tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7686281700762136262024-02-18T20:22:13.953-06:00Wonderings As I WanderBrittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-59672817042573611752013-02-11T14:08:00.002-06:002013-02-11T14:08:35.743-06:00I [heart] NDValentine's Day is soon approaching, and all this talk about love has me inspired to share some pictures of a place I love very much....North Dakota :) I am unabashedly bias, but being one of the least populated states, I do what I can to be a good ambassador!<br />
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I mean come on, the thrill of the open prairie, the badlands, the wildlife...it's fabulous!</div>
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Prarie Dog on the lookout.</div>
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And oh how I wish I could include the smell with this picture...if you don't know what I'm talking about, you need to experience it first-hand.</div>
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My dad carrying the canoe he made over 40 years ago.</div>
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Cruising down the Little Missouri near <a href="http://www.medora.com/">Medora</a>.<br />
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They may not be majestic mountains, but ND's not completely flat.</div>
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This valley looks great for a picnic!<br />
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For those of you who may be wondering, I am not getting paid for this :) But if you happen to want any more information you can check out <a href="http://www.ndtourism.com/">ND Tourism</a>.</div>
Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-89421164137601994342013-01-27T19:49:00.000-06:002013-01-27T19:49:03.784-06:00Honduras - CopánWhile heading back to Guatemala from Belize, Molly and I decided to take a day to visit the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cop%C3%A1n">Copán</a> ruins in Honduras. Ever since I was enamored with Indiana Jones as a child, I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting archaeological sites around the US and the world, and this trip proved no different. It made such a contrast to <a href="http://www.tikalpark.com/">Tikal</a>, surprising us with its artistic beauty, and our guide, Fidel, took it upon himself to explain every hieroglyph in sight!<br />
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For those who don't know, Copán was a Mayan capital city of a major Classic period
kingdom from the 5th to 9th centuries AD.
It is located in western Honduras, close to the
border with Guatemala, and was inhabited
for more than two thousand years! Its
peak population was at least 20,000, covering an area of over 100 sq miles. Unfortunately
a considerable portion of the acropolis was eroded away by the Copán River,
until it was diverted to prevent further damage. In 1980 it was declared a <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/129">UNESCO</a> World Heritage
Site. It was well known for its <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stele">stelae</a>,
sculptures, and carvings. Some interesting things I remember: a notorious ruler known as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uaxaclajuun_Ub%27aah_K%27awiil">Eighteen Rabbit</a>, a large <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesoamerican_ballgame">Mayan ballcourt</a>, and a room full of vampire bats where they would put enemies or traitors...such friendly folks. I believe our
guide compared Copán to the Paris of the Mayan world (with art and temples covered in some sort of white plaster), whereas Tikal was the New
York of its time (with tall pyramids stretching to the heavens).<br />
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Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-18937684172320173872013-01-19T17:07:00.000-06:002013-01-19T17:07:26.662-06:00Costa Rica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week I posted pictures from Belize, in a somewhat vain attempt to feel warmer! These days that chill in my bones is returning and today I'm sharing pictures from that same trip, but of Costa Rica. Back in 2005 I spent a semester studying there and lived with a wonderful family. Besides visiting them, Molly and I also traveled about to see some beautiful sites.</div>
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Dear friends on a hike around the Volcano Poas.</div>
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The crater at Poas.</div>
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My favorite turtle- Cecilia! I'm pretty sure she's older than I am :)</div>
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Julian has the best green thumb I know of!</div>
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Molly and I with part of my old host family.</div>
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They even made my favorite- egg rolls from scratch!</div>
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Heading out in to the tree tops.</div>
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And what do we see....the national bird of Guatemala, the Quetzal!</div>
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So many birds, we loved it! Somos puras pajareras.</div>
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Looking up bird names.</div>
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The infamous straggler fig.</div>
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On a different kind of walk in the woods.</div>
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Climbing up on the inside of a straggler fir.</div>
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Surprise surprise, lots of clouds in the cloud forest!</div>
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And then we ran in to some newborn baby birds!</div>
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What I wouldn't give now for some blue skies and green vegetation...</div>
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And of course it's Costa Rica so you're going to run in to some waterfalls.</div>
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Fabulous trail to wander looking around at the plants, animals and such....sigh.</div>
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Our guide :)</div>
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And here we were off for more adventures!</div>
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Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-85591434837741925532013-01-13T13:36:00.000-06:002013-01-13T13:36:12.231-06:00Mis Amores<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I've been seeing quite a bit of two of my favorite munchkins lately and thought I'd share some pictures of their precious faces :)</div>
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Best Buds Liam and James</div>
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There's one happy elf!</div>
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"Is that thing you're pointing at me edible cause I wanna chew on it!"</div>
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It is impossible to get two smiles at one time on camera!</div>
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Preppy boys :)</div>
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"That's enough! Get him off me...pretty please!"</div>
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"What happens if I push here?"</div>
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Who looks older??</div>
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"You gotta try harder to make the two of us smile."</div>
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"No more pictures!! There is no question I can cry longer than you can listen!"</div>
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Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-65811369809779837962013-01-06T15:59:00.001-06:002013-01-06T16:01:02.800-06:00Belize<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
As I ran out the door this morning I noticed the temperature was 8 degrees...add in a dreary, overcast sky and I began to feel a bit of the post-Christmas blues. As I scraped the ice off my windshield I started to dream of a trip I took last year after Peace Corps, with my dear friend Molly, to a wonderfully warm place: Belize :) </div>
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It was incredibly spur of the moment, and blissfully wonderful...as you can see:</div>
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Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-13165753980594294352013-01-01T21:52:00.000-06:002013-01-01T21:52:06.515-06:00Landfill Harmonic<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Just ran across an article about three of my favorite things: Paraguay, music and recycling! A new feature-length documentary called the Landfill Harmonic will be coming out soon, showcasing an incredible musical orchestra from Cateura, Paraguay, where the musicians play instruments made out of recycled trash. </div>
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You can find an article about it <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthvideo/9742488/Landfill-Harmonic-Paraguay-recycled-orchestra-plays-instruments-made-out-of-rubbish.html">here</a> in <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/">The Telegraph</a>. </div>
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They also have a website: <a href="http://landfillharmonicmovie.wordpress.com/">http://landfillharmonicmovie.wordpress.com/</a></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/fXynrsrTKbI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-10329045530131706002012-12-31T16:42:00.000-06:002012-12-31T16:42:19.496-06:00The End of 2012I know I was never the best at updating this blog during my time in Guatemala, but I did try to post pictures now and then of work, people, adventures and life. It was my way of sharing the experience mainly with friends and family back in the States. Now I must insert an apology for not letting you in on the last few months of my Peace Corps service and what's been going on with me since then! I mean I finished my work in the Highlands the end of April, and since have traveled up and down, half way around the world and back :) 2012 was quite the memorable year!<br />
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So I have an idea for the New Year: to share interesting pictures, quotes and stories, here on the blogster.<br />
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It won't be anything epic...but I think it'll be fun. <br />
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Almost as much as taking a leisurely cruise down the creek.....almost :)<br />
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<br />Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-16858679773008546102012-03-26T16:22:00.000-06:002012-03-26T16:22:46.842-06:00Binik junamRoughly translated: walk together. <br />
Below I've posted some pictures of my walk in life (in Guatemala), together with those special to me.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">My two Guatemalan families together for the first time :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3c0oh4NYEiiu4a8IX-X7gN1qU1xRn0pNrOn6JXPVveGHuEnyft57ADixtUr9G0aXdDqB6Jsis-y9a7hd4LHJ7rVVnOIJfwcnbXnOsER6taSjyNnNfE-nx6WeMhkpXXRGN2q4XFoLDjY/s1600/IMG_0051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3c0oh4NYEiiu4a8IX-X7gN1qU1xRn0pNrOn6JXPVveGHuEnyft57ADixtUr9G0aXdDqB6Jsis-y9a7hd4LHJ7rVVnOIJfwcnbXnOsER6taSjyNnNfE-nx6WeMhkpXXRGN2q4XFoLDjY/s400/IMG_0051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I spent a day hanging out with Doña Lucía (to my right) and her family. To be honest I didn't know her that well beforehand, though she's been washing sheets and blankets at the park for years. Some people just take a while to open up. This often stoic, very formal, single mother of 3 children 9-15 years old, is one of the most interesting people I've met here. And she's only 5 years my senior. And do I have stories of that day....right, Molly?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOL197SaZb8fNYPNUGK5nRiDt84RdOWp8gBvtQrKSGexwSNZ-jv2psJDAS30b3CuNO4iqxx0chy5-Ol9Yf56B30pN82oC8c7iZmWSJy_U0MoOaMNw2_Tyj_hJ4tNjVaChM7my9hGK49Sk/s1600/IMG_0353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOL197SaZb8fNYPNUGK5nRiDt84RdOWp8gBvtQrKSGexwSNZ-jv2psJDAS30b3CuNO4iqxx0chy5-Ol9Yf56B30pN82oC8c7iZmWSJy_U0MoOaMNw2_Tyj_hJ4tNjVaChM7my9hGK49Sk/s400/IMG_0353.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite places- Chuitzanchaj. Try it out loud: chewy-sz-an-cha-hh :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nlx5M4YtxgBCr3yGJQc8ZQBeowXEtKuKvlShZb6vxLSSvPJ1aYzqiM6laDB_Vjkf9_9kIEfsT0IiltLjmF1bVAEM51fodHKZB7VGfLMpQY1JHmKTLT_YeLaZ1WaCtFti0No8qs4a9do/s1600/IMG_0701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nlx5M4YtxgBCr3yGJQc8ZQBeowXEtKuKvlShZb6vxLSSvPJ1aYzqiM6laDB_Vjkf9_9kIEfsT0IiltLjmF1bVAEM51fodHKZB7VGfLMpQY1JHmKTLT_YeLaZ1WaCtFti0No8qs4a9do/s400/IMG_0701.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Ha, this picture made grandpa smile so hard I thought he'd lose another tooth!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-XB8CYz2R9oUcYOdX_6qvS2JpTEytZwI_YqYFFSS6BdrlIiZqvs2gfyAIrWG1PDphuI2VxVIdoMRciB7_BOTf9o3ClAOwgunX71StOqgJ4P2VsjXO-6b6DM4hmVtC0bU9Rnk6Lybbns/s1600/IMG_6961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-XB8CYz2R9oUcYOdX_6qvS2JpTEytZwI_YqYFFSS6BdrlIiZqvs2gfyAIrWG1PDphuI2VxVIdoMRciB7_BOTf9o3ClAOwgunX71StOqgJ4P2VsjXO-6b6DM4hmVtC0bU9Rnk6Lybbns/s400/IMG_6961.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My favorite dance partner and I (gracias Braulio!) dancing the Guatemalan Son (kind of like 'sewn') with awesome marimba music at Papa Chico's 75th birthday party. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP5we9O5B-ozbOSTCVoWmgbXSeKvPkg41ci0R9IPNWFZF2okXeO0QO0uUhWrGR8qN5f8KVcOa4mRXBCRruKcqFpYSicIVTahAyWTCpEB0dO6PMRZiUzYCWnMtZzmcIa-j85WEONpfrCk/s1600/IMG_7522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggP5we9O5B-ozbOSTCVoWmgbXSeKvPkg41ci0R9IPNWFZF2okXeO0QO0uUhWrGR8qN5f8KVcOa4mRXBCRruKcqFpYSicIVTahAyWTCpEB0dO6PMRZiUzYCWnMtZzmcIa-j85WEONpfrCk/s400/IMG_7522.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Prettiest birthday girl ever.