Lyssie333

Hola..For those who are not aware of what my program in Peace Corps consists of, here is a little recap--- I have been currently serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer living in an indigenous village in the highlands of Guatemala since April 2010. My project sector is in rural preventative health where together with local health workers we are training indigenous health promoters, teaching classes in the schools, as well as with community and women’s groups. We cover various topics of health education such as nutrition, hygiene and the importance of family planning and vaccinations. For the most needy families we are constructing improved wood burning stoves in order to prevent the dangers of indoor air pollution. Developing countries are at an increased risk of acute lower respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and ... read more

Hola! I am learning more than ever that everything has its time and its place.. Yes I realize I have not written a blog in quite some time, and for several factors I am realizing. Arriving in Guatemala almost a year and a half ago, I remember being sparked with motivation after a memorable event happened, and it affected me and stuck with me for some time after. I remember the first year of service when I would be excited to write a blog because of something that had happened that truly changed me and I felt the major effect it had on me knowing that I could never view the world the same. I really enjoyed sitting down and reflecting about my new experiences and my new reality here in Guatemala, but i could not ... read more

I learned a new meaning of tradition and dedication this past week during Semana Santa. Families unite and enjoy special meals at home, while outside a carnival ambiance awaits complete with street food and antique dodgy carnival kid rides which fill the streets, live music heard all through town and decorations around the cities. This overall experience truly brought a sense of the holiday season as I walked down the streets of San Cristobal and enjoyed a loco elote, or two. It is simple yet delicious... corn on the cob with ketchup, mustard, mayo if you swing that way, green picante sauce, and cheese, perhaps lime and salt if you’re lucky, yet you learn quickly everything depends on the specific food vendor itself whether you will receive a quality item or a gastro-illness. Yet the food ... read more

Guatemala is full of massive, beautiful volcanoes, practically all lined up in a row, sharing roots beneath the earth all connected with strong, united energy forces. Not too long ago, a group of us had the opportunity to climb and sleep on top of the volcano, Santa Maria. I am actually able to see the top of this volcano from my village, as well as a beautiful view from Quetzaltenango (Xela) a city an hour away. I am not sure I can describe in words what an amazing experience this was, but imagine yourself in a world completely different than you are in now. Carrying a rather large backpack and a tent, water, and food on your back as you are working your way up an almost 12,000 foot volcano. Starting this journey as we got ... read more

Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año Nuevo a cada uno de ustedes! I hope you are all enjoying the holidays :) All in all December has been quite the slow month. With all the kids in my village out of school for a couple months on vacation, families working in the cornfields sun up to sun down, the energy in the center of town is not nearly the same as when all the kids are in shcool, playing outside during their breaks and recess. I have been trying to embrace these slow days and take advantage of the extra free time December brings. I bought a few different colors of paint and have been painting my walls and ceiling in my new house, even a few of my 6 host-brothers have been joining and helping me paint ... read more

I would describe my Thanksgiving yesterday as very authentic, non traditional, yet never once did I hear nor did I say Happy Thanksgiving to anyone. I was celebrating this day at a birthday party for my 75 year old host grandma in my village, which is nestled rather high up in the mountains of Guatemala. The second youngest host brother knocked on my door at 9am and said it was time to leave, so I followed him down a small path through the corn fields to their Grandma and Grandpa´s house. Barely anyone spoke Spanish, yet stared at me in complete wonder as I walked in. I just moved to this new part of my village, one of the 21 smaller neighborhoods, and am still getting to know my neighbors. I exchanged the typical Saqarik Nan ... read more

Feliz Noviembre! The months keep passing along for I have been in Guatemala now for a little over 6 months! It is hard to believe yet as I think back to when I first arrived in April, I feel like almost a new person because I have completely changed my lifestyle in various aspects, my ways of thinking (literally since I find myself thinking in Spanish from time to time, hopefully someday in Kíche´, too), and to be back now in the Antigua area for this week has been a whirlwind of emotions and feelings. This area of Antigua is where I was living my first 3 months here in Guatemala.. with my most wonderful of a host family during our long, full packed days of training. It feels so strange to be back, but it ... read more

Oh yet another blog.. I love these times, it gives me a chance to self-reft about both work and life here, as well as to realize the personal growth experiences I have been having over the past few weeks. We all are always growing each day whether we realize it or not, sometimes the weeks pass by so quickly we are finding ourselves saying where did the days go, yet when we think about what actually happened and all the things we did, it helps shape who we are today and now. It is amazing the steps through life we take and what forms and takes us where we are and who we are with in various moments in life. It is beautiful the journey through life, I love it.. You sometimes never know where you ... read more

Happy Independence Day Guatemala (Sept 15).. Last week Guatemala celebrated their Independence Day. Here that means FERIA!! Which is like a huge fair with parades full of marching bands representing each school. The men do a specific march, very military style (i have a video and hope to share it with you all once I find faster internet to upload it) and the girls dance with the beat of the drummers and the music from the marching bands. It was beautiful to see them represent with such pride for their schools and country! I never thought I would go on any of the rides at the fair given that they are typically old ones passed down from the States, then from Mexico, hence they are a bit dodgy I would say. One was called the Crazy ... read more

I am pretty sure my new favorite passtime these days is playing with the kids in my town! Whether it be playing games with them such as duck duck goose, or they pronounce it as yuk yuk ooose, playing with my hackeysack or a soccerball or just going on photoshoots and adventures around our village as they show me their favorite areas where they like to play. ´´Paseando´´ through forests, running down hills, climbing trees and following rivers...They show me amazingly beautiful places in my town that I would most likely not see or find if it were not for them. I am excited for next week´s class and to see a new favorite spot they have and are eager to take me to! It has been some of the best times spent with these adorable, ... read more