recap

Hello all you avid followers of "Guatemala, alli voy." It should now more accurately be entitled "Guatemala, te extraño" as I have been back in the States for roughly a week and two days. It was been a wonderful week and two days as I was reunited (cause it feels so good--haha) with Jesse, my mom and sister, Veronica, Tori, Neill, and have seen a lot of other people dear to me. Today was a nice day. I went to Robert's to pick up some groceries because Tori and Veronica came over to watch Coyote Ugly (Tori's been working at the NOLA one) and at the deli counter, I was told that I am absolutely beautiful and the man asked me what ethnicity I am (really nationality because that's what people confuse ethnicity with in the US). So stroke my ego! So I ended up getting some stuff for sandwiches and then they came over and we hung out. It was nice to see them again, especially now knowing that Veronica's returning to Dallas in two weeks. But, we're going to try to do more things. We didn't finish Coyote Ugly because I had my job interview at Rambla, a restaurant attached to International House Hotel on Camp Street. Veronica brought me, and I used Tori's straightener because I gave mine to Mia. So we still need to finish the movie, and Jes had the great idea that we have a fondue party. It'll be a melting pot-luck or a fondue potluck where we'll provide the cheese and /or chocolate and people bring what they want to eat. We're also going to drink the national drink of Brazil--can't remember how it's spelled (or said for that matter). Also, Sunday, Veronica, Andrew, Jess and I (and maybe Christina and her boyfriend) are going to brunch (dunno where yet) and to the Prytania Classic movie, My Fair Lady. I'm so excited!

This weekend was WONDERFUL. On Saturday Jes and I went to Bayou Gauche for Cody's pre-birthday party. Jamie and Stuart were there so Stuart's mom wanted to have a party here for the people who wouldn't be able to make it up to Arkansas for Cody's first birthday [party] this August 1. (Jes and I will be going to that one too). Well, the party was nice and Cody's so much bigger and cuter than in his younger days. His hair is also this brilliant golden brown. After, Jes brought me to the Bayou and it was so beautiful. I enjoyed seeing a part of his childhood even if he didn't grow up on it like his dad. Sunday, we were just kind of lounging around the house, doing housework here and there and playing a video game or two, when we finally decided that we wanted to do something so Jes started driving and he ended up bringing me to the Lakefront at UNO (which to my family's and his surprise, I have never been). We drove around and then walked from where we parked to Landry's, a seafood restaurant on the lake. It was nice, but the view really did it. We had fresh tilapia and their fried green tomato (which was good, but didn't hold a candle to Dave's ha). After, we walked back drove around somemore and went to a CC's in Midcity that neither of us had ever actually been, too. The afternoon was perfect. We probably played video games that night. I love being with Jes.

Yesterday, I went to Loyola and ran a lot of errands. I visited the CIE, but Ms. Debbie wasn't there so I left my diplomas with Suzannah. She was going to meet James for lunch so I ended up saying hi to him too. Missed Tori and Veronica, but obviously, we all met up today. I visited Dr. Zucker (my advisor, or former advisor/professor) and looked for Dr. White, but he wasn't in his office. I had gone by it last week too when I visited Dr. Hunt. But, I'll try tomorrow when I visit campus to see Veronica, Ms. Debbie and to mail a couple of things.

Phew. I want to write about going to BR and Jes' birthday. I'll have to do that later. And conclude the rest of my trip. I always want to write more, but I either get lazy or write too much for the time being.

Estoy en casa. :) I'm home, but very tired at the moment. Today (or yesterday) was Jesse's birthday, and I arrived at 6 pm the day before so I had half a day of traveling in two flights. I had a wonderful weekend with Carolina and Erick (and Mario Friday night). I was in Guate City (which is very dangerous at times and in certain areas moreso than others) and on Saturday we went to Antigua. I'll write more (yet again, I'm saying this) tomorrow, though I have a few errnads to run. I need to find a job and get a phone or sim card (since I lost my cellphone in Xela my third day there). I still have a bit of unpacking to do, and Mia's coming over tomorrow evening because she, Neill, Jess and I are going to see Harry Potter and the Half-Blooded Prince at 12:01. I made crabcakes for dinner tonight and mousse (but out of a box). I had planned on making a chapine breakfast, but Jess and I were going to Santa Fe for lunch, so by the time we got back from the grocery, it was pointless to make breakfast. I'll be eating some of our many leftover boxes in the refridgerator and making crabcakes again for dinner tomorrow. We just couldn't finish them. I think we had a wonderful day, and I hope that Jesse has a perfect 28th year.

