Saturday, April 21, 2007

Clubs and Bars

Clubs, bars, drinking, and just ¨hanging out¨ aren´t exactly ¨my thing.¨ But, I´ve found myself going out more and more as time passes here in Antigua. It´s just what people do in the evening. Granted, my first weeks here - I showered and did homework in the eveninsg. Things change over time.

For instance, Wednesday was Austin´s birthday - so we met at the Parque and off we went to find a room to kick it and celebrate! I have no idea what that face is. Just deal with it. Anyhow - we were Sara, Steven, Elise, Michael, Mia, Danielle and more. Austin pulls a good crowd. Fun times!

(My birthday is May 8, for those counting down the days! Shameless self promotion.)

Of course, the end result of this week was that by Friday morning when I got to class I was completely exhausted. I had climbed a volcanoe and then stayed out too late. Then, the next night, I was out again to say ¨goodbye¨ to Anna before she left (for real this time) not to mention a few hours pondering the religious answers to the universe with Austin. 5 hours of sleep a night, just leaves me wanting.

Then, last night (Friday) I heard people we going to see-hear some reggae. Now, that sounded good, so I got a nice nap in the afternoon and off we went. Well - reggae is NOT what we heard. It was three white guys pretending they knew what reggae was. I´m not sure if this video really does it justive, but seriously ' consider this one fact

- the drummer was ¨playing the drums¨ on an Apple iBook. Yeah. It left something to be desired. But the hot chocolate was good!

The Shoes on My Feet

Random tidbit of practical information about my travels. What shoes to take on a trip like this? That was a serious question for me as I packed for two very different climates (hoping also to minimize how much ¨stuff¨ I had with me.

Anyhow, here´s the answer for you avid readers... 3 pairs of footare. I must thank Kristie for giving me the flip-flops and Kathryn for suggesting I bring them. They´re fantstic for walking around the house. The Keen sandals are great at times, when it´s warm enough... But I find myself wearing the trail shoes most of the time.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

Well, it's time for another bike tour). This time it was just Chelsea, Alfredo and me. We went to a few churches and sites that I hadn't been to (mainly because they're far outside town). Alfredo is always an entertaining guide and I've enjoyed his tours. This time I even bought him chocolate! Honestly, nothing much to write about here, but I wanted to mention him and the bike tours.
I have 2 days of school left (next Monday and Tuesday). Then, Wednesday, I'm off to Costa Rica. I've enjoyed Antigua, but I'm getting antsy for a new experience. Even so, I'll miss my life here - but I think I'm ready for something new. It's kinda like transfers.

Thinking of returning home one month from today has me a bit sad. My mom once told me that I'd evetually have to get a real job and stop travelling the world. I'm glad so far that the two (a job and travelling) have not been exclusive. The "realities" of "real life" really aren't that enticing. I'm an escapist at heart. I don't travel as much as I need to to maintain my mental health / so hopefully I can change that in the future.

I've met some great people here and it's been mind expanding. I highly recommend it. I've reflected on how this reminds me of my time in Korea and how it's sad that the only time some people find for such adventures is in their early 20s. There's something to be said for a "break" at 35 to reflect, learn, pause, and ponder. I suppose some people can do it 15-mintues-at-a-time one day at a time (and I should probably learn to do that more effectively), but this 68-days-of-discovery thing is definetly a different beast and one I'm grateful I'm doing.
Oh and the title - Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. I learned the word in 5th grade. Supposedly, it's the longest word in the english language. I have no idea what the longest spanish word is. I've only been here 6 weeks. Give me a break.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Close Encounters of the Best Kind

OK, so I'm hiking up this Pacaya in the middle of Guatemala, not really thinking of Los Angeles or anything of the sort. Then, when what do you know... three hot chicas (PS Mom: it's ok - in fact normal - to use the word "chica" to describe the various women in my life) come walking up the trail. And well, like the next guy, I'm one to notice hot chicas (but not always one to be noticed). But what a fine surprise to realize that not only were these hot chicas just as hot as (though not possible to be any hotter than) three chicas I knew long ago in LA. In fact, it was them - and they noticed me about the same time I noticed them.!!!

