11/22/10
So, I really didn't want to come home from vacation. Oaxaca was so wonderful and relaxing! And warm. The thought of going back to work was almost too much.
But I ended up being happy to return today. I worked with two of my favorite children, who I'll call Pedro and Marcos. We had so much fun! They're incredibly adorable. They were so happy to see me, and I was so happy to see them!
Later on I saw Tomas. He wanted to come to speech with me! It was so really cute. He came up to me and gave me a hug, and his tio explained to him that I was just coming to drop Pedro off at the baby house. After that, I saw another one my boys. He was yelling my name (with the help of his teacher Fabiola)and gave me a hug. (He also shaved his mustache.)
Before that, I also saw a lot of the kids in my section. They're amazing! I gave them hugs and Isabel asked when I was going to come eat dinner and read with them. She's one of my favorites. The cool thing is that I don't have therapy with her, so we just have a friendship. Socialization is really important for her because she lives with a bunch of special needs children who can't speak.
All in all, the vacation was wonderful. And it made me realize that coming back was wonderful too. On Dec. 3 all the volunteers will start working as tios for the month of December, so I'll have a different job for a month. Today I'll find out whether I'm working in the baby house or with the children with special needs. Tomorrow we have the day off work for a holiday and are going to go hiking.
And in 31 days my familia comes!! I can't wait.
Another interesting observation - Yesterday when I was walking through Antigua, I noticed something strange: I was walking more quickly than everyone else. Slow down and enjoy yourself, you aren't in any rush, I thought.
The reason it was strange (that I was walking more quickly) was because at home in the U.S. I usually walk more slowly than everyone else and wonder why they're in a rush. Last summer I had an internship at the ADA (AMericans with Disabilities Act) Center in Chicago. The first day that I took the train downtown I seriously thought I was going to get run over by commuters when I got off the train. But here in Guatemala, I sometimes walk quickly. How strange!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Ohhhhhhhhh Mexico!
Mexico
My friends Christina and Janna (both from Germany) and I went to San Cristobal, Mexico and Oaxaca. San Cristobal was pretty sweet – it reminded me of Antigua (cobblestone streets, quaint and small but with more colorful buildings. It seemed a bit smaller too. Also it was FREEAZING there.
We stayed a a cute little hostel called Quia with beautiful paintings on the walls. We also shpped quite a bit and I found a book of poems!! Im excited because I can understand most of it and its in Spanish. We also walked up a huge hill to a beautiful church for a view of the ciudad. (Side note – I ate hummus in San Cristobal and was ecstatic because I hadn’t eaten it in 4 months.)
Then we took an 11-hour overnight bus ride that wasn’t very pleasant because I was carsick. But it was worth it because Oaxaca blew my mind. Its a big, beautiful city with so much culture. Even though its touristy, I want to go back because there is still so much more to see! We got there around 10 AM and found a really cute hostel. The view of the city from the deck was oustanding, especially watching the sunset.
We went to the zocalo (central park) several times. It was really nice with a green gazebo in the center surrounded by several huge trees. There are men playing the marimba (which is a huge wooden xylophone), clowns, and a TON of people trying to sell us things. One afternoon, we sat at tables outside the coffee shop in the corner of the zocalo. Within 2 hours, at least 40 people arrproached us trying to sell us something. That is not an exaggeration. I counted 25 people, and before I started counting about 20 people offered us something. Usually they were combs, bracelets, tablecloths, etc.
Oaxaca is famous for chocolate (especially hot chocolate) and mole.. Mole is a red or black sauce made of three different chile peppers, chocolate, and one more ingredient that I can’t recall. (I talked with a cute little old man from Oaxaca who told me the ingredients.)
So, I bought some mole negro in the mercado 20 de noviembre. The market is huge and famous, and is like a flea market, except cool. Then I ate the mole out of a plastic bag which you really aren’t supposed to do – its a sauce that’s usually on chicken or in tamales.
