My first Journey in San Bartolome' Milpas Altas

So I've been bombarded by a steady load of Spanish language work, Peace Corps training, and journeys around the surrounding towns of San Bartolome. So apparently a rift must have opened the cosmos at just the right time, because I now have a little time on this wonderful Saturday afternoon to make this post that I've been trying to put up for weeks. Without further ado...

My journey began by trekking slowly up a dirt road on the outskirts of town with my almost everyone from my host family...


As we began the hike I could tell it would be a rough time for my host-sister Ulissa who was wearing dress shoes... ouch!

In front of her is Eddie her husband, and the adorable Diego riding on his back.









This is one of the first close up views I was able to get of the highlands.

Milpas Altas (tall cornstocks) are partly what our town was named after.




A friend of my host brother was my guide through most of the hike as we were much faster than everyone else.

And we made it to the top!
On one side of the mountain:

A stunning view of my small pueblo below

On the other side...wow
Volcan de Agua,

and... Volcan de Fuego in the same view (but my camera couldn't capture all of it).


























My host-parents finally made it.

Don Cezar (pictured here) moves throught the mountain like he owns it. And he actually does know this place like the back of his hand. He also owns a small farm near the base of the mountain with a few cows, pigs, and roosters.

On the way back:

Even though it's the dry season, the forests on the mountain are still a luscious bright green, filled with life including Jack, our friends husky and our personal scout for the trail.









Looking back - I had to duck my head several times to make it through the briars and twigs guarding the entrance to the backside of our mountain.









Almost home... we catch a glimpse of a windmill currently in use to grind corn into meal for the town.

Back home again, I looked up from my house to see where I had just been. This country is amazing!

Update with Photos

So, I've discovered that I'm going to have very little time to let everyone know what I'm up to. Between Spanish classes (every day from 8-3), traveling to Santa Lucia for Peace Corps technical training 2 times a week, trying to understand what my host family is saying to me, AND creating my own journal, blog posting is getting more and more difficult. BUT... with the little time I do have I can still upload photos that I've taken from my journey's traveling around Guatemala.

I'll try to make sure that I put a little explanation next to each photo I post.
After the next 3 months I should have lots more time...
So, without further ado: here are some good moments->



This is the view that I have when I walk out of my room and look up :)













These are the canaries that I wake up to in the morning; how uplifting...

















This is a pila (pee-luh). It is used to wash hands (on the left side), and clothes (on the right side).

Every household in Guatemala has one of these, but most are about half this size.









This is the view from my rooftop (looking left).

Note: Women can typically be seen carrying their cargo on their heads. This looks painful, but I'm told it's not.













View from my rooftop (looking right).
















That's all for now!

on the next post - a trip up the mountain (in my back yard)!

Posting comments...

I know some people are having trouble posting comments.. and I really only wanted to rely on this blog, instead of email, to communitcate with everyone.

So, I have now turned Anonymous Posting ON! (Sorry, didn´t realize it was set for only users with a Gmail account).

Post Away!

No mas tiempo

This is my back yard.... more to come!

Washington D.C.

My first impressions of the Peace Corps started when I arrived here in D.C. for pre-service training. I'm really glad that everyone I've met seems nice. Total there are 35 men and women going to Guatemala with me. There are a few more girls than guys and most are around my age. Only one in the group is older than 30 and she is around 50 or so. It's really neat to see people doing this after they retire!

Anyway, I don't have much time to catch you up. Most of the stuff I've learned is about safety and security and how to act appropriately when I arrive in country. I think it will be around 1-2 weeks before I can make another post... but it will be a meaty one for sure - with lots of pictures. Until the, Adios!

Update

Scrambling to complete my preparations for my trip I stumbled upon the mailing address for packages and mail that gets shot my way:

my name, PCT
8 Calle 6-55, Zone 9
Guatemala City, 01009
Guatemala, Central America
Office Tel. # 502.2384.3800 (needed for courier packages:
FedEx, DHL, etc.)

I'm more anxious than ever now - I leave for Washington D.C. at 9a.m. tomorrow, where I will stay for 2 days of orientation - then its on to Santa Lucia Milpas Altas, Guatemala!!!

Thanks for all the encouragement and support I've recieved over the past few weeks. There is no way I could have come this far alone. Not sure when I'll be able to make new updates - but I'll make sure they keep coming ASAP. Hasta Luego Amigos!