Hello beautiful friends and family!
I am just returning from 3 weeks of
Early IST (in-service training). It was grueling. Each day was filled with
sessions of safety and security, medical, and technical sessions for our
projects. All the sudden, I was thrown into a strict daily schedule, surrounded
by English, and comfort (electricity, coffee, and hot water!). In many ways, it
was GREAT to be back, but mainly, it was SO overwhelming. I had gotten so used
to my routine in my little town of San Lorenzo! I missed waking up to the my
alarm clock rooster, going for a hike with my host dad, eating breakfast
(beans, always beans) with my family, heading into my schools, the health
center, and just greeting men, women and little kids in traje (traditional
dress) on the streets. It was hard. I felt like I had barely begun my
integration into my community, and all the sudden, I was being pulled out for
more training! Some of my students thought I was returning to the United States
and never coming back L
I realized that there has never been an American or any type of volunteer that
has stayed in San Lorenzo for a full two years. But Seño Josefina is here to
stay!
During our 3 weeks of training, what
pulled me through was getting to be with the whole Bak’tun after our first two
months in our sites! So many stories were shared- stories of fleas, standoffs
with chuchos (street dogs), new cultural experiences, and our work triumphs and
failures! After these 5 months in country, I’ve wondered if I’ll ever be able
to put this crazy journey into words. I expected life to be hard here, but oh
man did I underestimate just how much of a rollercoaster life would be! Luckily
for me, I’m all about the crazy twists and turns. Ever since I was a little
girl, my body moved faster than me brain! I’ve always liked a challenge- anything
to get my heart pumping and my mind racing. I’m learning about myself through
every breakdown, every moment where I laugh till it hurts, and every time that
I miss my chicken bus. As frustrating as my days and moments can be here, I’m
so glad I’m living a life where no day is the same. Every day, I want to make a
memory. I’ve decided, if I have one goal here, it’s to truly connect with
someone here in this country every single day. I want to go past the simple
“holas” and “Buenos dias” and really get to know the members of my community.
Yes, I’m here to teach, plant seeds, share knowledge, and support, but I am
also in the role of a learner too. Sometimes my kids look at me in awe when I
tell them I’m a licenciada (hold a college degree) and they wait for me to just stand
there and teach them. But god, when I give them the space to think, to
question, and explore ideas, it’s like watching a million light bulbs go off. By
the end of my classes, I’m the one standing there in awe.
Work is reaaaaally starting to pick up! I’m getting to know
my students! While I was away at IST, they surprised me with learning how to
say “Good Morning, Miss Josephine”. Now every time I enter the classroom, they
all stand up and proudly greet me in English. On my next post, I’ll update
y’all on my work and day-to-day here. But like I said, no day is ever beige! My
life will be continually changing.
Wall of Fame:
My Momma
Emily Coffin
Karen Giger
Cindy Morse
All your hand-written letters keep me going! I pour over every word. I can’t tell y’all how touched I’ve been to hear from y’all.
YID Retreat!
Bak'tun 6 YIDers!
Wine Tasting outside of Antigua
Golden Hour in Antigua
Volcanic ash outside my room from Volcan de Fuego!
Facilitating a charla on goal setting