Another Oaxacan delicacy is chapulin: fried grasshoppers. They look and sound disgusting. But my curiosity got hte better off me and I tried some; not bad, actually – they fry them in something flavorful.
Thursday I went to a really cool modern art museaum. It was was small but I psent 2 hours getting lost in the paintings and life-size skulls (not real skulls). There were 5 of them and 2 were painted with brillant colors. I took several pictures.
Then we went into some shops tha were full of decorated skeletons. I asked a woman why skeletons are so popular in Mexico. She said that they like to think of the afterlife in a lighthearted, playful manner. So they decorate skeletons and hope the afterlife is just as fun as life on earth.
This tradition of decorating skeletons stems from Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The holidy is REALLY big in Mexico – more so than in Guatemala. Por eso, they decorate altars and tombs November 1 every year.
Decorating altars actually comes from the ancient indigenous Zapotecs. (I learned about them in school and really don’t remember anything about them.) But, I read about that tradition when we went ot the ruins of Monte Alban. We looked at a few tombs, and this was where I read about them making offereings to the dead.
The ruins are (as my friend Pam likes to say) glorious. They’re just oustide of Oaxaca in the mountains where 3 vallies come together. The view is magnificent! Monte Alban was the first urban plan on the American continent. The Zapoteces built the city in 500 BC and it was inhabited until 850 AD. Animals were really importnat and some were considered gods. Plants and herbs were thought to be sacred and healing – they were said to be the link between heaven and earth.
Oaxaca also has some really great music! One Thursday night Janna, Christina, and I met up with my roomates Josh, Ruth and Michael for a FREE Lilla Downs concert. I didn’t know her music before but apparently she’s really famous. I liked how she sings abotu different aspects of Mexican culture (she even has a song about Oaxaca). She spoke and sang about uniting different races and indigenous people in Mexico. Apparently she’s revolutionary for doing this.
Also, this woman is extraordinarily talented. She sings in a really deep voice for some songs, and at least two octaves higher in others. Her verbrato is indescribable, as well as the talent of her band. The harpist was especially impressive. He played beautifully! Not only is he an exceptional harpist, but he pulled out the violin and guitar as well.
The following night, the six of us found a bar with live salsa/cumbia/bachata music!! I really loved this band too. We danced a lot, and I loved watching the Mexicans dance because they are amazingly talented.
I think I forgot to mention that it was sunny and in the 70s-80s the whole time we were there. Hopefully I’ll make it back to Oaxaca and see more of Mexico someday!
My friends Christina and Janna (both from Germany) and I went to San Cristobal, Mexico and Oaxaca. San Cristobal was pretty sweet – it reminded me of Antigua (cobblestone streets, quaint and small but with more colorful buildings. It seemed a bit smaller too. Also it was FREEAZING there.
We stayed a a cute little hostel called Quia with beautiful paintings on the walls. We also shpped quite a bit and I found a book of poems!! Im excited because I can understand most of it and its in Spanish. We also walked up a huge hill to a beautiful church for a view of the ciudad. (Side note – I ate hummus in San Cristobal and was ecstatic because I hadn’t eaten it in 4 months.)
Then we took an 11-hour overnight bus ride that wasn’t very pleasant because I was carsick. But it was worth it because Oaxaca blew my mind. Its a big, beautiful city with so much culture. Even though its touristy, I want to go back because there is still so much more to see! We got there around 10 AM and found a really cute hostel. The view of the city from the deck was oustanding, especially watching the sunset.
We went to the zocalo (central park) several times. It was really nice with a green gazebo in the center surrounded by several huge trees. There are men playing the marimba (which is a huge wooden xylophone), clowns, and a TON of people trying to sell us things. One afternoon, we sat at tables outside the coffee shop in the corner of the zocalo. Within 2 hours, at least 40 people arrproached us trying to sell us something. That is not an exaggeration. I counted 25 people, and before I started counting about 20 people offered us something. Usually they were combs, bracelets, tablecloths, etc.
