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Published: April 14th 2008
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buenas suertes
Good Luck Turtles, we got to donate money and then release turtles into the sea We are four months into the new year and I am finally sitting down to write an up-date. We got lost in space and time for a few minutes but we are coming back from our journey of adjusting. It seems when ever you move there will always be a period of adapting to your new surroundings. After all we are still creatures of habit so to alter your environment and surroundings is like sending your body and mind a small earth-quake.
So what does it feel like to live in another country? Well it feels like it does any where….You make your self a little comfort zone. Like going to the same restaurants (comedors) and stores (tiendas) because that is where you have found the best deals or your favorite foods. When I march into the market I know exactly which pathway to follow and which people I want to support and buy my veggies and fruits from. No longer do we get lost in the hustle and bustle that will wind you around in circles inside this loud and over stimulating market.
As far as our jobs go we have both become consumed by them. It is easy to
do since they are subjects we are both interested in and passionate about. We are loving and hating the challenges they bring us from day to day. However we are also learning and getting great experiences to take elsewhere in life. It is also easier to get wrapped up in our jobs here because we don’t have a big social life. Most of the friends we have are also our co-workers. As with moving you also have to make friends all over again. So it has been easy to get ourselves out of balance and over working ourselves for way less than we have ever made in our lives! But we are here living the dream so it balances back out. Like when we remember the reason we are here is to EXPLORE!
It is moments like today, for example, when I sit in a car. Any kind of wheels is the key to freedom, they can get you further and further away from the city and closer and closer to adventure and being back out in the country and the true experience of Guatemala. Right now we are on our way to go kayaking in some mangroves near the
Pacific Ocean. Then we will relax and play in the huge pounding waves that slap onto the black sand (from old volcanic activity). So yes it is moments like this when I can breathe in the fresh air and excitement around me and remember oh yeah this is why we are here working our butts off. Moments when I can feel the warm wind in my hair look around at the sugar cane fields passing me by while off in the distance I have a panoramic view of four volcano peaks. It is moments like these when I remember that we need to get out of the city more often and go discover! This country is rich with adventure in every direction you want to go and we only have 7 months left to try and explore it all!
This is why we are looking for a motorcycle to invest in. With a moto we will have more freedom to just take off and explore a dirt road and find a camp site near a river. Maybe follow the river up and up to see where it comes from and what oasis awaits us to discover it. What ever it
takes to just get back out into nature and doing what we love best, camping, hiking, biking, and most of all LIVING!
I am including some of our favorite photos from the last few months. We went to some amazing natural water pools for soaking and swimming with a huge raging river that parts through rocks and goes underground where the pools start! There were also two huge caves we explored with a fun family from the USA. They were clients through Tim’s job and they came down to visit their daughter, Lauren, who is also teaching and living in Guatemala. It was a lot of fun it felt like we had family around for a little bit. I am super impressed with Lauren’s parents, she convinced them to rappel down a 30 ft wall inside of a cave where the only light source is our head lamps and there are bats flying all around us! The other cave we explored was a river cave so we just traced the river up stream and back into the cave. That was one of my favorites. We climbed up waterfalls and slid down rocks as natural water slides. We even mined some
clay from within the earths belly and this weekend I am meeting up with Lauren to shape and mold the clay into pottery.
We have also had a lot of visitors from back home and even some that we didn’t know! Some friends of ours in Costa Rica met a couple and gave them our contact info so that when the came through Guatemala we could meet one another. Turns out we have a lot in common and might even do some traveling together in South America. So I will say it one more time….anyone who wants to come visit please do! We will be here through November…..after that we are not sure except for actually making it to South American soil! In a week we have to make a run for the border to renew our visas so we will be going to Mexico near the west border of Guatemala. There are more ruins and waterfalls to explore there so be ready for another up-date. Hopefully sooner than later and I think Tim is planning on sharing a few thoughts for food as well. Until then take care and love hearing about all of you back home. Congrats goes
out to all the new babies being born and families being formed, Tim and I are gonna have to play catch up someday soon! Until then we will keep playing! Con Amor Muchas, Nat and Tim
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Mollie
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Oh Crud!
Now that Maddie has seen that spider, she will NEVER leave North America... Thanks for the update (and the postcard for Turner... he was way excited). Love to both of you! -Mollie