It's Been a While...

I decided today that I would finally update my blog. It has definitely been a while since my last entry. Mainly because I haven't had the time to sit down in the past few months to write something. So today is the day... here I go...

The month of March: My birthday, I re-climb Valcano Tajulmulco, Peace Corps Celebrates its 50th Anniversary.

My Birthday:

My sitemates (Stephen and I) and I after my birthday cake was smashed into my face....

I had an excellent birthday! Val and I partnered up to have a joint party. Val's going away party and my birthday party. Val's friend from the states actually donated a good chunk of money for the party which made it that much more fantastic. We started the day with everyone arriving around midday where we played cornhole (which my sitemates and I constructed from scratch.... mainly Stephen), and darts. Then at around 4 pm we played soccer in our town's synthetic soccer field. After soccer we rented out a comedor for dinner then headed back to my house for the rest of the day's activities. We projected music videos on the wall of my back porch where we had some pretty epic dance parties, a pinata filled with candy from the states, jello shots, jungle juice, beer pong and a full bar - mojitos, bloody marys and all! To this day our party is still talked about :) We also lit off fireworks.... which is something I will not be able to do in the states without getting the cops called. This party definitely was one of the best birthdays I have had.

Volcano Tajumulco:

At the bottom of Tajumulco. You can see the top of the volcano in the distance.

Esther and I at the bottom of the volcano. Done!

Group photo at the top.

Making out way down the volcano with the awesome view in site.

Me on top of Tajumulco, watching the sun rise.

Climbing Tajumulco again was so much better than the first time I climed it in 2009 in November. It wasn't nearly as cold and I had an awesome sleeping bag that kept me very warm that night. There was also a big group of us that went which made the trip that much more entertaining and fun!

50th Anniversary for Peace Corps:

Me with Kate, Ryan and Anne at the 50th.

A view of the tent from the podium.

Photo with the US Ambassador.

Group photo of all the Health Homes volunteers that were present at the 50th.

The 50th was very eventful! All of PC/Guatemala was invited - PC volunteers, staff and host families from training. There were key note speakers that helped to reflect on the past 50 years of Peace Corps. They also swore in the new group of Health Schools and Eco-Tourism groups and acknowledged the group that left at the end of March. It was a great day where all of Peace Corps Guatemala could come together to celebrate the wonderful service and time we all put forth on a daily basis.

Well, it is now May and I have exactly 8 weeks left in my service. I can't believe I am almost done. I still haven't come to grips with that concept. Guatemala has become my home and I know it will be hard for me to leave. The next 8 weeks will be packed with goodbye parties, meetings, and paperwork.... it will go by quickly. Before I know it, I will be back in the States.... and my mind will still be in Guatemala. As I reflect on the past 2 years I am very proud of the work I have accomplished, the friendships I have made and how much I have learned about myself. I will always be forever thankful for this experience and I will cherish it for the rest of my life.

To be continued....

My Humble Abode

I know some of you have been curious as to what my house looks like. So here it is. I would like to disclaimer that not all PC homes look like this. I just so happened to luck out with a newly built home. I have the entire upstairs of this house. There are 2 sides that mimic each other in size and style, but I only live on one side. I also have a patio which I did not picture here. So here it is, welcome to my little home :)

Here is my kitchen. I have a little stove top that is powed by a gas tank. A refrigerator that my parents bought me for Christmas when they came to visit and a toaster oven my grandma gave me for Christmas. Not everyone has refrigerators or ovens because on our budget it is way too expensive, so I lucked out! I built the "bookcase" - I built it one night at like 8 pm and finished at midnight one night when I had a lot on my mind and needed something to hit! It is a little lopsided, so it is tilted against the wall so it doesn't fall - because one time it did, lol. And my kitchen table that took me a year to buy because I couldn't afford it, haha.

