Post airport we headed to Antigua, where we were planning on staying a few nights. Antigua is really good at some things: food, shopping, and sitting on roof terraces. We did a lot of that. For me, it was heaven. Continuous good food is a blessing and a nice break from those nights where I don't really feel like cooking (or, for that matter, have anything to cook) and eat cereal or oatmeal for dinner. We also walked around a lot. If you ask her she'll probably complain a little and say I made her walk TOO MUCH, but Antigua is small enough that you can just walk everywhere. Although, the cobblestone streets did cause her to almost twist her ankle more times than I could count. She survived though. Since Antigua has many old churches and ruins, we also checked out a bunch of those. Crazy to think I have spent so much time in Antigua since being here and most of the places we went to go see I hadn't even been to yet! The ruins are truly a beautiful sight and quite remarkable. I also had the opportunity to take my mom to my training town, Pastores, where I lived for the first three months in country. We had lunch with my host family and I also took her to meet another host family in town that has shown such great hospitality to me. It was nice to have her meet the people I had spent so much time with. Going to Pastores meant I got to take my mom on a chicken bus, or an old American school bus painted bright colors that drives as if your destination is going to leave before you get there. I think the best ride, however, was the tuc tuc. Tuc tucs are the little motorized vehicles with one wheel up front and two little ones on the back. (I'll have to get a photo.) They are the same as Indian auto-rickshaws. It's one thing to ride a tuc tuc and a whole other thing to ride one in Antigua. The cobblestones made for an adventurous and bumpy ride and my mom kept making jokes that her boobs were gonna pop outta her shirt. Haha I wouldn't have been surprised...it's bumpy. One of the last things we did in Antigua was go to a coffee farm and go on a coffee tour. My mom is an avid coffee drinker and needs her cup (or two) daily. I think she was satisfied with the free cup of coffee at the end of the tour.
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| La Catedral at night in Antigua |
After Anitgua, we headed out to my site Purulhá. Mom got a bit carsick on the way but we eventually made it. I was excited to have her stay at my house and for her to see where I live and experience my lifestyle and routine here. Well, that made her kinda sad. Living on the meager PC salary and not inheriting any household goods from a previous volunteer meant that I didn't have much in my house to work with, just the bare necessities. She was determined to make that better. I was happy to comply. We made a few trips up to Cobán where we went on quite a few shopping sprees purchasing items for my house that I was missing. We also decided to move my bedroom into one of the other smaller rooms in my house. It made more sense and now that it is done I like it so much more! She helped me paint my new room yellow and orange before moving all my stuff. I love my new room so much and it feels so much more cozy. Thanks ma! After my mom's visit my house itself just feels a lot more homey. I now have a hammock in one of my rooms that is very nice and relaxing. I also have acquired the following: a dining table and chairs (yay), a blender, a pressure cooker, a small vacuum (she brought that from home), a mop, pots and pans, food, and other small necessities. All those new additions to my home were great (and I am ever so grateful for them) but it still doesn't compare to the time I just had to hangout with my mom. We did a whole lot of nothing, just hanging out, relaxing, feeling the flow of life. We went out to a hotel nature reserve a few minutes from my town one day and had a day of swimming and lounging which was also nice. I also did some work stuff and took her to one of my schools. It was great to show her what the schools I work with here are like and to show her what a day of work is like. All in all, I really enjoyed her company and it was so nice to just share in laughter and cooking with her.
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| My beautiful madre in my new room |
The day before my mom left we spent one last night in Antigua since her flight left early the next day from Guate. Her farewell was bittersweet in the sense that I was sad she had to leave but happy she came and I had the opportunity to spend time with her. We both shed some tears for our goodbyes, but I'll see her soon since I am planning on going home in October for the birth of my first nephew!! Coming back to my house was harder than I thought it was going to be. Older volunteers had told me that post visitors and post trips home make you a bit depressed for a few days. When I got home I cried because everywhere I looked in my house I saw my mom. I got so used to having company that the first two days I felt incredibly lonely and sad. It made me really homesick. I was jealous she was back home and I was here alone. But, as all things do, the feelings passed and I remembered why I am here and the value in the experiences and events that occur to me here. I woke up today with a new wind behind me. Guatemala is a beautiful place with a lot of need. I am taking each day as a blessing and am going to live it to its potential. Every day is an opportunity. I love my family but I know I will see them all again very soon. Peace Corps means making some sacrifices but most meaningful things require some sacrifice. I'm okay with that. Here's a quote I stumbled on yesterday that I really liked that I will leave you with 'til next time:
“Wearing shoes too tight
she set out on the journey
knowing her feet would
hurt along the way.
Oh, but how
she learned
to tread
more lightly.”
-Leela Vox
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