Last night at dinner we beans, cheese, and tortillas…and cookies AND cake! How exciting! The only problem was that for some strange reason ALL of the delicious goodies smelled and tasted vaguely like paint…or gasoline… and that’s when we all realized what had happened. FUMIGATION.
Last week the fumigators came to fumigate the home. The ENTIRE home. Around 9 am on Thursday I was minding my own business, sitting in the English department, when all of a sudden, the head of the department comes in and tells me they are about to fumigate our room. I didn’t think anything of it until I heard a RIDICULOUSLY loud whirring sound outside of the window…after which I IMMEDIATELY grabbed my laptop, water bottle, and purse, and sprinted for the door!
I got out JUST in time. As I was leaving the room, a man carrying what could only be described as a “ghost busters” spray gun ran into the room and filled it with fumigation gases. WHEW. While I kept my distance a good ways away, ALL OF THE CHILDREN (who SHOULD have been in classes) ran after the guy with the spray gun, following him from room to room. Just imagine: a ghost-busting fumigator, spraying potentially harmful gases, while 300 kids sprint after him. Let me further mention that it was about 50 degrees and raining outside. Let me also add that all classes were then cancelled between 9 and 10:45. I know…you’re SHOCKED.
Here are some questions that were raised in MY mind: 1. Why couldn’t they fumigate 3 HOURS later so classes wouldn’t have to be cancelled? 2. Why couldn’t they fumigate 1 WEEK later when there WILL BE no classes to be cancelled? 3. Why didn’t anyone stop the hoards of children running INTO the gases? All valid questions without answers… So instead, a few of my girls and I sat outside of the classrooms and listened to music and looked at pictures on my computer…good use of a school day.
Needless to say…fumigation does not lead to the making of delicious cookies…quite the contrary...in case you had any doubts...
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Saturday, October 2, 2010
It’s already been 90 days?!?
So yesterday was my 90th day in Guatemala. SERIOUSLY how have I already been here for 3 months?!? Anyhoo, what it means is that it was time to renew my Visa to be in Guatemala. You are free to stay in the country up to 90 uninterrupted days before you’re required to go to the capital to renew your Visa or you must leave the country. Unfortunately, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and El Salvador have an immigration agreement, so these countries (and thus my vacation last month) don’t count as actually “leaving the country.” Silly? Why yes. Quite.
Yesterday we left for Guatemala City for our visa renewals at 8:15 and arrived at the immigration office around 10:30. One of the other volunteers, Mona Lisa, and I were the only 2 volunteers left to renew our visas, so we had a LOT to do. First, we entered the immigration office to make photo copies of our passports and credit cards (which prove that you have enough money to leave the country when your time comes…what does it actually prove? That you have a credit card with your name on it…). Next, we went to the Photo center to take the most specific “passport style” photos in the world where: you must show your forehead and your ears, your hair must be pulled back, you cannot wear glasses, you cannot wear makeup, you cannot smile, and they MUST be in black and white, not to mention the correct size. REALLY? While we were waiting we took a detour to Burger King. Don’t worry – fast food is SO much more legit in Guatemala than in the states…either that, or I just forget what a normal hamburger looks like…
After an hour we picked up our ATROCIOUS photos and headed back to immigration. At this point it was roughly 12:15 and we were grateful to be able to hand in our things and head out. Unfortunately that’s not how things happened. Instead, we stood on line for a solid 30 minutes without a single person helping us. Around 12:45 we finally asked for some more information and were told that we needed to continue waiting. Then, around 1:05, we were told that the reason why they couldn’t take our things (when ALL we wanted to do was hand them a few pieces of paper) was because a machine that they needed was broken, and wouldn’t be fixed until 2 pm. Great. Let MORE waiting commence.
