Home Differently

Here we are, barely a day away from leaving Xela. I am so not ready! Not only do I feel that I have not quite so much exactly had a vacation these past five weeks, I am going to start La Escuela Medicina on Monday.

MONDAY! Less than a week! Have I paid my termbill? Have I read that biochem book? Sent them my transcripts? Filled out that mini-survey??? No, no, no, no, no.

But, indeed all that is far off on distant shores and I refuse to feel stressed about it until at least Sunday.

Meanwhile, Guatemala. It has been mad fun. My Spanish is way better (for about the 10th time in my life) and I swearrrr that I'm going to keep practicing at home. I will not lose the subjunctive again! Well, I might. But I really am going to get me a volunteer gig that involves hablando. This country! This town! I want to stay. And I want to go home, too. Turtle says that a big reason to travel is to experience home differently when you get back. And I suppose it is true. The difference between here and the HV or Boston, which I suppose is home now, are striking and yet not so striking at times.

This is a shockingly beautiful country. Especially the mountains, from which we have not strayed far for fear of malaria. Though the bus rides have been insane and nausea-inducing at times, the vistas were almost always worth it. Lion and I spent the last week doing a little circle through the middle of the country. We lounged on the shores of Lake Atitlan, spent a quasi-terrifying night in Guatemala city (scary movie, only people in the theater, late show, appallingly bad sound quality, ominous guidbook warnings, bedbugs) then cruised through the friendly town of Jalapa, where Lion's mom lived when she was in the Peace Corps 40 years ago. After that we went up to see Semuc Champey. Champey is frequently described as "the most beautiful place in Guatemala." But people are almost always at a loss to explain it. Don't worry. We took video. Soon enough YouToo will experiene its badly-filmed greatnes. It was a magical day, to be sure. Followed by zip-lining through a coffee plantation.

What could be more quintessentially eco-touristy than zip-lining through a cooperative, shade-grown, organic coffe plantation? I dare you to come up with something.

We spent an eye-blink in Nebaj, notable for its annual festival gearing up last weekend and insanely over-priced laundry service. We actually almost cried when she told us how much she wanted for cleaning our clothes. Actually, Lion probably did cry, as is her way.

Now back in Xela, we're chilling out at CBA and getting somethings done on the "Proyecto" we're helping them with. This has included sign-painting and shakey video taking, among other things. This has been a good month, especially for reflection. On human rights, on what one needs, on what constitutes being poor, being happy, being friendly, being thoughtful. Hugo and ElBia graciously tell us that we're not like other USAers. From the gringo conversations we overhear somedays in cafes, I dearly hope we're not. But then there are also many more dedicated and interested and thoughtful as well. Ah, well. More serious stuff later.