JOURNEY OF EL GUERO: No stomach issues, robbings, natural disasters!!

Hola! As the Title to the post indicates, no major issues and I don't suspect I need to worry too much in Antigua. I have been doing a lot of walking and exploring thus far. Antigua is not a big city but walking around town makes for a good workout. I have become a routine diner at el restaraunte Dona Luisa Xicotencatl. The place is two stories filled with vibrant colors, tiled floors, art work, and tons of seating in big rooms or narrow hallways. I really need to expand my horizons but I just like it too much.

I met the majority of the staff and volunteers stationed here in Antigua through Global Vision International last night. We went out to eat and had a few drinks. Everyone is very intelligent and quite committed to their volunteer assignments. I will be helping to teach 8-10 year olds at the school in Santa Maria just outside of Antigua on the slopes of a dormant ( I hope) volcano, El Fuego, shown in the above picture. I am nervous but am looking forward to having more structure in my days. Most of the volunteers are from Australia or the UK with a few from the States. It is nice to meet such diverse people and funny to hear the varying vocabulary and accents. I thought Spanish was hard but at times I have understanding my own language!

As I said, most of my days are filled with meandering through Antigua as I await Sunday. I enjoy going to the park and getting harassed by the vendors trying to sell me flutes, wood figurines, necklaces, etc. as this gives me a chance to work on my Spanish. Most of these peddlers are kids and it is fun to joke with them and learn their names and backgrounds. I wasn't gonna do it, but I gave in to Miguel today. He has been trying to sell me a Mayan flute for three days now and he sat beside me in the park today. We talked beyond him trying to convince me about how awesome his flutes are and he told me his background: no father, not in school, very poor. I could tell he was poor by looking at him and I would guess he is probably not more than 13 years old. I drew a map of where I live in the States for Miguel and he wanted me to keep going and I drew (tried) Central America, South America and Miguel was actually very knowledgeable with his geography.

Miguel then said he was thirsty and if I could give him money for a drink. We made an agreement that if I gave him money today that would be the only time he would get money and I told him other people will ask me as well. Miguel agreed and, probably naive on my part, I gave him five quetzales which is roughly 65 cents in the U.S. We talked some more and I told him he should go get his drink which he did, I watched him walk to the store and he was smiling and gulping down his drink when he came out! I have come across several examples of kids like Miguel: Alex, Marisol and her family, Isabel. All of them come to Antigua to sell their goods and then return by bus at night to their families, or in Miguel's case, lack thereof. These are the type of children I will help to teach in Santa Maria which makes this much more meaningful. Hopefully, I can help in my own way there.

Today I will meet the four volunteers whom I will be spending the next six months with. I am confident they will be like minded and am looking forward to meeting them. Then, my orientation tomorrow and on Monday I begin my intensive Spanish school. Mono y mono with an instructor for around six hours each day. It will be grueling but good for me for sure. Hasto Luego (Until later) and Feliz Dia (Happy Day) as they say in Antigua.