Well I haven’t gotten sick yet! Although I really shouldn’t talk too soon because I will probably be the next one… I can’t believe I am already done with my first week of 25 hours of Spanish class! I already feel like I can talk easier with my family. Today we had a really nice lunch of tacos that my host dad, Juan Antonio made for us. Our lunch lasted about an hour and a half because we sat around and talked for a while after. Communicating is still a struggle and a bit frustrating for me, but I feel like I am constantly improving. My host dad even told me that I speak well (though I know he is just being nice), he is really good about speaking slowly and clearly for me, and explaining anything that I don’t understand.
Wednesday nights are salsa nights for students here at the school. We get free lessons at a discoteca called La Parrumba. It was a great night, we hung around and danced until 12:30, and my feet hurt so much from dancing all night – definitely worth it though! And the great thing is that it’s Guatemala, so of course everyone there knows how to salsa and meringue really well. Sometimes that’s a bit overwhelming though, and hard to follow!
Thursday night some of us went to a café nearby, El Cuartito, to hear a rap-like performance of some poetry. It was a neat experience! I tried my first liquado con leche (basically like a smoothie), and was so delicious!
Friday was a pretty laid back day. After classes a few of us went exploring around the town to find some wine and cheese for the graduation party at Celas that night - wine is so inexpensive here! Every Friday the school has a graduation celebration for those who “graduate” from the school (basically anyone who is done with their time there and not coming back the next week). Each week is a different theme and this one was vino con queso. It was a nice get-together, and we said goodbye to our new friends we made from Montana.
This morning we all met at 5 am for a hike. We hiked partway up a mountain to a lookout with a fantastic view of the Santiaguito volcano. It erupts about every 45 minutes, and we stayed to watch two eruptions. It was so cold until the sun came over the mountain, then it felt great! Our tour guides even brought a pan and stove to make us hot chocolate! The hot chocolate here is so good, and really rich, they use real chocolate bars to make it.
Still missing family and friends, but overall everything is going well. Our group is getting closer every day, and I look forward to the incredible times that are to come…
sounds like a blast! Drink some wine for me! And yea don't get sick...it's not fun!
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