At 1:45 we decided it would be a good time to start the line for “extranjeros” (literally strangers) again and so we began to wait some more…but now while standing. We stood there for another 45 minutes without being told ANY more information. At 2:30, the woman behind the counter (who I was now beginning to loathe) told us that the machine would be fixed “en un momentito” (in just a quick minute). LIAR. After another 10 minutes we asked again – “Are you SURE someone is coming to fix this machine?” to which the response came “Well, there’s actually only one working machine…you need to be in THAT line,” which was said while pointing to ANOTHER line that had formed at ANOTHER window, that already had 20 people on it. SOMETIMES I HATE GUATEMALAN INDIRECTNESS!!!!!!!!!! We then proceeded to switch lines and wait some more. By the time I made it to the window, handed in my papers, paid my fees, handed in my receipt, and received my slip to pick up my passport next week, it was 3:35 (the offices close at 4). After 5 hours of RIDICULOUS waiting, really atrociously awful passport style photos, angry fist shaking, silly Guatemalan indirectness, lots of miscommunication, and a few games of Sudoku, we were no longer illegal immigrants.
Needless to say I’m NOT looking forward to my next trip to immigration – luckily it won’t be for at least another 6 months…
Yesterday we left for Guatemala City for our visa renewals at 8:15 and arrived at the immigration office around 10:30. One of the other volunteers, Mona Lisa, and I were the only 2 volunteers left to renew our visas, so we had a LOT to do. First, we entered the immigration office to make photo copies of our passports and credit cards (which prove that you have enough money to leave the country when your time comes…what does it actually prove? That you have a credit card with your name on it…). Next, we went to the Photo center to take the most specific “passport style” photos in the world where: you must show your forehead and your ears, your hair must be pulled back, you cannot wear glasses, you cannot wear makeup, you cannot smile, and they MUST be in black and white, not to mention the correct size. REALLY? While we were waiting we took a detour to Burger King. Don’t worry – fast food is SO much more legit in Guatemala than in the states…either that, or I just forget what a normal hamburger looks like…
After an hour we picked up our ATROCIOUS photos and headed back to immigration. At this point it was roughly 12:15 and we were grateful to be able to hand in our things and head out. Unfortunately that’s not how things happened. Instead, we stood on line for a solid 30 minutes without a single person helping us. Around 12:45 we finally asked for some more information and were told that we needed to continue waiting. Then, around 1:05, we were told that the reason why they couldn’t take our things (when ALL we wanted to do was hand them a few pieces of paper) was because a machine that they needed was broken, and wouldn’t be fixed until 2 pm. Great. Let MORE waiting commence.
At 1:45 we decided it would be a good time to start the line for “extranjeros” (literally strangers) again and so we began to wait some more…but now while standing. We stood there for another 45 minutes without being told ANY more information. At 2:30, the woman behind the counter (who I was now beginning to loathe) told us that the machine would be fixed “en un momentito” (in just a quick minute). LIAR. After another 10 minutes we asked again – “Are you SURE someone is coming to fix this machine?” to which the response came “Well, there’s actually only one working machine…you need to be in THAT line,” which was said while pointing to ANOTHER line that had formed at ANOTHER window, that already had 20 people on it. SOMETIMES I HATE GUATEMALAN INDIRECTNESS!!!!!!!!!! We then proceeded to switch lines and wait some more. By the time I made it to the window, handed in my papers, paid my fees, handed in my receipt, and received my slip to pick up my passport next week, it was 3:35 (the offices close at 4). After 5 hours of RIDICULOUS waiting, really atrociously awful passport style photos, angry fist shaking, silly Guatemalan indirectness, lots of miscommunication, and a few games of Sudoku, we were no longer illegal immigrants.