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81CcuwpsHw0my-QRxPDmFBqS9001yoTEJ7WQoqnkDYSg4XvUN7Y3Q7dCymRElS0m-PGjK20kqovxsYjcUC4Z8HBaMNiUMwr0GxxFuAxq6Npd2I9QHJCjY6UDmgBvuag1xvbBxYgD42Ok/s1600/IMG_8183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81CcuwpsHw0my-QRxPDmFBqS9001yoTEJ7WQoqnkDYSg4XvUN7Y3Q7dCymRElS0m-PGjK20kqovxsYjcUC4Z8HBaMNiUMwr0GxxFuAxq6Npd2I9QHJCjY6UDmgBvuag1xvbBxYgD42Ok/s400/IMG_8183.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Aw, visit of an old friend.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ0C_oKx4XCRDoakfNJZ2Ix0_ldW9kmFzqLJmmCdzgvPTWSu-JZcFvyMMRqqNDgvrlrXhy7woUHEDlsD_qH4bCEnFO8w2N9Fe8WXUng3lCq1C3AzVI_C8auRffDshcONtvozpKjkfr8c/s1600/IMG_8303.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyQ0C_oKx4XCRDoakfNJZ2Ix0_ldW9kmFzqLJmmCdzgvPTWSu-JZcFvyMMRqqNDgvrlrXhy7woUHEDlsD_qH4bCEnFO8w2N9Fe8WXUng3lCq1C3AzVI_C8auRffDshcONtvozpKjkfr8c/s400/IMG_8303.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">November 2 is the day everyone goes to the cemetery to have lunch with their loved ones who have passed away...a much more exciting Memorial Day :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtBREgA6Li1wFbgPPkw6v4OgeCRqQIoj3kzqP4stuVski1DPE-1JdKcyzzSnD34Bq3QkQy9BfLCBlvdCpVIvtCf-e6KopbV6IC9eaqPW2kyA0zijZxoFOGbmWKGm9TUXePwiL08NWnYA/s1600/IMG_8548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtBREgA6Li1wFbgPPkw6v4OgeCRqQIoj3kzqP4stuVski1DPE-1JdKcyzzSnD34Bq3QkQy9BfLCBlvdCpVIvtCf-e6KopbV6IC9eaqPW2kyA0zijZxoFOGbmWKGm9TUXePwiL08NWnYA/s400/IMG_8548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My youngest brother Eddy's graduation...2nd in his class of high school pre-medicine!! When my other brother and I got to the theater late the only seats were up top close to the ceiling, so I shamelessly used my persuasive powers (and the fact that I'm blond and was in traditional dress...) to get us front row seats supposedly reserved for the directors and school queens. I had to get good pictures of Eddito!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSSQj65mkjPfH1s32jcjbVzqcCZ_aUT54cyxcPmcJJp_S_vf_xZf74ckknZgrCGQvU3q4IK-ksBPqrhVp1liNtlLCySd0wUMKYv98CFKfg2KUi6273eSdP_vt0RMdXchhat_B3A5jjDo/s1600/IMG_8575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSSQj65mkjPfH1s32jcjbVzqcCZ_aUT54cyxcPmcJJp_S_vf_xZf74ckknZgrCGQvU3q4IK-ksBPqrhVp1liNtlLCySd0wUMKYv98CFKfg2KUi6273eSdP_vt0RMdXchhat_B3A5jjDo/s400/IMG_8575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The 4 musketeers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pZ5pvQHwQIT1cFWESfBye4XUPGa63h4mW08jfMk-efA0FuVnzcUTGNz78JOnBedRizBUoAcSOu5UZ-m8-zY-NZdDcaJgDxHbbjKYzHu56XjKUAUfm-cq9lItKikLCLUIjLdyFBCHn-U/s1600/IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pZ5pvQHwQIT1cFWESfBye4XUPGa63h4mW08jfMk-efA0FuVnzcUTGNz78JOnBedRizBUoAcSOu5UZ-m8-zY-NZdDcaJgDxHbbjKYzHu56XjKUAUfm-cq9lItKikLCLUIjLdyFBCHn-U/s400/IMG_8613.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Happy Thanksgiving! Our baked turkey turned out fantastic. Though I forgot to mention how we normally cut it up...we all ended up with huge chunks of meat and bones on our plate! And of course I had to be Miss Traditional and make stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, and two fruit pies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfjWrC3axNwIAWNECZlah9Rx9qxnc_09Qtle5nsYBRJfOh3aAX6bdgTwi63n_29yln3srpfg5WvdK1wjVILGpWJ2VqZDg3nw8kjUNqyW14WV2g0l5xiPnqK8Ad2OQ6vVtggEupM90g-8/s1600/IMG_8780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidfjWrC3axNwIAWNECZlah9Rx9qxnc_09Qtle5nsYBRJfOh3aAX6bdgTwi63n_29yln3srpfg5WvdK1wjVILGpWJ2VqZDg3nw8kjUNqyW14WV2g0l5xiPnqK8Ad2OQ6vVtggEupM90g-8/s400/IMG_8780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Camping at the highest point of Corazón del Bosque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPnO6ch-cvx-EEsug24ka85TgGIiJd8D5klZyxSfMIUPtg1AbStIHE9RrXfe6F7lsL7CPR75nch0V1iq0oBdgMUnu08Jmo_A9QtO-WhKBSxYbN4pGlZdBa21cpfyxY_VX3UY9TbvNOQU/s1600/IMG_8870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPnO6ch-cvx-EEsug24ka85TgGIiJd8D5klZyxSfMIUPtg1AbStIHE9RrXfe6F7lsL7CPR75nch0V1iq0oBdgMUnu08Jmo_A9QtO-WhKBSxYbN4pGlZdBa21cpfyxY_VX3UY9TbvNOQU/s400/IMG_8870.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Day trip to Antigua. Agenda: shoe shopping for the boys and watching the Clásico (Real Madrid vs. Barcelona) on the big screen.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KZDGhJmxOfwli4-LN2ve40eXDAEEvqGwjOWweQTUywrq1NWkl89uQ3ozYCN1PavONlK2fgKeL-5YQTS1moHk6v1JQyDuelh-2RHno7aOwvyq6I7X6EA5WO4ASz4whfaXkqnvEvqHqBo/s1600/IMG_8965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KZDGhJmxOfwli4-LN2ve40eXDAEEvqGwjOWweQTUywrq1NWkl89uQ3ozYCN1PavONlK2fgKeL-5YQTS1moHk6v1JQyDuelh-2RHno7aOwvyq6I7X6EA5WO4ASz4whfaXkqnvEvqHqBo/s400/IMG_8965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Virgen of Guadalupe Day. Glad I got a picture of the procession before the white stuff in the picture started on fire and gave us quite the scare!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TQZNm-gjMqjzfXCCMQbP2wTbHVSbrPGdqYSqgPUC0mJMimoJtLLKqufZEcJmZV06e2VTnUsR3SLWUJQsjRmwgOVNua4YzunENK9cCHav8lGCpQZYwCeLkpXH-OxE0zWa-rbgf2eAKnU/s1600/IMG_8985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TQZNm-gjMqjzfXCCMQbP2wTbHVSbrPGdqYSqgPUC0mJMimoJtLLKqufZEcJmZV06e2VTnUsR3SLWUJQsjRmwgOVNua4YzunENK9cCHav8lGCpQZYwCeLkpXH-OxE0zWa-rbgf2eAKnU/s400/IMG_8985.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Two of my favorite girls all dressed up for the town fair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1SYdWL0K2PRROlGaZIsQyzPU0sPQViHKTkTzpE4zrMSPJpKEu2LuLLGx-lhc2D63iMubYOLLpDZhpT7ESreJPwcY4oFxpzmPmGD-LIZMSzy5aASWfew1I49puyePBMoGo8QHGZB3864/s1600/IMG_9008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1SYdWL0K2PRROlGaZIsQyzPU0sPQViHKTkTzpE4zrMSPJpKEu2LuLLGx-lhc2D63iMubYOLLpDZhpT7ESreJPwcY4oFxpzmPmGD-LIZMSzy5aASWfew1I49puyePBMoGo8QHGZB3864/s400/IMG_9008.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Another one dear to my heart. Elena Beatriz (also called Odalis) was left to Oralia's grandparents when her young mother who came to work at their home during the secret pregnancy wanted to go back to her family. She was born super preemie and has been behind those in her age group ever since. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMj8NMS4ieP0n6YGaiohBs8TE40BmJO4fWYBhKmPdkG4uFs3el3rGV6KsMcldQNOBqrCbJALhh5NRpZdkoqCPAosBG45HrXghhZkYAgKSywnqB9PNB-xzrLoWCQlNbJcExW1ZIzxionw/s1600/IMG_9038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMj8NMS4ieP0n6YGaiohBs8TE40BmJO4fWYBhKmPdkG4uFs3el3rGV6KsMcldQNOBqrCbJALhh5NRpZdkoqCPAosBG45HrXghhZkYAgKSywnqB9PNB-xzrLoWCQlNbJcExW1ZIzxionw/s400/IMG_9038.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is my dear friend Milca's daughter wearing a dress I wore when I was a baby :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrrqJPPj-mupIa7NbA5EMtoM4w_KjP0mpWcf8wG8Y3RpCDn3b05c2UqTr9m1rFJFUsH7QTo_DI716K9ery3K1FyIEmk1Y2804LZ5lYcW9Ni1lwEIp1dccu7LRsktWP2TRB0KJXQcMLBE/s1600/IMG_9041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrrqJPPj-mupIa7NbA5EMtoM4w_KjP0mpWcf8wG8Y3RpCDn3b05c2UqTr9m1rFJFUsH7QTo_DI716K9ery3K1FyIEmk1Y2804LZ5lYcW9Ni1lwEIp1dccu7LRsktWP2TRB0KJXQcMLBE/s400/IMG_9041.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I brought pin the nose on the reindeer for Fatima's birthday party. It was definitely a hit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oe3ggTkB1vo_bzMuLEQZ9JNpeFnZK6cMMNox2fOw0cb52jimjWOwAPqJ_LH1V-3dWyQItp43ecvSgcUGcYSfHScyLfo4WuBUfQoqGLA5IEvy-yO4N6zVl0t4bnui9R93cLpRajufAow/s1600/IMG_9293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oe3ggTkB1vo_bzMuLEQZ9JNpeFnZK6cMMNox2fOw0cb52jimjWOwAPqJ_LH1V-3dWyQItp43ecvSgcUGcYSfHScyLfo4WuBUfQoqGLA5IEvy-yO4N6zVl0t4bnui9R93cLpRajufAow/s400/IMG_9293.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I made broken glass jello cakes for her birthday...held up the candles but didn't work out very well for smashing the face even though they tried 5 times poor thing!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm72pUm3-TD2SA9MzgCP3uKJ9sUcNClxe3AMckr-4en6L_t70J0YqzXlu_V00S0GgcukgWfck2fHqo5QpQl8YjKp5dsPqXpEIlE_nDQFkiaNWqXhQMh1pvYTZ4kGHUaWailg-7olKVbV0/s1600/IMG_9339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm72pUm3-TD2SA9MzgCP3uKJ9sUcNClxe3AMckr-4en6L_t70J0YqzXlu_V00S0GgcukgWfck2fHqo5QpQl8YjKp5dsPqXpEIlE_nDQFkiaNWqXhQMh1pvYTZ4kGHUaWailg-7olKVbV0/s400/IMG_9339.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is also a long story to tell...but the gist is that I had the incredible honor to be asked to be this little boy's <i>esposa</i> for his first birthday. It's kind of like being a godmother, though he already has one from his baptism. Usually this role is fulfilled by a close family member, so for me it was extra special. My job duties for this Mayan tradition included cutting his hair for the first time, using holy water and cutting four sections in the form of the cross. Part of the locks were tied to firecrackers which were then lit off, and another part was given to his grandparents. I also had to give him a brand new outfit, signifying a new stage in his life (the elders say that going through this ritual changes kids for the better, not getting as sick, not being colicky, etc.) In return I got a cage free chicken and the joy of being his "wife" for life :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKx-jVe7pLlhCIPCTgI555-QLuqgjwbNnJtsRvbwNMzW1bi6dohTo3FeFX1kaCk7CA_rzJQwj28gZfe4vczngn2T04JECJxxybcbYc2R-Ah6PBGL53Gobc32bcGPZjLEqeG1W3_fc76s/s1600/IMG_9408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRKx-jVe7pLlhCIPCTgI555-QLuqgjwbNnJtsRvbwNMzW1bi6dohTo3FeFX1kaCk7CA_rzJQwj28gZfe4vczngn2T04JECJxxybcbYc2R-Ah6PBGL53Gobc32bcGPZjLEqeG1W3_fc76s/s400/IMG_9408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPWbVaM-9gq8VTg-Pgv8yQ3cZMLyLgJxsri686jA33M7XhdD8yS5xrydKqxXVVHNRr_Qk9_Ys8X-sBDWny3ixxJ4I3eE3UoE7LB70qSyXFo3CQTqsV8cJLJWgv3DSZ36tFFSHj00EbdM/s1600/IMG_9450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPWbVaM-9gq8VTg-Pgv8yQ3cZMLyLgJxsri686jA33M7XhdD8yS5xrydKqxXVVHNRr_Qk9_Ys8X-sBDWny3ixxJ4I3eE3UoE7LB70qSyXFo3CQTqsV8cJLJWgv3DSZ36tFFSHj00EbdM/s640/IMG_9450.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The candle making process in these parts. He's dipping the individually cut wicks in to melted wax.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EhwREGuZdHRJUTA1iyB8aUgRZLYCljgpXjakG6mPmFZGyyzRVGSkJ0cZsWK8fyZ_uV9asHtNI2Q8i-atgqGtOnoenLdM1NrdZb3k02ZDA2ZXPTOVhXRVmn9u_ItpswLIJ-8x4azu5eo/s1600/IMG_9546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8EhwREGuZdHRJUTA1iyB8aUgRZLYCljgpXjakG6mPmFZGyyzRVGSkJ0cZsWK8fyZ_uV9asHtNI2Q8i-atgqGtOnoenLdM1NrdZb3k02ZDA2ZXPTOVhXRVmn9u_ItpswLIJ-8x4azu5eo/s400/IMG_9546.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Adobe bricks to build houses, used generally in more rural or poorer areas.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuTrGTDQxGYF2uCbbMRffPYoE-CACfcFftxd58iv-l8k7tPnGUSbab0RPJGCAbhYED_bqjrD6hgu44kWHdjI-OTxBk8L3PY21hOG9sczC5cd2aRdXtJMgwkLI9qX8w4aADE0fUy0k0Ro/s1600/IMG_9586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuTrGTDQxGYF2uCbbMRffPYoE-CACfcFftxd58iv-l8k7tPnGUSbab0RPJGCAbhYED_bqjrD6hgu44kWHdjI-OTxBk8L3PY21hOG9sczC5cd2aRdXtJMgwkLI9qX8w4aADE0fUy0k0Ro/s320/IMG_9586.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Mayan ceremony</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uF2v5f0bc4DgyvVir18xNmLoVPaZinD0TSrk1UdoOTGYd4ukEcnTVWAEUoYdFXDkEOnbPYYGCUclJjubiLmTaSB9F32wH6CbY2htTsA6qS_JgpqDSGIVgoNIBZluSKd6oE7xTGrKWao/s1600/IMG_9629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uF2v5f0bc4DgyvVir18xNmLoVPaZinD0TSrk1UdoOTGYd4ukEcnTVWAEUoYdFXDkEOnbPYYGCUclJjubiLmTaSB9F32wH6CbY2htTsA6qS_JgpqDSGIVgoNIBZluSKd6oE7xTGrKWao/s400/IMG_9629.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The beautiful church of San Andrés Xecul.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0ng_GMD7YxJzaccFZ2absD03T8Vu7j9LdNCPq-pGfj9ip0H-DEqRkimyVSBZGU7iSjlefNlTJPq0MIZDJ33HYg0a8XJd7fgIQVn_DJwNBQ_zk4nYkyGkvqpP9htfvmkgXbFOWOaaaxk/s1600/IMG_9648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0ng_GMD7YxJzaccFZ2absD03T8Vu7j9LdNCPq-pGfj9ip0H-DEqRkimyVSBZGU7iSjlefNlTJPq0MIZDJ33HYg0a8XJd7fgIQVn_DJwNBQ_zk4nYkyGkvqpP9htfvmkgXbFOWOaaaxk/s400/IMG_9648.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">I've gotten good practice at posing here :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsgisvz0N0XUdljxSpqlO02XpNT7Zi0Hzpg-d9BawPrto5-hHZ4MeEzvZskwcS_VL6VVIh1qdjcxmu6fhRyNMQf820dfSpSmS7jrhdOB4XG8TatsLfIxM23bfTd_VjgsCjZWnDjwK4ZM/s1600/IMG_9707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsgisvz0N0XUdljxSpqlO02XpNT7Zi0Hzpg-d9BawPrto5-hHZ4MeEzvZskwcS_VL6VVIh1qdjcxmu6fhRyNMQf820dfSpSmS7jrhdOB4XG8TatsLfIxM23bfTd_VjgsCjZWnDjwK4ZM/s400/IMG_9707.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> Technology makes it to the most remote of places. Here I'm in a field with the daughter of a friend listening to music on my mp3 player, standing next to some pigs and a latrine with walls which unfortunately only came up to my waist and lacked a door...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcda8fSBIUakBDgYay7gYA5CJSzmL0Qkpajmb6O-Y2S1c0TNsiM3ocIa3eav-HqbPDnVgCXKzdLRd_lBo3q8cWIwBGI9jod1f8_hjIpN2xc_64uZguQ2WKr6guw61u8Ixm0o6RSCmLpg/s1600/IMG_9810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcda8fSBIUakBDgYay7gYA5CJSzmL0Qkpajmb6O-Y2S1c0TNsiM3ocIa3eav-HqbPDnVgCXKzdLRd_lBo3q8cWIwBGI9jod1f8_hjIpN2xc_64uZguQ2WKr6guw61u8Ixm0o6RSCmLpg/s400/IMG_9810.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had the pleasure of hosting the US ambassador to Guatemala, Arnold Chacon, here at the park. He went on a short tour and we had lunch, discussing Peace Corps, community development and conservation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYumfZAhTHII534Zw9nMlCjKeUGPu2N3iP1rGl32T00r0XBA4yKc9NFNGFFy0HhQRQQ9dynAmIobWTb8hPNxi9SjKuVDVUJSe7I26iZTcxzKpa57qE4vIBgfCKxjAx1C0Q2Lh0kjMUXKg/s1600/100_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYumfZAhTHII534Zw9nMlCjKeUGPu2N3iP1rGl32T00r0XBA4yKc9NFNGFFy0HhQRQQ9dynAmIobWTb8hPNxi9SjKuVDVUJSe7I26iZTcxzKpa57qE4vIBgfCKxjAx1C0Q2Lh0kjMUXKg/s400/100_0420.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Valentine's day staff celebration</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx50uqLmhGihZb7XnXnVglKLIC7L1dAYGlIk0M3B3IzsBc8DegYw6rQddIeywjmRh_42ALggQ9mfRqPESyE3_B2dI0kj9fcGPAuu7KgCB7732_bOZnTwC4DUmaa24rtaaxLMX08oYPF48/s1600/IMG_9849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx50uqLmhGihZb7XnXnVglKLIC7L1dAYGlIk0M3B3IzsBc8DegYw6rQddIeywjmRh_42ALggQ9mfRqPESyE3_B2dI0kj9fcGPAuu7KgCB7732_bOZnTwC4DUmaa24rtaaxLMX08oYPF48/s400/IMG_9849.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Chocolate beet cake. Yes, that's right. This deliciousness was chock full of beets and chocolatey goodness.