Hola! I'm back again, it has been a long time since I posted anything. We have been very busy at our school and I am still really enjoying every minute of this experience. Wanted to include a post with some of my observations of the interesting/unusual things that occur in Central America on a daily basis. I will annotate these through a listing:
-After wiping one's bum one deposits the toilet paper in a waste basket, never in the actual toilet
-Fire works or "bombas" going off at anytime day or night-They scare the hell out of you and you would think you are in a warzone if you didn't know better.
-Police officers cat calling at women
-Shuttle or bus rides whose conductors make it a goal to squeeze as many people in to the shuttle or bus at one time, who knew that many could fit
-The amounts of trash on the sides of the road in Santa Maria where our school is...trash combined with take your breath away views, quite a dichotomy
-Showers with exposed wires to heat the water at the faucet head, I haven't got eloctrocuted yet!
-The myriad times I have been offered marijuana by locals handing out fliers for restaurants/stores...I don't know what it is about me
-Everyone saying hello to you in Santa Maria
-The amount of tourists in Antigua
-Police officers on the corners with shotguns
-The homes where are kids live;often multiple family set ups with very little room and open exposed fire pits for cooking. GVI helps families in the community with the stove building project-more about that in the future
-The amount of violence in Guatemala;murders everyday related to gang violence and drugs
-Public Displays of Affection aka making out in the parks. PDA is not a problem here apparently
-McDonalds and Burger Kings housed in buildings that were contstructed before the US of A was a country
-This funny hand action Guatemalans do when they are excited or something is funny! It is like packing a can of chew without the can in your hand. I'm getting better at it-this is a "you had to be there" situation.
-Holes on the sidewalk and in the streets in which people trip or fall completely. No liability laws here so if you fall or trip, tough luck. Not an overly litigous country
-The coolest bars with the best ambience: who knew?
-Really fast driving and passing of other vehicles when the Gringo believes there will be a head on collision occurring. Somehow, it never does.
That's my list for now, I'll think of some more as time flys by. Having a great time and can't wait to update everyone soon.
Friday, December 12, 2008
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3 comments:
Sounds like an interesting and thrilling experience! Surely you will have those memories for a lifetime! Continue on and take care of that pink eye! ;)
-Ashley Unverferth
Thanks for sharing your observations, son. It is so interesting to see how many differences there are; it is especially nice for those of us who aren't there to be able to see some of it through your eyes.
Love you,
Mom
Aaron, thanks for sharing, I'm sure you are busy but it is fun to read up about your experiences. I'm sure you are doing great, and it's obvious the kids adore you! Take Care.
-Bri
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