Needless to say I’m NOT looking forward to my next trip to immigration – luckily it won’t be for at least another 6 months…
Organizing the English Room…
So now that classes are winding down for the year (SERIOUSLY where did the last 3 months go???) Sam and I are in charge of taking care of things in the English room and preparing everything for next year. While it would seem that with classes being over we would have a lot LESS to do, the opposite could not be more true. Over the course of the next 2 months we need to: CLEAN the entire department (MUCH more easily said than done), create course curriculums and binders for all of the 10 grades of English that are taught in our school (when together we’ve only taught 6 of them – this should be enjoyable…), and inventory EVERYTHING that we own – English reading books, teacher’s books, games, materials, electronics – you name it. Not to mention the fact that Sam and I are both going on vacation during the next two months…we could definitely use some luck with this one…
My notebook…
When I first arrived in Guatemala there were very few things that I wanted/needed to buy – I’ve already been to Guatemala, how many woven things in pretty colors can I possibly own?? Regardless, first on my list was a notebook so that I could keep track of important information such as: words to learn in Spanish, Spanish verb conjugations, my girls’ birthdays, etc.
Every day that I would go to the section the girls would always ask me if I brought a few things with me: books to read to them (which is next on my list), Uno (you know how that one turned out…), playing cards, and a pencil and paper. The latter are things I ALWAYS have in my bag – who knows when I’m going to hear a useful Spanish phrase or two! Anyhoo, the girls figured out that I always had my pen and paper with me and have been borrowing my notebook every day since then. They always tell me to wait until another day to read the messages that they write me, but I can never help it – they are just too adorable and usually include a picture or two :). Below is my favorite thus far (with the Spanish and the English version).
Para: Jessica De: Mariela
Hola! Como te encuentras bueno. Yo solo te quiero decir que tú eres muy buen onda con nosotras y compartes tus momentos con nosotras. Gracias por toda tu amistad que nos das y tu amor. Yo se que tú has dejado tu familia para poder visitarnos y ensenarnos todo lo que sabes y todo y espero que tu sabes que cuando te vayas nosotras siempre estaremos esperándote en todo momento. Y cuando quieras venir a visitarnos aquí estaremos esperándote. Tenemos gracias que dios nos permite vivir la vida. Nunca dejes de sonreír porque no sabes quién pueden enamorarse de ti y porque una sonrisa vale más que una palabra.
Att: Dios y yo
Nunca olvides que dios te ama.
For: Jessica From: Mariela
Hi! I hope this finds you well. I only want to tell you that you are a good person with us and you share your time with all of us. Thank you for all of your friendship that you give us and your love. I know that you have left your family to be able to visit us and teach us all that you know and all, and I hope you know that when you come to the section we are always waiting for you in that moment. And when you want to come visit us, we will be here waiting for you. We are grateful that God permits us to live life. Never leave behind your smile because you don’t know who can love you for it and because a smile is worth more than a word.
Attention: God and me
Never forget that God loves you.
Every day that I would go to the section the girls would always ask me if I brought a few things with me: books to read to them (which is next on my list), Uno (you know how that one turned out…), playing cards, and a pencil and paper. The latter are things I ALWAYS have in my bag – who knows when I’m going to hear a useful Spanish phrase or two! Anyhoo, the girls figured out that I always had my pen and paper with me and have been borrowing my notebook every day since then. They always tell me to wait until another day to read the messages that they write me, but I can never help it – they are just too adorable and usually include a picture or two :). Below is my favorite thus far (with the Spanish and the English version).
Para: Jessica De: Mariela
Hola! Como te encuentras bueno. Yo solo te quiero decir que tú eres muy buen onda con nosotras y compartes tus momentos con nosotras. Gracias por toda tu amistad que nos das y tu amor. Yo se que tú has dejado tu familia para poder visitarnos y ensenarnos todo lo que sabes y todo y espero que tu sabes que cuando te vayas nosotras siempre estaremos esperándote en todo momento. Y cuando quieras venir a visitarnos aquí estaremos esperándote. Tenemos gracias que dios nos permite vivir la vida. Nunca dejes de sonreír porque no sabes quién pueden enamorarse de ti y porque una sonrisa vale más que una palabra.
Att: Dios y yo
Nunca olvides que dios te ama.
For: Jessica From: Mariela
Hi! I hope this finds you well. I only want to tell you that you are a good person with us and you share your time with all of us. Thank you for all of your friendship that you give us and your love. I know that you have left your family to be able to visit us and teach us all that you know and all, and I hope you know that when you come to the section we are always waiting for you in that moment. And when you want to come visit us, we will be here waiting for you. We are grateful that God permits us to live life. Never leave behind your smile because you don’t know who can love you for it and because a smile is worth more than a word.