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scSQkUsN5rWRz3TeSQRefAnuca6WU3R-sJG54RiaIOl_CRPKNBejDqyDaDsNzXtreMnaNZDbFzbKH8oKCeZ-S_XqHDmfG-D_tofAaHXhmCvjKhX4ZBkJjjun-Ae110GQkFWmH__zWjg/s1600/IMG_9889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scSQkUsN5rWRz3TeSQRefAnuca6WU3R-sJG54RiaIOl_CRPKNBejDqyDaDsNzXtreMnaNZDbFzbKH8oKCeZ-S_XqHDmfG-D_tofAaHXhmCvjKhX4ZBkJjjun-Ae110GQkFWmH__zWjg/s320/IMG_9889.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Bueno, gracias por haber venido a ver mis fotos!! Te dejo con un abrazote :)Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-89546603119733043062012-01-30T16:27:00.000-06:002012-01-30T16:27:12.757-06:00Peace Corps Conversations & Central America changes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ul06QLTmJBM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just saw this posted on the blog <a href="http://centralamericanpolitics.blogspot.com/">Central American Politics</a> with a great comment "<span style="background-color: white;">Even if </span><a href="http://www.peacecorps.gov/" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Peace Corps</a><span style="background-color: white;"> is cutting back in Central America, that doesn't mean that it still isn't a great opportunity."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">There are some big changes going on here in the Northern Triangle of Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras). I'm sure most have heard the volunteers (PCVs) in Honduras were pulled out for a reevaluation of the program (they say it's currently the country with the highest homicide rate in the world...) As for Guatemala and El Salvador the situation is not quite so drastic, however the number of volunteers is being significantly reduced (almost immediately), leaving many unlucky PCVs and communities in a lurch. Many volunteers cannot tolerate the idea of leaving early, even jus one to four months, and will be staying on their own dime to finish up projects and say goodbye. Others may end up leaving Peace Corps rather than face relocation to safer areas of the country. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">While this has been quite a roller coaster ride for us, with varying opinions on those specific program changes, the one thing we can all agree on is that Peace Corps takes safety and security very seriously! I was super lucky to have been placed in such a wonderful community and have traveled all over the country with no major problems....though there was that one time my bus rolled down a ditch, throwing a my chile relleno (breakfast) and me around a bit...what's life without a little adventure? :)</span></span></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-8894992503322216422011-09-26T09:57:00.000-06:002011-09-26T09:57:09.205-06:00Pictures galore<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cooking caldo de marisco for Papa Chico and Mama Lupe's 55 wedding anniversay.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NKKkEfID2ID7adT9GcKFeSN2lSkaUjbHjDoKolpNBiBcQhI2yhrveZKf9RWJ9RF1Ge5FT2MKcFuplp1bYJ9ehInC8HFbZ5506ME13fXI7GswEabHvp0OGwgf3Kpq1AnE7NuUwIQ1L4c/s1600/DSC_0205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NKKkEfID2ID7adT9GcKFeSN2lSkaUjbHjDoKolpNBiBcQhI2yhrveZKf9RWJ9RF1Ge5FT2MKcFuplp1bYJ9ehInC8HFbZ5506ME13fXI7GswEabHvp0OGwgf3Kpq1AnE7NuUwIQ1L4c/s320/DSC_0205.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Carnaval El Novillero style: kids and youth running around with confetti, eggs and flour...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcWZ_fZdA5LCkTsV7QEyvRzoqFvJW7zoKiG9ld88hUqm7zLj5R1RWDf8FMpAJkkD42aRwGYCODVBQYCikViH6Wb-rBvG1BFEt1xCxBMdHLbojDtJIj6d6HyL2LgobX0CR4yysKmpQwRs/s1600/DSC_0595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFcWZ_fZdA5LCkTsV7QEyvRzoqFvJW7zoKiG9ld88hUqm7zLj5R1RWDf8FMpAJkkD42aRwGYCODVBQYCikViH6Wb-rBvG1BFEt1xCxBMdHLbojDtJIj6d6HyL2LgobX0CR4yysKmpQwRs/s320/DSC_0595.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Hard at work teaching financial education to a woman's group.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm63aGCAM4YBeOFeBHbTl_XDuyrGxooXz0MXKtzuktw1xccGDgu5DsU5D60r2j1frNm3uIMTIKjx8bHal_ToKsgVbuZQ-iUcRJziptPv1W7Wj4Tnf2Dy-Tt2chXvc1I-mw19u-hC_n77E/s1600/IMG_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm63aGCAM4YBeOFeBHbTl_XDuyrGxooXz0MXKtzuktw1xccGDgu5DsU5D60r2j1frNm3uIMTIKjx8bHal_ToKsgVbuZQ-iUcRJziptPv1W7Wj4Tnf2Dy-Tt2chXvc1I-mw19u-hC_n77E/s320/IMG_0272.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Last procession before Semana Santa (Holy Week).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxq8GjaVCRaehBYR_UOq2-mef_xQdVsS76t_nvGJD4eojGoB5XQxM8vGDlKirOpct6ETW9qlsFg_DXF5r6PmUoirdPdnpVhLHrgEJlM3GGUTGu5kbWZ9-6Iqi1HFSvDAD0HsTcMd9ObA/s1600/IMG_5733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxq8GjaVCRaehBYR_UOq2-mef_xQdVsS76t_nvGJD4eojGoB5XQxM8vGDlKirOpct6ETW9qlsFg_DXF5r6PmUoirdPdnpVhLHrgEJlM3GGUTGu5kbWZ9-6Iqi1HFSvDAD0HsTcMd9ObA/s320/IMG_5733.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">They set up a station in front of Papa Chico's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMPJmGO4agcSqyETNMMh07aPAWQixKaDFB5khltye83EM3RMaMcDlTd1BsEjU5meh8twPyWemVYG-B2sXNwPHbpJ2BSAyRmZNo-8DP7tabMky0Kn6rNlxD1-HOgLgxSBKOQiUPM54WZw/s1600/IMG_5742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMPJmGO4agcSqyETNMMh07aPAWQixKaDFB5khltye83EM3RMaMcDlTd1BsEjU5meh8twPyWemVYG-B2sXNwPHbpJ2BSAyRmZNo-8DP7tabMky0Kn6rNlxD1-HOgLgxSBKOQiUPM54WZw/s320/IMG_5742.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Making Easter bread!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC7n-JcXUKvacoo0QpNlWEOThkEQj5DwepKhrdHeh-jFkLVhKN6c4UXnFTYDuMU4Pxujh2cXHoVBXRTxGqv4oCQdeW5kZA6te_82eXcKMiqkdM_ZIMEISr3Ay30QloQOsIUg-doU1mLI/s1600/IMG_5803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijC7n-JcXUKvacoo0QpNlWEOThkEQj5DwepKhrdHeh-jFkLVhKN6c4UXnFTYDuMU4Pxujh2cXHoVBXRTxGqv4oCQdeW5kZA6te_82eXcKMiqkdM_ZIMEISr3Ay30QloQOsIUg-doU1mLI/s320/IMG_5803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So much bread but went faster using Papa Eugenio's brick oven.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58FU4ObC_oK98kO8R5T0khO4TqbT4creHIUexeE_NMEKsTAcxu4E0IAt688F_YCnwFvlpu3VS3u9_Pap3bkxfrZjDWy9G0WUeOihTn3YWv79YbKthVaWwy3nM0wXxYbPfRdk3lLfiWZI/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58FU4ObC_oK98kO8R5T0khO4TqbT4creHIUexeE_NMEKsTAcxu4E0IAt688F_YCnwFvlpu3VS3u9_Pap3bkxfrZjDWy9G0WUeOihTn3YWv79YbKthVaWwy3nM0wXxYbPfRdk3lLfiWZI/s320/IMG_5811.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Business plan workshop we put on for volunteers and their counterparts, in Corazón del Bosque.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEicEn8v-3Mpj_LQl4qEm5h6hpMtxnUF8gjPEEtCX4s8oTPhenjFP_oRDJTJdQgWFGEbmApKX28F91mtW8P9BegCN1VOPFonGQazhzl7ra3kwJITAlz48uUmzfPJ4LkyKV1yB83blwKo/s1600/IMG_6651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitEicEn8v-3Mpj_LQl4qEm5h6hpMtxnUF8gjPEEtCX4s8oTPhenjFP_oRDJTJdQgWFGEbmApKX28F91mtW8P9BegCN1VOPFonGQazhzl7ra3kwJITAlz48uUmzfPJ4LkyKV1yB83blwKo/s320/IMG_6651.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fellow volunteer Jesse's birthday party complete with a rooftop Mayan ceremony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-scei_7ORAjsEPB-tX1JztNIWs4VsRWIp-a7g9KPkvMvYGx-PnQ-WNw3juI5IceC4iVKFicZxPCMzooKvPRGv-Anct9Ihop-4pvoqrkP8otnSFoJAQX68KN18LXAhIr2Cf2LG4KSGNMk/s1600/IMG_6714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-scei_7ORAjsEPB-tX1JztNIWs4VsRWIp-a7g9KPkvMvYGx-PnQ-WNw3juI5IceC4iVKFicZxPCMzooKvPRGv-Anct9Ihop-4pvoqrkP8otnSFoJAQX68KN18LXAhIr2Cf2LG4KSGNMk/s320/IMG_6714.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Relaxing trip to the lake :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KlXU-bo3K2OEjCferSBoxP1HwVFIY1aiaNKhadzpSGTqxtWAykpP_jKR9tMoGxc27n2NTiwgI75EfdjOVYkJ43yu-naw8C3hl0YCDGQNO9xljvI7yMsCWj2Txz_Lr0eEthtuHBMW6p8/s1600/IMG_6886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KlXU-bo3K2OEjCferSBoxP1HwVFIY1aiaNKhadzpSGTqxtWAykpP_jKR9tMoGxc27n2NTiwgI75EfdjOVYkJ43yu-naw8C3hl0YCDGQNO9xljvI7yMsCWj2Txz_Lr0eEthtuHBMW6p8/s320/IMG_6886.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">View from the lodge where we got to stay the night free, thanks Erin!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjyvfRHP4aojSmIT1cgb5SF60H1fpR15sY0oegP92i_u51xMNrcR-xV_eRPbPDjCA4kGkdQhjYo95TfJOdpm0R06RLOBijqFM4FhgiVuDrH7e3SPb-ebwkMfQ1-t_dzGM6at3KiS_OFY/s1600/IMG_6897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsjyvfRHP4aojSmIT1cgb5SF60H1fpR15sY0oegP92i_u51xMNrcR-xV_eRPbPDjCA4kGkdQhjYo95TfJOdpm0R06RLOBijqFM4FhgiVuDrH7e3SPb-ebwkMfQ1-t_dzGM6at3KiS_OFY/s400/IMG_6897.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Swings at the nearby "adventure" park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5hrjREzMc0CqXTaKyTYKsBhr6w-3PmdCBaHYGiShx4cviSPNCP0V8pci-pYHqw4lIOzQpsmY2-aD4EIb1qBPu0hYdLrZUeCLoF3S3S-r7pC9nHpASM4EMJpO_nFQtXk9XXHP6pyyZqI/s1600/IMG_6949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5hrjREzMc0CqXTaKyTYKsBhr6w-3PmdCBaHYGiShx4cviSPNCP0V8pci-pYHqw4lIOzQpsmY2-aD4EIb1qBPu0hYdLrZUeCLoF3S3S-r7pC9nHpASM4EMJpO_nFQtXk9XXHP6pyyZqI/s320/IMG_6949.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Just a beautiful day in the neighborhood.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-3w4rCpfZDo8znrHbqK5RLzNXfu75U46v-tW8-y1UcX-MECQkTMMLFO9XpLeinKO6ySHlxW5j_-Fi8Ix3jDbDlU2b34XTcuzZQWDGi4pUhpxrg9jqoXyV_JwIrL_us8-eMayHUFAKPY/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-3w4rCpfZDo8znrHbqK5RLzNXfu75U46v-tW8-y1UcX-MECQkTMMLFO9XpLeinKO6ySHlxW5j_-Fi8Ix3jDbDlU2b34XTcuzZQWDGi4pUhpxrg9jqoXyV_JwIrL_us8-eMayHUFAKPY/s320/IMG_6951.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Birthday party out in the campo.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K5HxYKbyi3MNmEhKrEhGjFJpASvWHwbvnq2ESMvFxprNFikKs-zA_cq2favlrYMWeBCFNIg4mb35o81dmC8-IMB6j-faieRvQ5Mhm6-jBnJiVddL5WBT2SjG78v821w9gYiXmOjDUJU/s1600/IMG_6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5K5HxYKbyi3MNmEhKrEhGjFJpASvWHwbvnq2ESMvFxprNFikKs-zA_cq2favlrYMWeBCFNIg4mb35o81dmC8-IMB6j-faieRvQ5Mhm6-jBnJiVddL5WBT2SjG78v821w9gYiXmOjDUJU/s320/IMG_6965.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Tiffany's visit! I'm so jealous how her height fits right in.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIIkZN_0URL_yih2X3LUGg2uvpz7hUlSC-iaPhSEnVkBV5HnnBItE0EZeH0gUH_J-gRpczY1JRS2VKQb0QsUZ8q-_2Jk1rtA3c7aB_m3ZHSNrxaxpfPzDz4nf8MuRX6W3ijBrE1Tfx6Q/s1600/IMG_7188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIIkZN_0URL_yih2X3LUGg2uvpz7hUlSC-iaPhSEnVkBV5HnnBItE0EZeH0gUH_J-gRpczY1JRS2VKQb0QsUZ8q-_2Jk1rtA3c7aB_m3ZHSNrxaxpfPzDz4nf8MuRX6W3ijBrE1Tfx6Q/s320/IMG_7188.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">So great to be together again!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiK4p0ks4p3K658YmRKHtr0kx2pP8yYtP63-LAz0GKGDMgQa7R8BSzUH_BySKInBGMVD4PK6QUmmHZrCMkJyq00ku29-uGCuY01RXZIcFZPZP62DWJ8aUlsG5weLcBFiv6Sjj6wx8K84/s1600/IMG_7204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiK4p0ks4p3K658YmRKHtr0kx2pP8yYtP63-LAz0GKGDMgQa7R8BSzUH_BySKInBGMVD4PK6QUmmHZrCMkJyq00ku29-uGCuY01RXZIcFZPZP62DWJ8aUlsG5weLcBFiv6Sjj6wx8K84/s400/IMG_7204.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Tiff and one of my coworkers trying on new faces.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8RTeCg6BPiXU-EZHY38zb6SC4VIIm2PZg5BIQDN00MVMkPLrAmAzZo3tzZjZfZSL2s4i14_-sRTHvkEKUXlDbzf0m5uJC0k58V8LCJHP31azeSFFBqSUoRub4KCBBs_9uTEPn4niOog/s1600/IMG_7216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8RTeCg6BPiXU-EZHY38zb6SC4VIIm2PZg5BIQDN00MVMkPLrAmAzZo3tzZjZfZSL2s4i14_-sRTHvkEKUXlDbzf0m5uJC0k58V8LCJHP31azeSFFBqSUoRub4KCBBs_9uTEPn4niOog/s320/IMG_7216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More pics to come of adventures in the jungle, making stoves, more workshops, random events and life!</div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-26905140154326719662011-08-16T09:44:00.000-06:002011-08-16T09:44:10.966-06:00Back in Guate(chula)Hello!!! So I have been out of touch this year. Pero exagerado (lit exagerrated...too much!) I think of things daily to put on this blog. For instance politics. This year is election year, unfortunately, since it literally turns the country upside down. Political parties go crazy painting houses, bridges, phone poles, trees and even rocks with their party colors and logos. There are rallies, meetings, and pickups that drive by with reworked famous songs promoting their fearless leaders. There are shameless handouts of food, goods and even money. And in rural cultures where you feel indebted to someone who gives you something, that doesn't quite equal a democratic process. Not to even go in to the people who try to be candidates (the current president's wife divorced him in order to run, but it seems they've finally prohibited that), a former military general from the time of the internal conflict, the former Guatemala City governor's wife and Nobel Peace prize winner Rigoberta Mencú (again) just to name a few. The general elections are Sept 11, with the presidental candidates being to reduced to just a few for the second round in November. I can't wait till it's over!!! And I cross my fingers that good democracy triumphs during the whole mess... Everyone keeps asking me who I think is the least bad, not who's the best.<br />
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Aside from that, I've been running around ever since I got back both at the park and with Peace Corps. Now that I´ll fully moved on to my duties as a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader, I´ve been giving workshops, helping with trainings, working on project documents and visiting volunteers in their communities. It's been great overall, stepping more in to the administrative world of Peace Corps as well as taking on additional responsabilities with our specific project development (sustainable community tourism) and supporting volunteers professionally and personally so that they have a better experience and greater impact. Upcoming events are currently centered around 3 workshops: the construction of chimney stoves to curb air contamination and reduce the use of firewood; climate change and the importance of emergency planning; and business planning for a community tourism destination. Never a dull moment!<br />
