Guatemala 1974

We meet for FHE with the senior missionaries and other "older" people who work for the church here. Last Monday, we hosted FHE. I don't remember how we got on the subject--I think our new area authority, Elder Martino, served his mission in Guatemala. Another newcomer, Neil Anderson, who is working with one of the universities here, mentioned that he served here 1975-76 also. Of course, that was the lead-in for asking whether they knew/remembered Dr/Sister Doty. Both did and remembered them well. Brother Anderson then told us that he has vivid memories of the Dotys teaching etiquette classes to the missionaries. In particular, he remembered that the missionaries were taught that they should always slice butter straight across and not at an angle (Sound familiar anyone?). He said that to this day, it bugs him when butter is sliced "incorrectly" (and that his wife if often guilty of so slicing.) He forwarded this picture to me that he remembered seeing on the wall at the area office of mom and dad/gma and gpa/grams and gramps.

It's sad to consider that our dogs live in better conditions than the majority of people in Guatemala.

Dar a luz

I came home this morning to find our wonderful maid, Magdalena, making our bed. I like to watch People & Arts in the morning, and the TV was on "Sala de Maternidad"--Maternity ward. Magdalena, who is in her 50s and has never married or had kids, excitedly told me that she had never seen a baby being born. She was glued to the TV where the woman on the show was giving birth to gemelos--twins. As she walked out of the room, fanning herself, she said, "estoy sudando"--I'm sweating, but she was also smiling from ear to ear. It couldn't have been better if she was really there in the birth room.

"Dar a luz" means to give birth--literally "give a light." What a lovely way to express nature's greatest miracle.

Only in Guatemala...

...do they have samples of mixed alcoholic drinks in the market, made on the spot by cute, young muchachas.

VIP theater in Guatemala

We tried out a new theatre this afternoon that is located in the newest mall in town, Oakland, close to the Embassy. The "regular" theatre in this complex is brand new, with stadium seating and a great sound system. The "VIP" theatre is a little more expensive--Q65, about $8 (the regular theater is only $4). It boasts paired leather recliners, a small individual table that you can move in front of you, and a small table between sections with a downlight. There is a menu from which you can choose drinks (mixed drinks, coffee drinks, smoothies, sodas), popcorn (regular, caramel, light), candy, sandwiches, crepes, and even sushi. (As much as we like sushi, we've yet to try any here in Guatemala. It just doesn't seem like a sushi kind of place on a number of levels.) There are "waiters" that take your order and bring your goodies to you. No fumbling with a large drink and popcorn as you make your way to your seat.

It was the most comfortable movie I've ever been to--feet up, reclined, munching on my mixed carmel/light popcorn, sipping my soda. But for one who has seen only the opening credits of too many movies to count as I recline at home on my bed with my feet up, it might be just a little too comfortable for me. ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

I think it will be hard to go back to regular stadium seats.

Money matters

It's nearly impossible to return anything in Guatemala. I'm used to the Costco "no receipt, no question" policy, but here, if you're not sure you want/need it, don't buy it!

My first experience with this was buying a LARGE jelly roll pan at PriceSmart (our Costco) thinking I could use one pan instead of two when I make rolls, cookies, etc. The problem? It wouldn't fit in my oven. Sounds like a reasonable reason for a return to me--

However...when I attempted to take it back, the clerks acted like I was nuts to want to return a pan that was too big for my oven. It took forever to get the credit (even with the receipt.) Of course it would be too easy to check the price on the receipt and just give me back an equivalent number of quetzales.

I wanted to exchange an unopened (of course) 2 liter bottle of regular 7-up for diet at the local market. The reply: "We don't do that."

?Por que no?

On the other hand, today I took 4 pairs of pants to be hemmed. I've found a place where the seamstress does an excellent job in just a few days. It's not hard to hem pants; I've had plenty of experience doing it, and I should probably be a bit more self-sufficient. I just find that if I wait for me to do it, it never gets done.

The cost?

Q112--that's $15 for 4 pairs of pants perfectly measured and hemmed. $3.75 each. No wonder I don't do it.

