Dias locas! (Crazy days!)

Sorry I have not written in a few days life has been a little crazy around here. I would have done a blog yesterday but the weather here would not allow for it. Where do I start. Okay Monday for me was orientation day. They gave me a great tour in the morning and I could actually see the buildings. It is beautiful here. I got to see what the kids do for school and what I would do there. There are 160 kids that attend Colegio Nuevo Dia (New Day Private School) and they only go to school in the morning. After school I helped in the children's home because one of the mamas had to leave to go to a funeral. These kids are amazing! They are full of energy and love. After helping in the home Felis and I went to the market to get groceries so I could have breakfast and make my own meals. Let me tell you I miss cooking on my own stove. I went back to the apartment I am staying in at the moment (the mama's apartment) and made dinner. Now I want to explain something to you most stuff you get from the store here comes from a bag; sauce, beans, anything that is classified as a semi liquid in a bag. Milk comes in a box like a giant juice box. My first dinner I made here was spaghetti with sauce. It turned out more spaghetti and sauce soup because I put too much water in it. It was still yummy but a learning experience.

Tuesday I helped at the school answering phones, because the lady that usually does it had to go to a court appointment with some of the kids. I didn't realize my job back home would come in so handy! Afterwards I helped at the home again and helped the children with their homework. These kids are very bright, but like anyone who has homework, they do not want to do it. While helping with the kids a group from Alabama came and they are some awesome people. They invited Felis, Pedro, and their family, Larry and me to eat with them in Pana. We got coffee at Crossroads Coffee and then ate at a place called Sunset Cafe. It was delicious and the group from Alabama is so funny.

Wednesday was interesting. I took a very cold shower and wondered why it did not get hot. By the time I got to the school I found out we were out of water like the day before, but on a bigger scale. Here at the Eagles Nest we are at the end of the water line for the city so if there is not enough water we run out. Our back up is the pool so I had a chlorinated swimming shower. I helped Keely teach English at the school. Keely is a lady that was adopted from the Eagle's Nest when she was little and she decided to come back and teach the children that need special attention (like the deaf kids). The normal English teacher had to go home for a week and Keely was helping her. Friday she works with the deaf children so I followed her because they want me to do the English review. After school I made myself lunch and then went to hang out with the kiddos. At this point there was no water or water pressure. This made the bathroom situation very smelly VERY VERY SMELLY. I never want to smell that smell ever again. For dinner I made a true Guatemalan meal, chicken and black bean burrito with queso fresco. It was delicious! There was a huge storm that evening which was nice to listen to.

Today the Alabama team left which was sad but I loved getting to know them. We have had two other groups come in making life around here a little hectic. I helped at the school again with phone calls in the morning. I ate lunch with the children; Mama Luki is an amazing cook. We played outside today because it was not raining in the afternoon and then we went inside to do homework. I ate dinner with them and I am now here writing this extremely long blog after talking with my fiance and my family on skype.

Here are the pictures I promised
Irma and I: She speaks Quiche and is learning Spanish

                                                       
   This is Rudy, Irma's little brother

                                                     
             This is Luis and Benjamin

This little girl I call Chistosa it means Funny. I call her that because she is always smiling and laughing. In the middle is Jose Luis and Mynor is on the right.

                                               
                                  This is Polo. He is showing you all his awesome picture he drew at school.

This is Marisol. She has been in the hospital for the past few days because of a stomach infection. She finally came home today all smiles!

This is Raul. He is so short and chunky, but he is three and very funny. My brother Isaac and he were buddies when Isaac was here last year.

                                      This is Arturo. We are buddies and he is such a sweet heart.

This is my view of Lake Atalan from beside the apartments I am staying at.

                                        This is the room where groups that come on trips eat

                     
                                      This is my apartment building that I am staying in at the moment

This is the Manna room. After school they feed children from around the community and one a week if the pool is warm enough they let them swim.

                                       
                                                             This is the pool

                                         
                                      This from Crossroads Cafe... very good coffee I must say.