Here is my wall of gossip magazines. Magazines I have collected through out my service. And, all my bags. The sad part is that I took a ton of bags home with me when I went home for Christmas and it still looks like I have way too many.

The entrance to the other room. On the floor are the 2 out of the 4 midwife kit boxes.

My room.

My "dresser", built out of cement blocks and wood shelves I found on my patio. Yes, I still am a hoarder of clothes.

Here is my desk. It is a little small but it is still functional. Now that I have completely organized it to my liking, this is where I spend most of my time when I am doing work, or in this instance updating my blog. Most of you are here - either in pictures, cards, gifts, etc. Can you find yourself? :)

And... last but not least, my bed :) My sanctuary. I. love. my. bed. I don't take nearly as many naps as I did when I was in the states, mainly because I have a normal sleep cycle here but my bed is where I read, watch movies and just relax.

until next time....

My very last Feria in Guatemala...

This past January my town had their "big" town fair. The first time I experienced the town fair was definitely an experience. Now that I have experienced 4 town fairs, I can safely say that I am "town-faired out". A week of not sleeping because my house was vibrating to music that lasted until 2 am and seeing way too many drunks roaming the street was not exactly ideal, but I'm glad I now know what a town fair is like in Guatemala.

I just wanted to throw in here the Midwife Kits that were donated by MedWish Foundation. My dad helped me pack all the supplies. Unfortunately the airline would only let me take 2 boxes with me, so I had to leave 2 behind. I am still trying to figure out how I'm going to ship the 2 remaining boxes to Guatemala. If anyone has any ideas please let me know!

The boxes all ready to go.

Walking into the soccer field filled with people.


During the town fair all the area schools in our municipality decorate floats. Here are a few of my favorites. This year was by far the most creative year with float decorations.

This float actually won. The theme this year was "medio ambiente" or The Environment. Here children were dressed in the traditional clothing of my town and were building a miniture mud home! When the parade started they started building the mud hme and then when they arrived to the soccer field they completed the mud home. Very creative! Mud homes here in my site and many rural, indigenous sites are all made out of mud. It is the cheapest and an environmentally friendly structure.

Ferris Wheel.

Here are all the elected "Little Queens" from all the schools in my town.

It can get pretty packed here.

Here is my town's Queen from last year (the girl at the top of the stairs), the reining queen with the wooden crown and the reining "sports queen" on the right for the year 2011.

This right here is what kept me up at night! Live bands that play throughout the night! This band was the "feature" band for the town fair and man, they blew. The lead singer had the worst mullet and looked like he was stuck in the 70's. Not only did he look rediculous, he sounded rediculous.

Here I am with my sitemates Stephen and Val.

Christmas/New Years 2011

I was able to spend 18 days home this past December and they were wonderful! Oh the pleasures of home - driving, carpeting, using tap water, not having to wear sandals in the shower, not having to walk outside to use the bathroom, having central heating... even tv! I definitely endulged myself in eating everything and whatever was in my face and as a result my plants did not fit towards the end of my trip, haha. I have been back 15 days, although it has felt more like a month, and I miss my family and my friends. I only have 6 months left in my service - which is something I haven't actually grasped juet yet. I feel like I've been playing this tug-of-war of being half-way here in Guatemala and half-way home. So when I actually go home for real, I'm not too sure if I will actually believe that I am staying and not leaving in a week!

While I was home I was able to spend time with some my best friends from high school which was so great. I was also able to make a trip to Annapolis, Maryland to visit Charles. While I was in Annapolis we were able to make a trip to Washington DC which we checked out some museums, and ate at a really great restaurant, Oyamel. If you live or plan on going to DC, definitely make reservations at this restaurant. It is a Spanish tapas restaurant where the food is just sooo good!