I'm tired. I got back within the past 30 minutes from The Buddha (where I sang Your Song and Hey Jude during karaoke). It was just Holt, Yessy, her mom and brother and me (and the other people in the cafe). But, Holt kept on leaving intermittently to go to La Rumba and La Paranda because we drank a little before, but he was super drunk. He's 18, and he drinks at least the 1/5 bottle of rum before we go out. It was good to see Yessy one last time before we leave. She has always been so sweet (and she gave me a bottle of perfume tonight and Holt something as well). She, Rocio, Juan Carlos and Noemi came to my good-bye lunch yesterday where I received a diploma (more like a certificate) from Proyecto Lingüístico Santa Maria (mi escuela) and one from Universidad San Carlos (mi universidad). It was a nice lunch at La Taquaria (I had quesodillas and horchata), and afterwards, we went to about ten zapaterias (shoe stores) in La Democracia (a market area) and around el Parque Central, searching for a brown pair of "tacones correos" (brown wedges) that I would like. Couldn't find any so then we went to La Pradera (or Hiper Paiz--a mall, basically). Yessy had to meet her cousin to see a movie so Holt, Juan Carlos and I finished the rest of about 10 shoe stores there, and then we went to San Martin, an amazing bakery (probably the best in Xela). Normally, I have bread from Xela Pan (and once I bought a strawberry cake for everyone in the house from there). It's delicious, but here we all had chocolate cake which was divine and rich. I had milk, Juan Carlos had a cappachino that he didn't like and Holt, a frappe. I don't know why I wrote (or remember) that--must be the server in me. Well, Juan Carlos saw us off to a minibus, and I guess I don't know if I'll ever see him again. He was really nice, often waited with me at the university for my taxista to come. He's just all around helpful and intelligent, informing me of things in Guate, helping me learn modismos (slang) and correcting some of my speech. Anyway, he was supposed to come to karaoke tonight, but didn't.

Tomorrow I have class at 8, as I had this morning. I'm going one hour early because tomorrow I'm leaving my school around 11 since I have to catch the bus to the capital at 12:30. Holt and I are having hamburgers at our house--Noemi's going to make them and I'm interested to see how they'll taste. Then, we're taking a taxi at 11:45. I need to send postcards that I've written already, write a few more--including one to Beltran (totally forgot about him so this is kind of a reminder...oops), and go the the ATM before I leave. I also am going to end up giving my huge Larousse Spanish dictionary to my school because I just don't have room; I've already donated some of my clothes, given my Hundred Years of Solitude to Holt (my copy from Rose), and I still have to put a few things in my booksack. I don't know how I'm going to carry Jesse's birthday present, my booksack, and my purse throughout the airport. But, I have finished all my gift-buying except for Cecilia and Raymond. I even bought Carlito a present (drumsticks because he's always beating his drums with spoons) because he turns 3 on Monday (same day Jesse turns 28!!). I'm so excited to come home! Though I'm really sad about Shosheila. Mia told me today after she found out that Shosheila has parasitic worms. My mom and she are bringing her to the vet tomorrow, but we haven't brought her to the vet in probably 5 years, and that's why she got them. I hope she's okay, but Mia says she doesn't seem to be acting differently. But, Mia locked her in the backroom so she won't sleep with her tonight. I'm going back with Mia for the day after she comes into town for Harry Potter. Well, I probably won't update until I return to New Orleans because tomorrow it's school, bus to La Capital, evening at Carolina's, Antigua, bright and early Saturday morning with Erick, Carolina and Mario, and Sunday morning around 9, I go the airport. Well, that's all I guess, for now. ¡Buenas noches!