Attention: God and me
Never forget that God loves you.
Día del Niño
So after waking up at 4:30 to sing Las Mañanitas and going back to bed and sleeping for another 2 hours, it was finally time for Día del Niño! Now, NORMALLY Guatemalan time is approximately 30 minutes to an hour and a half BEHIND the time that things are scheduled for. If you have a meeting at 10 am – you can bet that your meeting won’t start until AT LEAST 10:45. But I had a feeling that this day was going to be different. We were instructed to be in front of the office to get on the buses at 8 am. I showed up at 8:05 and the buses were fully loaded, ready to take off! By 8:15 we were on our way – it was like some parallel westernized universe!!
We took the buses a little bit past Antigua (a rather large, touristy town about 30 minutes away) and headed to a farm for the day. The day started off raining rather hard. Eventually the rain subsided and, while it was still pretty cold, the weather didn’t seem to deter any of the kids from all the fun activities surrounding them.
The “farm” as it was called had lots of open space, 3 swimming pools (VERY cold yet FULL of kids), a trampoline, around 5 or 6 games to play with TONS of prizes, not to mention delicious snacks (each of the kids was given a chocolate and vanilla popsicle, a bag of cotton candy (!), a bag of chips, and a can of coke – they were a little cracked out to say the least…). The kids were then given free rein to do whatever they wanted from 9 am until 4 pm.
I spent a lot of the day learning more kid’s names and being quizzed by Leeah and hanging out with BABIES!! I must say I LOVE hanging out with the baby’s house – they are just SO freaking adorable! We tried to decide who the cutest baby in the house was, and we couldn’t make up our minds – they are just that cute. We also spent a solid 20-30 minutes putting the babies on the trampoline by themselves and watching them fall down and laugh and smile – absolutely 100% adorable.
Besides all the games, trampolines, snacks, and pools, the tios also began an awesome game of jump rope (don’t worry, I was totally in the center of the action for that…), there were tons of soccer games, and of course, delicious carne asada, potatoes, and refried beans (SO much more delicious than whole beans…I can’t even tell you…). In addition, all the trabajadores (workers) from the office dressed up as clowns (kind of…) and offered face painting! I thought it would be really sweet to get my face painted to I asked for a mariposa (butterfly). What I got was a HUGE heap of red paint on my face that was INCREDIBLY itchy and looked ridiculous. I kept it for a while but eventually couldn’t take it anymore and HAD to get rid of it. Only one problem. I’m fairly certain they used “crazy super ridiculous, never come off, indelible ink” face paint. Smart choice for a kid’s carnival…
Lucky for me, one of the tias in my section had brought toilet paper and body lotion with her, but after 20 minutes of scrubbing I had exhausted all of my patience and, while the butterfly was no longer visible, instead I was left with a bright red face! (Of course there was no soap or mirrors anywhere so I had to rely on other people to tell me where to scrub…) Anyway, another 30 minutes later, my face was left only a shade or two pinker than normal and I could get away with not looking like a tomato. Problem solved. And good thing too, because the volunteer’s dance was the first presentation of the day!
Our dance went off with only a few minor music glitches (mostly just lack of communication – OH MY that NEVER happens here!) Anyway, after the music situation was worked out, it was PHENOMENAL (at least from my point of view!) I had a blast dancing and I think the kids really enjoyed the effort we put into our show. After our presentation came one from: the office, the baby’s house, the girl’s house, the teachers, and finally the boy’s house. Unfortunately not every group stuck to the 10 minute limit that we were given, but the whole show turned out really well and the kids seemed to really enjoy it…and that’s what it’s all about :). Feliz Día del Niño!
A bunch of the kids swimming in the pool...
Bryan and Auri hanging out on the picnic table
Tony and the other babies jumping on the trampoline!
