It's a buggy world.

As happy and excited as I was to leave for the Peace Corps and to start my service and make a difference, I knew that at some point I would get overwhelmed and frustrated, and have to ride out the wave. I have learned from only being here for almost five months that there are definitely waves of highs and lows. I hit a low point last week with a lot of things happening at once and just feeling overwhelmed; overwhelmed with my project and with Guatemala. To begin, I had been going on my school visits each day, getting two done a day on average. The more schools we visited, the more I realized how much they all lacked. No water, kids coming to school dirty, no money, no motivation. I started to realize that I was telling each school we were there to work on hygiene and also, hopefully, water projects for those schools that didn't have water. Well, almost all of my schools don't have water. So that's when I realized that there is no feasible way in getting all of our schools water. Impossible in two years. So then I felt like I was lying to them and felt guilty. That was the start of my low week. Then, I got fleas in my bed. Fleas are not fun. My ankles, feet, and arms were covered with flea bites that would not stop itching no matter how much I scratched them. As if that weren't bad enough, I had to deal with the problem of getting rid of them...in Guatemala. Not an easy feat. I ended up having to buy lots and lots of an insecticide spray and spray EVERYTHING. I sprayed my blankets, my clothes, and my mattress, twice. I had to sleep on my floor for three nights. I was itchy, upset, defeated, and felt dirty. Then, I had to deal with an influx of spiders in my bathroom and the random, giant cockroaches that decide to visit my bedroom. The amount of bugs here in Guatemala still impresses me day to day. Where do they all come from?? By the end of the week I had felt hopeless, defeated, and wanted to move to a place of my own where I could feel like I had more control over my surroundings. 

Well, you will be happy to know that I survived my low week and things have turned around since then. After finishing all my initial school visits finally I have found that we have a group of some really great schools that have a lot of potential. And, in reality, that is all that matters. Having a few good schools I can really focus on is what can make my service here effective. Doesn't mean I will discard the rest but it does mean that I can get something done with some, while others struggle to make a move. I've also realized that I'm not expected to bring all my schools water. Healthy Schools is supposed to be a 15 year program and we are just starting it here in my district. Therefore, whatever we don't get done it is hoped that the replacing volunteers in the future will. As to the bug situation, I think I have exterminated the fleas. I have slept in my bed two nights now since the flea week and so far, so good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they don't come back. All the other bugs were easy to control with a little bit of spray. I no longer feel dirty or defeated. Hooray! As for wanting to move, well, I found a pretty good deal. The woman whose house I live in now is building a small house right next door on her property. She told me if I liked it she could have it finished be built for me to move into. Well I most definitely liked it and the building has ensued, so I should have my own space soon and I am so looking forward to it! Patience, patience, patience.

Now, my worries are focused on the violence going on in Guatemala. Drug cartels are getting feisty and a lot of murders are taking place nationwide. The department of Peten has now been declared in a state of siege. Ever since that siege was declared by the government a week ago, things over here in Alta and Baja Verapaz have been getting worse. Murders and arrests of drug cartel associates are taking place and it is not comforting. Things are happening too close to home and it makes us all wonder what is going to happen next. I am under the impression that Peace Corps is keeping close watch on all the recent events and are investigating on security issues, yet, communication is lacking a bit right now. Perhaps, though, that is because our regional security meeting is next week and we might as well discuss everything in person. Regardless, I am hoping things turn for the better because I really like my site and would hate to have to leave due to safety and security issues. I do want to let my family and friends know, though, that I am safe and not to worry. 

I hate that this entry was a bit depressing and bleak but I want to reflect all the experiences I go through to give you a better idea of what my life as a Peace Corps volunteer is like. Not every day is happy and feels like you are going to save the world. You hit your slumps and gotta stick it out until you feel able to get back on your feet again and realize everything will be okay. You will always miss certain comforts from home, such as bug-free bedrooms, the abundance of water in schools, clean kitchens, etc. But those things are waiting at home and will always be there until you are ready to go back. To leave off on a happier note, I am going to leave a couple of pictures from some of my hikes to schools. My schools seem to be in one of two environments:1. Mountainous, agriculture-rich land covered in green vegetation. 2. Tropical, cloud rain forest land teeming with rivers, birds, and flowers. So enjoy the beautiful views I am so blessed to see everyday. 

