I want to start this Blog entry with a big THANK YOU to all of my friends and family. All of you have been extremely supportive of my adventure here in Guatemala. I think I was able to see, or at least talk to, most of you before I left. If I missed anyone, shoot me an email!
Its been quite a whirlwind of packing, visiting, and partying these last few weeks. The last gathering at Bill’s included live art and music. I have so many incredibly talented friends!
I was escorted to the airport by my “Farewell Possy”, Bill, Sam, guy, Greg, and Yvonne. Great send-off…thanks!
The trip here was uneventful. Just like I like it.
From the airport, I took a shuttle to Olga’s where I will be staying for about two weeks. Leaving Guatemala City, We sat in mucho trafico due to El Dia del Nino. There were many fiestas around the city celebrating the Day of the Child. Olga runs a guest house in Antigua with three rooms in her home, and many casitas in the rear that include a full bath. I am in Casita #1 . A place I have stayed before. It has a double bed, a small bedside table and lamp, a small desk and chair for my computer, and a full bathroom with intermittent hot water. I am sitting next to a window overlooking the garden. (and the hanging laundry) My casita and three home-cooked meals a day cost about $15.
I certainly have had my Spanish tested already. The two people in the house right now only speak Spanish. I had to quickly turn my Spanish brain on. I did fairly well, but need a lot of help. It really is going to take a full immersion for me to get this. I have taken Spanish in high School and one month in Xela, Guatemala. I can’t seem to get over that next threshold everyone keeps telling me about. I will be starting one-on-one Spanish classes Monday with Martin, who comes with a reputation of being a workhorse. And, he does not speak very much English. We will be getting together for two hours per day for two weeks
I have a couple of friends here in Antigua and have seen them both already. John and his friend, chao Wen, are the ones who picked me up from the airport with the shuttle. 80 minute ride - $20. My other friend, Deet, lives on the same property where I am staying. She is a massage therapist, as well. She has lived here almost 17 years now and as far as I know, she has no plans to go back to Chicago.
As I write this, I realize that all of my connections here in Guatemala are due to Burning Man. They are all friends from Burning Man, friends of friends from Burning Man, or all the way out to friends of friends of friends. I’m guessing one might find Burners anywhere in the world. They are some of the most creative, intelligent, environmentally conscious, sensitive, self-aware, philosophical, and spiritual people I know. (I can hear Sam saying, “Hippie!”) Well, so be it. If this is what defines “hippie”, than I’ll gladly be one.
Its been quite a whirlwind of packing, visiting, and partying these last few weeks. The last gathering at Bill’s included live art and music. I have so many incredibly talented friends!
I was escorted to the airport by my “Farewell Possy”, Bill, Sam, guy, Greg, and Yvonne. Great send-off…thanks!
The trip here was uneventful. Just like I like it.
From the airport, I took a shuttle to Olga’s where I will be staying for about two weeks. Leaving Guatemala City, We sat in mucho trafico due to El Dia del Nino. There were many fiestas around the city celebrating the Day of the Child. Olga runs a guest house in Antigua with three rooms in her home, and many casitas in the rear that include a full bath. I am in Casita #1 . A place I have stayed before. It has a double bed, a small bedside table and lamp, a small desk and chair for my computer, and a full bathroom with intermittent hot water. I am sitting next to a window overlooking the garden. (and the hanging laundry) My casita and three home-cooked meals a day cost about $15.
I certainly have had my Spanish tested already. The two people in the house right now only speak Spanish. I had to quickly turn my Spanish brain on. I did fairly well, but need a lot of help. It really is going to take a full immersion for me to get this. I have taken Spanish in high School and one month in Xela, Guatemala. I can’t seem to get over that next threshold everyone keeps telling me about. I will be starting one-on-one Spanish classes Monday with Martin, who comes with a reputation of being a workhorse. And, he does not speak very much English. We will be getting together for two hours per day for two weeks
I have a couple of friends here in Antigua and have seen them both already. John and his friend, chao Wen, are the ones who picked me up from the airport with the shuttle. 80 minute ride - $20. My other friend, Deet, lives on the same property where I am staying. She is a massage therapist, as well. She has lived here almost 17 years now and as far as I know, she has no plans to go back to Chicago.
As I write this, I realize that all of my connections here in Guatemala are due to Burning Man. They are all friends from Burning Man, friends of friends from Burning Man, or all the way out to friends of friends of friends. I’m guessing one might find Burners anywhere in the world. They are some of the most creative, intelligent, environmentally conscious, sensitive, self-aware, philosophical, and spiritual people I know. (I can hear Sam saying, “Hippie!”) Well, so be it. If this is what defines “hippie”, than I’ll gladly be one.
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