Christy from accounting (aka the wonderful lady that gives us our money...) doing facepainting :)
All of the tias in their costumes for their dances
We took the buses a little bit past Antigua (a rather large, touristy town about 30 minutes away) and headed to a farm for the day. The day started off raining rather hard. Eventually the rain subsided and, while it was still pretty cold, the weather didn’t seem to deter any of the kids from all the fun activities surrounding them.
The “farm” as it was called had lots of open space, 3 swimming pools (VERY cold yet FULL of kids), a trampoline, around 5 or 6 games to play with TONS of prizes, not to mention delicious snacks (each of the kids was given a chocolate and vanilla popsicle, a bag of cotton candy (!), a bag of chips, and a can of coke – they were a little cracked out to say the least…). The kids were then given free rein to do whatever they wanted from 9 am until 4 pm.
I spent a lot of the day learning more kid’s names and being quizzed by Leeah and hanging out with BABIES!! I must say I LOVE hanging out with the baby’s house – they are just SO freaking adorable! We tried to decide who the cutest baby in the house was, and we couldn’t make up our minds – they are just that cute. We also spent a solid 20-30 minutes putting the babies on the trampoline by themselves and watching them fall down and laugh and smile – absolutely 100% adorable.
Besides all the games, trampolines, snacks, and pools, the tios also began an awesome game of jump rope (don’t worry, I was totally in the center of the action for that…), there were tons of soccer games, and of course, delicious carne asada, potatoes, and refried beans (SO much more delicious than whole beans…I can’t even tell you…). In addition, all the trabajadores (workers) from the office dressed up as clowns (kind of…) and offered face painting! I thought it would be really sweet to get my face painted to I asked for a mariposa (butterfly). What I got was a HUGE heap of red paint on my face that was INCREDIBLY itchy and looked ridiculous. I kept it for a while but eventually couldn’t take it anymore and HAD to get rid of it. Only one problem. I’m fairly certain they used “crazy super ridiculous, never come off, indelible ink” face paint. Smart choice for a kid’s carnival…
Lucky for me, one of the tias in my section had brought toilet paper and body lotion with her, but after 20 minutes of scrubbing I had exhausted all of my patience and, while the butterfly was no longer visible, instead I was left with a bright red face! (Of course there was no soap or mirrors anywhere so I had to rely on other people to tell me where to scrub…) Anyway, another 30 minutes later, my face was left only a shade or two pinker than normal and I could get away with not looking like a tomato. Problem solved. And good thing too, because the volunteer’s dance was the first presentation of the day!
Our dance went off with only a few minor music glitches (mostly just lack of communication – OH MY that NEVER happens here!) Anyway, after the music situation was worked out, it was PHENOMENAL (at least from my point of view!) I had a blast dancing and I think the kids really enjoyed the effort we put into our show. After our presentation came one from: the office, the baby’s house, the girl’s house, the teachers, and finally the boy’s house. Unfortunately not every group stuck to the 10 minute limit that we were given, but the whole show turned out really well and the kids seemed to really enjoy it…and that’s what it’s all about :). Feliz Día del Niño!
A bunch of the kids swimming in the pool...
Bryan and Auri hanging out on the picnic table
Tony and the other babies jumping on the trampoline!
Christy from accounting (aka the wonderful lady that gives us our money...) doing facepainting :)
All of the tias in their costumes for their dances
Las Mañanitas
On Thursday we started the annual celebrations for Día del Niño a tad bit early…aka at 4:45. Every year it is a tradition for all of the tios, tias, and volunteers to wake up SUPER early to sing “Las Mañanitas” (a traditional birthday song) to the kids. The thought process behind it is that not every child gets to have everyone sing to them on their birthday – normally their sections will sing to them, but not EVERYONE – so the idea is that once a year, all of the kids get to celebrate this tradition. Las Mañanitas is an adorable little song to sing to children on their birthdays to wake them up – I’ve printed the lyrics and translation below :).
