthday out of the country for the first time. I love birthdays even when it's not mine, I just think they are so fun and love celebrating them. I wasn't really expecting much since I was away from home and with new people but then I read a comment my cousin left me that made me think of it differently. He said "New experience on a birthday, you can't ask for more." It was so true and I realized the significance of that and just decided to take in the day however it may have arrived. I ended up having an amazing birthday, regardless of being in a new place and with new faces. In the evening my host family threw me a party as I mentioned in my last post. All the volunteers from my town came (a total of seven) and, honestly, I was expecting more of a everyone sitting around listening to music and eating kinda party. I was clearly mistaken though. Shortly after everyone getting there my family had a whole program set in order for us to partake in. They had set up a series of games that we all played and the funny thing was that they were all such simple and random games but we had such a blast and were laughing hysterically - either at the ridiculousness of what we were doing or just out of sheer joy. There was plenty of dancing done, whether by choice or not, for many of the "punishments" doled out to the losers involved some kind of dancing. I also had a little Minnie Mouse piñata, which I thought so appropriate. My host family here is large, my host mother is one of nine and they are all neighbors. They are so sweet too and most of them came bringing me a gift, which I did not expect at all. They even gave me a little speech saying how much they care about me and welcome me to their family. Their hospitality and generosity towards me is so great I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to spend this time with them. 

So as far as training goes, it seems that things are finally picking up. We are all divided into Spanish groups depending on our levels and program. My group was advanced because we all came from Hispanic families. Our Spanish classes ended last week due to our level and we are now allowed to work on a project of our choice for the next 2 months of training. Two months sounds like a lot but in reality it's a lot less than that. We already have set training days every Tuesday and Wednesday and half-day on Thursdays, so in reality we only get full Mondays and Fridays to work on our projects. Regardless, though, I am excited about it! Today me and three other trainee volunteers went to this place called Cambiando Vidas (Changing Lives) located in our town. It is an NGO started by four Guatemalan women that provides quality education for children, a nutritious meal, parent education, and health services to those people in the surrounding communities that are at the lowest levels of poverty. The fact that it was started by Guatemala women is huge here because of the male dominance here called machissmo. While there we met one of the founders called Janet and she said that they started this as a way to show Guatemalans that women can do something meaningful too. She was such a remarkable and inspirational woman with drive, ambition, and determination. They started the school form nothing and everything they have is based on donation. They have worked in the past with different organizations from the US and Canada but also have received much help from local leaders, such as the mayor. This school was exceptional compared to the public Guatemalan schools I have seen thus far. They teach in the Montessori style and they don't just teach the kids until they graduate but support them and guide them to get into college, which is huge here especially for the really poor children who can't afford a private education. She is doing so much for these kids, she is literally changing their lives for the better. When we mentioned we want to help out there for our project she was so receptive and excited about it. Hopefully, we are going to go in and teach the kids health lessons on hygiene, nutrition, general health, and recycling. We have to show her the lesson plans and then we can get started ! I also am considering trying to get a world map painted for them at the school. Peace Corps has a project they do with schools that creates a world map from a grid so it makes it really easy to draw. I'll update more on the progress of this project as it goes on. I think it would be really great to be able to contribute to such a great organization. I'm planning on dividing my time though with the other school I mentioned in my previous post in Serroniño. Turns out there is an organization here called Tecnologìa de la Salud and one of their specialties is stove building. Therefore, I am going to try to contact them and see if they will work with us to build the school a stove. So, so far everything seems optimistic and I am pretty content with the way things are going. I had a cup of Yogi tea after dinner tonight and the quote on my tea bag read "You will feel fulfilled when you do the impossible for someone else." Janet came to my mind first because she is literally doing the impossible for all the children she is helping and supporting through the organization. I hope in my 27 months down here I can feel fulfilled in such a way but more importantly be able to make such a contribution to someone else. Okay it is now dark outside and I'm gonna turn this post in because I am getting bit by mosquitoes. Yes, I am sitting outside because my internet only works good when I sit outside. So is life in Guatemala :)