Saturday night my parents, Ben and Kristen and I went out to eat at this cute little restaurant in Willoughby- I forget the name - but it had a nice little atmosphere and a live band. Aren't my parents good-looking! :)

Here I am with my brother Ben and my sister-in-law, Kristen who just recently dyed her hair brown! Welcome to our side now ;)

With Leah, my best friend since the 7th grade! How I have missed that girl. I am so proud of her and all of her accomplishments! Can't wait to see more of her when I am back!

Here is Brandon, who I haven't seen in almost 2 years showing off the present I brought back for him. The oh-so-ever popular MTV backpack which every Guatemalan owns! This is funny because Brandon actually works for MTV yet no one in Guatemala has ever heard of MTV - well at least where I live.

Charles and I taking a 30 minute road trip to DC!

In front of the huge Christmas tree outside of the Capitol Building. There was no snow :(

I was able to see my cousin Jason in DC whom I haven't seen since my brother's wedding in June of 2009! The day after New Years he got down on one knee and proposed to her girlfriend in front of the Lincoln memorial. So romantic! Miss you cuz!

Charles and I celebrating the New Year at his restaurant, Paladar, in Annapolis, Maryland
Happy New Year!!

Inaguration: Stove Project 2010

So this is a little selection of some of the photos I took for my stove project as well as the inaguration. The inaguration was held the 13th of December, right before I went home. It was definitely an adventure to get here and man, was it an adventure! Enjoy!

I had to make sure that all the stoves were either built or in the process of being built, otherwise I told the women I would have to take their materials away and give the stove to another family. This is an example of how some women didn't want to lose their stoves, so they built the stoves in the middle of the corn field because they were planning on eventually building a new room around the stove. I thought this was pretty funny/cool.

This lady lived in one of the poorest homes. I was so thrilled to see her new stove! She built this by herself!

The cutest boy ever!! Little Miguel :)

Here is an example of a lady who hasn't finished her stove yet, but as you can see they are building a new room to serve as their kitchen :) She also had a very poor home. They cooked and slept in the same, small room. So the fact that they are building a new room is so great! She also just had her baby, and I gave her a baby blanket my grandmother sent me for special occasions such a these.

Some of the women insisted on taking photos with me which I thought was so sweet. This lady couldn't thank me enough for her stove. I think she thanked me for a good 20 minutes staight!

This is one of my favorite ladies of all time. She always had the biggest smile on her face when I would come to give health talks or come to visit her home. She was one of those ladies that where her soul was just out for the whole world to see and feel. Sometimes I found myself just gravitating towards her because she just was so incredibly dear, warm and good-hearted. As a "thank-you" for her stove she sent me away with 17 oranges, haha :)

Here I am with the "Big Wigs" of my town - or the Mayor's Coorporation. I'm wearing my town's traje/tradition clothing.

This picture was taken on top of a hill. The little houses on the left are where we had the inaguration. See how everything is just tucked away in the mountain. It is so peaceful here.

Here the Coorporation is sitting at their assigned seats, like the little kings they think are.

This I thought was so pretty. Here the family decorated their stove for the inaguration with branches from different plant light around where they live. On the floor they spread out fresh pine leaves.

Here Don Pedro is beginning the inaguration - Live on the radio! I about died....

Here I am praying with everyone over the whole project. That line of tissue paper serves as a "ribbon" to inagurate the stove project.

Don Miguel cutting the "ribbon"

Everyone checking out my sweet stove! lol

Everyone gathered inside the kitchen to see the decorations and the stove.

The first fire in the stove :)

The women preparing our lunch.

The women making tortillas in an open fire. To the right, there is a little structure that looks like a pyramid. This is where the families bathe. There is no hot water. So they use this structure like a sauna. They heat up water on rocks inside this structure and sweat it out.

The women getting ready to sign a book that documents the events that happened today.

Ana the president, making the first signature.

Felisa and I waiting for lunch to be served.

This was an enormous bowl of soup. The funny thing about this picture is that I helped pick out the chicken you see here in my bowl the week before.

Trying to blend in with the women :) They normally see me in jeans, so this was a big surprise for them.