Oaxaca is famous for chocolate (especially hot chocolate) and mole.. Mole is a red or black sauce made of three different chile peppers, chocolate, and one more ingredient that I can’t recall. (I talked with a cute little old man from Oaxaca who told me the ingredients.)
So, I bought some mole negro in the mercado 20 de noviembre. The market is huge and famous, and is like a flea market, except cool. Then I ate the mole out of a plastic bag which you really aren’t supposed to do – its a sauce that’s usually on chicken or in tamales.
Another Oaxacan delicacy is chapulin: fried grasshoppers. They look and sound disgusting. But my curiosity got hte better off me and I tried some; not bad, actually – they fry them in something flavorful.
Thursday I went to a really cool modern art museaum. It was was small but I psent 2 hours getting lost in the paintings and life-size skulls (not real skulls). There were 5 of them and 2 were painted with brillant colors. I took several pictures.
Then we went into some shops tha were full of decorated skeletons. I asked a woman why skeletons are so popular in Mexico. She said that they like to think of the afterlife in a lighthearted, playful manner. So they decorate skeletons and hope the afterlife is just as fun as life on earth.
This tradition of decorating skeletons stems from Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The holidy is REALLY big in Mexico – more so than in Guatemala. Por eso, they decorate altars and tombs November 1 every year.
Decorating altars actually comes from the ancient indigenous Zapotecs. (I learned about them in school and really don’t remember anything about them.) But, I read about that tradition when we went ot the ruins of Monte Alban. We looked at a few tombs, and this was where I read about them making offereings to the dead.
The ruins are (as my friend Pam likes to say) glorious. They’re just oustide of Oaxaca in the mountains where 3 vallies come together. The view is magnificent! Monte Alban was the first urban plan on the American continent. The Zapoteces built the city in 500 BC and it was inhabited until 850 AD. Animals were really importnat and some were considered gods. Plants and herbs were thought to be sacred and healing – they were said to be the link between heaven and earth.
Oaxaca also has some really great music! One Thursday night Janna, Christina, and I met up with my roomates Josh, Ruth and Michael for a FREE Lilla Downs concert. I didn’t know her music before but apparently she’s really famous. I liked how she sings abotu different aspects of Mexican culture (she even has a song about Oaxaca). She spoke and sang about uniting different races and indigenous people in Mexico. Apparently she’s revolutionary for doing this.
Also, this woman is extraordinarily talented. She sings in a really deep voice for some songs, and at least two octaves higher in others. Her verbrato is indescribable, as well as the talent of her band. The harpist was especially impressive. He played beautifully! Not only is he an exceptional harpist, but he pulled out the violin and guitar as well.
The following night, the six of us found a bar with live salsa/cumbia/bachata music!! I really loved this band too. We danced a lot, and I loved watching the Mexicans dance because they are amazingly talented.
I think I forgot to mention that it was sunny and in the 70s-80s the whole time we were there. Hopefully I’ll make it back to Oaxaca and see more of Mexico someday!
Monday, November 8, 2010
!!!!!!!!!
For Day of the Dead pictures go to this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2063367&id=1146001044&l=31a818d6d
6/11/10
Well I’ve been here for four months now and really it seems like quite a bit longer. At the same time, I can’t believe that four months have already passed; time is going by so quickly and I only have eight months left here.
A week from tomorrow we’re going to Mexico!!!!!!!! My friends Ruth, Josh, Michael, Janna, Christina and I are going to Oaxaca and San Cristobal. The cities are supposed to be really cool, and apparently Oaxaca has wonderful food. It will be a nice change from eating beans almost every single night. (Although we do usually get lunch that is pretty good.)
This weekend is really relaxing so far. Today, Christina and I went to Antigua. While she talked to her family on Skype, I did some errands. Then, I sat in the central park and enjoyed people watching. An indigenous musical group performed, and they had a marimba (it is a huge wooden xylophone and sounds pretty cool). I also got approached by at least four little girls begging me to purchase their bracelets, which is very typical especially in Antigua. It is the biggest tourist city in Guatemala; whenever I go there I see “gringos” (foreigners who are usually white people) and think it is strange to hear people speaking English. A lot of tourists even live there.
