Martes early morning and Raul put me on a bus for my trip to Coban. Couldn´t take a shower or go to bathroom cause the water had not been turned on yet. I need to catch an 8:30 express bus in order to get to Coban in one day. Got to bus terminal earlier than expected because the chicken bus team of driver and assistant were amazing as we zoomed around the mountains and small villages. The assistant literally hung way outside of the door to spot for incoming traffic and obstructions in town. All stops for passengers to get on and off were rolling stops and the kids swung back into the bus from throwing baggage off the roof, after the bus was already going a good 20kmph. Went to get my ticket so I ... read more

It´s been a while since I added a blog entry. Access has been difficult and don´t know if it will make any difference, but I have been trying not to read or write english since the letters all sound different and I´ve got to get some pronunciation perfected. A few of us took a short bus ride to the small community of Zunil to see the local women´s weaving, the local church and a bizzarre patron saint of no good. The women weave the most colorful and beautiful cloth...it´s amazing. The village is unbelievably polluted. The river is essentially the waste disposal. The women at the san simon ¨chapel¨swept up the trash and whipped out some gas to ignite a trash fire right in front of us. Several of the group went to check out a ... read more

I probably should not make a log today, but so many are writing that they are envious, that I thought I´d put some reality in the mix. Everyone has been honking and blowing around the school and sure enough Thursday evening I came down with a headache and clogged head. This meant I would not be able to climb Volcan Tajulmuco, which I had really been looking forward to. Then I realized in addition to the usual city noises, dogs barking and roosters crowing at all hoursthat keep you from sleeping, I could hear megaphones down the street. About every 10 minutes I recognized the words GEORGE BUSH, I don´t recognize the spanish words yet, as I´m still in the written word phase. Can´t believe, nor anyone else down here, what he has in mind, but ... read more

It´s been a couple days...the school is not open on Sabado or Domingo, and didn´t bother to track down an internet cafe. Excuse the typing, I have yet to find any two key boards alike, the special characters don´t correlate to the keys, and several keys stick, etc. It´s easy to find your way around Xela, as the volcano Santa MAria is always visible. Got up early Sabado to catch a ride to the nursery raising trees. Not exactly what I was expecting....looked like a moonscape. People are out in the middle of know where digging up the land to harvest dirt, sand and gravel to sell for construction. In the middle of all this is a small plot where ICA is working to raise trees for planting in gov´t designated areas and to the gov´t ... read more

Today was travel day. 10:15am flight from Atlanta to Guatemala City...three hours. Was lucky to get out on time with the tornadoes tracking from the west. The school had suggested someone meet me inlieu of a taxi and in hindsight that was great. You think Delta USA is amuck, Guatemala a lost cause. No working conveyence for the baggage and everyone just jumps in to grab their bag as all are in a hurry. I didn´t follow my instructions to my daughters over the year...concept of first on is last off, and paid for getting to Hartsfield early...yep, my bags were last. Anyway I did get to the bus station on time for the scheduled departure. Caitlin will appreciate that it had a toilet. Seemed like a four hour roller coaster ride, surprised the bus did ... read more