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I'll be posting pictures soon to tell the stories of my recent adventures :)Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-76744771656716664472011-06-11T13:59:00.000-06:002011-06-11T13:59:54.036-06:00Finally...por fin!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For all of you who have been scolding me...here's a quick visual update :) I've actually had these pictures set aside forever to upload, just haven't gotten around to it I guess. Was busy with school work, Easter in April, gall bladder surgery in May (surprise!) and the end of my thesis (and masters...phew). I'm home in North Dakota for a nice visit and was actually going to post some pictures of my time here when I remembered my prior lapse. So here's a usual random assortment!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yum, avacados at the market.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-ZyIaXwGckoxkTrYkYbrW-5hHx05uZPw_WZNbATtHEVDydWSv8a_KS2ZuPLnlyBGw7JTrAsb6HXgw63w27lTE8f9x-9JEFrStwVhaUNWGVhJMNjMepDOiUtsddnE7ylfmBJMzwTFwpI/s1600/DSC_0168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-ZyIaXwGckoxkTrYkYbrW-5hHx05uZPw_WZNbATtHEVDydWSv8a_KS2ZuPLnlyBGw7JTrAsb6HXgw63w27lTE8f9x-9JEFrStwVhaUNWGVhJMNjMepDOiUtsddnE7ylfmBJMzwTFwpI/s400/DSC_0168.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Saw this picture and thought of a really easy where's waldo picture :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQrfmSCRGTF7RomsYGrqT_Ohee-c7R6jSO-52ducrbbEk1zyfh85bWxMoa4dqyLDhnOCINM7AxtCbkigR1jEVhbe__h-_u1WMcfQIp2PursHIdiFswPkgVpHZ-ztI8m3m6sCCPAXk5Fc/s1600/Guat+1+309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQrfmSCRGTF7RomsYGrqT_Ohee-c7R6jSO-52ducrbbEk1zyfh85bWxMoa4dqyLDhnOCINM7AxtCbkigR1jEVhbe__h-_u1WMcfQIp2PursHIdiFswPkgVpHZ-ztI8m3m6sCCPAXk5Fc/s320/Guat+1+309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> This is actually from Thanksgiving, all my boys have since left!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZC030UAD7WMTXeuB3w_-OL_-cgKXpuQDCqKF42bV9XSNCpUxWqM55mUe5nIJeJMxvTfIvIJpXsVJV9q0QckVrrF73ApVoXDSBBUBfOIKZpDLeu_xZ9RhChkaIWcj8FFpj2P9AO8_6PM/s1600/IMG_4057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZC030UAD7WMTXeuB3w_-OL_-cgKXpuQDCqKF42bV9XSNCpUxWqM55mUe5nIJeJMxvTfIvIJpXsVJV9q0QckVrrF73ApVoXDSBBUBfOIKZpDLeu_xZ9RhChkaIWcj8FFpj2P9AO8_6PM/s320/IMG_4057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">But not without leaving some unforgettable memories...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67mlFx2z_FrMHX6pqonG3rGSfSCDmbl3qBBvxrbzx5xA0mgeEn2-nDfsyjqoWF78_lMjjOMP0buSULkyFTZj0KPFxNj4ItpWFH3cATSKVm744cuC9DwgkSuIwYar2xs6GiXyiOD4CQHs/s1600/IMG_4069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67mlFx2z_FrMHX6pqonG3rGSfSCDmbl3qBBvxrbzx5xA0mgeEn2-nDfsyjqoWF78_lMjjOMP0buSULkyFTZj0KPFxNj4ItpWFH3cATSKVm744cuC9DwgkSuIwYar2xs6GiXyiOD4CQHs/s320/IMG_4069.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Holiday meal Molly and I prepared in El Novillero...somewhat ND/MN style, and everyone loved it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJtlRwo1P_9Y-XWILgHmWvh2TVMgAfCBPGKBUcpTW57QYGxow0pKDGXaIjWWaiNVjeFYolpbQHlCAcFh3OMlYrYbk1uRrrbY_7w0laZ5iUu4Ab4SGPYHOceZExhrpcYE25omu-UYoYTo/s1600/IMG_4556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJtlRwo1P_9Y-XWILgHmWvh2TVMgAfCBPGKBUcpTW57QYGxow0pKDGXaIjWWaiNVjeFYolpbQHlCAcFh3OMlYrYbk1uRrrbY_7w0laZ5iUu4Ab4SGPYHOceZExhrpcYE25omu-UYoYTo/s320/IMG_4556.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Day at the lake with extended fam</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bQIV0FYQs-bTETqvjI9XGcMsW0ew28Q8JGctqZVN7AEWFuM3iisUBAQA_MWM-gCM4LJqpyZp68HHqJTeK0NFi7hepSvZ45c_Laq7dqrxngmKINBkebDV-WO6guIFIrQ9cEj7Rp4jUVE/s1600/IMG_4619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bQIV0FYQs-bTETqvjI9XGcMsW0ew28Q8JGctqZVN7AEWFuM3iisUBAQA_MWM-gCM4LJqpyZp68HHqJTeK0NFi7hepSvZ45c_Laq7dqrxngmKINBkebDV-WO6guIFIrQ9cEj7Rp4jUVE/s320/IMG_4619.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fatima and the cakes I made for her 4th birthday. Tradition calls for taking a bite out of the cake :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMl6S2gMuqEGLfevVww3maiMlAn9PN25Tt6Ucju4w6oNxfsaFq_4_5UyR6u9zOa9e9arxJa1EeVOxczEgIpjE-XuZ51r0wdtREX_4HmSrxYrQr5vr9ZhvHR7GOwM9E8Lw0n1lSUANg9I/s1600/IMG_4658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqMl6S2gMuqEGLfevVww3maiMlAn9PN25Tt6Ucju4w6oNxfsaFq_4_5UyR6u9zOa9e9arxJa1EeVOxczEgIpjE-XuZ51r0wdtREX_4HmSrxYrQr5vr9ZhvHR7GOwM9E8Lw0n1lSUANg9I/s320/IMG_4658.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> Close of service conference- We had a Guatemalan garb day, and this is our serious pose, can't you tell?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYpCHRKFCwA6uul6KYklodl4h60RLtIiN19zObyUBCOyIBEBUSoHdHfqLnhJKw0Nymg2aPtflevapzV5JaXhiUPS-nxg5noM65dgSP6cKwVDLH93CiIC7_DdiBEmq92NQ-MDFL-d5OOc/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRYpCHRKFCwA6uul6KYklodl4h60RLtIiN19zObyUBCOyIBEBUSoHdHfqLnhJKw0Nymg2aPtflevapzV5JaXhiUPS-nxg5noM65dgSP6cKwVDLH93CiIC7_DdiBEmq92NQ-MDFL-d5OOc/s320/IMG_4698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh the boys</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpksfy4tD8GOfSoGiHL3xkDQ1Z8QO1Ccwpe96gAyPsfvJLedDCTO7i9bXQO9VDUKHbLdRFqkBjC9tQQqRrYaNQ5II5QssEn6X2IqkRow4Z5zUYgsFtIRpigJ_BOBPz8bT5Dqxfq4A-XvI/s1600/IMG_4700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpksfy4tD8GOfSoGiHL3xkDQ1Z8QO1Ccwpe96gAyPsfvJLedDCTO7i9bXQO9VDUKHbLdRFqkBjC9tQQqRrYaNQ5II5QssEn6X2IqkRow4Z5zUYgsFtIRpigJ_BOBPz8bT5Dqxfq4A-XvI/s400/IMG_4700.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Sarah dressed up like the young women in her town which is more ladino and not entirely indigenous, like mine....what a contrast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1e4fQljsDSfa65MtDhNvBInjJQzVfkDYXlN4-aAdKHEOE_SqUjZ6S6nMa7AQXZo5KROi72f3CrJNGLUxKNBV05VDY2xCEsubMxv9plswHFySwL8my9QrL1tyejPmNf4HElF3cyQIdA4/s1600/IMG_4714.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1e4fQljsDSfa65MtDhNvBInjJQzVfkDYXlN4-aAdKHEOE_SqUjZ6S6nMa7AQXZo5KROi72f3CrJNGLUxKNBV05VDY2xCEsubMxv9plswHFySwL8my9QrL1tyejPmNf4HElF3cyQIdA4/s400/IMG_4714.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">My training group from January 2009!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLS611qgMroDDBi4pd4SOmx9fNT-HxoTmB3OuKMFKBVcNWo7sYcljoT5d3TpoZSt5SivKM4dpqn5I-IlAJeKdHy3gRqeAhQJZlUot7LIij6mn_x3dA6JkInZ1TeZCuvgpHltOp5zfl8A/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLS611qgMroDDBi4pd4SOmx9fNT-HxoTmB3OuKMFKBVcNWo7sYcljoT5d3TpoZSt5SivKM4dpqn5I-IlAJeKdHy3gRqeAhQJZlUot7LIij6mn_x3dA6JkInZ1TeZCuvgpHltOp5zfl8A/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Pine needle handicraft womens group- new members being trained.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFp8WLG4Bhmt8IqajEjZvpyBElTnA6fycXPsXyZENZJU61QGG-p5o3pPDHOpUHz3cuzWOGMP85r4TC5f3hzNSn6HXCyCO5lju1Vty6j38eL6GG9RGxTdUmzRADnSWf7CVtut_4Nbj3Ho/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFp8WLG4Bhmt8IqajEjZvpyBElTnA6fycXPsXyZENZJU61QGG-p5o3pPDHOpUHz3cuzWOGMP85r4TC5f3hzNSn6HXCyCO5lju1Vty6j38eL6GG9RGxTdUmzRADnSWf7CVtut_4Nbj3Ho/s320/IMG_4782.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hike around Laguna Chicabal...a fantastic and mysterious place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOFp8WLG4Bhmt8IqajEjZvpyBElTnA6fycXPsXyZENZJU61QGG-p5o3pPDHOpUHz3cuzWOGMP85r4TC5f3hzNSn6HXCyCO5lju1Vty6j38eL6GG9RGxTdUmzRADnSWf7CVtut_4Nbj3Ho/s1600/IMG_4782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvXmsvDfDqN17f9-ILCORlSGrVnNbPo1gVFOsy4tL5FTK6NOUlw3Mm3-CNbvnz-WZvdRhhjdXP13SZZabR7wvDz_xYvohfF486deCWC_ffr2S19CvLXVLTFrpiEn-J3ClwSlDv5XeXSU/s1600/IMG_0349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvXmsvDfDqN17f9-ILCORlSGrVnNbPo1gVFOsy4tL5FTK6NOUlw3Mm3-CNbvnz-WZvdRhhjdXP13SZZabR7wvDz_xYvohfF486deCWC_ffr2S19CvLXVLTFrpiEn-J3ClwSlDv5XeXSU/s320/IMG_0349.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The view from the top.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQkVy-Gnw5et2n8yM5YA10U1Krf62y-9f9MQQiOKmAZ49w5TAJCkdtTN04dMJL-o8EffyMJDvly-sviFXIanKF0TxaYsnwZoDXAop8zSqmfgbR8nrX4KphrxKKEap1iDddr2cIXZrUc4/s1600/IMG_4864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQkVy-Gnw5et2n8yM5YA10U1Krf62y-9f9MQQiOKmAZ49w5TAJCkdtTN04dMJL-o8EffyMJDvly-sviFXIanKF0TxaYsnwZoDXAop8zSqmfgbR8nrX4KphrxKKEap1iDddr2cIXZrUc4/s320/IMG_4864.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> One of my favorite costumes from the last parade, made from all recycled materials!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5duC0JlEeVw_MxhmMUrvAaI4iELiyGWybx-weHIbuONs3dcdjYQXYVux5jdPKe9eIb8PLiAKDv_U-jK-YCRCxEOKVKjvFnncYa1wKdAu_JV19BGJbHB0LiOus4Hz_E4aXdStK7x_lWhQ/s1600/IMG_5284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5duC0JlEeVw_MxhmMUrvAaI4iELiyGWybx-weHIbuONs3dcdjYQXYVux5jdPKe9eIb8PLiAKDv_U-jK-YCRCxEOKVKjvFnncYa1wKdAu_JV19BGJbHB0LiOus4Hz_E4aXdStK7x_lWhQ/s320/IMG_5284.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Doña María and her lovely grandson, Angel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzx_ObFPM_pk-r5jIeO-hEgWzzZCvpyh-GAvIjGx3P5J9jLF98qkq6-tWZ5rS1XCAbgKg7Geqjm5RzFWPodWnBIIDJzBwJ5kO61MFcht8AyKI30JTonLFdBO-qWjx2Z5j0qkaZj3664U/s1600/IMG_5506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJzx_ObFPM_pk-r5jIeO-hEgWzzZCvpyh-GAvIjGx3P5J9jLF98qkq6-tWZ5rS1XCAbgKg7Geqjm5RzFWPodWnBIIDJzBwJ5kO61MFcht8AyKI30JTonLFdBO-qWjx2Z5j0qkaZj3664U/s400/IMG_5506.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Peace Corps 50th Anniversary Ceremony at the ambassador's house. Molly and I with Flavio, our program director.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyManUtN0aZ1g1cGIujMx08Shi9dyxpv_g3Rxu9SfodJEAjbF1qjSX5mIwenlamr5UbAsZqBGIA4VzlFzIYxfT4Vh5j7kLb_BdRN-lYGuq4KH8PVn5fGTy954HCHBFgAhxku1u12RYcI/s1600/IMG_5515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyManUtN0aZ1g1cGIujMx08Shi9dyxpv_g3Rxu9SfodJEAjbF1qjSX5mIwenlamr5UbAsZqBGIA4VzlFzIYxfT4Vh5j7kLb_BdRN-lYGuq4KH8PVn5fGTy954HCHBFgAhxku1u12RYcI/s320/IMG_5515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Jamie and I with Martha, the country director, and Wendy, the director of programming and training.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-GjGSYwf3jTXAp36i7KaVvfhp-vOllZW27VMIIyK6t27RJDA9-wWqu1iC974HeSE8Ixkvyg0Ne4oXdYdjk-tieCUJJAQMsMTW1qEHSWOBhgu05hb1LMYSb4dbp3pwmPgjlqFEuu3Gjw/s1600/IMG_5517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy-GjGSYwf3jTXAp36i7KaVvfhp-vOllZW27VMIIyK6t27RJDA9-wWqu1iC974HeSE8Ixkvyg0Ne4oXdYdjk-tieCUJJAQMsMTW1qEHSWOBhgu05hb1LMYSb4dbp3pwmPgjlqFEuu3Gjw/s320/IMG_5517.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
To be continued...Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-79284332945594135342011-03-10T14:56:00.000-06:002011-03-10T14:56:26.904-06:00Chux<div class="MsoNormal">Oh no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s March and I haven’t posted anything on here in 2011!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Man do I have some catch-up to do…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year has been chugging along at an astonishing speed but overall it’s been really great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Life is good :)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still in Guatemala for those who may be remembering that I came now over two years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I was following old plans, this would be my last month of work….crazy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, I was offered a position as a Peace Corps Volunteer Leader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means another year here, working half time with Peace Corps in the community tourism project, designing and implementing training tools as well as visiting individual volunteers to assist with projects and more specialized training.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other half of my time I will still be in Corazón del Bosque, although focusing on building capacity in a couple of the networks we are a part of along with continued administrative support at the park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means I’m putting off the real world for yet another year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it also means y’all have another year to come down and visit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But wait till after May… I also want to share that I am in the final stages of finishing up my masters, with my thesis set to be presented in just a few months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Chux...</span>Just a wee bit stressful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Haha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But so far so good.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s always easier for me to share my life here through photos, so coming soon will be another picture update.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get ready for some good ones: pig heads, the cemetery, me in a diaper, attack of the rabbit, the ash Wednesday of eggs and flour, American bbq, dancing at the family parties and more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You better hold on to your seats.</div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-75133214032861496702010-12-31T09:36:00.000-06:002010-12-31T09:36:03.338-06:0010 Photos of 2010 That Didn't Make It In The Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It is no secret how much I love pictures...taking them, looking at them and interpreting them. Pictures take moments and make them last; they share an infinite number of stories; they convey emotions; they cause any number of emotions, good or bad, hehe; and last but not least, they share life, reminding us all of how precious and fleeting each experience in our lives really is. I have never had anything beyond a decent point and shoot camera and a basic knowledge of picasa to edit, but I take pictures mainly for me anyways so for now that is just fine. I post more pictures than words here because I like to let them speak for me (I am not always good at expressing myself through words). You would not believe how many pictures I would put up if I had a better internet signal!! To wrap up, many pictures that mean a lot to me do not get shared, so what better time than now to throw in some of my favorites (not necessarily the best I have taken, but ones that carry deeper meanings or represent changing experiences for me) from 2010. Enjoy!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">HIDDEN SMILE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioitKfiTKz-17M8yEwaRSBUiTXl4PZMQVBaeauTjCGxuk1BUPcj8p-aWlGjIHFYyh7gc8bjOgTQUfYUF257fENaMNPA0dQtLPjU62SNu4OxVJ-wtPsTO410aaB4iXArrypVp4Ktl6xjWU/s1600/IMG_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioitKfiTKz-17M8yEwaRSBUiTXl4PZMQVBaeauTjCGxuk1BUPcj8p-aWlGjIHFYyh7gc8bjOgTQUfYUF257fENaMNPA0dQtLPjU62SNu4OxVJ-wtPsTO410aaB4iXArrypVp4Ktl6xjWU/s400/IMG_0642.