Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Two more weeks

Family weekend is over and there are only a little over two weeks left in the program. I am both excited and nervous to come home. I am super busy with projects, papers, and goodbyes, and it is a little overwhelming. Know that I look forward to seeing you all very soon and celebrating the holidays in the States.

Here are some videos from the past week. The first is of Talticpac, an indigenous band who use prehistoric instruments. And the other video is of a dance competition between the local high schools. It took place in the plaza closest to my casa.

Talticpac


Dance-off


Besitos desde El Sal.

P.S.
I need coffee requests. I'll do my best to bring home at least 10 bags and distribute them.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Celebration of the Jesuit Martyrs

Vigila video
Martyr Celebration

Last weekend we participated in many activities surrounding the celebration of the death of the Jesuit martyrs: soccer tourney, alfombra, vigila and giant mass service.

*The girls' soccer team won the tourney--trophy and everything :)

Vacation videos

Belize #1

Belize #2


Tikal

Vacation pt. 1

Our adventure to Guatemala began at 430am with a bus ride to Guatemala City. 5 hours later we arrived, and the quickly boarded another bus to Puerto Barrios, a small port town in Guatemala. There wasn’t much in Puerto Barrios except for some small hostels, and a group of local fisherman hanging around. That night we stayed in Hostel Europa 2, which was actually very nice and comfortable. The hostel owner even drove us to get dinner at a local restaurant that specialized in giant tortillas de harina filled with steak, onion, potato, and a special sauce called chimichurri….so delicious! The following morning we got up and somehow managed to find a boat that would take us for a decent price to Punta Gorda, Belize. Though our captain did mention Belize was on hurricane alert, he claimed he had permission from the PG port that we were allowed to make the trip. An hour and a half later, on a very scary boat ride (the boat had a huge crack down the middle that would spread apart a little every time we hit a wave) we arrived to a very quiet PG. We were then greeted by the dock daddy that Belize was indeed on hurricane alert, and no one was supposed to enter the country (our captain lied), he would though make an exception for our small group. After customs, we walked through a very desolate PG, no one on the streets, all the stores closed, some people boarding up their houses getting ready for the storm. We then found our hotel where we planned to stay, but they quickly turned us away afraid their hostel wouldn’t be safe enough through the storm. About an hour later, and after we’d walked the entire town of Punta Gorda we found another hostel that would take us in the at least the next two nights. Shortly after we’d settled in and hit up the local grocery store for some ramen(easy, cheap dinner) and bottled water, the electricity and water decided to go out…so no ramen for dinner, or cable television to watch Monday night football. That night we ended up playing Bananagrams with a flashlight, told each other riddles, and once the boys left for their room, us girls fell asleep while having girl talk. It really wasn’t so bad, minus the fact that we already hadn’t showered in two, and in some cases, three days.
The next morning we awoke to still no electricity and water, but to a much more lively PG. The hurricane hit Belize City pretty hard, but it didn’t even sprinkle where we were. Everyone was outside walking around enjoying the sun, and another free day of work. Bent on not spending another day indoors, the boys volunteered to go find something for our group to do. A little later they returned with news that they’d met a man under the tree by the Texaco named Jon Usher(Yon Usha) who claimed he could find us a boat that would take us to a private island for the day for a very good price. With no other plans until the next day, as a group we agreed to give Jon Usher, who later asked us to call him Captain Dreads, a go. We lathered up in 50spf, put our bathing suits on, grabbed our towels and some pbj sandwiches for the trip. Shortly after we found Jon Usher waiting for us under the tree by the Texaco with a boat rigged up to the dock. As we approached the dock Jon Usher explained that although everyone called him Captain Dreads he would not be riding with us today, but rather Captain Crunch, Nightlife and Youngster would be our captain and dive instructors. Though still a little hesitant, but pumped about the cheap price, we climbed aboard the small fishing boat, just big enough for our group of ten(this is now sketchy boat ride number two). Not thirty minutes later we pulled up to a dock of the most picturesque island I have every seen. It was covered in palm trees, the whitest sand, and about ten “honeymoon style” huts because of the only hotel on the island, Belize Lodge. We had the entire island to ourselves for the next three hours. We spent the day swimming and collecting shells and attempting to take group pictures because there was no one else to do so. About an hour and a half in, our captains returned and asked if we’d like to join them for some conch diving. Of course we agreed and all hopped in. The next hour consisted of snorkeling in water so clear you could see the bottom that was twelve feet below us, and could make out the line of conch shells, and star fish. We were in heaven. And we all took turns diving for the different creatures.
Our visit in Belize wrapped up that night with some socializing with the other JVs and Lindsay’s Belizean friends she had met over four years ago while on a delegation. We all had a beer and simply enjoyed each other’s company. We were in bed by 10pm because we had to be up to catch our 6am bus to Delmopan, to start our journey to Tikal, Guatemala.