Water project, Feria dance, 10K run, baby NIECE!

The past few weeks have been an incredible adventure, and I haven't even left Chiantla. Where to begin...first off, on January 18th, a beautiful baby girl named Gianna Materese George was born. It was a VERY anticipated and long-awaited moment. When I received the phone call from my mom that the baby was born, I was walking through the mountains on the way back from a community with Rosario, on a very windy and dusty road. It will be a moment that I will definitely never forget! Interestingly enough, Gianna's due date was January 15th. And days before her actual birthday, on January 14th, I went to visit a neighbor around the corner who I have become close with. She just turned 60 years old and has 6 children and 15 grandchildren (one more on the way). I was chatting with her, she asked about my sister-in-law, and I said "the due date is tomorrow so I'm expecting news any second now!" She said to me, very matter-of -factly, "the baby won't be born for another few days" and I was just like, ummm, okayyy. Noting my confusion, she added that it wasn't yet a full moon. I must have still looked confused because she said has proof because the births of her children occurred during full moons. Low and behold, when I walked out my door at 8 PM on the day of Gianna's birth, I saw the moon shining full and bright in the sky!

In just a few days, I'll be making a trip back to the states for my first USA vacation in 18 months. WOW. I have been living in Guatemala for 18 months. Anyway. I have been keeping extremely busy between work, hanging out with friends, and preparing for Feria. Remember how back in September I danced in a "convite" for Feria to honor the Virgin, Chiantla's patron? Well there are two Ferias a year, February and September, so the entire month of January I spent going to dance practice for two hours a night, five nights a week, to prepare for another performance of 10 songs on repeat for 5 hours. It was quite an experience, even the second time around. During the month of practicing, I felt myself getting really frustrated about the lateness with which we started and ended practice, the lack of communication, the disorganization. Not that these things are at all uncommon here - but when it comes to my professional life, I am more quick to take a stance on these things and speak more openly and "fuerte" about it. But in a religious and cultural activity, I felt that it was not at all my place to speak up. In the end, I was thrilled to have participated and people in my town were really happy about it too. A few days before the actual performance, some of the girls decided that I should be one of the 4 women who carried the Virgen de Candelaria in the final part of the event. Not being catholic, it did not hold the same meaning for me, but was regardless an honor to so actively participate in such a symbolic part of the whole performance.

Another Feria tradition, besides the ridiculous vendors completely covering the streets, super loud music and noise, and rickety rides, is the 10K race that this guy named Don Marco organizes twice a year. You may recall from a blog post a year ago that I ran in the 10K race and came in last place...but still won 3rd out of the womens category, since there were only three women! One of my favorite stories :) Anway, Don Marco is a super nice guy but always yells at David and me for running so slowly. For example, when I organized the 10K in August to benefit the youth NGO, David came in last place, and Don Marco yelled at him for not moving his legs faster and further apart. And then I ran the September Feria 10K soon after, once again coming in last place, and he was legit yelling at me when I crossed the finish line. These were his words: "You and that boyfriend of yours! You have gotten used to running so slowly! You are tall and have those long legs, and you don't use them! We Guatemalans, we are short people. I would rather have legs like yours. But you don't take advantage!" My reaction, other than surprised, was basically just, "thanks Don Marco for organizing a great race, see you soon!"

Well, this time around was really no different. I was happy to see that I was now one of six women running. And again, I ran my comfortable, "slow" pace, and coming around the last turn, about a half-mile away from the central park and finish line, Don Marco was waiting for me. He said, "hurry up, the last runner finished 10 minutes ago!" With that, he began running with me, in his jeans and black dress shoes, and urging me to move my legs faster. I guess he got tired of running slowly with me, and took off towards the park. A block away from the park, I hear the announcer say, "now approaching, Cara George" and I was of course totally embarrassed. My friend Nick who was staying with me told me that the announcer had been saying my name for about 20 minutes at that point and repeating, "the only runner we're waiting on is Cara George"

Despite the humiliation, they gave me a prize! I ripped off the wrapping paper when I got home, and saw...a heavy clay pot. Okay. I set it on the counter, and didn't really think much of it. Later that day, Nick exclaims, "that's a lot of mangoes!". and I was like, "what on earth are you talking about?" Well, the clay pot was stuffed with five ripe, delicious mangoes! Good thing he bothered to check inside, because I probably would have put it on a shelf somewhere, forgotten about it, and gone crazy trying to figure out what in my house smelled like rotting fruit. Definitely the most "unique" prize that I'll ever receive for participating in a race :)

The construction of my water tank project started last week, after a brief few days when the community told us that they wanted to cancel the project that we worked five months to solicit. I spent two days crying and trying to convince myself that it would not be a personal failure if this project didn't happen. Then, long story short, the community miraculously told us that everyone was back on board. The construction started two days later. Our goal is to have it finished by April. Fingers crossed!!!

Along with the water project, things at work have been going great. I am so happy to have a new and welcoming environment in my office and no longer feel uncomfortable and unwanted by the office personnel. In the remaining part of my service, I will be working more closely with an NGO that works in early childhood development to train the mothers of the children who attend their community centers, so that will be something that gets me out into the field more often, which I'm really looking forward to. My radio program is still going solid and it's always so fun when people tell me they enjoy listening.

I am completely overwhelmed with excitement for my upcoming trip to the states, for so many reasons. I find myself wondering if I'll even remember how to navigate DC like I used to. I feel nervous that going back will be like having to re-learn certain parts of my previous life. What do people talk about when they're not discussing the weather or the latest gossip? What do people eat if they don't eat tortillas every day? Don't even mention what one would talk about at a bar, since all we PCVs do when we meet up is complain about work or diarrhea. In any case, it should be a great trip. Stay tuned for my post-USA trip blog! Or to those of you reading back home...see you soon!!


The men of Nueva Union, San Nicolas (Chiantla) after constructing the first base of the water project

with my partner for the Womens Convite
Dancing
My costume and scary mask that I could barely see/breathe through

Dancing to Marimba music

One of the stops along the 5 hour event

Carrying the Virgen de Candelaria

After the big un-masking!

Being interviewed on TV

With a bunch of my young spectator friends