Field Based Training

Last week I went to Cabrican for a week long training session.  Cabrican is absolutely beautiful.  I felt like I was on the edge of the world. During our week, we did a two hour presentation (Training Of Teachers) to local teachers, in Espanol of course.  It was really scary but my group did well. On the last day I did a charla to a class of third graders.  I taught them the song "Con un cepillo" and then taught the importance of brushing teeth.  We spend a lot of time playing with the kids, and I love it.

After our few days in Cabrican we drove down the west part of Guatemala, through two potential PC sites.  They were green and lush.  If you were here, you would know that that is very hard to find this time of year.  Everything is brown and there is dirt everywhereeee.  But these two towns were green.  They were tranquillo and noone in them spoke any Spanish.  I don't know how, but I felt at home.  I just wish I could remember the name of the town.

By Saturday I was ready to be home.  I missed my bed, my room, my daily eggs, and my family.  This was the first time I thought of my house in Parramos as home.  On sunday mi madre taught me how to wash my clothes in the pilla.  It was a lot harder than I expected.

PC is telling us our site mates on Tuesday, I cannot wait! We were going to find out are sites on March 10th, but that has been pushed back until March 24th (the day before we swear in as Peace Corps Volunteers). I only hope that my site is beautiful and I get along with my site mate.  The rest I will have to make myself. 

Theres not much else to say, I fell in love with Guatemala last week.  I'm starting to realize that in one month I'm going to be in a small town, in who knows where, by myself.  I'm ready to commit to my two year service, but its still a bit daunting. 

I love you.  And please email me.  It really does make me happy when I hear from you!

Its getting harder

Hola Todos!

Peace Corps is starting to get more and more intense.  We have been having lots of tech training and spanish classes.  This sunday a group of PCVs are going to Carbrican for a week training.  We will be training teachers and parents and doing workshops.  We have to give a 15-20 minute charla to students, by ourselves.  There is way more pressure to be able to speak and understand Spanish.  My parents could agree that, last night I had my first little, but real, breakdown.  I am constantly thrown into awkward situations and I have to put myself out there.  It is very draining.  By the time I get home and eat my beans and eggs I'm ready for bed!

Today helped me get back on the right track.  I had a successful Spanish class and we worked on our outlines for our presentations for next week.  My friend Maddie and I went for a walk in an area we haven't been before.  Guatemala is a strange but beautiful country.  We walked passed one man that was basically blind, walking with a stick, and yet was walking home from working in the fields.  There are mango trees, avacado trees, bamboo walls, and garbage everywhere.  I do love it here.  It is a simple life, and that is one of the main things I was looking for in the Peace Corps.  There are no Iphones or brand name clothings, just people living life.

I have realized how important it is to have support here.  I am very thankful for other volunteers that are around.  I'm not exactly sure how I will feel when I get to my site.  We swearing in on March 25th, 2011 as Peace Corps Volunteers.  2011 is the 50th aniversary of PC so we are celebrating it at the embassadors house and PC is inviting all the PCV in Guate.  I am very excited.

Mi madre is saying its time for dinner.  I look forward to my daily beans, tortillas, and eggs.  Except in the morning when the eggs are cold.  I hope all is well in the states...and I guess it hasn't stopped snowing since last time I wrote. 

LOVE