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">AGATHA´S WRATH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVrNiQpXqMRjotU9ap55q32CSokMx-lVas-UUN9ZgOE8x0LYSR7iENAOsr4QDBmkko6syPYlKo6pUky6r-tEZvm0viRvPCjbjn5gcZ_x0Y-hl-_IC4_IY64VVbZNX5v01qnASlyK9Ym4/s1600/IMG_1506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcVrNiQpXqMRjotU9ap55q32CSokMx-lVas-UUN9ZgOE8x0LYSR7iENAOsr4QDBmkko6syPYlKo6pUky6r-tEZvm0viRvPCjbjn5gcZ_x0Y-hl-_IC4_IY64VVbZNX5v01qnASlyK9Ym4/s400/IMG_1506.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">SOLDIER´S LOOKOUT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ri_C8Xyhgn4dCE48oNhq3ohkh_XF74WzHnJc4LK4pY3UdmyZVwpCBaeaY1RE0m4rbj3wUH7POHHFlsOrDTdokfSRryskph70PQ7YfdEvcz2oWilJLZZ4YVfRJJfOR680zDdkmhiDIyo/s1600/IMG_2052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ri_C8Xyhgn4dCE48oNhq3ohkh_XF74WzHnJc4LK4pY3UdmyZVwpCBaeaY1RE0m4rbj3wUH7POHHFlsOrDTdokfSRryskph70PQ7YfdEvcz2oWilJLZZ4YVfRJJfOR680zDdkmhiDIyo/s400/IMG_2052.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">STORMY BLUE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlH3ByDRGnJjaVYaA5-52IR_UWoStTIaD_fdsT-HMtUFsiglyY6Mx3U7oYnDaQbH6JJPSd7J1hEabV3GCW9GrcrggB_8lAuJpnDcqEpuVlN97_bRY0RDHmada3KYl6tHv_j116pVQSI0/s1600/IMG_2133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlH3ByDRGnJjaVYaA5-52IR_UWoStTIaD_fdsT-HMtUFsiglyY6Mx3U7oYnDaQbH6JJPSd7J1hEabV3GCW9GrcrggB_8lAuJpnDcqEpuVlN97_bRY0RDHmada3KYl6tHv_j116pVQSI0/s400/IMG_2133.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">GREY DAWN</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzCXNxzK-fpTsRhGsnxQqZMcrA7MaLdk3PENvrsuO81aeeGP0V6yyVM-ij6LkhaXRCSZ6N7cU1edAuDSs794fmK5nrpfqkCzXbSi2cAtuaHZo-ooNnWkZALY-0WjS4Nux00gVYo0cF3w/s1600/IMG_2393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzCXNxzK-fpTsRhGsnxQqZMcrA7MaLdk3PENvrsuO81aeeGP0V6yyVM-ij6LkhaXRCSZ6N7cU1edAuDSs794fmK5nrpfqkCzXbSi2cAtuaHZo-ooNnWkZALY-0WjS4Nux00gVYo0cF3w/s400/IMG_2393.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">BIRD!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxBVVLeKqAjxjqWyWGjeO6Odwrs0ryeAMYC4EpumfrgzldtXCxONA4HvZ3Swc_ePDjj_3HLnORTOGjeV7dbD9Ikcjx8PoOXPTmoijxZ06hk-9WoSK6gZPQyAOit1-cn_ps9-9vtvIxco/s1600/IMG_3671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxBVVLeKqAjxjqWyWGjeO6Odwrs0ryeAMYC4EpumfrgzldtXCxONA4HvZ3Swc_ePDjj_3HLnORTOGjeV7dbD9Ikcjx8PoOXPTmoijxZ06hk-9WoSK6gZPQyAOit1-cn_ps9-9vtvIxco/s320/IMG_3671.JPG" width="281" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">CONQUEST<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgUgp3sp9aXJ1q8HLEaX9_RaG25uTankxm1fO9z0lKcnWNHHoa6a0_PQ5QnSoScmM9vhnhtU7_lpoBkPkDRI3pFfqJudM8Qx64iJRFVIOUq-Mt41ZPH1FESa1oyzmtAQAJ2N7ql2NJ_o/s1600/IMG_3778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWgUgp3sp9aXJ1q8HLEaX9_RaG25uTankxm1fO9z0lKcnWNHHoa6a0_PQ5QnSoScmM9vhnhtU7_lpoBkPkDRI3pFfqJudM8Qx64iJRFVIOUq-Mt41ZPH1FESa1oyzmtAQAJ2N7ql2NJ_o/s400/IMG_3778.JPG" width="257" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">ADOPTED NIECE</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z1RYFpoEmLfF7EwDHOtvu1MrfetqtQSxKR7MCyJgVuo92Zvme9CJ4FABcv5CCRUyI9LBAiQ_3YGdEQVRcqwVsVOTDNA2Wi5khxOnsWibGxw_PKg-_CoLC-_-Riq9QnpYFQ4Srmoi7Y0/s1600/IMG_3947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4z1RYFpoEmLfF7EwDHOtvu1MrfetqtQSxKR7MCyJgVuo92Zvme9CJ4FABcv5CCRUyI9LBAiQ_3YGdEQVRcqwVsVOTDNA2Wi5khxOnsWibGxw_PKg-_CoLC-_-Riq9QnpYFQ4Srmoi7Y0/s400/IMG_3947.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">FROSTING</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGnU31h3N87uDoY_vjfnzQGo4A1cc0yUkljIMfVzCIcGsMpXPs4MZO9zXrrvLpj3JH2UrxNzGhvYXpFqkeElG0cYi9mqTnimKrz40YE5FL6qCfLPlalOd1Ep_QHSAuYCqbK9Lzy5qGH0/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGnU31h3N87uDoY_vjfnzQGo4A1cc0yUkljIMfVzCIcGsMpXPs4MZO9zXrrvLpj3JH2UrxNzGhvYXpFqkeElG0cYi9mqTnimKrz40YE5FL6qCfLPlalOd1Ep_QHSAuYCqbK9Lzy5qGH0/s400/IMG_4214.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">FAIR BONDING</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDe36SM8dIn-RjoN7UACuZ9FjrRwpZ0wnvrPkaoGdOuWuUQ34DHk6kMyTCASoKklInBrUtmJWFrJnX0BeBhEAdXe_tQ3N19imzhcW3y839lsPhqlQ3iaAQVJKr6VjO8KqIrC3ZSDQ5gQ/s1600/IMG_4361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDe36SM8dIn-RjoN7UACuZ9FjrRwpZ0wnvrPkaoGdOuWuUQ34DHk6kMyTCASoKklInBrUtmJWFrJnX0BeBhEAdXe_tQ3N19imzhcW3y839lsPhqlQ3iaAQVJKr6VjO8KqIrC3ZSDQ5gQ/s400/IMG_4361.JPG" width="327" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-20105743794288452032010-12-27T16:07:00.000-06:002010-12-27T16:07:58.855-06:00Feliz Navidad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Having just spent my first Christmas in Guatemala and soon my first New Years, I have to say that I just love the holiday season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was bittersweet, to not be at my “home” home with my real family, but it was still a wonderful experience to learn new traditions here with my second family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christmas in rural Guatemala centers on family, community activities, religious practices and food.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess in those general terms, it’s like back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How it plays out is a different story….I don’t even know where to start!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the weeks prior to Christmas we inaugurated the town Christmas tree, handed out 800 toys to area kids, gave out food baskets to needy families, had a duranguense concert/dance, had a Christmas parade, and saw a gorgeous fireworks show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the family level, we headed out the 22<sup>nd</sup> to buy supplies in Xela: moss and colored sawdust for the big nativity scene, pine and apple strings to decorate, fireworks, tamal ingredients, new clothes for the big day, presents for the gift exchange, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never seen the market so busy and fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set up the nativity scene that night and the 23<sup>rd</sup>, I have pics below so you can see how it combined with tree branches and such to be quite the Christmas arrangement (instead of a typical Christmas tree).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the 24<sup>th</sup> we cleaned the house, I made Christmas sweets from back home, went to Christmas Eve mass and then we came home to start the celebration with a dinner of pork and chicken tamales and caliente (a hot drink made from coconut, apples, papaya, pineapple and cinnamon).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The extended family came over after that to partake in a big gift exchange and then we all waited for midnight to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when we prayed over the holy family, went out in the streets to light off firecrackers, hugged all the neighbors outside doing the same thing, ate more tamales and opened out stockings (I brought those from back home).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was exhausting (going to bed at 2am) but so much fun!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The 25<sup>th</sup> was spent visiting the other grandparents and I snuck out a bit to have an American Christmas lunch with the Catholic nuns that live in my town (tasty ham and homemade apple crisp!).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to Christmas mass together and then spent the rest of the night around town hanging out, having wars with firecrackers and eating what else but of course tamales :)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The best way to start the party, with reindeer antlers and great friends!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc-EFGNjhJQZ5XdCktd6sir8nB5jzIiR5UlPbJA0r5wvhGwh_3Kt6U9mVlwD6IX_KJI_MhhUyXOYW1f1TbSF70dlh1kPEcK-9kqyCZnxQqzxBXPW7JswziNayETeDibYlU_E5NpSrTC0/s1600/IMG_4434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc-EFGNjhJQZ5XdCktd6sir8nB5jzIiR5UlPbJA0r5wvhGwh_3Kt6U9mVlwD6IX_KJI_MhhUyXOYW1f1TbSF70dlh1kPEcK-9kqyCZnxQqzxBXPW7JswziNayETeDibYlU_E5NpSrTC0/s320/IMG_4434.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Getting the car decorated for the parade...I contributed the tree on top, stockings and fake snow....and we won first place!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uo5UWXo952m05bmpcYX1C-q-ez0Fi6Bm8LyX7q1nKkOZ0CJf62hXtJXV-_R9gysruFb2YPN5BHUB5rM_Iv9XyQDJnzlsRV-Um9JRhT8CduuCbnVAN6nZe4hDEGcB8mvvKlz6HvWxdZI/s1600/IMG_4383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8uo5UWXo952m05bmpcYX1C-q-ez0Fi6Bm8LyX7q1nKkOZ0CJf62hXtJXV-_R9gysruFb2YPN5BHUB5rM_Iv9XyQDJnzlsRV-Um9JRhT8CduuCbnVAN6nZe4hDEGcB8mvvKlz6HvWxdZI/s320/IMG_4383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The ceremony giving out toys and food baskets.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KQKV3mQu8-9V0bndMq9HWi-4dWSf493C8rkLafay-UNL3LcRaAozO_mu4L6aS3kBOakZ2YxVn8hbjist_PT1ZtT5JMaiDKkeANCi6cX-vC-AQ2-ezUt-q9RhMo0kV78f41i32Z9Qdgk/s1600/IMG_4387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KQKV3mQu8-9V0bndMq9HWi-4dWSf493C8rkLafay-UNL3LcRaAozO_mu4L6aS3kBOakZ2YxVn8hbjist_PT1ZtT5JMaiDKkeANCi6cX-vC-AQ2-ezUt-q9RhMo0kV78f41i32Z9Qdgk/s320/IMG_4387.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Oh, so this isn't directly related to Christmas although I just wanted to show the frost that was on my blanket outside the morning of the 23rd, at 8am. The cold definitely reminds me of back home!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVfSJ9DT7YVd3ieWVWvrPypFRgLhtLpTFSzdSIYtsSLcLSaJbEtTL4UQmUxMYqS0cd4DOwP_KcL4m6MnpiDcgAtITZ3dLksYQsE-EW7bD6kRzYFW329oXFszvw-ZfwrbG-gENLrBqwns/s1600/IMG_4423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIVfSJ9DT7YVd3ieWVWvrPypFRgLhtLpTFSzdSIYtsSLcLSaJbEtTL4UQmUxMYqS0cd4DOwP_KcL4m6MnpiDcgAtITZ3dLksYQsE-EW7bD6kRzYFW329oXFszvw-ZfwrbG-gENLrBqwns/s320/IMG_4423.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Fireworks in the street.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HxakTvkBuIA-Nou9aXWEgASProaL8C2U3Lt00pk717bMIE7ZF2FbZxYWSScjE2RSL_Do3n2fAfAZP3h31uA5lWKSRNtTZ9rhxVPvjQc-VcHEvBJgNYbjqPMxy12mAyXSivr3tXQ7Evg/s1600/IMG_4511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HxakTvkBuIA-Nou9aXWEgASProaL8C2U3Lt00pk717bMIE7ZF2FbZxYWSScjE2RSL_Do3n2fAfAZP3h31uA5lWKSRNtTZ9rhxVPvjQc-VcHEvBJgNYbjqPMxy12mAyXSivr3tXQ7Evg/s320/IMG_4511.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Eating tamales at midnight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nn2vGKvFVz-p4dzrXhLO7jzAKjb9i-KR3lSL-JY7bOD_iOfZVUK8ELGAZveJLuErvAY0Mzg7DoxEuuiSeYUEgQchSVENbqYn1I4-6cOJfx9upIhH0f3enPFou4xIW7X0BzViazP46HM/s1600/IMG_4515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Nn2vGKvFVz-p4dzrXhLO7jzAKjb9i-KR3lSL-JY7bOD_iOfZVUK8ELGAZveJLuErvAY0Mzg7DoxEuuiSeYUEgQchSVENbqYn1I4-6cOJfx9upIhH0f3enPFou4xIW7X0BzViazP46HM/s320/IMG_4515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The nativity scene.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjff3laU8ikAzAWappiX6qCcvsNzD6tADGYS9shUXW1W4Xb1X1G-FgH6zAF26CiB39Z4GkE-wjw6xIpKObfxPFjrMEMblTmLtw0NZ34aZi66t0v3vPBxvJ04JtW2QG45ZKv7HFLliAyTqE/s1600/IMG_4457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjff3laU8ikAzAWappiX6qCcvsNzD6tADGYS9shUXW1W4Xb1X1G-FgH6zAF26CiB39Z4GkE-wjw6xIpKObfxPFjrMEMblTmLtw0NZ34aZi66t0v3vPBxvJ04JtW2QG45ZKv7HFLliAyTqE/s320/IMG_4457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The extended family on Miguel Angel's side after the gift exchange.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKiyUNW0KYbBUFikl4X23EQK-suFRhyphenhyphenOpQFgIrTSbeTYFDv99Sr0aZHqV8uQFFKsbfnIAuah8TkVVtnybb_GWjBjpZZdO0UU-XBtEVpkyzTfcjDM-fFfq0VNhcxmGMl02JDKLaeh9O4M/s1600/IMG_4485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriW784uOTyHT7litQ-iDdSKlvchAIDstqd_aREgoX6gNDJ4-1Bj1chQtiw7FcEUREKpC2BQfnFw3O4YR4ZqU7HEcRIBqLWdolB7AHassSQW_4aU5caa8VhbaBHbG5IGlB3JW5bUtsr-A/s1600/IMG_4494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgriW784uOTyHT7litQ-iDdSKlvchAIDstqd_aREgoX6gNDJ4-1Bj1chQtiw7FcEUREKpC2BQfnFw3O4YR4ZqU7HEcRIBqLWdolB7AHassSQW_4aU5caa8VhbaBHbG5IGlB3JW5bUtsr-A/s320/IMG_4494.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-84445641532295078972010-10-21T18:54:00.001-06:002010-10-21T21:50:44.227-06:00Na k'inatz'ur taj<div style="text-align: right;">Don't bother me. No, not you :) That's just one of the newest phrases I've learned in K'iche' and it's really fun to say (na k'inatz'ur taj...make sure you get the k and tz glottalized, is that a word?). I have to say, living in a house with 3 boys between the ages of 15-20 gives me the opportunity to use it often! </div><div><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: left;">So I'm not quite sure where to pick up, as it feels like forever since where I left off. Life has brought new things, stressful things, fun things, and random things as of late. Guatemala continues to march on as always, even though we had a time there where landslides were quite the danger in my part of the country (maybe you saw on the news? if not check <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-11198481">here</a> or <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39016275/ns/world_news-americas/">here</a>) and the rain seemed to never cease (10 days of no, I mean NO sun = my clothes taking forEVER to dry). Broke the record from the last 50 years; I thought I'd never be so happy to have dust instead of mud. Besides the crazy weather there have been the usual demonstrations interupting travel (protesting high electricity prices and columbus day), independence celebrations (Sept 15 is Independence Day), and the end of the school year. With the fam we've kept busy with an unending schedule of birthday parties, another wedding, babies, soccer games and so on. At work I've been busy giving trainings on trash management and recycling, general enviro education, working on a job function manual, presenting our products at an expo, colloborating on the business plan section for a community tourism manual, writing some project proposals and million other things that always seem to end up with me. As far as my masters, I've started another online class and getting some headway done on my thesis. Besides all this work stuff I still want to be investing in my relationships here so I've had to be super creative. Time is such a scarce commodity for me right now, I wish I could buy more :)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So you all know how much I love pictures and to not disappoint I've included enough to more or less depict my last couple months.