Christmas in the campo

Christmas is a really strange time here. Mainly, because it doesn't by any means, feel like Christmas. There is no snow, no Christmas trees, no Christmas cookies, no presents, nor christmas lights. No one even says Feliz Navidad. Although the holidays are often a hard time for me, especially because I'm not near my loved ones, I've managed to have a great time here in the campo. Christmas is a time of many fireworks. All day, and all night. Unfortunately, not so much the fun ones. Mainly the ones that just blow up and sound like gun shots. There are fireworks in the hands of about every child here beginning at the age of 2. Many of these fireworks are thrown at each other, as the fireworks blow up just feet from their faces.


(World Map project)

Christmas is also a time of lots of drinking, which is done so in private. My friend had a dance at her house. No one actually had a drink in their hand , but many of them were drinking. It is a very secretive thing here, especially for the women. They will drink in private, and then come back outside with the rest of the party.



Some guys here just drink and drink and drink, until they are passed out on the street. These guys give drinking such a negative label. Some people just don't understand that you can "socially drink" . There was a guy passed out outside my house the next morning, that I had to walk over to get to the bathroom. He was there until 5 that afternoon. At one point we had to move his unconscious body to a shady area.

Despite the drunken guys passed out in the streets, and the concern I have for the many little kids with dangerous fireworks, Christmas is a time of the year that is muy alegre. Everyone is so happy that it is Christmas, especially the children. Perhaps even happier then some American children, who are upset they didn't get that certain toy they wanted. It certainly is a humbling experience for me. Next year, I will eat my fair share of Christmas cookies.
Anyway, I had a very nice visit with my sister-in-law Greta. We went to Antigua, Guatemala for a few days. I hiked my first active volcano, and even got to roast a marshmallow on top! We went to Semuc Champey, which consists of many natural pools, and waterfalls. It is said to be the most beautiful place in the country. I don't really know much of Guatemala, but because of the neat, rare blue-greenish color of the water and towering jungle walls all around, I find that statement very easy to be true. It was fun hiking there, and entering all the caves. Swimming through a cave with a candle in one hand was a pretty neat experience. Cliff jumping inside was super fun too! The only downfall to our trip would be when our "7 hour" ride from Semuc Champey to Antigua, turned out to be 17 hours. The shuttle had an issue with the tire and the driver insisted on driving even though our tire was basically falling off. He wouldn't pull over, until we basically yelled at him to do so. We waited at a gas station for about 5 hours before another shuttle came for us. It didn't turn out to be such a bad experience, because we really got to know some great people from all over the world, one being a former PCV who was from the first group of volunteers in Guatemela from the sixties.

So all the volunteers here are in this waiting game. All the volunteers in Honduras are being removed from the country due to safety and security concerns. They are interviewing all of us as well regarding how safe we feel here. To my understanding, If enough people say they feel unsafe there is a possibility that DC will close the program here too, which I hope that isn't the case. As there are some days, I yearn for the comfortable life; something other then cornflakes for breakfast and peanut butter and jelly for lunch. Watching a movie on a screen bigger then 7 inches sounds great. A house free of rats, cockroaches, spiders and scorpions... now we are talking. Speaking in English every day! Having conversations that go beyond the weather, and what is happening in the community. Washing machines! It all sounds great, really. However, I am not ready to leave here yet. I feel like there is so much I can do still, and that I want to do. I don't want to cheat my community, and these wonderful people. Who knows when they will get another Peace Corps volunteer?! I've come to do 2 years, and I planned on being here until September. I would be deeply saddened to leave here so abruptly. I guess we will just wait and see.

Some photos from Dia del Indio: (A day where all the kids are dressed in indigineous clothing, and an afternoon is spent running aroudn smashing eggs filled with confetti and glitter over peoples heads. This happened for about 4 hours. It got old after about 20 minutes. As I was continually smacked over the head with these eggs, I kept reminding myself...cultural experience Jamie.

Dinero, dinero, dinero. Rapido, rapido rapido!

If you are planning on visiting me, please do not read on.

So after 16 months into my service, I had my first encounter with the gang here (outside of a seeing a shot gang member on the road). Last weekend a group of volunteers here left from San Salvador to head to Carnaval (a huge party here every year that brings a ton of different music groups and people, as well as the gangs.). We were on a bus heading here, when the bus driver decided to pull over and pick up 2 guys with bandanas around their neck. These guys came on with guns and knives. (Mind you: I did not want to see what was going on, nor did I want them to know I was a gringa, So I turned to look out the window so I didn't have to look at them with a hand to my face, and stuck my hand out with money to give them. ) My friends later told me exactly what happened. It was relatively quick and painless. The whole thing took about 5 minutes, even though it felt like a half an hour.

So I started the world map project in the school with a group of kids. As much as I'm alittle nervous they might mess it up, I think it's better to do it as a group. The kids will always remember what countries they painted, and it gives them something fun to do. The map is near the entrance to the school and will be 5x10 feet. I'll be sure to send some pictures. We are using the grid method, where every block is something different. We just finished drawing it, in which I'm quite impressed and we hope to get started on the painting within the next few days. Next week I'm doing a week long computer class for the 9th graders who are going on to High School. The rest of the school is on vacation until the end of January. Busy busy busy. I'm excited to have Greta, my sister-in-law come in a few weeks. It will be a much deserved vacation to Antigua, Guatemala. Woohoo!