I also walked around and explored a little bit more of the city that I hadn’t seen yet. I went into a really cool church and also found an amazing textile shop.
8/11/10
Today was a VERY exciting day because I worked with one of my clients Andres for the first time in over a month (due to scheduling changes because of holidays and random events; sometimes it is really frustrating having to cancel therapy sessions, but I’ve gotten more used to it now).
Anyway, he has severe autism and is non-verbal. He’s the one who hit me really hard a few times. I’ve changed his goals at least three times – it’s been difficult to figure out what is most appropriate for him to work on in terms of language. He is very withdrawn and likes to lay on the floor, moving his head back and forth while blinking (he has a tick in his eyes); it is very difficult to get him to pay attention.
So, one of the goals I made is to have him say “sí” or “no” with his head, or with sign language. I didn’t know how this would go, and today was the first day we tried it. He laid on the floor in the stimulation room and started moving his head back and forth. So I just kept asking him if he wanted to play with playdo. Then I would guide his hand to say “sí” or “no” in lenguaje de señas. And one time when I said, “Díga no” (“Say no”) he DID THE SIGN FOR “NO” BY HIMSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was extremely excited especially because he is so withdrawn and can be very difficult to work with. Not to mention that many children learn slowly; I wasn’t expecting him to do the sign by himself at all. After that, I had to go back to guiding his hand again; but it was still SO GREAT!
This Friday and Saturday we are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the home here at NPH Guatemala. We were all put into teams for the event. Friday we’re supposed to perform dances and cheers, and Saturday we’re playing outdoor games (kind of like Field Day) all day. Although many of the groups (including my own) are completely disorganized and don’t have any dance choreographed because the children aren’t cooperating, I think the event in general will be fun. Especially the game day. That night we also have a dance for the kids and I love to dance. The next morning we are leaving for Mexico!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!
6/11/10
Well I’ve been here for four months now and really it seems like quite a bit longer. At the same time, I can’t believe that four months have already passed; time is going by so quickly and I only have eight months left here.
A week from tomorrow we’re going to Mexico!!!!!!!! My friends Ruth, Josh, Michael, Janna, Christina and I are going to Oaxaca and San Cristobal. The cities are supposed to be really cool, and apparently Oaxaca has wonderful food. It will be a nice change from eating beans almost every single night. (Although we do usually get lunch that is pretty good.)
This weekend is really relaxing so far. Today, Christina and I went to Antigua. While she talked to her family on Skype, I did some errands. Then, I sat in the central park and enjoyed people watching. An indigenous musical group performed, and they had a marimba (it is a huge wooden xylophone and sounds pretty cool). I also got approached by at least four little girls begging me to purchase their bracelets, which is very typical especially in Antigua. It is the biggest tourist city in Guatemala; whenever I go there I see “gringos” (foreigners who are usually white people) and think it is strange to hear people speaking English. A lot of tourists even live there.
I also walked around and explored a little bit more of the city that I hadn’t seen yet. I went into a really cool church and also found an amazing textile shop.
8/11/10
Today was a VERY exciting day because I worked with one of my clients Andres for the first time in over a month (due to scheduling changes because of holidays and random events; sometimes it is really frustrating having to cancel therapy sessions, but I’ve gotten more used to it now).
Anyway, he has severe autism and is non-verbal. He’s the one who hit me really hard a few times. I’ve changed his goals at least three times – it’s been difficult to figure out what is most appropriate for him to work on in terms of language. He is very withdrawn and likes to lay on the floor, moving his head back and forth while blinking (he has a tick in his eyes); it is very difficult to get him to pay attention.