I'm getting spoiled.

Central Mercado

The Central Mercado is in Zona 1~kind of a dangerous area of town, so I never go alone. The first time I went with my Egyptian friend, Yosra, it took us 2 hours to get there, even though we had directions. Now, I takes about 15 minutes and I'm going the right way on all the one-way streets!

The Mercado has 3 levels~the first is all shops that sell textiles, crafts, gawdy statues, trinkets~any kind of Guatemala souvenir you could want. You can bargain to your heart's content. We have our eyes on a gorgeous chest, carved with Guatemalan scenes. The price is Q4000, roughly $500, but the shopkeeper said she would give us "un buen precio." When we get closer to leaving Guate, we'll get serious about bargaining.

The second level is food and flowers. You can't believe the enormous stacks of fruits and veggies of all kinds (many that I don't recognize.) We've tried a few mystery fruits that were interesting~

This is the cashew fruit. You can see the pod on the end where the cashew nut grows. No wonder they are so expensive~one nut on that big fruit. I haven't tasted the fruit yet.

Not only do they sell fruits and vegetables, there are shops with prepared food (that we would never eat~like eating on the street, which is a BIG no-no) and a meat market. I must say that the smell at the meat market is pretty disgusting. No refrigeration or ice, just slabs of meat hanging and large containers of mariscos, pescado, and pollo. Interesting, however.

The 3rd level (all the levels go down) has everything you could ever want to have a party or decorate. Baskets, pottery, candles, ribbon, tacky styrofoam figures, dried flowers. We've gotten some fun pots there. I also bought 12 ceramic soup bowls, Q5 each. It is said that these bowls keep soup hot and enhance the flavor of whatever is in them. They are glazed and I got thinking about what they use 1)to make the bowls and 2) to glaze the bowls. I'm certain it's not FDA approved. But soup really does stay hot and is very tasty in these little bowls. And, no GI upsets yet.

A fun, fun place.

January 2011

We got our new post assignment-

JERUSALEM

We will finish our time in Guatemala next January, take 6 weeks of home leave, then head to Washington DC for 10 months of Hebrew language training.

I am trying hard to keep focusing on Spanish, although I want to start checking out the Hebrew alphabet.

I am particularly excited because I want to buy some of these:

This is a Yad, or Torah pointer. It is used to help you keep your place (see the pointing finger on the end?) as you read the Torah from right to left. Yads can be very plain, embellished, ancient...I think they are cool. I will be in the perfect location to start a collection.

We are excited, although we won't be going for 2 years.

!MAZEL TOV!

Destination pending

Our final bid list was sent yesterday. Don't know how long we'll have wait to get the email notifying us where we'll go (M says maybe as early as next week). I'm pretty excited and a bit nervous. Our top 10--

1. Dusseldorf

2. Frankfurt

3. Paris

4. Paris

5. Istanbul

6. Jersualem

7. Jerusalem

8. TelAviv

9. Budapest

10. Sofia

I hope they don't have to dip below 10. It wasn't easy coming up with 20 workable posts, considering timing and the fact that all the posts in Mexico had to be disqualified (M born there=dual citizenship=no political immunity) and we have 3 perritos.

Wish us luck!

Our Little Pixie--Ava

(Picture taken before Ava's first haircut from Aunt Staci)
M and I found this message on our voicemail yesterday...(we could hear Sally whispering in the background)

S: "Hi Nana"

A: (pause) "Hiiii Nana"

S: "Hi Grandpa"

A: "Hi Gwampa"

S: "This is Ava"

A: "I frowed up"

S: "This is Ava"

A: "I frowed up"

S: "This is Ava"

A: "I frowed up"

S: (one more try) "This is Ava"

A: "This is AFA"

S: "I love you"

A: "Wuv you" (smack, smack)



Deelicious!!!!

The American Embassy is about 2 miles from our apartment on 3rd avenida in Zona 14.

