More Adventures

Well, the last time I wrote was a really long time ago. A lot has happened since then and I can’t remember all of it. But here are some highlights:

*Pacaya – Cassie and I climbed up a mountain to a volcano!! It was amazing. They used to let people climb up to see the lava, but the volcano erupted a year ago. So, we got to hike to the bottom of the volcano. Still fabulous! The rock formations were so intricate, and I brought home a lava rock. (I learned the technical name for lava rock in school a long time ago but can’t recall it.) We also got to go into a little cavern underground near the volcano – I could only stay in there for a few minutes because it was incredibly hot! The hike was difficult but well worth it. We got to watch the sunset there which was really cool too.

*Chichicastenango – Supposedly the best market in Guatemala. I wouldn’t doubt it. This place is HUGE! And interesting. There was so much that I barely saw half of it. Luckily I was with Cassie who doesn’t like to shop that much either, so we only stayed for a few hours. But it was so colorful! I bought a hammock, a headband, and a dress.

*Quetzal Biotope – last week we stayed at this biotope for a night. The Quetzal is the national bird of Guatemala. It’s extremely endangered and is really special if you get to see them. We saw two! They’re extraordinary and incredibly colorful. Unfortunately I couldn’t get a good picture because we weren’t that close and they blended in with the trees. The biotope is in a cloud forest, which is pretty much a rainforest with clouds from what I gathered. But, the cloud forest was spectacular. We went on two awesome hikes there.

*Semuc Champey – this is a national park with the most clear natural pools that I’ve ever seen. The pools are small and have little waterfalls connecting them to each other. We counted twelve. First, we hiked up the mountain to see the view from above. AMAZING! Then we walked back down and swam in the pools. After that, we went tubing down the river. And at the end of the day was the underwater cave tour!! That was really cool. They give you a candle so you can see, and you have to swim through a lot of it. As well as climbing up and down ladders. But the rock formations were sweet.

Life in general: is good. I only have two more months left in Guatemala! This is hard for me to believe. The year really is going by SO quickly! I’m coming home July 18 and that will be here before I know it. I am excited to come home and see everyone. And eat good food again. But I know that it’ll be difficult to leave as well. I really love some of the kids, and the other volunteers. And I think the reverse culture shock will be difficult, especially after a year. I had it after Ecuador and that was only a 2.5 month trip. When I went to Florida in March (which was wonderful!), I got a preview of what it would be like. I kept wanting to speak in Spanish, greet everyone I saw, and throw toilet paper in the garbage (in Guatemala you have to do that because the plumbing system is not that great). Those are short-effects of culture shock; it’ll be interesting to see what the long-term ones are.

I start graduate school in San Antonio on August 22, with orientation on the 18th. So, I’m planning to move on August 12. While I wish that I had more time with friends and family, I think it’ll be good to stay busy so I’m not thinking too much about missing Guatemala. And, San Antonio is supposed to be great. So that is exciting as well.