I'm so tired, and a little sick still. I was talking to Jes about an hour ago (on skype), but the internet randomly cut out again so when I got back on, I think he had fallen asleep. I'm about to go to sleep myself. Just wanted to write a little bit. Today was good, though rainy and I somehow lost (perhaps dropped) 50Q (which Charles gave me to help pay for ingredients), I believe, in the street. Boo...but there's nothing I can do now. I was upset, and it's only about 6.25USD, but it's just that I don't know how I lost it. I tried to retrace my steps to the store I bought something about, but it was long gone or never there. I also realized this weekend that I was missing 10USD, and at about week 2, I could have sworn that I lost a 10Q bill. I'm just confused as to how...I don't know. In any case, I cooked for my family here today. I was going to cook shrimp curry because Jes suggested it and I'm kind of a seasoned shrimp curry cooker (no pun intended hehe and trying saying that five times fast). But, shrimp at the grocery I went to were 130Q! A pound! Apparently, in the street, they're cheaper, but I was told to go to this place, and I was unsure about the street. Next time, I'll do a bit of searching in the street (whenever next time is) because on my way back, we pasted a mercado (market) and it just looked better than Hiper Paiz (where the grocery store is). So I think the family liked it. Holt did. Dunno about Charles. So it was fun to cook, and it was kind of a parting gift from Holt, Charles and me. I think I felt more like a part of the family today than I ever have. I guess I'm going to be sad to miss them, but I'm really excited about coming home. Tomorrow I go to lunch with Astrid, Flor, Milvia (maestras de las escuela), Ruth (la directora), Dr. Lima (mi ex-profesor de la U-San Carlos), Yessy y Rocio (chicas de la U-San Carlos), Holt, and maybe Charles, Nohemy y Carlito. I also want to buy Carlito drumsticks because his birthday is Monday. That'll be the last thing I buy for him. Also, I need to buy a few more gifts and pack. Hopefully, I'll have space. I hope my apartment deposit comes in soon, too. Wow, I'm rambling; I'm really tired. Lastly, I'll just say that I've applied for at least 30 jobs in the last 1.5 months. I hope I get something.

Solo 6 dias mas.

Que apasionada! Yo regresaré el domingo. Pero hay muchos hacer. Voy a Antigua este fin de semana con Mario, Carolina y Erick (su novio). Holt y yo tomaremos el bus de Xela (la estacion Galgos) a Guate (La Capital) el viernes a las 12:30.

La semana pasada (the past week)

Jesse pointed out last night how bad of a blogger I am. I went about two and a half weeks without blogging. I'm not that good of a student either. I mean, I've been going to class, but  not really studying outside of it because I'm lazy (haha), but also, there's just been so much to do. I've been trying to keep up with writing in my journal (that mainly in Spanish), hanging out with friends in Guate and doing activities. This past weekend I went to San Pedro La Laguna, which is right on Lago Atitlan. It is seriously breathtaking and heavenly.  Last week I didn't have classes at the university for the first time since that session ended so I have been taking it easier work-wise, but I went out three nights in a row, too.

So last Sunday I went to Irtra en Xetulul (http://www.irtra.org.gt/), the largest theme park (el parque tematico) en Central America. It was pretty cool (for a theme park) and Holt, Ruth (la directora), Flor (otra maestra) and I had a lot of fun. We were able to get in free, but pay for rides (2 for 1--super cheap) because they're having an anniversary and on different days people from different departamentos de Guate get to bring 5 other people with proof of residency. Therefore, Flor brought us. What's super cool about this park is, it's publicly- (and possibly privately-) owned because Guatemalans pay taxes in order to maintain the place. The place is on land that is owned by the government in order to preserve its natural environment as much as possible. It was a really nice place that kind of reminded me of Roller Coaster Tycoon or something like that. There were unicyclists, clowns, statue-people, music and people on stilts. It was nice to see so many people smiling and having fun. I rode one ride that was like the Batman one at the old Six Flags in Houston, and my favorites were the swing things that go around in circles and the splash one. I don't remember their names, but it was definitely better than Dixie Landin' though with a lot of the same types of rides.

So Monday I didn't want to do an activity because I was tired. Tuesday, I was supposed to go to another pueblo with a famous church (actually 2, a mama and a baby church--both famous for their colorful facades). It's called San Andres Xecul, but I wasn't able to go until Thursday and in the morning because it rained Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday and predicted to rain Thursday too. So we had class on Thursday afternoon instead of in the morning, and we went to San Andres in the morning. But, Wednesday, I didn't have an activity either because Tracey (a girl from Xela who goes to Loyola) and I planned to eat lunch together since she's here for a month an a half. Her sister (Se llama Ashley and she'll begin at UNO in the fall) came, as did Charles and Holt. I wanted to go to this Indian restaurant that's owned by this Indian and Guatemalan couple because I read online and in a book that not only was it good, but it was on average about 15Q for lunch. Well, we finally found it to realize that it was more like 40-60Q for lunch so after sitting down, we ended up being rude and leaving because I felt bad asking people to pay that much and I didn't even know if they'd like Indian food (well, I'm sure Charles, our British guy would). Anyway, we ended up going to a pretty well-know Mexican place called La Taquaria (I know, original, right?), which was delicious and the outdoor courtyard was picturesque! It was in Zona 1 (really near el Parque Central too). Ashley and Tracey invited us out that night to go that night with their friends; it was a birthday party so we ended up meeting up with them to go to Vintage to sing karaoke and hang out in the VIP room since it was so crowded. Some guy/friend who wasn't there paid for the bottle service so everything was free! It was a fun time. I got up on stage with a brunette afro wig, with Tracey and her friends; made other acquaintances; and drank the night away. Holt was pretty drunk before we left because he had like a bottle of rum the size of a beer bottle, more or less. But, he was funny and more or less good all night. He just kept on trying to grab all the girls. It was a lot of fun! Vintage is in Zona 3 and a spot for more locals :) Zona 1 is kind of like downtown with more of the tourists, too.

