When we started there were 32 of us. And, probably like all training classes, we were hopeful and cautiously optimistic about our chances of making it home as a team. We all finished training and swo...
So part of moving to a new town is moving into a new home. This is unfortunate because (once the loud, banda music at midnight and then again at 5 in the morning everyday neighbors moved out) I reall...
Holy Week was last week. (I’m sure you knew this and are having a blast finishing up the last of your easter candy… I am very jealous.) In an effort to integrate and make up for the fact ...
So, I moved. I think you knew that. I went from Santa Cruz to Santa Maria (have I mentioned that Guatemala is a country heavily influenced by the catholic faith?) a little over two weeks ago and, wel...
It’s been quite a month. There’s a lot to update on (blogging obviously took a backseat during March) so I’ll just get right to it. Día Internacional de la Mujer I hope everyone too...
Last week was particularly good. Probably the best I’ve ever had in site. Which is great, but also bittersweet since I’m leaving soon. Still, I got some good pictures out of it and itR...
One of the perks of being a PCMI volunteer is that I have 7 individuals from my cohort (well, now 6 since Lexi took the early COS option… I miss her dearly) to share stories and compare experie...
Around these parts February 14th isn’t just for couples, but a chance for everyone to celebrate all of their loves (romantic and familial) and friendships. At work we all shared a cake and many...
I’ve informed most of my coworkers and friends that I will be leaving next month. It has not been particularly enjoyable and has been incredibly difficult to explain in a way that doesn’t...
“1 in 10 Peace Corps Guatemala volunteers is involved in a serious crime incident.” The conference this week began with a “How We Got Here” presentation by the Inter-American-...
Wednesday It’s past 9 am. The event was supposed to start at 7:30. I’ve been here since 6:30. I don’t really mind. For the first time in months muni staff is doing more than sitting...
I’m low on blog fodder until the big administration handoff happens and my world (possibly) turns upside down. Until things pick back up I do have a few anecdotes that I hope are as entertainin...
Yes, I’ve stopped crying. As always, huge thanks to those who reached out to remind me that everything is going to be okay and make me feel loved. And, now we’re moving on. Because itR...
I’m back in Guatemala. And coming back this time was hard. Really hard. Not because I couldn’t seem to get back to my site yesterday (taxi, wait an hour at the terminal and then finally g...
I won’t be celebrating Navidad here in Guatemala this year. My family is having a Hawaiian Christmas instead (I know, I’m a very spoiled Peace Corps Volunteer). I want to feel more guilty about leavi...
I was in the microbus on the way back from my weekly shopping trip. I was not the only one. There were 23 other people in that microbus, all laden down with bags. And even though the van was original...
Yes, I’m aware that I’m a little late to post this, but I was just a tad busy. You know, helping cook and then devour vegetarian thanksgiving… killing our turkey piñata… play...
Now that I’ve passed the halfway mark of service that little nagging voice, the one that asks me incessantly, “Hey, have you accomplished anything yet? What exactly are you DOING?!”...
Yesterday Guatemala elected their next president: Otto Perez Molina of Partido Patriota. This NY Times article does a good job of summing up the election and presenting the challenges facing Molina. ...
Sometimes I like to think about what the TV series based on my life would be like. (What? You don’t do this?) Clearly, we are in the middle of the two seasons called “Chapin Living: The P...
I don’t want to get ahead of myself, and it could just be wishful thinking tricking my brain into thinking it’s true, but I think I’m feeling better. The sunny weekend after somethi...
It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in my frustrations. I appreciate my fellow PCMIs around the world and volunteer friends in Guatemala for chiming in and sharing their own stories and ...
Have you ever taken one of those Meyers Briggs tests? As a hard core extra curricular organization junkie and given my field of study I have ended up taking the Meyers Briggs test numerous times over...
Not much new to write about around these parts (sit in office looking for funding, youth groups, ignore bolos, try to finish Infinite Jest, eat, sleep, repeat, repeat) but I don’t like to let m...
After the bad news last week I walked out of the office (I know, real professional) and went home. I posted a whiny facebook status update (I know, real mature) and sulked around my apartment for a l...
Spoke too soon. I should have seen this coming, but since the current administration didn’t win re-election all the support/funds for my world map and girl’s camp have disappeared. ItR...
I survived elections! The last week has been quite an adventure, but here we are and the country hasn’t collapsed to chaos (though a fair number of things have been set on fire and other minor ...
As evidenced by my post documenting how much I cried during site visit and the counter I keep updated in the sidebar on the right to let you all know how often my bowels rebel, I clearly am committed...
Rainy season can be intense and cruel and last night a particularly strong storm wreaked havoc all over Santa Rosa (the department I live in). I got first wind of problems when I was woken up by a ca...
We’re about three weeks from elections (to be held Sunday, September 11th… does anyone else think Sunday is a weird day to have an election?) and tensions are high. Personally, I will jus...
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