Yes, it´s true! I finally figured out how to get to and from school from my family in two different ways, and then on Saturday morning I moved! The other place was OK, but I was hoping for a place near Zona Tres (3) where San Marcos is, and with kids. Well, I have found it, and its only about two blocks from the school. A young couple moved into this house (Helen and Olger) and they have a baby daughter of a few months called Eliza. Helen also has two sisters living close by (Maciel and Norma) with spouses, and her mother Gloria. Then there is her brother Darwin and his wife Ana, who have a little boy whose 5th birthday was celebrated last night at our house (his name is Daniel) Also at the ... read more

Now where was I? In Gaut City I think, waiting for Rachelle and Vitaliy to arrive, which they did, and only one day late! The next morning (Tuesday), our shuttle picked us up as promised. The trip to Lago Atitlan and the Town of Palajachel was uneventful, except that it is a very winding road up and down the mountain sides, and takes quite a while to navigate. When we arrived, we learned that we needed transportation to our home stay, and so obtained a ride in a small Toyota truck. My back was killing me, so they let me ride in the front and carried most of my luggage. The home we stayed in is located on a cliffside overlooking the lake - quite a view. But the road dead ends there so they had ... read more

Wednesday 1900 hours: Well, I've finally settled on which shoes to take for serious walking - cheap joggers I bought over a year ago. They're comfortable, easy to replace, and if they fall apart I'll get a new pair somewhere! Unlike my last trip. I've actually worn them several days now, and while I wouldn't say they are broke in, the process has at least begun! And my mole skin is packed (hardly anything else, but that's another story!) As for all the things I had hoped to do here before I leave, I'm working on that list! Some will undoubtedly not happen. Today I attended my last Cub meeting, and my last Lenten service. And I got the problem with getting gas into my van gas take at least temporarily resolved (it was starting to ... read more

Will Vitaliy get an American visa so he can get through customs on the way to Guatemala? He and my daughter Rachelle are driving to Edmonton right now and plan to catch a 7AM flight to Vancouver. On Thursday morning he has an interview at the American consulate (he's a Ukrainian citizen, with permanent residency in Canada). Later that day they'll catch a late afternoon flight back to Edmonton, and then drive back to Saskatoon so he can go to work early Friday morning! I leave Esterhazy on March 20 in the afternoon, fly to Dallas via Toronto Sunday, and then to Guat City via Mexico City on Monday, arriving late afternoon. Rachelle and Vitaliy fly Monday morning and arrive Monday evening via Dallas, Tampa, and Miami. What follows our arrival there is a week and ... read more

How can I summarize my experience? What did I like best? What did I find most difficult? Did I enjoy it? It was a very challenging six weeks. Aside from the obvious struggle to understand and be understood in a place where English was minimal, and where most folks know only a few words, there was also the very real challenge of understanding and appreciating a very different culture. So many things are quite different in Central America. For example, there is no such thing as pedestrian rights, and though it is necessary often to step off the very narrow sidewalks into the street, one must constantly be on the lookout for vehicles speeding past - and I do mean speeding, because although there are man-sized speed bumps, and the occasional speed limit sign, the latter ... read more