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">My neck of the woods. I live right in the middle, where you see the group of buildings. Where the clouds are is Lake Atitlán and you can see 4 volcanoes behind it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-sSxbCsLzANYc2rAJ02-JkoybZopkdAvJzTEupz9F0pm2oDRpRzjXZo9UQZvQyl6P-4KmxJIHnNkfDF6Y97FmZO1GtHpggKyF1IQ_XQ4fL0M-gI9sjCDSL-ssdGgZorifXJhNwBV39I/s1600/SDC15450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr-sSxbCsLzANYc2rAJ02-JkoybZopkdAvJzTEupz9F0pm2oDRpRzjXZo9UQZvQyl6P-4KmxJIHnNkfDF6Y97FmZO1GtHpggKyF1IQ_XQ4fL0M-gI9sjCDSL-ssdGgZorifXJhNwBV39I/s400/SDC15450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At the mass for one of the cousin's 15th birthday party. My first time wearing my new corte (the fabric I have for a skirt)! I have it in the "short" style since I didn't add on...it's just that when I do I'm so tall I look more corte than anything else. With the extra fabric I'll get some aprons made.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIapf50g_Cz_TD_gixXZD1u_es-mTNt3g3kQ2BPNfuno4W7V9ckeQ5qxCt2ILv2Gv00T88kyO5dBXzQ5Xb6BY5vTsrG3TpCKZFeDrPIIf7g2V5n2yboXCnXMwbueCsQOtAHoOu8Rsx9SI/s1600/IMG_2708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIapf50g_Cz_TD_gixXZD1u_es-mTNt3g3kQ2BPNfuno4W7V9ckeQ5qxCt2ILv2Gv00T88kyO5dBXzQ5Xb6BY5vTsrG3TpCKZFeDrPIIf7g2V5n2yboXCnXMwbueCsQOtAHoOu8Rsx9SI/s400/IMG_2708.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tanja, the German volunteer, and I with Fatima at the party.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxZGqMB9Egf8kKJeC4uka-M-k9TVj8PWH9xmQxX7wsYPp11nVFzhRCmZ-8uWxE6S9dk8nicoNYggpSpb945GBG59WuiCvBXtVgp-Oeiqkaq4jrrSj6Fjb5X7VL9fei74DmEvyQNoTOaE/s1600/SDC10347.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFxZGqMB9Egf8kKJeC4uka-M-k9TVj8PWH9xmQxX7wsYPp11nVFzhRCmZ-8uWxE6S9dk8nicoNYggpSpb945GBG59WuiCvBXtVgp-Oeiqkaq4jrrSj6Fjb5X7VL9fei74DmEvyQNoTOaE/s320/SDC10347.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another cousin's birthday (16). Efrain is proudly showing his new shirt I got him :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEy0cDBx9eeW79i4WeWgmbr54L-HriJV1neX-6bBAeb_kLo3U4cdvASni6LgE0_EQKBSap5MInqN_kE_k9jNzWkatRSd_CAayFGAy8D31M_HxkqSMtFs1hGsJRG94bM5ykuHYgYHgG1U/s1600/IMG_3170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwEy0cDBx9eeW79i4WeWgmbr54L-HriJV1neX-6bBAeb_kLo3U4cdvASni6LgE0_EQKBSap5MInqN_kE_k9jNzWkatRSd_CAayFGAy8D31M_HxkqSMtFs1hGsJRG94bM5ykuHYgYHgG1U/s320/IMG_3170.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mama Lena with her baby at the party...she's getting so big!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2KLn7hzrmShyphenhyphen-86qGtCTUW8Qbbkwo6P4GD15HDZHeETQdBhYERN47i8DniefEwkCGmf7bd7eaP4K5TVjPt-frvRvZAPgYpspRsf1qLqnXgBNaEJhh6aBX23U18bJNWPJNlaBnnkbbj4/s1600/IMG_3156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2KLn7hzrmShyphenhyphen-86qGtCTUW8Qbbkwo6P4GD15HDZHeETQdBhYERN47i8DniefEwkCGmf7bd7eaP4K5TVjPt-frvRvZAPgYpspRsf1qLqnXgBNaEJhh6aBX23U18bJNWPJNlaBnnkbbj4/s320/IMG_3156.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love it when they smash your face in your cake! This time I experimented with colors to decorate the cake and it ended up looking like a mustache, nice, right?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCco1HPtYrC34P0E8EjOXiTFpaXk95Zh_aQJeD6V5jSGQcZAGTug7XG0cJLvrWLbxV_KRvDA1EoaJU-4SATPlXQiEq31YxBh0cfovKQ4hhQ2UV4TNpUbKZ-4emUiBemldT9kGV_KKmns/s1600/IMG_3147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCco1HPtYrC34P0E8EjOXiTFpaXk95Zh_aQJeD6V5jSGQcZAGTug7XG0cJLvrWLbxV_KRvDA1EoaJU-4SATPlXQiEq31YxBh0cfovKQ4hhQ2UV4TNpUbKZ-4emUiBemldT9kGV_KKmns/s320/IMG_3147.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This time it's a birthday gathering for Papa Chico. He's doing much better these days, back to his regal self! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAMszpWAKPmm-tBaeA34F7HtZgFiDXzniZPQ8LZm1R-50ResrtDv3Y6Usx4RAkG8fcqZVB3GYGYf7G-mX63B3guqlsD6UCYve_WOGTFLpFaHpzsUIXcb4AWqUWsG7RWxvAu_P2vOkWv4/s1600/IMG_3063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPAMszpWAKPmm-tBaeA34F7HtZgFiDXzniZPQ8LZm1R-50ResrtDv3Y6Usx4RAkG8fcqZVB3GYGYf7G-mX63B3guqlsD6UCYve_WOGTFLpFaHpzsUIXcb4AWqUWsG7RWxvAu_P2vOkWv4/s320/IMG_3063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Birthday dinner for Mama Lena...I had no idea what was going on in the rest of the picture. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kN1UzHYUCjRvEBX78QL7g1FFBJDe5wDJAVeTRq2TmpmbzVnKSLCB-cI66vuF7BbNAROaKJP5QndbzeOOWL-9zQ6gENMFOXTsQ659S18InhA4q8eAnWTOeSZ0Lf8PnlqC596WCA7G2Lo/s1600/IMG_2983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8kN1UzHYUCjRvEBX78QL7g1FFBJDe5wDJAVeTRq2TmpmbzVnKSLCB-cI66vuF7BbNAROaKJP5QndbzeOOWL-9zQ6gENMFOXTsQ659S18InhA4q8eAnWTOeSZ0Lf8PnlqC596WCA7G2Lo/s320/IMG_2983.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Independence Day sports tournament. Our basketball team placed second, losing horribly to the most amazing team. I made all of the baskets in the championship game which isn't saying much. I'm tall but man these girls can push you around.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnZUqFAcCl-iS4i3fit2G50AbJLoZOX7BT7Hs2UkXSer4OtyRvGIzhBhWuDyMzVOlMCdO5ygoePxO32Hu4Ig8aT-AdhBAIix2IxZiFWKhO2gT9a4PZvjb-NF2gj7i4x4t8kN7ocmsndw/s1600/IMG_2940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbnZUqFAcCl-iS4i3fit2G50AbJLoZOX7BT7Hs2UkXSer4OtyRvGIzhBhWuDyMzVOlMCdO5ygoePxO32Hu4Ig8aT-AdhBAIix2IxZiFWKhO2gT9a4PZvjb-NF2gj7i4x4t8kN7ocmsndw/s320/IMG_2940.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Watching the Independence Day parade. Not quite the same as Mandan, right Jana??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI_rV0AT8xHeTV3FK7a5sTLO9rZ0zvBkm5gRZL1e1vygWIfvOZMDpoENOUacnCHwbzTpY75JYVh6iCMFPl4aXxSeJNhgyrL8EsHkA6HK5g7_YBCPB6f7B-X9W_U6T1B1gRq3RNy5vHwA/s1600/IMG_2921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqI_rV0AT8xHeTV3FK7a5sTLO9rZ0zvBkm5gRZL1e1vygWIfvOZMDpoENOUacnCHwbzTpY75JYVh6iCMFPl4aXxSeJNhgyrL8EsHkA6HK5g7_YBCPB6f7B-X9W_U6T1B1gRq3RNy5vHwA/s320/IMG_2921.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Our little cousin Frank in the parade.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A1HLDQse-xmXbyL8BL5mKDSwdTOaXj6nj7eDPBJ5muKOexMnZxnaR4QkaSQNXT_mt2C5KzLROJ3GBDe7emc32yuzv1UGfA2ez3I3i10w0d8ewq75sbMk0B4Cbru1bKUJ0lI5Os0LeYM/s1600/IMG_2888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1A1HLDQse-xmXbyL8BL5mKDSwdTOaXj6nj7eDPBJ5muKOexMnZxnaR4QkaSQNXT_mt2C5KzLROJ3GBDe7emc32yuzv1UGfA2ez3I3i10w0d8ewq75sbMk0B4Cbru1bKUJ0lI5Os0LeYM/s320/IMG_2888.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I thought this little girl was so adorable, the princess of the preschool. It was super hot out and the walk long so it's a good thing they brought juice.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSrIEVZ15_mpq3UkX0MITwF5vY62DecQ_8SS8Cjeb44rIMJnAQ_PwOr-IpABXotqRV6G4YCJBBrpLhn_JhuSVL_BiDFYodgB57SWDuphkAlvihQaUfYohc-D97dXYKxrHCrmAHkQAN3Y/s1600/IMG_2868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSrIEVZ15_mpq3UkX0MITwF5vY62DecQ_8SS8Cjeb44rIMJnAQ_PwOr-IpABXotqRV6G4YCJBBrpLhn_JhuSVL_BiDFYodgB57SWDuphkAlvihQaUfYohc-D97dXYKxrHCrmAHkQAN3Y/s320/IMG_2868.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Tanja and I watching the festivities.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nml6fyO9pSy6HqhrqcvjZNgD0ISWNCLaA0Ym_2nD-QfmVdj5uS8WkozbkXCOAYib6vDqft-b02yCHHalQmQTtM6KG6J-2d0An-9yBwsPn5LznY0HENdmcWxVouhqbrSor2ufH2HurLs/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Nml6fyO9pSy6HqhrqcvjZNgD0ISWNCLaA0Ym_2nD-QfmVdj5uS8WkozbkXCOAYib6vDqft-b02yCHHalQmQTtM6KG6J-2d0An-9yBwsPn5LznY0HENdmcWxVouhqbrSor2ufH2HurLs/s320/IMG_2859.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Champions again! This time in the municipality.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBVxNdabVDp198jLlGowreSVx_tFMx-ye3X-zz3BoOAD5KAj05_6K7sad5ie5x_yKZIX2uRviFg_s2N3sqEFBpjlYnQAqxJMqWRPVXQGlI2l6TER9-q6lQRXx3pEZwOp_Q667TvRrDxQ/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBVxNdabVDp198jLlGowreSVx_tFMx-ye3X-zz3BoOAD5KAj05_6K7sad5ie5x_yKZIX2uRviFg_s2N3sqEFBpjlYnQAqxJMqWRPVXQGlI2l6TER9-q6lQRXx3pEZwOp_Q667TvRrDxQ/s320/IMG_2827.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabV-lFTE3p515xfLnrj0nsbMV3cJGxV7p1DaAG5bgs4XnT_LWWK8DCIyUCT9trER4NzRnYe74j_9mUFrlk9-wzgUh1qQBckGjWYiK5JjwQ_IKz1E449-5LcTTXuesEEERNDi4o5pyeLs/s1600/IMG_2816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabV-lFTE3p515xfLnrj0nsbMV3cJGxV7p1DaAG5bgs4XnT_LWWK8DCIyUCT9trER4NzRnYe74j_9mUFrlk9-wzgUh1qQBckGjWYiK5JjwQ_IKz1E449-5LcTTXuesEEERNDi4o5pyeLs/s320/IMG_2816.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>At the Expomueble/Expoforestal Xela 2010. Pretty much anything to do with forests, wood and furniture. We featured our tourist products and pine needle handicrafts.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylGOtMYb4bgl6rJNRNxEGxcmVizM0giNur8u1Gpq0-R8wtAJsPcjDm4erlNwzucawcnkI9GZKprd66H5UBQd53GWo6zYaaTLzxBWrVepaYhOsZEuOzX0GCts1B2dtTipFeeO2hasBhFc/s1600/DSC01516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjylGOtMYb4bgl6rJNRNxEGxcmVizM0giNur8u1Gpq0-R8wtAJsPcjDm4erlNwzucawcnkI9GZKprd66H5UBQd53GWo6zYaaTLzxBWrVepaYhOsZEuOzX0GCts1B2dtTipFeeO2hasBhFc/s320/DSC01516.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The newest cousin, Cesia Lourdes, just days after her birth.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90s0BGpUc6x1Wzpa6ROgDRF43-EYeWY20NMwJ3RR7lLXyN2LevrIoCui9VmoVPn5PTAKh6bG-lQkoZjdR8gwXAw8s-UIjtXJOOCIQKrbwj_vP0SOu4Zb9acZnLCbzigK8URR6vABmJ-k/s1600/IMG_3509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90s0BGpUc6x1Wzpa6ROgDRF43-EYeWY20NMwJ3RR7lLXyN2LevrIoCui9VmoVPn5PTAKh6bG-lQkoZjdR8gwXAw8s-UIjtXJOOCIQKrbwj_vP0SOu4Zb9acZnLCbzigK8URR6vABmJ-k/s320/IMG_3509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">My dear friend Patty came out for a visit; always a fun time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxWzn5K5BrDpLcii7ckoJJp_Fb8ROb7eJ4YJAQ8ECy3rgjope99hgEQT2VL7j8Bmp7cd5ZbIG2QZvpVRlyEit06-mJNXDMqecBzQ5foasvOXBnjJcMvAGw2YWHMDw7NBTEOqwYW4ribE/s1600/Imagen068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxWzn5K5BrDpLcii7ckoJJp_Fb8ROb7eJ4YJAQ8ECy3rgjope99hgEQT2VL7j8Bmp7cd5ZbIG2QZvpVRlyEit06-mJNXDMqecBzQ5foasvOXBnjJcMvAGw2YWHMDw7NBTEOqwYW4ribE/s320/Imagen068.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">The world. I love that Alaska is a different color as well as the islands of Canada. At least the kids are being exposed to geography.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSQwyUHIK1CGYZb_iJ3jw2Z1rq4XvVA4a8HrTRj3OULxB26NSli8YF0i6CXV-lIE0K2nNz84QdA76sAUsC8l7gRGVgeUZYJBxONT9Borke5W33odMyZv0wpR2HUZS9II3K0n48jqNiU/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWSQwyUHIK1CGYZb_iJ3jw2Z1rq4XvVA4a8HrTRj3OULxB26NSli8YF0i6CXV-lIE0K2nNz84QdA76sAUsC8l7gRGVgeUZYJBxONT9Borke5W33odMyZv0wpR2HUZS9II3K0n48jqNiU/s320/IMG_3476.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jamie and I at the inauguration of a bottle school he built in one of the poorer communities in the area. They gathered over 5,500 plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash! Pretty cool stuff. And I have to throw a shout out to Patty and Molly for making the journey with me that morning (4 1/2 hours on 4 buses and in the back of a pickup). Worth it to support our hermanito :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0f2TImmnbLlaxZHvU2kPuF0GtocKMcUU35kjsSlTVsmAZVsdhSgq35-pv_fJNG7ax8HR8melTqVJ25fQ_idn_zJvDcofHKbBHf2WB2ozo7GCU30jQ8tjY2dOpcOcU2b4QGhpJaSCQp4/s1600/IMG_3460.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0f2TImmnbLlaxZHvU2kPuF0GtocKMcUU35kjsSlTVsmAZVsdhSgq35-pv_fJNG7ax8HR8melTqVJ25fQ_idn_zJvDcofHKbBHf2WB2ozo7GCU30jQ8tjY2dOpcOcU2b4QGhpJaSCQp4/s320/IMG_3460.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6I511izejwOVCSxUteCi-Cp9ZWBSPTK6BGV1bx4AP7CEpt2DfZeV4QyeH46bSvonRz0R25mWHEj6hSeaidKRCasOo-6qQnl23efB7hG2p_DM8LR70n_RDNfxqEMDm7csbf8_hc6ydmY/s1600/IMG_3458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6I511izejwOVCSxUteCi-Cp9ZWBSPTK6BGV1bx4AP7CEpt2DfZeV4QyeH46bSvonRz0R25mWHEj6hSeaidKRCasOo-6qQnl23efB7hG2p_DM8LR70n_RDNfxqEMDm7csbf8_hc6ydmY/s320/IMG_3458.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Goodbye party for some of our practicum students. They are super happy and smiley girls, which makes this picture pretty funny for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtarrIexCCdaOAeArGY0DLRVPrxV1YG-BUoTBJ3CcGIL9a8pInQv9ws96csSATHZvihVvFRf25rSsnsAe4f9Z43aaOy8auHHAQNdv04wTqJp1rsZEnO2WhOqRv6dQmSuTH5HJuabARCk/s1600/IMG_3452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBtarrIexCCdaOAeArGY0DLRVPrxV1YG-BUoTBJ3CcGIL9a8pInQv9ws96csSATHZvihVvFRf25rSsnsAe4f9Z43aaOy8auHHAQNdv04wTqJp1rsZEnO2WhOqRv6dQmSuTH5HJuabARCk/s320/IMG_3452.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">A new baby as well for the family in San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Little guy came out just over 5 pounds.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4Cf8-p5iJFrSdshCCsTAMNiXyMav_vnakKS92gNB9ueYz60IHujaEOGtoLLx9D6JaCT_ZGZJHRL4afxdRP0edLvH7UramwD53wN1ZT-eKn_DOkjAgOfRB7Axmbn-d_9yzxMCSZr90os/s1600/IMG_3441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4Cf8-p5iJFrSdshCCsTAMNiXyMav_vnakKS92gNB9ueYz60IHujaEOGtoLLx9D6JaCT_ZGZJHRL4afxdRP0edLvH7UramwD53wN1ZT-eKn_DOkjAgOfRB7Axmbn-d_9yzxMCSZr90os/s320/IMG_3441.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Big birthday bash for Miguel Angel. He invited everyone in the extended family as well as some of my volunteer friends that have gotten to know the family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi2WOjWuCz_LKz94zcW5VGEFYpAe0BBQFTjm9_9M08DvvR-0KYU0moem228WLZbVfIlnZSnj-J9XzyfjO3r3m2CnEgiZ05ZHee1fsiZxBgPqad_Zo4z3K7XHQAsEyLX0ONAnqzdfikvI/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi2WOjWuCz_LKz94zcW5VGEFYpAe0BBQFTjm9_9M08DvvR-0KYU0moem228WLZbVfIlnZSnj-J9XzyfjO3r3m2CnEgiZ05ZHee1fsiZxBgPqad_Zo4z3K7XHQAsEyLX0ONAnqzdfikvI/s320/IMG_3348.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Everyone loved watching the gringos dance duranguense. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfi2WOjWuCz_LKz94zcW5VGEFYpAe0BBQFTjm9_9M08DvvR-0KYU0moem228WLZbVfIlnZSnj-J9XzyfjO3r3m2CnEgiZ05ZHee1fsiZxBgPqad_Zo4z3K7XHQAsEyLX0ONAnqzdfikvI/s1600/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EtDIAMyLupakALvti381EY-1fMezgFxpVPpoq8LNIucapea0YmRp9X60SyC9RJMMB5QC9bEtw-Z9CvCRbeiv9sEGpviPtZxg3UkHO5GdEQMFvz5IfLiO353S9u_wcBtfaLQPaV64eSg/s1600/IMG_3416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4EtDIAMyLupakALvti381EY-1fMezgFxpVPpoq8LNIucapea0YmRp9X60SyC9RJMMB5QC9bEtw-Z9CvCRbeiv9sEGpviPtZxg3UkHO5GdEQMFvz5IfLiO353S9u_wcBtfaLQPaV64eSg/s320/IMG_3416.