Well. My time here in Guatemala is coming to a close. In 5 days, I will be back in the good old U.S.A.
I have nothing really more to write other than, please pray that I don't end up some where random because of my lack of Spanish skillz at the airport.
Also, in case you are not my facebook friend, here is the link to my pictures:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2045340&id=179202342&l=ec8cc90a9e
You should be able to look at the pictures even if you're not on facebook.
Looking forward to seeing all of you!
Peace, Love and More Airports,
Claire
Shoutout to Smelissa: Yeah, that's right..called you Smelissa again...
Shoutout to Haley and Mom: Go ahead and get that baking done before I come home...
Monday, December 14, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I'll Be Home for Christmas
Hello Friends,
As of this moment I am exactly 9 days and 1 hour away from being home. I am one excited girl. I can tell you that much. However, with that joy comes the sadness of leaving, which is more than I thought it would be.
Christmas in Guatemala is MUCH more festive than I ever thought it would be. I would almost say that they outdo us Americans in their decorations and celebration. Granted they do Christmas up a little differently around here, but all in all, they LOVE Christmas. Some examples:
1. Massive decorated trees every where. The largest of which is sponsored by a beer company.
2. Tons of Christmas lights. Everywhere.
3. The malls and stores are DECKED out. They put Fayette Mall at Christmas to shame...I can tell you that much.
4. They celebrate by shooting off fireworks almost constantly...the culminating event being Christmas Eve...which I hear can sound a little like a war zone.
5. They burn the devil in preparation for the coming of Christ. This consists of bonfires everywhere, with pinatas of the devil being burned.
6. They have multiple showings of the Messiah and the Nutcracker in various locations.
7. They definitely DO NOT wait for Thanksgiving to be over to start the festivities either.
Keep in mind all of this goes on in 80 degree weather...which is about the only thing to me that makes it really not feel like Christmas. However, it's kind of nice...because you're experiencing all the fun Christmas things...but you're not freezing your butt off. I have become a great hater of cold weather while being down here...I never realized how awful it was until I experienced life without it for a bit. AMAZING.
We are also having our Christmas concert for the elementary school tomorrow night. It's a Superhero Christmas..and I wish I could tell you how stinking cute all these kids are in their superhero costumes...but it's too cute to describe. My class, third grade, are Jedi. Although our original intention was to make the robes ourselves...an opportunity arose and a man who needed work ended up making them for 25Q (about $3) a piece. They are SO good. The kids love them and they LOVE carrying their light sabers with them. We told them they could wear their robes to Spanish class this morning if they were on their best behavior...and I did not hear one peep from them as we walked there and none of them got in trouble in Spanish (a TRUE accomplishment). It was probably the cutest experience of my life. Needless to say I am very excited for tomorrow night.
I can't believe how close I am getting to the end of my time here. It has truly been a wonderful experience that I have loved and has changed me and impacted me in so many ways. I hope to write again before I leave, but don't hold it against me if I don't...I have a feeling this last week will be pretty busy.
Peace, Love and Jedi Knights,
Claire
Shoutout to Melissa Coffey: LOVED talking to you today. I miss you. We were not meant to spend this much time apart. I am so glad I get to see you before you leave for Ecuador!
Shoutout to Haley: PLEASE make me an awesome a capella Christmas CD to listen to on the drive home from the airport. I can't wait to see you! Good luck on Finals!
To all College Students: Good luck on your finals! You can do it!
7.
As of this moment I am exactly 9 days and 1 hour away from being home. I am one excited girl. I can tell you that much. However, with that joy comes the sadness of leaving, which is more than I thought it would be.
Christmas in Guatemala is MUCH more festive than I ever thought it would be. I would almost say that they outdo us Americans in their decorations and celebration. Granted they do Christmas up a little differently around here, but all in all, they LOVE Christmas. Some examples:
1. Massive decorated trees every where. The largest of which is sponsored by a beer company.
2. Tons of Christmas lights. Everywhere.
3. The malls and stores are DECKED out. They put Fayette Mall at Christmas to shame...I can tell you that much.
4. They celebrate by shooting off fireworks almost constantly...the culminating event being Christmas Eve...which I hear can sound a little like a war zone.
