Day 4

Breakfast was again not as exciting as some other meals, corn flakes and watermelon.  Instead of regular class today, I paid an extra 100 Quetzals ($13) to go on a bit of a field trip with my teacher.  There were 4 other students with their teachers that went as well.  We rode a chicken bus (an old American school bus pimped out with many colors and decals) and went to a nearby Mayan village (San Antonio) to observe some of the traditional practices of the Mayan people.  However, I think I missed out on my Spanish practice by going on this trip since my conversational Spanish is so minimal and we didn't work on grammar.  It was less work for the teachers though as they just sat back and talked to one another during the presentation.

We observed the hand weaving practice and they dressed the students up and went through the ceremonies of a wedding and birth of a first child.  Everything was explained in Spanish though so I didn't comprehend a lot of what was going on.  They then tried to rope us into purchasing some of their textiles and clothing.  It was very similar to my visit to a kente weaving village while I was in Ghana.

We then observed the tortilla making process, rolling it out on a stone and everything.  We got to help form the tortillas but mine kept falling apart.  They served us a kind of soup with beans, chicken, and rice, the tortillas that we made, and authentic Mayan coffee.

When we returned we walked a little through the market.  I guess I'm glad I went just because I was able to experience riding the chicken bus while accompanied so I can maybe try it on my own at another time.  However, I think I missed out on Spanish learning.

For lunch Ordelia made a delicious fish patty of some sort that was tortilla and corn like.  She also served a delicious vegetable that she said was a relative of a zucchini.  Also, a carrot and tomato salad in a vinegar dressing.  When I'd been in Ghana I had been warned never to eat fruits and vegetables unless they were cooked.  But it doesn't appear to be a problem here so I only thought twice before digging in.

In the afternoon, I went on the school activity again.  This time a jade museum and chocolate store.  After the free jade presentation they again tried to get up to purchase some expensive jewelry.  I bought a $6 piece of Guatemalan prepared chocolate for snacking for those days when my meal isn't quite large enough for my American sized standard proportion sizes.  The best of all I tasted was some chocolate tea made from the leaves of a cocoa plant.  It was amazing, subtle, not so rich like hot chocolate but I didn't purchase since I would be carrying it around for another 3 months.

Back at home, another student finally arrived.  It is a very strange set up, my home-stay, that's taken me while to figure out.  After the morning field trip I walked home with another student, Hannah.  She lives next door with another student in the home Ordelia goes over to sleep in after serving me my meals.  I discovered that Hannah actually lives with Ordelia's family and gets to eat with them while I have been having my meals on my own where Ordelia usually just watches me eat.  I asked Ordelia about why I take my meals seperately over dinner and she said that it's better to not have so many students together as it encourages less Spanish speaking.  It's just very strange because then she must attend many meals a day.

It's been nice having peace and quiet and a house to myself but it also defeats the purpose of a home-stay and the total immersion in the language.  Therefore, I will be moving to another home after this week, hopefully to have more interaction with other family members.  I just worry that I'll have to start eating rice and beans all the time rather than this beautiful variety of fresh fruits and vegetables that Ordelia serves.

My new house mate's name is Sonny.  She is from Korea and her name fits her well, so animated and shinny.  It was great having another conversation partner at the meal and her Spanish is better so there is more to listen to!  Plus, the meal was again delicious, a mushroom and spinach soup served with black beans and bread on the side!