What the heck. Who would think that on a random Wendesday in the middle of Central America on a vocanoe trail in the back country, I would run into Lisa, Cubbie and Jill. Crazy small world! It's good to know someone missed me so much that they had to hunt me down abroad (not "hunt me down a broad" - though I suppose that wouldn't be all that bad either).

Anyhow, what a pleasant surprise running into them. Granted, their guide was rushing them up and my guide was rushing me down, so we barely chatted and took a few photos. And, I spoke a little Spanish with them, but not really enough to prove that I've actually learned anything. But, that's ok. I was just taken back by finding them so unexpectedly.

Did I mention serendipity...
Plan for the best and expect better.

It works.

Volcanoes are Cool


Really, the title pretty much covers things.

We hiked the active volcano outside of town today and well... it was cool (and yet hot at the same time - you know: lava). There were 5 of us from the school and we had a nice little stroll (hike) up to just below the summit, where the lava was flowing out and down.





Supposedly, there's a great view from up there - on a normal day, but today was completely clouded over. In fact, the clouds were pushing right over us as we reached the top. I really "dug" it. I love being in the clouds (or fog, or whatever you want to call it) when I'm hiking. Oh, sure - I love a great view, but there's just something really cool about watching clouds roll by - right by.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

My Brian Hurts

I had 7 hours of class today (to make up for some of the time I took off for my adventure to Tikal and Rio Dulce)... For the record... 7 hours of Spanish class is too much for this boy´s 3 lb. mass of grey matter. I think a nap is in order.

I´m still with my second teacher, Carlos, and I expect to finish up my time at La Union with him. Today, we studied (among other things) prepositions. And really, what could be so hard about a few prepositions? Well, it turns out this is the 3rd time I´ve gone over a lesson on the uses and differences of ¨por¨ and ¨para¨ (once with Fredy, once alone - in my language book from the states, and now with Carlos).

Anyhow, it all makes sense on paper (or white board - if that´s your thing), but getting my tongue, and my brain to agree with the rest of the Spanish speaking world is proving a bit difficult. Oh well, in time...

Monday, April 16, 2007

Serendipitous Redemption

Years ago (in Korea) I came up with a quote to help get us through the potentially rough days. (Yes, being a missionary can be rough at times, but that's a topic for someone else's blog.) For us, one simple quote about serendipity made all the difference when things weren't working out, "Plan for the best and expect something better." Well, it turns out that Río Dulce understands serendipity just like Korea did. In my previous entry about this town, I was less than generous. I did have a "plan" (faulty though it was), but the town eventually one-upped me (and both of my plans) and I was pleasantly surprised! (Teach me to be mopey.)

Sunday morning I was able to get a boat tour of the River and the nearby Lake. I figured, "Well - I ought to do something to salvage my detour." That was my second plan - salvage the day (since my plan from the day before had obviously not worked out). It was a nature tour of the river and the nearby lake. I was getting ready to write the blog about how it was a poorly scripted international version of Disney's Jungle tour... without "the back side of water"...

Then... Serendipity took over. Years ago they had a small Pirate problem in these parts. Yes, Pirates! And wouldn't you know it - they built a small fortress (or Castillo with a draw--bridge and everything) to defend themselves against those nasty creatures.

Now come on! Who doesn't like Pirate stories!?!?!?! No one I know!

So, already the day was turning around and my appreciation for Río Dulce was growing. In fact, my appreciation for Pirates of the Carribean was also growing. This is a cool place (not to mention the second live Halo board I've encountered in the last month).

Yeah, anyhow - fun times.

