Cara Piedras Guatemala: Less than a year to go

I’ve had a hard time getting up the “ánimo” lately to update my blog, mostly because I’ve been in a big funk lately and I know you folks back home don’t necessarily want to hear my complaining or state of mild depression. And, many PCVs will tell you that finishing your first year of service and entering year two will put you in the “second year slump”. This could not have been more the case for me over the past few weeks, but I am happy to report that I am coming out of it! In the past months, I’ve been busy with travel to Antigua for my group’s Mid-Service Conference, a trip to Todos Santos for their famous feria and horse-races, participating in a half-marathon in Xela, and basically just trying to figure out what to make of my second year. I’ve been dealing with some challenges lately, like my boyfriend finishing his service and leaving Guatemala (although there are some visits planned in the very near future), but even bigger than that, losing someone who I thought was a good friend over some dishonesty about money, and more than anything, making the decision to leave the office where I was assigned to work (the Municipal Women’s Office). Those of you who read the blog and especially communicate with me on a regular basis know that I’ve had some big problems with the two office technicians (técnicas)– although the coordinator of the office (my official counterpart) is AMAZING (wish I could multiply these capital letters by 100). They have treated me with such lack of respect and professionalism for the past year, and following a small incident four weeks ago that led me to cry out of feeling so incredibly p---ed off, I decided it was no longer a suitable arrangement for me to continue working there. So, from now on, I will go to the office only when there is a specific reason to do so – prepare for trainings and meetings, work related to the water project I’m still soliciting, and our weekly radio show. But aside from that, it will force me to make a more conscious effort to get out into communities more often and do work that I find more substantial and meaningful in the first place. I tend to take things really personally, so it was difficult for me to just suck it up to the fact that these two individuals are jealous and overall unhappy people, and that I was just an easy target for that. But for the time being, I’d rather be a bit bored at home than in an environment which is toxic to my mental health. I’ve found activities to keep me busy for the time being, and actually find I’ve done quite a bit this month; like training a bunch of women community leaders on gender equality, giving a human rights talk to one of our really removed communities, leading a workshop to male and female community leaders on how to prioritize community needs, and the activity that we did for Día Internacional de la No Violencia Contra la Mujer (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) for our network of women’s group leaders. And now, before I know it, it will be December and I’ll be off to a much-deserved vacation in Panama!

I feel like I’ve really reached out to my Guatemalan friends during this time, which has helped me immensely, and especially to remember that for every “bad seed” you encounter, there are a handful of good ones. I’ve enjoyed visiting local friends’ homes more often these days, and planning things like lunches and parties where we get together. A woman around the corner recently taught me to make “pepian”, which is a very typical Guatemalan dish that combines chiles, tomatoes, peppers, sesame and pumpkin seeds with cinnamon and cloves, ground into a yummy red sauce and slow-cooked with chicken. It is delicious and I think I enjoy it now even more after learning how to cook it and all the different steps involved. And, you all back in the states can count on me to make it for you during my next visit in February!

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to visit a really far away community, due to a clothing donation that was put together by a group of wealthier Huehue women. It was my first time getting out into communities for a long time, since all the muni funds have magically disappeared and there hasn’t been money for diesel for the muni vehicles. So these women were nice enough to pay to put gas in the cars, and to invite my counterpart and I along. After we gave a nice talk to the women’s group, the Huehue ladies starting giving out clothing and supplies to the women and children who were present, probably about 150 people. Then, they gave out empty bottles, like gallon bottles of bleach, milk jugs, soda liters, even just smaller sized soda and Gatorade bottles. And the people were all over them!! This is because the women have to walk to the river to collect their water, and these empty receptacles are so useful to them. After having been here in Guatemala for a bit, I have definitely learned to make use of things that one might consider “trash” but this took it to the whole next level. It was really cool to see the garbage being used for something so necessary; collecting water.

And a funny story that recently happened: Many times, on the public buses, people will stand up in the front and talk to the bus in a very loud, annoying voice about something that they’re trying to sell. These people sell “medicines” or special herbal treatments or teas. They always go off on a big loud rant, saying how these remedies will cure all sorts of ailments. Often times, they’ll go into explicit details or show some really gross pictures. I usually roll my eyes at them and try to zone out their yelling as best as I can, but somehow most of the Guatemalans on the bus are actually interested in what they have to say, and people even buy the stuff sometimes! Well, on a recent bus ride between Chiantla and Huehue, a guy was in front selling a “tea” that would help with digestion and overall health. I zoned him out for the most part, until he started talking about constipation, and how we become constipated when we have a bad diet, etc. THEN, he started making constipated noises, and clenching his teeth, closing his eyes, as if he was trying to take a dump right there on a bus. He said something about how “the poop gets stuck when blah blah blah” and I just sat there in disbelief, wondering if I was just imagining the whole thing. It’s moments like that when I am like, “seriously is this my life right now?!”. It may not be those type of moments that make my Peace Corps service “meaningful”, but at least it keeps it from being boring!!

My PCV friend and I recently participated in the Xela half-marathon. Xela (pronounced "shay-la") is Guatemala's second largest city. This was the best organized Guatemalan half-marathon I've done so far, of the four that I've participated in.

My English class students at a birthday dinner we had last week for one of them, where we ate lots of food and played a hilarious prank on the birthday boy :)