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Published: March 3rd 2006
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Hola, I 've been in San Pedro La Laguna for a almost a week now and life is good...well, except for the cold and a recent onset of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). My body has gone into shock from the sudden change in weather, sleep, foliage, and normal diet. I can't complain though, I'm staying on one the most beautiful lakes in the world. So far, I've been living with a local Guatemalan family and studying Spanish at The Mayab´Esquela de Español.
The Puac family is great. The family consists of the following: Father - Juan, Mother - Elena, Grandmother - Maria, Children - Pedro (15), Chonita (12), Azucena (9), Emmanuel (7) and the little Tulita (1). On an average day here in San Pedro, I wake up around 7am and have breakfast with Elena and Tulita (everyone else is at school). After breakfast, I head off to The Mayab´ Spanish School to learn español from Javier. Javier is quite a character. He doesn't speak English that great, but he is very good at teaching his language. Some days I study for two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening, and other days I put in all
four hours in the morning, depending on how I feel that day. The school is very flexible and laid back. After classes, I hurry home to eat lunch with the family. Elena always prepares something new and very unique to their culture for me to enjoy. Next, I either walk around San Pedro, work on the internet, or play soccer with Emmanuel at the house. At night, I hang around with the kids and they either sing, dance, or perform gymnastics for my entertainment. They are all very talented and also very good teachers when it comes to tutoring me with my español. The final meal of the day comes around 7pm and is always a delight and surprise. Elena makes everything by hand. She has a little hut beside the kitchen where she grinds corn and makes tortillas. After dinner I usually retire to my room to study Spanish and listen to my iPod. Bedtime comes pretty early because I'm usually very worn out from focusing on Spanish all day. You wouldn’t believe how exhausting it is to be surrounded by Spanish 24/7 and having to pay attention to every word very closely. Also, I still haven’t shaken the
cold, but I didn’t knock out the IBS problem with a strong dose of Cipro.
San Pedro is divided into two sections: The Town Center, which is up the hill where the market is located and Gringo Town, which is down near the water where all of the hippies and expats that settle here hangout. There are some really neat restaurants, massage huts, and solar pools on the East side of Gringo town. The nightlife in San Pedro seems to be always jumping with different specials and events going on at all of the bars around Gringo town. I haven't gone out at night yet mainly because of my studies and I don’t want to come strolling into the Puac household really late. Mary J seems to be a very popular item around San Pedro. Almost everyday someone asks me if I would like to buy some or they are just smoking it casually on the side of the street. I’m not so sure that this is my type of scene, but the views are great and I'm surrounded by Mayan culture. Most of the adults speak both Spanish and a form of Mayas called Tzutujil. The entire family
I live with speaks both languages and the grandmother speaks very little Spanish and mainly Tzutu. The following are some examples of Tzutujil: Buenos dias (Good morning) = Sak´ari´, Hola (Hello) = at ko´li´, Vamos (We go) = joo´, and finally, Me llamo is Jeremy (just guess mom) = nu bii´anin Jeremy. In person, the language sounds like a lot of coughing and gagging, but learning about and experiencing the culture is quite a treat.
I would love to take a spoiled rotten kid living in the United States and have them come spend a month living with a family here. Maybe when they returned home they would appreciate what they have and not complain so much. The entire family shares one bathroom which consists of a single toilet that flushes by pulling a tiny string and a door that is more like that on a stall. The bathroom is positioned right next to the living room and is very acoustic friendly - not good for me. The shower is outside and has the flow of someone pouring a cup of water. You either have it freezing or unbearably hot. I choose hot, so I have to stand to
the side with my hands cupped under the water and splash it onto myself. Shower time, which is about ever three days, is also when I wash my clothes. The family has a little sink area beside the shower where they wash their clothes by hand and also the dishes. The sink where everyone brushes their teeth is located outside and has nothing covering it, so if it is raining you get a little wet. The Puac family's home is considered to be upper-class living in comparison to many of the other homes in San Pedro...now think about that. This all sounds really bad, but to tell you the honest truth, this is all really great. I'm used to backpacking so being dirty and roughing it has never bothered me. Just getting to experience how most of these people live on a day to day basis is a life changing, eye opener and I’m thankful.
I'm not sure what is in store for this weekend. Maybe a volcano hike or just some soaking in thermal pools, we'll see. Till then!
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Leevo
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That Javier looks like quite the character. He could possibly be the local Mary J. kingpin. Adios muchacho!