Wednesday 27th August.
Wow what a whirlwind few days its been , not helped by the fact that the first time in ages I felt exhausted…. 4 hours of Spanish every morning is challenging. This week the focus is learning Spanish and getting oriented around the place and finding where everything is. The family I am staying with is very nice..well we haven’t talked much but there are lots of smiles! The parents have 3 sons ( sadly no daughters for me to hang out with!)between the ages of 17 and 11 and they are fairly noisy but keep to themselves. The house is situated by the side of the family workshop and its difficult to describe but comfortable. I have a small room which is on the first floor, I have made it my home with all my things given and suggested by family and friends…thank you.
A typical day this week:
Wake up at 4.30 because that’s when the family get up ( am a light sleeper) Study till 5,30. Prepare for the day and breakfast at 7.00, which is traditional Guatemalan and luckily includes fruit. Leave for school 7.45 and begin classes at 8.00 till midday with a half hour break at 10! This is very exhausting but very necessary! Tuesday I had a wobbly day as I felt I would never be able to do it, but it soon passed. After school its back to the house for lunch at 1.00 and then back to school for 2.00pm for orientation. The evening is taken up with review and homework before dinner at 7.00pm. By 8.00 I am in bed , no time to read or anything else.
I have met some people at the school, mainly Americans who are over to learn Spanish and have a good time! Later this week I will go to my project to see where I will be working…I am looking forward to that.
Antigua by day…..
Antigua is indeed beautiful and it’s easy to get everywhere on foot though there is the choice of the famous ‘chicken buses‘ or the ‘Tuk Tuk‘ found in many Asian countries, though we are warned not to walk at night (this means after 6.00pm). Like many other cities its based around a central square where everyone congregates at various times during the day. Benches surround a fountain with sculptures of mermaids , in the centre of the park. There is a constant flow of traffic navigating the uneven cobbled stones and very serious policemen directing it. Banks flank the square each with its own heavily armed men….its strange to walk through a small city with so many guns and despite this it remains calm and fairly quiet. Mayan women track tourists with their wares, adorned in their traditional brightly coloured clothes and jewellery which is radiant and eye catching. Many carry baskets on their heads containing hot tortillas wrapped in brightly striped cloth, for passers by to buy and take home for lunch. Everyone here goes home for lunch. It feels as if everyone likes being out and about chatting and watching the world go by and at a very leisurely pace. Tourist shops sparkle with lights as they display the local jade which is desired by many and guarded once again by armed sentinels. Like so many other towns in Guatemala, Antigua has a grid system so its easy to find places and equally easy to get lost! Lots of single story houses, brightly coloured with lots of iron work everywhere. Striking coloured flowers and cacti adorn the windows and often small pavements fringe the very uneven and difficult to walk on cobbled stone streets and avenues. Spanish music in bars and of course Salsa around every corner!! There is always a Salsa session going on so there is music everywhere and lots of twirling and dipping can be spied through the open windows. The volcanoes around Antigua are huge but often evasive in that cloud cover at the moment is high and its rained everyday so far, especially in the afternoons. For the first time in ages I have felt cold, three blankets on the bed!

Friday 30th August.
Already its almost the week end and I am so ready for it!. The work has been challenging but interesting. And I think I am doing OK but its not easy. During the session on Thursday everyone got up and went outside , when I asked why? They said see……… and I saw………. One of the volcanoes was on fire!!!! No panic said Felix my teacher, it does that fairly regularly….. After a few minutes we all walked back in and got on with the work. I could not stop thinking about it……amazing.
I have been out in Antigua a couple of evenings and its been great to familiarize myself with the place. I have a map in my jeans pocket as am often lost, the up side of that is that I have discovered a Café called FRIDA, (yes the one and only one…) and Cine 2000 where you can walk in have a drink or food and watch a movie for free. They have shows at 2.00, 4.00, 6.00 and 8.00pm different ones every session and yesterday they had ‘What happened in Vegas’ So I sat down with my Coke and laughed for a few hours!!! Then it was back to the house in the rain for an evening meal of rice and beans. The food isn’t interesting or particularly tasty but as they say ‘it fills a hole’.
Tomorrow I will again visit town and go to the market, and if possible buy a few more jumpers…..the cold and wet season beckons and I am not used to it.
Bad news.... I have tried to upload photos but have had no luck..... maybe soon........
Keep warm…
Good night
Xxx