“Real life isn’t always going to be perfect or go our way, but the recurring acknowledgement of what is working in our lives can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties.” — Sarah Ban Breathnach

Guatemalan Funky Town

I've always loved cooking and making good food but I didn't realize before leaving for the Peace Corps that one of the (many) rewards I would receive as a result of doing the Peace Corps would be becoming a better cook. It's true when volunteers tell you that we have A LOT of free time as volunteers. Since I am still in my beginning stages of work I usually get home from working (i.e. school visits) by 11 AM and then have the entire rest of the day to myself. After being in site for about a month and a half I have already spent a good amount of time cooking and making fun, new dishes. It's great really because back in the US I would talk about wanting to make certain things but the time some dishes take is intimidating and makes you say, "Yeah...next week I'll make that." Well, now I have no excuses because what else do I have to do? So I have so far made a few things, such as, lentils from scratch, some delicious vegetable curries, roasted red pepper hummus, some inventive but delicious vegetable wraps, and even french fries - which was my first. So I've been having fun and from the looks of it I am going to be a phenomenal cook when I leave here in two years. Or at least one would hope right? One more reason for you all to come visit me because I know you want my food :)


So last week we did not go on any school visits from Wednesday to Friday, aka 2 day work week. Great. Obviously, the reason was because school was cancelled those three days and, naturally, school was cancelled for the ever important interscholastic sports games all the schools compete in against each other. Sports games' importance over education? Hmm...one would think this would be clear but it is quite surprising how in Guatemala these things seem to be valued more. So it was a pretty chill, low key week last week. Today we started up again and visited two schools. The first school was pretty nice and I think will be pretty good to work with. The second school was a 30 minute hike up another mountain, which wouldn't have been so bad if it weren't for the sweltering heat from the sun and the humidity. Once again, arrived at a school dripping sweat looking great as ever. The teacher brought us chairs to sit in and "cool off" when we got there. Wonder how she knew we were hot... Anyways, the teachers at this school were really great and cooperative. The school is made out of sticks though because it is only two years old, but I think it has really great potential for being a bottle school. They have a lot of space and the teachers and community seem to really want a building so I am definitely going to keep that in the back of my head. We had a couple of little boys be our guides again from one school to the next and then from the second school to the street where the microbus passes. I enjoy it when we have these "guides" because I like to try to talk to the kids more. It's like our one chance to actually talk to them and not have them stare at us while we present ourselves at the front of the classroom. Today as I was talking to the little boys I had one of those moments where I thought, "Wow, Guatemalan little boys are so different from American little boys." At one point, they were asking me what kind of food they ate in America and if they had tortillas (a Guatemalan staple). Then proceeded to ask me if they have corn, just like the corn we were passing growing on the side of the road that most likely one of their families works in cultivating and selling. I told them yes and they seemed surprised by this. Then one of the boys asked me how much a pound of corn sells for. Well, I had no idea. Honestly, your typical American does not know that. So I asked the little boy how much a pound went for in Guatemala and of course he knew! It's just crazy to me sometimes how different the lives of little kids here are from those of the US. I mean obviously, every culture is different and, hence, the lives of those people are different, but that doesn't mean I don't get moments of this brief realization from time to time. Most of these kids work in the fields with their parents and so they experience having to work at a much younger age. One of our schools we went to last week was about half empty because, the director explained, it's the season to plant new corn and so most of them have to go out with their families to plant and prepare the new fields. Meanwhile, they have to miss school. 


On our way home from the school visits today we got a ride with a passing pickup that was going into town. It's a beautiful ride through dense green mountains but really bumpy because it is not paved. So here I am, bumping around admiring the beauty around me. I take a look around at the other passengers riding with me: to my left are two Guatemalan men speaking in Q'eqchí, in the front row is another Guatemalan man in the passenger seat just chillin, then there's the driver maneuvering the pickup shirtless looking like the boss, and Lohmo sitting in between them. As I'm taking this all in, what song comes on the radio? None less than, "Can you take me to...Funky Tooown? Can you take me to...Funky Tooown?" Man, I looked around expecting everyone to laugh because 1. it is such a random song and 2. it was a funny song that seemed so inappropriate for the present company. But I obviously forgot that I was in Guatemala and that they had no idea what song it was or what it was about and everyone kept on as if nothing was even on the radio. I look over to Lohmo, who has his back to me, but I still manage to see a grin on his face at the start of the song. At least I wasn't the only one being entertained by the current scene.