Then, to top off my day (before leaving on the noon bus), Río Dulce was good enough to coordinate their Annual Village Festival in my honor. Yup, every year on April 15th, they start an 8 day festival... How... serendipitous! Now, I'm not going to say this was the best parade I've ever seen. In fact, it may have been the warst (no offence), but that made it that much better! This photos is of a syncronized dance-march. Also, I think I mentioned that Río Dulce is a one-road town at the base of a bridge (the longest brige in Centra America)... Imagine the traffic jam on a one lane road to the only bridge when a parade takes over the road. Anyhow, I enjoyed!

Anyhow, my point - I had an overall good time (despite the difficulties) in Río Dulce: Serendipitous Redemption

More Homework

A while back, I posted one of my homework assignments. I figured it was about time for a Spanish update, so here goes. This is a composition I wrote for class about my weekend traveling to Tikal and Río Dulce... Enjoy...
El Miércoles después de la cena, Carlos y Eva viníeron a mi casa en autobus. Carlos nos condujo a la Ciudad de Gautemala. Nosotros ibamos cuando Eva me dio un regalo. Ella hizo una carta para mi en Español! Yo tambien tuve un regalo para Eva. En verdad, su amigo Austin y you fabricamos una playera especial para Eva.

Durante las 3 semanas que ella vivío en Antigua, ella siempre buscaba una playera verde de Guatemala. Pero nunca encontró. Entonces, yo solo buscaba cuando yo encontró una playera perfecta. Austin y you escribimos los modismios divertidos sobre la playera con pluma begra.

De todos modos, nosotros cambiamos los regalos. Después de una hora - nosotros llegamos a la estación de bus. Carlos regresó a Antigua y nosotros compramos los boletos para el bus de 10.30 de la noche. Nosotros pensabamos que el bus de noche era una buena idea. Pero cambiamos nuestros pensamientos cuando tomabamos el bus. El bus estaba muy frío. Entonces, era muy difícil dormir.

Eventualmente llegamos a Flores - pero nosotros estuvimos consados y no nos comunicamos bien. Yo buscaba un hotel mientras Eve esperaba con nuestras maletas. Yo encontré una habitación para tres personas, por que nosotros pensabamos que un amigo de Eva iba a unirse con nosotros. En verdad, Mike encontró su propia habitación pero nosotoros no sabíamos.

En el hotel, Eva se baño mientras me dormi. En la tarde, nosotros encontroamos a Mike y los tres fuimos a Tikal. Las piramides eran muy grandes. Nosotros llegamos a las 4 y necesitamos salir a las 6. No obstante, muy interesante mirar Tikal. Esa noche nosotros comimos en un restaurante. Nosotros estuvimos muy consados.

El clima en Flores y Tikal era muy caliente. Nosotros tuvimos que beber mucho agua. Antes de salir de Antigua, you estaba preocupado que iba a llover pero no llovió durante nuestra viaje.

Era divertido paser el tiempo con Eva. Mike solomente estuvo con nosotros el Jueves. Pero Eva y yo tambien fuimos sin el a Tikal el Viernes. Disfruté mirar Tikal con Eva, y tuvimos mucho tiempo sin interrupción. Estaba bien pero fue nuestro ultímo dia juntos. Entoncess, era un poquito triste y yo tenía un poco de frustración, por que you no quería que nosotros estuvieramas triste (especialmente Eva).

Yo sacaba muchas fotos de los templos, y disfrutaba caminar las muchas sendas. Además, a mi me gustan las vistas de encima de los templos.

El Sabado, Eva se despertó a las 4.45 para tomar el bus para Belize. Despues de que, yo tomé el bus para Rio Dulce. Rio Dulce estaba sucio, aburrido Y pequeño. Me equivoque cuando yo decidí de no ir a Livingston. Pronto, no había nada para hacer.

Entonces, yo fui al internet y escribí correo electronico y envié las fotos a mis amigos. Me acosté a las 9. Cerca del hotel habia una discoteca. Era un poquito difícil dormir, pero no hubo u problema.

El Domingo, en la mañana, finalmente pude tomar un barco. Me gustó el tour del río, el lago y el castillo. Habia piratas! Entonces, las personas de Río Dulce contruyeron ese castillo para defenderse.