Since both Madi and Cali were at sleepovers, Kier and I decided to go across the lake to Santiago for the day. There is a great hotel called the Posada, which I have mentioned before. Originally we were going to go to Jabalito where Casa del Mundo is, but we got an invitation to go to the Posada in Santiago. One of my friends decided to go along with us.
Before we left for the day we had to wait for the roof guys to come. The roof upstairs is made of dried palms. It’s beautiful, but needed to have a few repairs. The last time we had a serious downpour, most of our dishes ended up there on the floor, catching drips.
I also called to confirm that the tiles were being installed in the back patio. Turns out that guy isn’t coming to do that job today afterall. The tiles will be delivered, but not installed. Only the roof was going to happen today. My sister and I agreed that we are more surprised when work actually gets done as planned, as opposed to when it doesn’t. Have to maintain much lower expectations here in order to stay unfrazzled.
The roofing guys showed up about an hour and a half late, but I was just happy that they’d arrived at all. I knew he was recovering from a dump he took on his motorcycle a few weeks ago. Silly me, I asked how he was healing up. The roof guy showed me his arm. I did ask, afterall. It still looks horrible even though it is at the scabbed up stage. I often see at least one thing a day here, that turns my stomach, something I wish I’d never seen. This met my grossness quota for the day. I’ve never seen so many huge bubbly-looking scabs that were raised up from his arm like little grapes. Surpressed gag.
Surprisingly, I still wanted breakfast. My stomach is getting tougher. Kier and I went down by the lake and waited to for my friend. While we were at the restaurant, Cali came in with her friend, and her mom. Cali was funny. No, “Hi mom!” She was downright annoyed to see us, like we were intruding on her sleepover, infringing on her independence, sucking the joy out of her life. Kier and I tried to hide behind our menus and act like we didn’t know who she was. Cali said, “Mom, why are you spying on me?!” I told her we were here first and she should stop following us everywhere. She was annoyed on many levels.
We waited for my friend, but she ran out of propane for her stove while she was making chicken and dumplings. Her husband was still on his daily walk to Santa Catarina, so she needed to wait for him to get home to help her hook up the next tank. She said we could go ahead and she would join us there, but we opted to wait.
While we waited, Kier tried on some swimsuits and got a couple of them.
We went over on the boat. The boat dude tried to charge us double the normal max gringo rate. When we both laughed, he said he meant that was round trip. He would know that it’s rare to catch the same boat back. The trip over was relaxing. Every time I cross the lake, I’m struck by its beauty. There was a guy who was talking with Kier in the bow. He was a huge lanky guy who lives in Pana. He said his nickname is Avatar. The other tourists in the boat laughed with us because we could all see the resemblance immediately. All he needed was some blue make-up and a tail and he could have been in the movie. Perhaps he was the prototype.
We took a tuk to the Posada and sat out by the pool. The lake is very calm by the hotel, it’s a beautiful spot. We had lunch with a couple who have started the children’s reading room. She first came to Guate witht the Peace Corps. He first came to Guate as a tourist, and when he saw the lake, knew this would be his new home. I’ve heard that said often by people who settle here. They came for a visit, never left, or knew immediately this was home. The woman was explaining to me that the level of illiteracy is extremely high among the indigenous. Books are seen as an unnecessary luxury.
Madi called me at 1:30, while we were waiting for our food, to tell me she was supposed to have another sleepover at 3pm. Oh really. Where to start. Complications include: 1. she never told me, 2. I was in Santiago, a village across the lake, 3. she was in a different village finishing a sleepover, 4. the (proposed) next sleepover was supposed to take place in Pana. Three villages, 2 sleepovers. Who knew sleepovers could get this complicated, although it’s understandable once you throw in a lake, a handful of villages, boats, tuks, a lack of planning/communication, and one uncharged cell phone. I did what any self-respecting parent would say to their kid, “How’re you planning to fix that?” She ended up taking a boat, then a tuk home, got into the house because the roofers where there, her friend came over. Amazing how independent and resourceful girls can be when a sleepover in on the line.
When Kier and I got home from Santiago, the roof was done, sand and tiles were in the backyard. Madi was hanging out with her friend. Wow, maybe I should go away more often. I picked Cali up from her friend’s house, everyone was home again.
Kier went out with her friends. They started at their usual meeting place, then went to the usual dance spot. Tonight she was invited to a boat party, one that was docked, not out on the dark lake. She said it was beautiful out on the lake, the stars shining on the water.
I may have said this before, but it’s interesting to me how the place one lives can change dramatically, but basic concerns remain the same. For the girls’ life still consists mainly of school, homework, friends, sleepovers. The biggest difference would be lack of extracurricular activities so they have much more downtime. Almost every evening we are sitting together in one room, talking, reading, doing homework. The girls say they like that part of being in Guatemala. Having smushed-together time. It’s the same reason I like doing road trips. We are all together, even if the girls are doing their own thing. Savoring.