Running Around Antigua, Literally
Trip Start
Jul 01, 2005
1
7
26
Trip End
Aug 28, 2005
Antigua, Guatemala
Friday, July 15, 2005
Well just a couple more facts that I should tell because itīs the way here. Well we were told early that the pipe system in Antigua is really old, meaning it is narrow, meaning there is always a wastebasket beside the toilet where you deposit your paper. Which means living in North America all my life, I was used to just dropping it in the toilet. HAHAHA...all the times I yelled shit in the washroom and looked into the toilet trying to analyze whether it was big enough to fit down the pipe. Theres always a split second where I consider picking it out...but that's only a split second and Iīm flushing and praying. Speaking of calls of nature, I am so glad I havenīt gotten sick off the water and food yet. Iīve been brushing with tap water to build up my immune system, and the first couple of days bowel movements were rare....HAHAHAHA! I hope I havenīt jixed myself and end up writing you guys about how much I need Imodium
Fire Jugglers
. I have to be the luckiest girl in the world. So I decided to pick up some martial arts while Iīm down here, just because I want to get some new techniques in and see if I can pick up from where I left off years ago. Well it ended up the actual class for Karate is for kids, but the Sensei offered me personal lessons for the same price. Which is FUCKING awesome (yes this news requires swearing) because he was on the Guatemala National Karate team and he focuses on fighting. I told him I never fought much during my training and he said just I wait and see. So it looks like Iīve gotten myself a champion personal trainer right in Antigua...life is good.
Todayīs Events
Yesterday I moved into my new house where I will be living with a family, I love it because I canīt wait until I have some time to sit down and speak some Spanish with them. My room isnīt as nice as my last one but it doesnīt matter much anymore, after being in New York hostels, I donīt complain. A bed is a bed. Woke up super happy and skipped to school. 2:00 pm was Karate and did not expect to get worked to the bone. We warmed up, he checked out my technique and then realized I had no combat training, so straight into bouncing on my toes and sparring we went. I havenīt worked out in so long I though my lungs were going to burst. After an intense 1 hour class, I had to run about 8 blocks south through Antigua to catch the 3:00 salsa class. It was such a rush, and very dangerous considering all the streets here are cobble stone and the side walks are all broken and the cars just go without regard to any rules (well there are no rules), man I could have killed myself just to dance. Well salsa was lots of fun as usual. We were doing the coca cola turn and I almost took out the mirror. HAHA HA...... I was so tired but we ended up going to the market to get some snacks because were doing out first bus trip to some cities by Lake Atitlan tomorrow.
My New Obsession
So in between studying for Spanish and running around the city, Iīve gotten addicted to Che Gueveraīs biography. I spent 3 hours the other day reading the damn thing, to the point where Im taking notes, vocabulary, political figures and events during his era, names of his family and friends and lists of books that shaped his childhood and adolescence that I have to read. Iīm understanding more and more about south American culture and politics each day. I love it, that Iīm in Guatemala, and after all the political issues I have read and studied, following it up with Che Guevara is most suitable. Iīm going to read ALL HIS BOOKS!!! ...I love being obsessed with books.
This Weekends Activities
Well this weekend my friends and I are hopping on a chicken bus (old reused school busses from US used for public transportation) and heading to Panajachel, which is also known as Gringotengo (land of the foreigners). The name is because people who come to this place often like the place so much they stay their. Not to be deterred by this, it is also on Lake Atitlan, which is a volcano lake surrounded by many tranquil cities that we hope to visit. Access to them is by boat and whatever city we end up in, were staying the night. Sunday were going to Chichicastenengo, which is where the giant Mayan Market is, selling crafts and stuff. This my friends is where hopefully I can bargain for cheap indigenous souvenirs for my loved friends back home. WHOO HOO, our first chicken bus trip, I canīt wait! Hopefully Iīll be able to get some sun too. Damn rainy season.
Another Julie Moment
They havenīt been coming very much, just because the initial culture shock has faded and I havenīt had much time to myself, which is usually when the Moments come. But today, as I was running down the street with my headphones on catching salsa class, I felt it. And today when met up with Amira and Denise and had to walk through the park, I felt it. These moments creep up on you and youre caught by surprise with a smile on your face.
Going to the Hospital
Tuesday we visited the hospital El Hermano Pedro which I will be working at. It broke my heart completely that right away I felt jaded. Working with adult disabled people in English is one thing, but working with disabled kids that I can barely communicate with is going to be hard. I already felt that I couldnīt do it, part of me, though I hate to admit, does not want to touch them, in fear of my own health. I had to assure myself that it would have been fine before I did. I hate it, I hate that I grew up in America and was shielded in ways that make me so jaded to the poor and the suffering. But then again, I remember my first day on the job in New York and how much I didnīt want to leave on my last day. Anyways, I was talking to Tyler who would also be working at the same hospital as me, hes a physical therapist student and has experience. So he knows exactly what kind of treatment he will be offering and heīs keen on making sure everyone gets some type of treatment because they will rarely get this opportunity. Its sad Tyler said, that he knows he can offer a month of treatment, but it will end after this. I felt a little disappointed in myself, because I have nothing to offer, I have no experience, no application of my knowledge. I just wish I had something to offer the people who life in the hospital. It really breaks my heart.
Well...
I have to call my parents...someone call them for me and tell them that Iīm fine! ....geez..I have no time! Must learn Spanish! Anyways, off to dinner at my new house, I canīt believe that it been 2 weeks already...6 more to go.