So the next day, I had class; it was tiring because we went to San Andres to see the churches. They were both lovely, and as always, I have photos. In the evening, Holt and I went to The Buddha for karaoke with Yessenea and Rocio, but Juan Carlos and Lori weren't there (I've been going to karaoke with them there the past 3 Thursdays). We invited Charles to both The Buddha and Vintage, but he didn't want to go (probably because he'd rather smoke weed). We ended up going home soon because I was tired, and of course, I sang. Also, Yesse told me that it was her birthday this Saturday, but I told her I was sorry because I couldn't celebrate with her since I was going to Lago Atitlan. So we decided we'd eat lunch on Monday (which is today) so I got back from lunch (almuerzo) con ella, Rocio y Holt. We ate at her favorite restuarant called Tecun which is right on el Parque Central. Rocio, Holt and Yessenea had cheeseburgers, and I had tomato soup (sopa) and garlic bread, because actually, I'm sick. Friday night was awful. I'm just going to copy and past some of what I wrote to Jesse because I don't feel like going through it all again. But, I was up late, out in the cold at times, so I believe I got sick because of these factors. I ended up waiting for Charles, Holt, and friends of Charles to be ready to leave La Rumba (a club), though Holt and I waited to meet my friends for a while at La Paranda (other club), but he was super drunk and we missed phone calls. Nevermind, I won't copy and paste--too mean. Anyway, we were going to have to catch a 9 o'clock bus to San Pedro so I was trying to be responsible and say, let's get home. No one listened, but everyone seemed to be having fun--except for me. I finally got ahold of Tracey and Ashley (their aunt threw them a going away party so they were late), but they called Holt earlier and being drunk as he was, he didn't tell me and hung up on them. Anyway, our bus the next morning didn't end up leaving until about 10:30, which was good because we were running late anyway (thanks to Charles's friends, Jordan and Anna--both from the states), and Anna had spent the night at our house. I think it was pretty inconsiderate and disrespectful on both their parts and I just wasn't happy to be going to San Pedro with them. Will write more about that later, but honestly, they were pretty much there for the Rastafarian/hippie/pot-smoking culture. No attention paid to the Guatemalan pueblo or the natural beauty, from what I can tell. I'll pick up on my trip to San Pedro in my next post. Happy, Jes? Hehe. I'm sorry I've been a bad blogger. Un descanso ahora (rest now).

P.S., though I've been buying muchos regalos, hay mas a comprar (many gifts, there are more to buy). I don't know how much space I have, but I'm happy to see the smiles on people's faces :) Also, tomorrow I cook shrimp curry for the family here, and I will be going to the grocery store with Astrid to buy some ingredients, probably a bottle of rum for my dad and café para Veronica.

Today I went with my teacher to a beautiful pueblo with fantastic views (yes, more) of the mountains and two very colorful churches that are well-known in Guatemala. Last night, I went out with Tracey and her sister and Holt and some of Tracey's friends to this sports bar that more locals hang out at. It was a lot of fun (a change, and I drank quite a bit as well), but all in all, it was good fun. Met a lot of nice people and lunch with Tracey, Ashley (her sister), and Holt and Charles was great. I'll write more tomorrow (I really promise) because since we did the activity this morning (going to the pueblo this morning so it wouldn't rain out again this afternoon), I have the rest of my class at 3. 2.5 more hours; I had one and a half this morning. I won't be going to the opera tomorrow since it's on Saturday now so I'll miss it unless there's one next week. I only have 10 days left! Tonight, we have 3 invites out so I'm going to see some of my friends from the University San Carlos (perhaps for the last time). Dunno much about the night, but it'll start off at The Buddha for karaoke, I think (the usual Thursday night), and then maybe meander to La Paranda or another bar, club, restaurant, cafe. No se...Holt, Charles and I are leaving for Lago Atitlan and San Pedro around 8 on Saturday morning, returning Sunday afternoon. And, I'm cooking shrimp curry for my family here next week. Of course, I'll be doing much more, but I'll write about what I know about later. Still need to do shopping. I feel a little weak (from a busy morning and last night) so I want to get some horchata! I had the best hochata (sweet rice milk with spices) yet at the restaurante mexicano that we went to yesterday for lunch. Hhhmm.