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a picture from the grandparents' wedding, 50 years ago this Saturday. Of course there will be a big party to celebrate :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm4IR5j-2ZyeWPZ7qBN7PP0ylmJzhTgSDkzBXFTCFbwhOTNHXW3OC13Q53N-3bvyQmPdht62eBewBqpyMNGl0TJUd8hyPuIJCZZfALuGwfp0GeM4GgGgkcPudC4YxRa90sQRodXjMfbw/s1600/IMG_3265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifm4IR5j-2ZyeWPZ7qBN7PP0ylmJzhTgSDkzBXFTCFbwhOTNHXW3OC13Q53N-3bvyQmPdht62eBewBqpyMNGl0TJUd8hyPuIJCZZfALuGwfp0GeM4GgGgkcPudC4YxRa90sQRodXjMfbw/s320/IMG_3265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-57802265310164347852010-09-17T15:18:00.000-06:002010-09-17T15:18:47.115-06:00Un poco de....randomness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Last pics borrowed from the Canadians...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful Lake Atitlán</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguujNFeO1kpSqE0LqxjlI-jx79b1kWYUKMiJaUq9ue1G-LmjEsn1HcNOD6XYH7z2NYFUoGjcJV6QsozY-Zc-8PHWGJSe1d6fijdRWDAs0ufYhuKhSqzzUDXWCQhgNaX2tbO_jlFu_Yfw/s1600/100_2750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguujNFeO1kpSqE0LqxjlI-jx79b1kWYUKMiJaUq9ue1G-LmjEsn1HcNOD6XYH7z2NYFUoGjcJV6QsozY-Zc-8PHWGJSe1d6fijdRWDAs0ufYhuKhSqzzUDXWCQhgNaX2tbO_jlFu_Yfw/s400/100_2750.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The group</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv_Za4vL1cvSUvC0J_vFhL3ZhJkBnIenaibB-6IM1jlCYKt9QLHSlDfODwBSrhJbH5GTanTBErSbg1ZherQUG7f3LsL1DJty3IRehAZBQ5w1x7l7yN_-0uVHp3x0I5NzVBEAisZ4zBxw/s1600/P1120335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEv_Za4vL1cvSUvC0J_vFhL3ZhJkBnIenaibB-6IM1jlCYKt9QLHSlDfODwBSrhJbH5GTanTBErSbg1ZherQUG7f3LsL1DJty3IRehAZBQ5w1x7l7yN_-0uVHp3x0I5NzVBEAisZ4zBxw/s400/P1120335.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">View of Xela's central park</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Gr_XHxOTksemdhCU5d2Y6yrDJ6OEq_jpxPFY1K74bVEnIijpeyVrZ9n85ZqApwlS7NpZXt-7hZUuAs8_v1Xfo94cidpq4DNNv4xRAB3jpwxNkzoKLet1R-bu_EW2DKWKyTMQH8fKPys/s1600/100_2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Gr_XHxOTksemdhCU5d2Y6yrDJ6OEq_jpxPFY1K74bVEnIijpeyVrZ9n85ZqApwlS7NpZXt-7hZUuAs8_v1Xfo94cidpq4DNNv4xRAB3jpwxNkzoKLet1R-bu_EW2DKWKyTMQH8fKPys/s400/100_2859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Taking fashion to the extreme...your teeth. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BusbTAspQhHjKhtayRsyUXjCY6mR5dXLPpdgMdbHfrJONG3xighT9cibrsQehm3rJTj1yPCWSQsFSrs4mnLEgQyBgh6Oh45Kypyc_5alHGlDWzMfVmsluOoWQuTE2D-yAYM5TqPc0lU/s1600/P1120182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BusbTAspQhHjKhtayRsyUXjCY6mR5dXLPpdgMdbHfrJONG3xighT9cibrsQehm3rJTj1yPCWSQsFSrs4mnLEgQyBgh6Oh45Kypyc_5alHGlDWzMfVmsluOoWQuTE2D-yAYM5TqPc0lU/s320/P1120182.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A comedor in Sololá....cheap food fast.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeILHiUYbNFaEbIZiOyISdx1vOYzj_WMjkO7XWWXn9QIlrODxYJks_2y6vISX0tm0ueRbV-swUQp01j5YKXmjDTHaspVNsykacqZ6B0XxrUBY-logWYtk-4IIkmC43DUsLhDr_i8P2N8/s1600/P1120192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeILHiUYbNFaEbIZiOyISdx1vOYzj_WMjkO7XWWXn9QIlrODxYJks_2y6vISX0tm0ueRbV-swUQp01j5YKXmjDTHaspVNsykacqZ6B0XxrUBY-logWYtk-4IIkmC43DUsLhDr_i8P2N8/s320/P1120192.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Preparing a special lunch at the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBNfAg4MH1r7PvuoQcVQ5Q48DlYgVX7C7_N-tQvpavPxvP2Wa6mZMCatWM-aWMBvojwjO6FW1b0keKCxnW_qCpzzxtWR23rPyrUaxk9iD6BQoEEoPsRXZP9YwoyQFwTMuTkW0TiVBlVw/s1600/P1120254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBNfAg4MH1r7PvuoQcVQ5Q48DlYgVX7C7_N-tQvpavPxvP2Wa6mZMCatWM-aWMBvojwjO6FW1b0keKCxnW_qCpzzxtWR23rPyrUaxk9iD6BQoEEoPsRXZP9YwoyQFwTMuTkW0TiVBlVw/s320/P1120254.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Making pizza on the plancha! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx8XjCzb3OZd2ylVxiVZr0BYvXCSIqI9_H5fYupIz4IpN346Msq9Nr1ickWUctO1DqGv6RZIWtJIdeJhgzWUgibxL9GpKXyrl87vPGhMpPo5vJw93kLx8an2DH8s3eJgfNCZYyKaPHjw/s1600/P1120394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsx8XjCzb3OZd2ylVxiVZr0BYvXCSIqI9_H5fYupIz4IpN346Msq9Nr1ickWUctO1DqGv6RZIWtJIdeJhgzWUgibxL9GpKXyrl87vPGhMpPo5vJw93kLx8an2DH8s3eJgfNCZYyKaPHjw/s320/P1120394.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Turned out fairly good...especially when adding ketchup, chile and mayonaise, haha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3dzmD3R_Wk5hTC9VCfVPTi3bVfrRmiJStPL40yuRpBoaWHGmhyphenhyphenq43-1-O1YBKS9X2i5qiTz1Nw__aeE0INUzG_hVTE9M9zFXSM5vxwPA4UpALfphbUzUN8ApPYI66gyhmzm95hyphenhyphenQHmE/s1600/P1120407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3dzmD3R_Wk5hTC9VCfVPTi3bVfrRmiJStPL40yuRpBoaWHGmhyphenhyphenq43-1-O1YBKS9X2i5qiTz1Nw__aeE0INUzG_hVTE9M9zFXSM5vxwPA4UpALfphbUzUN8ApPYI66gyhmzm95hyphenhyphenQHmE/s320/P1120407.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Anyone need a restroom? Which kind?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NBx5fVXREGQ04gcekdRCqJCXszncbYChwdYT5QpA6F0zKVEvq1AfkCaoR1VEFebaU1v6LD83MTSyU5y3t7L98YkOu4C_mJ9VZdwU0XTdoknZGBl4_N6OLOJYbnHIS6TeYLC_KWNspBQ/s1600/P1120975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6NBx5fVXREGQ04gcekdRCqJCXszncbYChwdYT5QpA6F0zKVEvq1AfkCaoR1VEFebaU1v6LD83MTSyU5y3t7L98YkOu4C_mJ9VZdwU0XTdoknZGBl4_N6OLOJYbnHIS6TeYLC_KWNspBQ/s200/P1120975.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-3VG-NIEFBKsLvE0_XohNvzkTGm-ZLLg-mLXATe1SHE2IJw3OQZtRWNdENOlvtapg8sNYJLDhFk1Sm4ADMJpie42WKGTpbnngXu_FNTwKs_WzjMp0EwZEvyQnyxgEIqdKrq8jMHi52k/s1600/P1120971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS-3VG-NIEFBKsLvE0_XohNvzkTGm-ZLLg-mLXATe1SHE2IJw3OQZtRWNdENOlvtapg8sNYJLDhFk1Sm4ADMJpie42WKGTpbnngXu_FNTwKs_WzjMp0EwZEvyQnyxgEIqdKrq8jMHi52k/s200/P1120971.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the traje from Xela.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoO8WNmNSenTIVot6XMF90S5NFpPdKbvCSTQqqN5GUJL3uAfRAH_8cR-vsFhpnVWBcQLkaK5nc1A3gR1XF8XiKCss5ypC1dj_jW3-ZorZwAd3MB8hIGtu3CZ1A2IMkeKQAkxxYoDz_sA/s1600/P1120926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFoO8WNmNSenTIVot6XMF90S5NFpPdKbvCSTQqqN5GUJL3uAfRAH_8cR-vsFhpnVWBcQLkaK5nc1A3gR1XF8XiKCss5ypC1dj_jW3-ZorZwAd3MB8hIGtu3CZ1A2IMkeKQAkxxYoDz_sA/s320/P1120926.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Shoe shiner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicckGX7NUyOHHA_tN9YZT242P-k-zBGlqFowh1B1xgb4R7NEgVqsdhgqBhN85yHSt6bL2XMqperXSFI3TDOlkKz9bEGcQGfWkFeJ2i6rF6lfb2CQLOZHCV-e1D11X5IFK2tt9MN_IaEtY/s1600/P1120724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicckGX7NUyOHHA_tN9YZT242P-k-zBGlqFowh1B1xgb4R7NEgVqsdhgqBhN85yHSt6bL2XMqperXSFI3TDOlkKz9bEGcQGfWkFeJ2i6rF6lfb2CQLOZHCV-e1D11X5IFK2tt9MN_IaEtY/s320/P1120724.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Snack during a cultural interchange at the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9qPGN1ip7WipYVwqe0-KFemibAweVGHwJ7DiTUjI-qS2Qm3ev8aHt_4uktZtRi4uR6Wl0v4UAsqx_3HH_hTK5Ka_hoJA3pXBMCA-tXFIk5zl5JFpRnA-TUby06Ts4lGbEt9lB_DTlN0/s1600/P1130060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9qPGN1ip7WipYVwqe0-KFemibAweVGHwJ7DiTUjI-qS2Qm3ev8aHt_4uktZtRi4uR6Wl0v4UAsqx_3HH_hTK5Ka_hoJA3pXBMCA-tXFIk5zl5JFpRnA-TUby06Ts4lGbEt9lB_DTlN0/s320/P1130060.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The group after their presentation about Canada.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_muMShE-i9zB2jmoXjozR-DupUEqszpHpD7jfCSALSBB3I0r5VIF8mRm8U6iupZadVHCufj6uyQuGHULFQqlSnzkNYjruYBzEPCoH-eg8VmfVdnTChF6-iNSA0siUyFVYeVBZVW21M/s1600/P1120979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku_muMShE-i9zB2jmoXjozR-DupUEqszpHpD7jfCSALSBB3I0r5VIF8mRm8U6iupZadVHCufj6uyQuGHULFQqlSnzkNYjruYBzEPCoH-eg8VmfVdnTChF6-iNSA0siUyFVYeVBZVW21M/s320/P1120979.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This mean welcome in K'iche' on the door of a nearby Pollo Campero...the largest fast food chain born in Guatemala offering none other than amazing fried chicken. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHXunqbv_xnrfy1F7LkfA5r1M2TsrB6ezhWLi7fQwDl9Pim8fu9W01wbQ56J-QRiyo0ktqHQdCqUT3I8SUglsPTrDdn2xHdk-UoKbtIy1KPTZ6akEZOg3qb6EmjCxkPPwDlJn9mQkGaE/s1600/P1120322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEHXunqbv_xnrfy1F7LkfA5r1M2TsrB6ezhWLi7fQwDl9Pim8fu9W01wbQ56J-QRiyo0ktqHQdCqUT3I8SUglsPTrDdn2xHdk-UoKbtIy1KPTZ6akEZOg3qb6EmjCxkPPwDlJn9mQkGaE/s320/P1120322.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More to come soon on Independence Day (the 15th), birthdays and random life :) And I promise to write more too!</div><span id="goog_1073707817"></span><span id="goog_1073707818"></span>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-52177826013164410612010-08-26T16:55:00.000-06:002010-08-26T16:55:10.720-06:00El Novillero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Going along the theme of my last post I would like to share more pictures with all of you, this time of my town, El Novillero. They're kind of random, but that's how it is :) Some quick facts: it's estimated that there are between 1600 and 2000 people who live in El Novillero; the overwelming majority are maya k'iche'; the town is a powerful force in the area, with banking centers, several hardware and supply stores, 3 internet cafes, 3 bread stores, countless "daily consumption" stores, a publicity business, real estate, post office branch and more. Yet at the same time it's super tranquilo and laid back. Best of rural life mixed with benefits of a more urban area. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Canadians coming to my house for tea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0uC-bYXG_vuGt6snPNNXdSrBu-iaTQy2Y6n6lkZuz8ldSbpSaTeZ1ru-sol1ZyTiySZLVYDxWS9joHU57S4TAm53KjCWvLly43WpvVh1It5VaA_-wFDXlm-CjrklQezF6mNId29nA08/s1600/100_2717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq0uC-bYXG_vuGt6snPNNXdSrBu-iaTQy2Y6n6lkZuz8ldSbpSaTeZ1ru-sol1ZyTiySZLVYDxWS9joHU57S4TAm53KjCWvLly43WpvVh1It5VaA_-wFDXlm-CjrklQezF6mNId29nA08/s320/100_2717.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from the second floor corridor. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvyzuWlJOdzqRdL9kznvcpUSTAHE3GyhYrUh88WUGhbHoB1xKsbTzphzem8OjIuPvujpNw5ERNgt9DWZ_AsEKw6K5hqMnUSe-eFatl5KzVshcY4glBDnRHTDEWXjkKkB0g8znCtqj_A/s1600/100_2723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhthvyzuWlJOdzqRdL9kznvcpUSTAHE3GyhYrUh88WUGhbHoB1xKsbTzphzem8OjIuPvujpNw5ERNgt9DWZ_AsEKw6K5hqMnUSe-eFatl5KzVshcY4glBDnRHTDEWXjkKkB0g8znCtqj_A/s400/100_2723.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view walking down the main street towards my house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj1_Wnc59JOsKXPypR1bzp9WInMxqBrQpz6oDEjuN6pCrnBD7oFJHDz-tdQ05-9qXDTvz_7AWYQQy2LvawK24LsSmnbBksplK7navblXqHTCc9xGBA8Gyco0rlbvJYJS3ZQ4JoIkGqcI/s1600/P1120040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj1_Wnc59JOsKXPypR1bzp9WInMxqBrQpz6oDEjuN6pCrnBD7oFJHDz-tdQ05-9qXDTvz_7AWYQQy2LvawK24LsSmnbBksplK7navblXqHTCc9xGBA8Gyco0rlbvJYJS3ZQ4JoIkGqcI/s400/P1120040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Coming from the other direction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3N9znNb3iVZdjO-0SU_vpYkH67aNyNl6L6cpsjIbXrvcFWCL0uxt7YSTWLZuU_4Wz-ssXmtqOYlNEYg1CiBwzwe1z5xrA_d489qjWcwJS2pYyUv74DAXk5EueDusf2HAIhvrQ1zhGvg/s1600/P1120056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs3N9znNb3iVZdjO-0SU_vpYkH67aNyNl6L6cpsjIbXrvcFWCL0uxt7YSTWLZuU_4Wz-ssXmtqOYlNEYg1CiBwzwe1z5xrA_d489qjWcwJS2pYyUv74DAXk5EueDusf2HAIhvrQ1zhGvg/s400/P1120056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the mountains that surround us.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmojWd3dh2_nPvIvimEN86Jw4Lf6tSn8RHgTdMPyFqxyvdSn-N-P3mxnp1TPrNx-4PMGjidAT1g-tZmWZng-J42YYjh5qade62lsB8BZesAzq7G0_M0QVD0mevmpdiodCIocNJRb_ULY/s1600/P1120057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQmojWd3dh2_nPvIvimEN86Jw4Lf6tSn8RHgTdMPyFqxyvdSn-N-P3mxnp1TPrNx-4PMGjidAT1g-tZmWZng-J42YYjh5qade62lsB8BZesAzq7G0_M0QVD0mevmpdiodCIocNJRb_ULY/s320/P1120057.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My favorite street dog hanging out in front of a store. He looks big and ferocious but is a big softy inside.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jRZ1CM_7bZ8fyARysMJyymfEP0sKJZFagu_GMMVi4UbUPfWBjCY0l6ML2FgAkuJZ0Y04mdjxPDqp__YYi6T2X2hakay68OHZhgRFm0zD_oKXkbKqIbkiuT5zdFn366uCnjrwgSee8g4/s1600/P1120042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jRZ1CM_7bZ8fyARysMJyymfEP0sKJZFagu_GMMVi4UbUPfWBjCY0l6ML2FgAkuJZ0Y04mdjxPDqp__YYi6T2X2hakay68OHZhgRFm0zD_oKXkbKqIbkiuT5zdFn366uCnjrwgSee8g4/s320/P1120042.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pharmacy/mayan natural medicine store.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTpf06aLgYeABaIaYTl96UwjYlsK002MSZRSX5n-fKePY7oVCxjdcCSxUy2piJrWeei28kcZ7oRWhmIKSjgTEOknJL3uRTNppACH3j4PO-8zzBY2gThCwRHTm1n8494tOS2O9vbBkIgw/s1600/P1120060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTpf06aLgYeABaIaYTl96UwjYlsK002MSZRSX5n-fKePY7oVCxjdcCSxUy2piJrWeei28kcZ7oRWhmIKSjgTEOknJL3uRTNppACH3j4PO-8zzBY2gThCwRHTm1n8494tOS2O9vbBkIgw/s320/P1120060.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The old church, patron saints St. Judas Tadeo and St. Simon.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zdJ9sGqcrE2mpYCQcQHm5B64jzhwZBmGV0k8fN7s9pUvckG2yeqa-IJ7mmVBphJPJ-5YoJ8QC-ckgtD50h1-TkybEgm6U5HXq4d14QtV1etyoBF3sXCIAmDfC6seav477IlFx8o2ZRI/s1600/P1120067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zdJ9sGqcrE2mpYCQcQHm5B64jzhwZBmGV0k8fN7s9pUvckG2yeqa-IJ7mmVBphJPJ-5YoJ8QC-ckgtD50h1-TkybEgm6U5HXq4d14QtV1etyoBF3sXCIAmDfC6seav477IlFx8o2ZRI/s320/P1120067.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The uncle's family has a couple hot dog (chevere) stands...for Q5 (roughly $.60) you can get this lovely hot dog with your choice of toppings (cabbage, ketchup, mustard, mayo and pica mas) with a small cup of orange soda. I love how the bun is always gigantic with an itty bitty hot dog. When my little cousin Johnny is running it he'll give me a double at no extra charge, tan chulo :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9A11XC2FKJyywHRrm5M4AB0b_o7lm2ZznItRHKDxzvWAlXUUxmgF7gQcO4EJB_gaPB0OJ3CP2QyApo59Dcwyp9EZfKWKTBsrik-QVZwAPu2OXyPNojICtP325Np-BB6w_jv1omhOGto/s1600/100_2728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9A11XC2FKJyywHRrm5M4AB0b_o7lm2ZznItRHKDxzvWAlXUUxmgF7gQcO4EJB_gaPB0OJ3CP2QyApo59Dcwyp9EZfKWKTBsrik-QVZwAPu2OXyPNojICtP325Np-BB6w_jv1omhOGto/s320/100_2728.