Last night there was a huge bang on the roof again, followed by pitter patter of medium sized feet. There were also two signficant tremors, but I slept through those (scary huh?). Our neighbor was talking about the second being significant enough that she almost rushed out of the house. But again, it’s over before you can make a decision and act. A little scary. It’s times like those when you hope your walls are made with the cheaper building method of styrofoam covered with wire and plaster instead of solid cement blocks. After the bang, it took me a while to go back to sleep, but only about an hour this time. My times of being awake are getting shorter.
This morning, Cali was up at 6:15, earlier than necessary. She was quietly getting dressed. The tuk tuk didn’t come until 7 minutes before school, so Cali went in a different one. Three minutes later our regular one showed up. Not sure what to do about that. If they can’t get her to school somewhat on time I may have to switch. Although a different tuk tuk may not mean that Cali will get there on time. I could ask if she could ride with her friend to school (and pay of course). We’ll see.
Madi always wakes up on her own. But now I have the new task of waking up Kier. She still seems tired. But she is exciited to go to school once she is up. This morning we walked to school behind a herd of 8 goats. We’ve seen them around our neighborhood a lot in the mornings the past few days. Each of them has a mesh muzzle on to keep them from nibbling on people’s flowers, I can only assume, unless goats bite. The goat herder was stopping along the way to give people fresh milk in containers. These small observances, that we don’t see at home, are some of the gems of being in a different culture. Madi still thinks their long udders look painful. Gonna have to agree. Also saw a cow.
Also on the way to school we passed through at least a hundred women gathered in our street at the cross-roads (they call it the intermedio in Jucanya, which is this part of town). Some had brooms. Someone was explaining to me that in order to get some type of government funding the women are required to do some kind of work, so they are cleaning up. This was interesting because when I passed back through the intermedio one hour later, then three hours later, the huge conversation in the street was still happening. I’m not sure what work was supposed to be happening. There were people there who looked like they were organizing it and giving instructions, but perhaps they were only providing conversation topics. At least the women looked like they were enjoying themselves, probably reconnecting with lots of friends!
I went for only half of the Spanish class because I was helping out with costumes. Three of us went to a small storage room and went through bags and boxes of costumes. It was interesting work, actually. Except the women were talking about being stung by scorpions, and that freaked me out a little. I was afraid to put my hands in dark places for fear of scorpions. They say it feels like a bee sting times 10. I don’t remember being aware of scorpions last visit, but this visit a number of people have been talking about thm. The knowledge of bugs is expanding this trip.
The one woman who was helping out is retired, but has been coming down to volunteer to teach in the school, along with her husband. This trip they brought hundreds of books down and were delivering them to different villages around the lake.
After we sorted through the costumes in the little room, we brought them all back to Jan’s house and hung them up. They need to air out a bit. Next week we need to go through the play and write down characters, scenes, sort out what we have, what we will need to make. That home ec. class I took as a senior, and those all nighters I spent sewing Halloween costumes for the girls, finally coming in handy. Tasha, if only you could come down and lend your costume-making superpowers! Sigh. Ah well, we’ll have to muddle through without you.
After that Cali came home and we walked into town. She and her friend are on a huge perfume-making kick right now. They put flower petals in water and swish them around with a stick until the water becomes colored. Then they take the liquid to school and the other kids offer to buy the perfume for 1Q. She and her friend are thinking about going into business together. The Guate kids here are always thinking about how to make money, gotta love their little entreprenurial spirits.
When we got home we got to hear day two of the house exorcism next door. I’m not sure how many days the neighbor can afford. Apparently effective exorcisms are expensive. My question is, would you want to pay any money for a mediocre exorcism? Perhaps half of a bad spirit it better than a whole bad spirit. I’m still wondering if they could do a roof exorcism. The house exorcisms start with a common song they sing together, then is followed by individual wailing and chanting. The woman next door keeps slipping and falling, and therefore thinks something is in her house.
Kier loves the school. She knew almost everyone in her school from the last time were here. She it’s as though she never left, everyone is just taller. After school she walked into town with one of her friends and they talked for hours. It’s great how she can step right back into friendships she made three years ago. Madi loves being in school with K. That hasn’t happened since she was in kindergarten and first grade.
Have I mentioned in the last five second how great it is to have Kier around? She is just so happy to be here.
Later in the evening Kier went to salsa class, which she did the last time she was here. I did them last time, and may do so again. The teacher is amazing, could teach anyone to dance I’m quite convinced. After salsa we went to PanaRock to hear a band where we know all the players. The lead guitarist is going to give Kier guitar lessons. She starts on Saturday. The restaurant was packed, the band was great. They played mostly other band’s songs. We talked to a some people that we know. We saw the family’s tuk tuk and took that one home from PanaRock. I reminded them to get Cali in the morning. Perhaps I should have been more specific about the time again. They probably think I’m OCD about getting my kid to school on time. If it didn’t bother Cali to be late, I’d let it slide and say, “When in Guate…”, but she doesn’t like walking into class late. She’s already been programmed in the North American way.
I totally forgot to drop in on a party I was invited to, oops. Oh well, I’m sure there will be others.
Cali’s blog: Today I had lots and lots of fun. My tuk tuk was late again today, so I took a different one to school. If our tuk tuk keeps being totally late, we may have to get a new one. In Science we talked about body things. Next in math we did our 2’s times tables. It was easy except I have to translate my numbers into Spanish in my head. After that we ate, had recess, then came back in for computer classes. We had English, let’s just say we had lots of fun. After I came home and ate my usual scrambled eggs and peanut butter and jam toast, mom and I went into town. We went to the store to find a container for the perfume that my friend and I made on the weekend out of roses. We found a container that will work, even though it isn’t glass, it’s plastic. Then I got an ice cream while mom got a coffee for herself. We sat there and chilled for a while. Then we went to the grocery store and I got to get some gum. We picked up the big sisters from school and then I had to do my homework. It was kinda hard to do it tonight, because we had to find spanish words with 3 vowels in a row. But I’m going to do it. Then I’m going to bed. P.S. I love you all very much even though my sunburn on my neck hurts and my tooth is wiggly and it hurts, too.