5. They burn the devil in preparation for the coming of Christ. This consists of bonfires everywhere, with pinatas of the devil being burned.
6. They have multiple showings of the Messiah and the Nutcracker in various locations.
7. They definitely DO NOT wait for Thanksgiving to be over to start the festivities either.
Keep in mind all of this goes on in 80 degree weather...which is about the only thing to me that makes it really not feel like Christmas. However, it's kind of nice...because you're experiencing all the fun Christmas things...but you're not freezing your butt off. I have become a great hater of cold weather while being down here...I never realized how awful it was until I experienced life without it for a bit. AMAZING.
We are also having our Christmas concert for the elementary school tomorrow night. It's a Superhero Christmas..and I wish I could tell you how stinking cute all these kids are in their superhero costumes...but it's too cute to describe. My class, third grade, are Jedi. Although our original intention was to make the robes ourselves...an opportunity arose and a man who needed work ended up making them for 25Q (about $3) a piece. They are SO good. The kids love them and they LOVE carrying their light sabers with them. We told them they could wear their robes to Spanish class this morning if they were on their best behavior...and I did not hear one peep from them as we walked there and none of them got in trouble in Spanish (a TRUE accomplishment). It was probably the cutest experience of my life. Needless to say I am very excited for tomorrow night.
I can't believe how close I am getting to the end of my time here. It has truly been a wonderful experience that I have loved and has changed me and impacted me in so many ways. I hope to write again before I leave, but don't hold it against me if I don't...I have a feeling this last week will be pretty busy.
Peace, Love and Jedi Knights,
Claire
Shoutout to Melissa Coffey: LOVED talking to you today. I miss you. We were not meant to spend this much time apart. I am so glad I get to see you before you leave for Ecuador!
Shoutout to Haley: PLEASE make me an awesome a capella Christmas CD to listen to on the drive home from the airport. I can't wait to see you! Good luck on Finals!
To all College Students: Good luck on your finals! You can do it!
7.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tis the Season
Well friends,
Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas! I officially started celebrating Christmas the day after Halloween...as is typical for me...but, now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I am in full on Christmas mode. I have like 5 advent/count down to coming home calendars...including one for my students...which they love...even though it's putting a paper ornament on a paper tree...they argue over who's turn it is to put it up just like we used to do Mom..haha. (P.S. I sincerely hope that you have the advent calendar down and are putting up the stuffed nativity pieces even though we aren't there...I am ashamed of you if you haven't. It needs to be not only up, but updated when I get back...I think it's my turn for Jesus this year.)
Let me back up for a minute and talk about Thanksgiving. I ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday night, which was great. The reason for eating Thursday being that a lot of families here take vacations for Thanksgiving...including me and some of the other teachers. We traveled to Belize on Thanksgiving day and returned on Sunday. It was quite the adventure. It was 5 hours on a bus (that cost approximately 9 dollars to ride), which was actually a very nice bus...and then an additional hour on a water taxi across the Caribbean to Belize (not as nice...way more sketchy...cost about 20 dollars...go figure). After quite a battle with Guatemalan immigration, we finally got there and to our hotel, in Punta Gorda, Belize, which was very nice. Punta Gorda however, is teeny tiny and has about 3 restaurants that open whenever they feel like it.
On Friday, we got to take a boat out to the many tiny little islands that are off Belize (I think they said there are something like 139 of them) and we went snorkeling, which was probably the single coolest experience of my life (you know how I feel about animals). I got to hold a starfish and a sea cucumber, which was SO sweet. We had a guide who could point out all the different fish and tell us their names...like I said, probably the best experience of my life.
Saturday we rode some bikes around and just hung out by the pool... it was cloudy...so I naturally didn't put on sunscreen...mistake...burn central. Oh well. Bet you most of you can't say you got sunburnt on the Saturday after Thanksgiving...
We came back on Sunday, with immigration being a lot easier this time, around 9 at night. Overall, it was an excellent Thanksgiving...I had my doubts about missing the traditional Turkey feast...but for one year and the most awesome fish I have ever seen...I can let it slide.
