Day 6 - 7 can´t find and sign key

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Martes was one of those days that had potential for disaster, but got redeemed!!

It was my second real class, and really getting in over my head in Spanish grammar, I don´t think architects get any education in English in the first place. Everything is fem or masc and there is no pattern other than it´s the opposite of what I assume. There are 15 ways to handle verbos, with the singular, plural, formal, informal, I´m on that creek with at best a broken paddle.

Then the oficina says there are two men who have arrived asking for me. Caitlin had mentioned Libardo´s Father wanted to visit, but I had hoped to have expressed the desire to wait a week to give me a chance to learn something...anyway off I go with him and a uncle. We had a very nice lunch together communicating with body language and one word sentences. We then walked down to catch a chicken bus ..can´t find quotation marks on this computer yet....to go to Zunil to confirm some lodging that didn´t seem to be able to be done from states. The bus stopped in the middle of nowhere and turned around...end of the line, and luggage goes flying. It really was no problem because there are little Toyota pickups every 5 minutes...so we grabbed one and off to Las Cumbres. Getting the rooms reserved was really quite easy and we will have great views...mission accomplished.

On way back to Xela, Rom'an suggested I stop and see his house and have cena. We walked a good distance into a cinderblock complex and ended at a cute brick facade unit that looked better maintained than any others. We went inside and three beautiful kids were hard at work on their scholl work. The Omalia entered and her face made it obvious she was the sister to Libardo´s mother. Th entire family was amazingly embracing and made the learning of English Spanish a fun event for the evening. Roman even pulled out a small marker board for a class instruction...he´s a second grade teacher and explains the pieces of styrofoam he carried all day for a project with Victor. Had a nice family cena and off on another bus ride to town.

Today is Miercoles and the water is getting deeper....I asked Caitlin to let me know even she had some of these days when you feel like there is no way to learn this stuff, let alone 4 weeks. Martin...I´ve saved your email, and hope next week to be on top of it enough to understand and reply in some fashion.

The tree planting is quite aways away, so I´ve asked my homestay if I can use their bike, which has a flat tire. They have no tools and no idea how to fix a flat, that will be my task this afternoon...and to find some long johns. I didn´t bring any, but they say it will be cold sleeping on Tajumulco this weekend.

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Comments

[Diane]

Thanks for your news!
What a great adventure...I'm envious! I can't wait to share this with Gary...it brings back memories of our trip to Guatemala. I took Spanish a million years ago and remember a few things, like "loco in the cabaso(sp?). Thanks for sharing - have more fun.

[Thomas]

Where is Steve
Steve - I want to see a photo of you!! Prove to me that you are really there, and not making the whole thing up by cutting and pasting photos from the web. T.