So, one of the goals I made is to have him say “sí” or “no” with his head, or with sign language. I didn’t know how this would go, and today was the first day we tried it. He laid on the floor in the stimulation room and started moving his head back and forth. So I just kept asking him if he wanted to play with playdo. Then I would guide his hand to say “sí” or “no” in lenguaje de señas. And one time when I said, “Díga no” (“Say no”) he DID THE SIGN FOR “NO” BY HIMSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was extremely excited especially because he is so withdrawn and can be very difficult to work with. Not to mention that many children learn slowly; I wasn’t expecting him to do the sign by himself at all. After that, I had to go back to guiding his hand again; but it was still SO GREAT!
This Friday and Saturday we are celebrating the 14th anniversary of the home here at NPH Guatemala. We were all put into teams for the event. Friday we’re supposed to perform dances and cheers, and Saturday we’re playing outdoor games (kind of like Field Day) all day. Although many of the groups (including my own) are completely disorganized and don’t have any dance choreographed because the children aren’t cooperating, I think the event in general will be fun. Especially the game day. That night we also have a dance for the kids and I love to dance. The next morning we are leaving for Mexico!!!!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!
Monday, November 1, 2010
Día de Los Muertos
Today was Day of the Dead, which is always celebrated November 1 (All Saints Day) in Latin America. It was really exciting to see how they celebrate! Ever since I learned about Day of the Dead in middle school (my teacher had been to Mexico and explained it to us), I have always wanted to see how it is celebrated. So today was wonderful!
The holiday is meant to simply celebrate the deceased. Families go to the cemetery and decorate the gravestones with beautiful floral arrangements, and sometimes candles. In Guatemala, people also make homemade kites and fly them all day long. I’m not sure the significance of the kites – but they look amazing.
My friend Cassie, her boyfriend Robert and I went to a cemetery in a town called Sumpango. Apparently they have one of the biggest celebrations in all of Guatemala (Sumpango is most known for their Day of the Dead celebration). Outside the cemetery they even have detailed murals of the gravestones and the kites.
The cemetery itself is amazing. The gravestones are gigantic (many of them are like little houses for multiple bodies, I don’t remember what the word is for that in English) and many are painted bright colors. Some of the paint looked fresh so we think that some families painted them today. Other bodies are marked with a cross and adorned with flower arrangements as well (and pine needles). It looked like the bodies were sticking out of the ground, but then we figured that when the bodies are buried they probably just pile the dirt back on top. (I took some pictures so you’ll see what I mean. Those will be uploaded at a later time because it took me 5 hours to upload my pictures yesterday.)
Outside of the cemetery were zillions of vendors selling food and souvenirs. There were hundreds of people walking around. I ate my first tamale ever! That was exciting because it’s traditional Guatemalan food. We also had some corn soup that was delicious. After sitting in the cemetery for awhile and walking around, we came home. The day was really cool.
The holiday is meant to simply celebrate the deceased. Families go to the cemetery and decorate the gravestones with beautiful floral arrangements, and sometimes candles. In Guatemala, people also make homemade kites and fly them all day long. I’m not sure the significance of the kites – but they look amazing.
My friend Cassie, her boyfriend Robert and I went to a cemetery in a town called Sumpango. Apparently they have one of the biggest celebrations in all of Guatemala (Sumpango is most known for their Day of the Dead celebration). Outside the cemetery they even have detailed murals of the gravestones and the kites.
The cemetery itself is amazing. The gravestones are gigantic (many of them are like little houses for multiple bodies, I don’t remember what the word is for that in English) and many are painted bright colors. Some of the paint looked fresh so we think that some families painted them today. Other bodies are marked with a cross and adorned with flower arrangements as well (and pine needles). It looked like the bodies were sticking out of the ground, but then we figured that when the bodies are buried they probably just pile the dirt back on top. (I took some pictures so you’ll see what I mean. Those will be uploaded at a later time because it took me 5 hours to upload my pictures yesterday.)
Outside of the cemetery were zillions of vendors selling food and souvenirs. There were hundreds of people walking around. I ate my first tamale ever! That was exciting because it’s traditional Guatemalan food. We also had some corn soup that was delicious. After sitting in the cemetery for awhile and walking around, we came home. The day was really cool.
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