As I write this to you I have 2 weeks and 2 days left until I leave. It is AMAZING how fast the time has gone...but at the same time, the beginning of the semester and middle school seem like they were 10 years ago. I think I'm stuck in a time warp. I am getting VERY excited to come home because I miss all of you so much, but I will be very sad to leave here too. Catch 22.
As per my mother's request...I will be writing a blog about Guatemalan Christmas traditions...which I'll be honest...I will probably google to find out. I know some things...just not everything. Hope you all are doing well! I can't wait to see your faces in a very short time!
Love,
Claire
Shoutout to Melissa Coffey: Don't go to Florida...I mean...I know you need to and all that junk...but just don't. It won't be healthy for you to be away from me for so long.
Shoutout to Haley: Please keep Mom in check about the advent calendar. It's very important to me.
Shoutout to Ross: You thought you were going to get Mom and Dad to get the tree without me. FAT CHANCE. You cannot take away from me something that is part of my being.
Let me be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas! I officially started celebrating Christmas the day after Halloween...as is typical for me...but, now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I am in full on Christmas mode. I have like 5 advent/count down to coming home calendars...including one for my students...which they love...even though it's putting a paper ornament on a paper tree...they argue over who's turn it is to put it up just like we used to do Mom..haha. (P.S. I sincerely hope that you have the advent calendar down and are putting up the stuffed nativity pieces even though we aren't there...I am ashamed of you if you haven't. It needs to be not only up, but updated when I get back...I think it's my turn for Jesus this year.)
Let me back up for a minute and talk about Thanksgiving. I ate a traditional Thanksgiving meal on Wednesday night, which was great. The reason for eating Thursday being that a lot of families here take vacations for Thanksgiving...including me and some of the other teachers. We traveled to Belize on Thanksgiving day and returned on Sunday. It was quite the adventure. It was 5 hours on a bus (that cost approximately 9 dollars to ride), which was actually a very nice bus...and then an additional hour on a water taxi across the Caribbean to Belize (not as nice...way more sketchy...cost about 20 dollars...go figure). After quite a battle with Guatemalan immigration, we finally got there and to our hotel, in Punta Gorda, Belize, which was very nice. Punta Gorda however, is teeny tiny and has about 3 restaurants that open whenever they feel like it.
On Friday, we got to take a boat out to the many tiny little islands that are off Belize (I think they said there are something like 139 of them) and we went snorkeling, which was probably the single coolest experience of my life (you know how I feel about animals). I got to hold a starfish and a sea cucumber, which was SO sweet. We had a guide who could point out all the different fish and tell us their names...like I said, probably the best experience of my life.
Saturday we rode some bikes around and just hung out by the pool... it was cloudy...so I naturally didn't put on sunscreen...mistake...burn central. Oh well. Bet you most of you can't say you got sunburnt on the Saturday after Thanksgiving...
We came back on Sunday, with immigration being a lot easier this time, around 9 at night. Overall, it was an excellent Thanksgiving...I had my doubts about missing the traditional Turkey feast...but for one year and the most awesome fish I have ever seen...I can let it slide.
As I write this to you I have 2 weeks and 2 days left until I leave. It is AMAZING how fast the time has gone...but at the same time, the beginning of the semester and middle school seem like they were 10 years ago. I think I'm stuck in a time warp. I am getting VERY excited to come home because I miss all of you so much, but I will be very sad to leave here too. Catch 22.
As per my mother's request...I will be writing a blog about Guatemalan Christmas traditions...which I'll be honest...I will probably google to find out. I know some things...just not everything. Hope you all are doing well! I can't wait to see your faces in a very short time!
Love,
Claire
Shoutout to Melissa Coffey: Don't go to Florida...I mean...I know you need to and all that junk...but just don't. It won't be healthy for you to be away from me for so long.
Shoutout to Haley: Please keep Mom in check about the advent calendar. It's very important to me.
Shoutout to Ross: You thought you were going to get Mom and Dad to get the tree without me. FAT CHANCE. You cannot take away from me something that is part of my being.
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