What's new

So much has happened in the past month!

Here are a few of the highlights:

El Día de Todos Santos, Todos Santos Cuchumatan: This was possibly the craziest thing I've seen in Guatemala, and I've seen some doozies. Way up in the mountains of Huehuetenango, down a bumpy dirt road, is a little village in a deep valley where the men still wear indigenous clothing and Mam is the prominent language. On All Saints' Day, the men get totally trashed and engage in wild horse races that last about eight hours. The celebration remembers the day when, after years of Spanish repression that banned indigenous peoples from riding horses, an Indian hopped on a horse and rode away. The drinking is just for fun. Toward the end of the day, the men grab a live chicken and whip their horses with the chicken as they ride, resulting in the death of the chicken. I am serious. While I didn't appreciate the animal cruelty or the fact that several men almost died when they drunkenly fell off their horses, I am glad I went and saw such an unusual tradition.

Reconnect: This is when all Peace Corps Volunteers from a training class reunite at the training center after their first three months of service. It's a week in Antigua, but it's not nearly as much fun as it sounds. Far from being a mini-vacation, Peace Corps truly does put you to work taking more Spanish classes and meeting with your project directors. It was great to see everyone again, eat some good food and get out of the Gaspar, but there was also the typical drama and gossip that comes with Antigua and 30 volunteers in one place.

President-elect Barack Obama: I'm not really allowed to get too political on here, but words really can't describe what it was like to watch Barack Obama win the election from abroad, gathered with a bunch of Peace Corps volunteers. When CNN projected him as the winner, people were crying, hugging and screaming. I even shed a tear during his victory speech. Watching election returns made me feel so close to home and so far away at the same time.

Changes: Once again, I probably shouldn't say too much, but some of my dear friends changed sites (they will now be even farther from me, but way closer to the beach!). Also, we lost a volunteer to an early termination. It was a sad surprise for everyone.

A sweet new pad: Due to some persistent problems in my site, my boss came to visit to help me address one of my most pressing issues--my living space. As I have said before, I live in a closet that is also inhabited by mice, cockroaches and various other vermin. The rain leaks in from the roof. There is a mildew problem. Well friends, tomorrow, I am coming out of the closet! That's right. I am moving to a totally sweet new apartment, where I will have a whole floor to myself, indoor plumbing, and a kitchen. It's beautiful, clean, NOT infested with creepy-crawlies, and has a nice little balcony that overlooks "mainstreet." I feel terrible about leaving this family that has shown me so much love, but I honestly cannot wait. It's also great for entertaining, so come on over!