Español:
Estas son las mañanitas
que cantaba el Rey David
y hoy por ser dia de tu santo
te las cantamos a ti.
Despierta (el nombre de la persona) despierta
mira que ya amaneció
ya los pajaritos cantan
la luna ya se metió.
Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte
venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte.
El día en que tú naciste, nacieron todas las flores
y en la Pila del Bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores.
Ya viene amaneciendo
ya la luz del día nos dio
levantate de mañana
mira que ya amaneció.
English:
These are the “Little” mornings
That are sung by King David
And today is the day of your saint
And we will sing to you
Wake up, Wake up
See that the sun has already risen
Already the birds are singing
And the moon has gone away
How cute is this morning that has come to greet you
We all come with pleasure to congratulate you
The day that you were born, all the flowers were born too
And in the waters of your baptism all the nightingales sang
The sunrise is already here
Already the light of day has been given to us
Wake up this morning
And see the sun that has already risen.
Español:
Estas son las mañanitas
que cantaba el Rey David
y hoy por ser dia de tu santo
te las cantamos a ti.
Despierta (el nombre de la persona) despierta
mira que ya amaneció
ya los pajaritos cantan
la luna ya se metió.
Que linda está la mañana en que vengo a saludarte
venimos todos con gusto y placer a felicitarte.
El día en que tú naciste, nacieron todas las flores
y en la Pila del Bautismo, cantaron los ruiseñores.
Ya viene amaneciendo
ya la luz del día nos dio
levantate de mañana
mira que ya amaneció.
English:
These are the “Little” mornings
That are sung by King David
And today is the day of your saint
And we will sing to you
Wake up, Wake up
See that the sun has already risen
Already the birds are singing
And the moon has gone away
How cute is this morning that has come to greet you
We all come with pleasure to congratulate you
The day that you were born, all the flowers were born too
And in the waters of your baptism all the nightingales sang
The sunrise is already here
Already the light of day has been given to us
Wake up this morning
And see the sun that has already risen.
Dia de Visitas
Last Sunday was my first “Dia de Visitas” here at the home. Once every 3 months we have a day where visitors are free to come and roam about – whether they are padrinos (Godparents) from Guatemala or elsewhere, family members or friends. For those kids who have visitor’s (and know it) the weeks leading up to visitor’s day are full of anticipation. For those kids who don’t have family or aren’t expecting them to visit, the days and weeks prior can suck. A lot.
On the day of, it is the volunteer’s job (and other various jobs like teachers) to make sure the kids who don’t receive visitors are entertained…aka we watch movies all day (…3 Men and a Baby, 13 Going on 30, and She’s the Man – QUALITY choices!) All of the kids from each of the 3 different houses (girls, boys, and bebes) are put together in 3 separate rooms to await their visitors. As their guests arrive, kids’ names are called and they race up the stairs while the rest of the kids hang out and watch movies. Fortunately, a lot of our kids DO receive visitors (out of a house of around 80 girls, there were only around 20 left), however, it doesn’t make it any easier to watch the kids who know no one is coming for them. Overall visitor’s day seems like a big mix of emotions and is emotionally draining, but it’s nice to know at least as volunteers we can be there to spend some time with the kids and be their visitors for the day.
On the day of, it is the volunteer’s job (and other various jobs like teachers) to make sure the kids who don’t receive visitors are entertained…aka we watch movies all day (…3 Men and a Baby, 13 Going on 30, and She’s the Man – QUALITY choices!) All of the kids from each of the 3 different houses (girls, boys, and bebes) are put together in 3 separate rooms to await their visitors. As their guests arrive, kids’ names are called and they race up the stairs while the rest of the kids hang out and watch movies. Fortunately, a lot of our kids DO receive visitors (out of a house of around 80 girls, there were only around 20 left), however, it doesn’t make it any easier to watch the kids who know no one is coming for them. Overall visitor’s day seems like a big mix of emotions and is emotionally draining, but it’s nice to know at least as volunteers we can be there to spend some time with the kids and be their visitors for the day.
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