Yesterday, I left the Embassy at 4:30 for home. 35 minutes later, the traffic had moved about 100 yards. Horns were honking (short toots are just to get someone's attention; a long, continuous honk is rude), traffic was increasing, cars were filling all the intersections. Gridlock. I was in the left lane and was finally able to turn left on 14 Calle, past the Camino Real hotel, heading for 6th Avenida. We don't like to go that way because it is usually a traffic nightmare, especially with the traffic cops in their neon green vests and [neon green] gloves directing.

There was a lot of traffic on 6th Ave, but I made it home in another 20 minutes. 55 MINUTES. 2 MILES.

I found out today that a friend (who passed me just before I turned on 14C) reached the half-way point at the Obelisco in 2 hours. Who knows how much longer the last mile took.

The paper reported that the commute for some people down Avenida Reforma to said Obelisco--3 miles at the most--took 6, that's SIX hours. The cause: a couple buses broke down (the ones that were taking kids to school in the US in the 70s), a shoot-out, and numerous rude drivers who jammed the intersections so traffic came to a complete standstill.

I love Guatemala.

In case you didn't know...

...today is the start of the 5125th year of the Mayan calendar.

Where in the world?

Just got word that the bid list will be out on Monday. There are lots of guidelines, mostly having to do with timing-when we can leave this post, training, when needed at the next post, etc. I'm excited and a bit nervous to see what the choices are. This first round will have hundreds of listings which have to be scrutinized with aforementioned timing, pets, won't go theres, dreams...

We had dinner with some friends last night; they are praying that Zimbabwe (I can't even spell it) is on the list. M and I are praying for Rome or Madrid or Zurich...We are fairly certain this is one prayer that won't be answered

On a sad note, one of M's A100 classmates was killed in his home in Ethiopia. Notice I said killed, not died. They are investigating now, but the reports say there was "severe trauma that could not have been self-inflicted." We are heartsick.

You know you're in Guatemala...

...when the car for a 5-person family is a motorcycle. Dad drives, wearing the helmet, young child in front of him, mom behind him, holding the baby, with the oldest child sandwiched between mom and dad.

Boss lady

Marlan has a new boss--Hillary Clinton. Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Anniversary

Today is the anniversary of our arrival in Guatemala. It's hard to believe we've been here for a year already. Last year, we were settling in at Casa Serena, living out of suitcases, with no idea where we would live or which way was north and south.

Some things we've learned:
1. La Casserole in Antigua is the best restaurant in Guatemala.
2. Good Samaritan laws (where you help someone who is injured without fear of reprisal) do not exist in Guatemala. Witnesses to bodily crimes can become the next victims. Best to just walk on by and pretend you don't notice. This is really hard for a nurse.
3. When the map says paved/unpaved road, be prepared for only 100 feet of payment and lots of potholes, dust, and gravel.
4. You CAN carry an Evenrude boat motor on your back (with forehead strap) 1 mile down to the river and back.
5. When you encounter a traffic jam, you can bet there are police "directing" the traffic.
6. Contrary to what Curious George says, bananas grow up, not down.
7. Guatemalans generally don't like ice in their drinks; you need to ask for ice for your otherwise lukewarm limonada or soda.
8. There is an "As Seen on TV" store here in La Capital.
9. The yellow bus you used to take to school is probably enjoying it's second life here in Guate, painted red and spewing out all sorts of noxious fumes.
10. The zone system in this city is a nightmare. Each zone has the same calles and avenidas, and you never know when you go from one zone to other. Signs are nonexistent so getting lost is guaranteed.
11. This country is beautiful and interesting, but also very dangerous. You have to be on your guard all the time.
12. We run a very comfortable B&B and we welcome visitors!

We came home from the holidays to find curious little moths flying around in the pantry. I assumed they flew in the open laundry room window along with all the dust. Not so. These Guatemalan moths like frijoles negros, masa flour, avena (oatmeal), and trigo (wheat.) A friend at church INSISTED that I take home a bag of wheat that I could grind in my Vitamix to make bread. I didn't create any golden loaves, but I did create moth heaven in a bag. The upside is that I'm done with my pantry spring cleaning. And no more moths.