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kids from the school going to an activity...not quite as safe as a school bus, but that's how it goes.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnTCZvmhjp2nHuBGsOixW4Y3FBNhPDy33ID15R83-PtgLR0AJFNtKdUilHssv_uS-uRxpf2bBf7kZJH-AL6s9EMQqObXQSsJihd7JmmTOue_OntnxJ5B1poiXU3PiqX8keY-W4njMS2w/s1600/100_2736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQnTCZvmhjp2nHuBGsOixW4Y3FBNhPDy33ID15R83-PtgLR0AJFNtKdUilHssv_uS-uRxpf2bBf7kZJH-AL6s9EMQqObXQSsJihd7JmmTOue_OntnxJ5B1poiXU3PiqX8keY-W4njMS2w/s320/100_2736.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of the kids at the local preschool/daycare center during snack time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaBgDX5HTwjX8qPF3pnt7BuXpu0X9ZYEJBiZqFvddBechFSITieJgTH_rUfqYOstEeKpDppE2n1VQzMpZdsRfR9v3wUfdIrE7A5cjox7tNqItl2KH3hLD279QKZsMweIwGQbybHTt4TY/s1600/P1120417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiaBgDX5HTwjX8qPF3pnt7BuXpu0X9ZYEJBiZqFvddBechFSITieJgTH_rUfqYOstEeKpDppE2n1VQzMpZdsRfR9v3wUfdIrE7A5cjox7tNqItl2KH3hLD279QKZsMweIwGQbybHTt4TY/s320/P1120417.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Small mouth for such a big apple!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ngEM30PJkl0_ibogKoLTt49w-7KXwUzEgmPTmhWa-3IOKak5IIgpBJZ8XG29HRKP4R-sYaJLQCte6y0Qo49sTbMpPuTQcgTBota_EtordjQJ2Kmjk8NWhdH9B9wNmOb8M3gEAP_GuY/s1600/P1120426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1ngEM30PJkl0_ibogKoLTt49w-7KXwUzEgmPTmhWa-3IOKak5IIgpBJZ8XG29HRKP4R-sYaJLQCte6y0Qo49sTbMpPuTQcgTBota_EtordjQJ2Kmjk8NWhdH9B9wNmOb8M3gEAP_GuY/s320/P1120426.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpVzZ32ligQcgI1J48CXjJ4-mM_GxtDyPx_ZD4fBQSY2GcDZ58GaPeYnc7_fqc-snDqy-uhetBIgV-vlVNPSjDdlK-c1pf4cf0-tPxsRo_hs4wIv3OCBqHNgJ9Hu9PXlUXJRJiacBTuo/s1600/P1120427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpVzZ32ligQcgI1J48CXjJ4-mM_GxtDyPx_ZD4fBQSY2GcDZ58GaPeYnc7_fqc-snDqy-uhetBIgV-vlVNPSjDdlK-c1pf4cf0-tPxsRo_hs4wIv3OCBqHNgJ9Hu9PXlUXJRJiacBTuo/s320/P1120427.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaf8Z3s7mSW5YD-WSwLZKCQJi_bSX4vckc7go1j1ugSO-y46XECVdlVaGk4M0tX-7AoJC1fhL8iq3SwREssNdsOr6XXHRicDkBE7o2UjdtlWlUKR4G9phFvjTKa8NZ_ZMsgK_O4gHeTg/s1600/P1120429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOaf8Z3s7mSW5YD-WSwLZKCQJi_bSX4vckc7go1j1ugSO-y46XECVdlVaGk4M0tX-7AoJC1fhL8iq3SwREssNdsOr6XXHRicDkBE7o2UjdtlWlUKR4G9phFvjTKa8NZ_ZMsgK_O4gHeTg/s320/P1120429.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Adan's store, one of the most stocked in town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XeaVxYaPJCqaUHN0pqMjTk9UYw8Pcuob6MeP6zuAK8msAFqzae5Esmr84-HUtTkL7JbJHA5jYqH4wQcpS-zfVfDukF-OJOaEUSnqlUlszr_88rJSAPzV2j7XH_FiliG2qHDW6SadrnM/s1600/adan's+store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XeaVxYaPJCqaUHN0pqMjTk9UYw8Pcuob6MeP6zuAK8msAFqzae5Esmr84-HUtTkL7JbJHA5jYqH4wQcpS-zfVfDukF-OJOaEUSnqlUlszr_88rJSAPzV2j7XH_FiliG2qHDW6SadrnM/s320/adan's+store.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The path to the old woman's house who makes the most amazing old fashioned shecas (a type of sweet bread) on Mondays and Thursdays. When I speak my limited K'iche' with her she gets this big toothless smile and then gives me an extra sheca just to be nice :)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1ua_yAqR-Wm1-FF4bMcZKehMsJZATz5x9igSNolCmr8wo3xmQHaLD4RZkdwyEbguFaVJ5vXXxmZqFEnSNgwmjBUmC2UO9ShOrgibu-NNvcTCv4ZnrS62u2kG3xNWedyfAAO50wzOcwE/s1600/by+shecas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV1ua_yAqR-Wm1-FF4bMcZKehMsJZATz5x9igSNolCmr8wo3xmQHaLD4RZkdwyEbguFaVJ5vXXxmZqFEnSNgwmjBUmC2UO9ShOrgibu-NNvcTCv4ZnrS62u2kG3xNWedyfAAO50wzOcwE/s320/by+shecas.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Second Street"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On the other side of that mountain in the back is our municipality, Santa Lucía Utatlán. And on the other side of the mountain from there is Lake Atitlán.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jjkXvMwe2LFNQF9SrntEKIwTWWoB7-CUpYwe0tS7NcSa5y0FPtSX93jwAHB3IwObeQdUw0DrRhL3LBv_qbJDFB4-68TkuKvp7AQbVcbWuCYqiCpP49kgPMZZGG6P9RVcyVfQPcHGDQM/s1600/second+main+st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jjkXvMwe2LFNQF9SrntEKIwTWWoB7-CUpYwe0tS7NcSa5y0FPtSX93jwAHB3IwObeQdUw0DrRhL3LBv_qbJDFB4-68TkuKvp7AQbVcbWuCYqiCpP49kgPMZZGG6P9RVcyVfQPcHGDQM/s320/second+main+st.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love this time of year when we're completely surrounded by corn fields. After the harvest in November/December it all looks quite sad, empty lots of dirt. But at the same time less claustrophobic and scary (when one walks at night).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jjkXvMwe2LFNQF9SrntEKIwTWWoB7-CUpYwe0tS7NcSa5y0FPtSX93jwAHB3IwObeQdUw0DrRhL3LBv_qbJDFB4-68TkuKvp7AQbVcbWuCYqiCpP49kgPMZZGG6P9RVcyVfQPcHGDQM/s1600/second+main+st.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJpVTFvADzvwFnqGxyfW7tvmjuvYa1z2uvvPBoKp0w_bQA5lDFAUfjqfkqYDVHhbuvnoJfe2FjB8zCAwSm3tzaoy8phKz010raliMcOzRSu-QKYKGck8V2oUSQIwvKY5ZmiVlBHYklA/s1600/P1120437.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoJpVTFvADzvwFnqGxyfW7tvmjuvYa1z2uvvPBoKp0w_bQA5lDFAUfjqfkqYDVHhbuvnoJfe2FjB8zCAwSm3tzaoy8phKz010raliMcOzRSu-QKYKGck8V2oUSQIwvKY5ZmiVlBHYklA/s400/P1120437.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
So there's a quick walk through town, hope you liked it enough to come see it first hand while I'm here!<br />
<br />
Thanks again to Evelyn, Nikki and Brigitte for sharing pictures!Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-23565249666202702912010-08-20T14:51:00.000-06:002010-08-20T14:51:33.018-06:00Going to the Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">There are many things that form part of my every day life here in Guatemala that I forget aren't so typical in other parts of the world, especially back in my home state of North Dakota. One of those things is the market. Actually, I live close to several markets (though most of them operate on special days of the week). The two markets I frequent most are in Santa Lucía Utatlán, which is super close to my house, and Sololá, which is a bit further away but much bigger. I almost never take pictures when I do my market shopping because....I guess it would feel awkward, like I was taking pictures inside a supermarket back home. Luckily the Canadian volunteer group left me some of their pictures, which included trips to the market. This way I share with you all a glimpse of how I find, barter and buy my veggies, fruits and random household goods. (Thanks Evelyn and Nikki for the pics!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here is the side ally of the market in Santa on a typical Sunday morning.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dDgZF6IjD1vItmcnXLtLn_0LDEpZVKkqZ4Ld6mMB1SSVLtsaqWfXYwW8rEz9ugCWXUmelu33-UdW0La4GUgVbpxTjteBuwNGiTsCcjtREyMzSDKwMcaLBj3y6DCfrB-RNmpRVbp-Y5U/s1600/P1120165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dDgZF6IjD1vItmcnXLtLn_0LDEpZVKkqZ4Ld6mMB1SSVLtsaqWfXYwW8rEz9ugCWXUmelu33-UdW0La4GUgVbpxTjteBuwNGiTsCcjtREyMzSDKwMcaLBj3y6DCfrB-RNmpRVbp-Y5U/s320/P1120165.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The usual table of dried fish and unidentified smelly things.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPmIZ79P8fMVFflFZ9cvr1MRKIcAXbO7C6CShNrfD_QWa-F2SoVuT2-sCQVRuzdzMIkUzNXKXWggLD4e3ENSwYtQE8qp-8a-ZEgaZkyySeWBNYbg_yjWuWJfnNEwLiCwdYBxr55UZEkc/s1600/P1120166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPmIZ79P8fMVFflFZ9cvr1MRKIcAXbO7C6CShNrfD_QWa-F2SoVuT2-sCQVRuzdzMIkUzNXKXWggLD4e3ENSwYtQE8qp-8a-ZEgaZkyySeWBNYbg_yjWuWJfnNEwLiCwdYBxr55UZEkc/s320/P1120166.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cute couple from Sololá selling produce from their garden.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdMEELla74oDE7VU6fanqzvE8EzQhLHclGS07jDRK06nchgn3lWokGGxczUI6PYPrP-o6S_-jIFdhcvfeOiCBDsou5z7ROiKvRhINZbOPSZbL0KmKWzmPnAeoMCtPURnOzNjkOM593RQ/s1600/P1120167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdMEELla74oDE7VU6fanqzvE8EzQhLHclGS07jDRK06nchgn3lWokGGxczUI6PYPrP-o6S_-jIFdhcvfeOiCBDsou5z7ROiKvRhINZbOPSZbL0KmKWzmPnAeoMCtPURnOzNjkOM593RQ/s320/P1120167.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The day this picture was taken I got my potatoes for Q2 a pound (about $.25).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR3TU3atemORLPXemujNTmbrfQRkHcoT18tqqV_9-oL44oY6EIutNsGjripVeDY7w65FhoeOPNGpW9u090zA1LU3bDnYU-UHadJmwIsVY6G3Xkgi_wJN83jH_tIMRASdHu4xu91yqKQc/s1600/P1120163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUR3TU3atemORLPXemujNTmbrfQRkHcoT18tqqV_9-oL44oY6EIutNsGjripVeDY7w65FhoeOPNGpW9u090zA1LU3bDnYU-UHadJmwIsVY6G3Xkgi_wJN83jH_tIMRASdHu4xu91yqKQc/s320/P1120163.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Baskets at the market can hold a variety of things, sometimes still living, like chickens!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErtFB_Bn10tmMam-A2GZ2xdiW3xUCoNgFLN_81KSavmOTkrxYH7S6vMyWIdpF1ZrWOAuXN7oMGNjOIuxYsckIZvQXgjqmCILhTgLJDUn27Z9G8vt_wvsvtVzrUtVT29kZ4bgm9YtnuGY/s1600/P1120845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjErtFB_Bn10tmMam-A2GZ2xdiW3xUCoNgFLN_81KSavmOTkrxYH7S6vMyWIdpF1ZrWOAuXN7oMGNjOIuxYsckIZvQXgjqmCILhTgLJDUn27Z9G8vt_wvsvtVzrUtVT29kZ4bgm9YtnuGY/s320/P1120845.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just cause you're selling at the market doesn't mean you're cut off from the world.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eU3EOcUii1G9llKBDYE7sGCoSLLpUD5fXwQJ693xrbUSwUPz5md_4b5yVOePLYsTo8rBxmCLwLqKSO7LeBPbTVg0p1VYGfk87GmuovbUPQDafzFbrHKnW35mcQ-7Pxat9E7fqXrtzAU/s1600/100_2683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7eU3EOcUii1G9llKBDYE7sGCoSLLpUD5fXwQJ693xrbUSwUPz5md_4b5yVOePLYsTo8rBxmCLwLqKSO7LeBPbTVg0p1VYGfk87GmuovbUPQDafzFbrHKnW35mcQ-7Pxat9E7fqXrtzAU/s320/100_2683.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So on market days the open air part is much bigger than the physical market, which is housed in a building. In Sololá there are many distribuidors in the market building that sell goods for daily consumption. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6JcMYSXVLSVjdb2ZdAK3a9QQG2AE-H1qfxSrNIS3rCVqRsqxSRxiWg51XKBofUTVXCxiO4sgLE2D_dA8cxlCaHwt1zE2wQ2rUf2vF8gLGxhwXSHY8Ty0xusQo-1WUg6clBkGSUbjFN4/s1600/100_2682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv6JcMYSXVLSVjdb2ZdAK3a9QQG2AE-H1qfxSrNIS3rCVqRsqxSRxiWg51XKBofUTVXCxiO4sgLE2D_dA8cxlCaHwt1zE2wQ2rUf2vF8gLGxhwXSHY8Ty0xusQo-1WUg6clBkGSUbjFN4/s320/100_2682.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can get your bananas and turn right around to get your meat.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNevHEx2KDBFCr7kr5Rz8MoEMrQgQ9eOpsujQpvt6vp7WbjhpodCc2zYHTI8HCHN1TN3oGugBFgmxmE1zhZ2VWiEEqAMVgyk5wApKOsLINeOcna3EnZOtedQZ7z0rNPy_MkjD_DRBGPU/s1600/100_2680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRNevHEx2KDBFCr7kr5Rz8MoEMrQgQ9eOpsujQpvt6vp7WbjhpodCc2zYHTI8HCHN1TN3oGugBFgmxmE1zhZ2VWiEEqAMVgyk5wApKOsLINeOcna3EnZOtedQZ7z0rNPy_MkjD_DRBGPU/s320/100_2680.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To cook really good black beans a clay pot is a must have. Don't scoff. I'm serious. Maybe I've turned in to a black bean snob, but I can totally tell if you made your beans in a pressure cook and didn't add onion, garlic and apasote.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk5U5u-t4_q8ooKBK_BE9mnXT-J5DrpM6FYfVMOVj9mGM3_dpbIDmK7q15hpbjg4PmZZtokMwwq_DMV9NYiNW-nffYZKRrH_7BKWYjfARU-P7-umkxTcsZMOjO2ujcbDzs46ynMVwifA/s1600/100_2688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBk5U5u-t4_q8ooKBK_BE9mnXT-J5DrpM6FYfVMOVj9mGM3_dpbIDmK7q15hpbjg4PmZZtokMwwq_DMV9NYiNW-nffYZKRrH_7BKWYjfARU-P7-umkxTcsZMOjO2ujcbDzs46ynMVwifA/s320/100_2688.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Need a pair of shoes? The fake tennis shoes are most likely from China and don't last very long.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrd9yHfm3RLAvl5e66oKV3XBu5T09VfhpR8dAH7uhzA8iCXMGoQ8sPoG6pHmRxXukAgtDlHG8eBJ7E8pUD5PP_qCSZ4gs8lUyQxq8qDq6W8nFPbvidFcBGa_ttx0a_opiMEQIrf0MUvA/s1600/100_2677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgrd9yHfm3RLAvl5e66oKV3XBu5T09VfhpR8dAH7uhzA8iCXMGoQ8sPoG6pHmRxXukAgtDlHG8eBJ7E8pUD5PP_qCSZ4gs8lUyQxq8qDq6W8nFPbvidFcBGa_ttx0a_opiMEQIrf0MUvA/s320/100_2677.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fajas...the belts that hold up the women's cortes.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUf5yKru3e6qOPzqx4qkkr35BOSpK6ktAUDdAFSBZKjlra_PIAGlqxmZeeO-qORwtH9KDT4cW0zM3awGT1evWFTDKNusfB9B9-XbVsQ5oibVTCg_eiTkC71PC22OkrN0KQE88NQriUwg/s1600/100_2690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUf5yKru3e6qOPzqx4qkkr35BOSpK6ktAUDdAFSBZKjlra_PIAGlqxmZeeO-qORwtH9KDT4cW0zM3awGT1evWFTDKNusfB9B9-XbVsQ5oibVTCg_eiTkC71PC22OkrN0KQE88NQriUwg/s320/100_2690.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Masks for any occasion...I'm pretty sure these represent the different mayan nahuales.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LtKDYrZVpg8rew0WfUc_SaSFLs5uOR0eBjJOtfRGuft618QqH0-GSTgSCGqjRd3UogqRc8YEOh9jNbd6j1kJimk3NxLzAJ7GXgvoDk0bZjOhGGKsxMNZyWmUdVeaZ6q2jgdR76fzV_8/s1600/P1120694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LtKDYrZVpg8rew0WfUc_SaSFLs5uOR0eBjJOtfRGuft618QqH0-GSTgSCGqjRd3UogqRc8YEOh9jNbd6j1kJimk3NxLzAJ7GXgvoDk0bZjOhGGKsxMNZyWmUdVeaZ6q2jgdR76fzV_8/s320/P1120694.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'll never get tired of seeing the beautiful fabrics in this country.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzEjwdx6Uio7lU2TBqjApzPuWXHeQKOSn2WNYIMej1VxnoIbNIgZQ4pOHQAsqxorxy6gHCvrWgaomphmJrwf7dAax1tleXr0rUwUiTmpTt5XU_R1u6muj7t5_95-fGmXGgJykdm28YuQ/s1600/P1120703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzEjwdx6Uio7lU2TBqjApzPuWXHeQKOSn2WNYIMej1VxnoIbNIgZQ4pOHQAsqxorxy6gHCvrWgaomphmJrwf7dAax1tleXr0rUwUiTmpTt5XU_R1u6muj7t5_95-fGmXGgJykdm28YuQ/s320/P1120703.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And since the market can be overly stimulating at times, with so much to see and so much going on, just take a break and put your head down :)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfdFG2z3alHA05boGU857Jz7S4SFGjhBM5QW_ZNITtlVyYh16MsrZ12o9eNdZHi1pPpdwMn_bxgRTpIpnowYpPBeHfiHpkUdGbycbIzQ5UcKb4Leng8L6M5q_hotWsYilggA2kKGOnzQ/s1600/P1120846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlfdFG2z3alHA05boGU857Jz7S4SFGjhBM5QW_ZNITtlVyYh16MsrZ12o9eNdZHi1pPpdwMn_bxgRTpIpnowYpPBeHfiHpkUdGbycbIzQ5UcKb4Leng8L6M5q_hotWsYilggA2kKGOnzQ/s320/P1120846.JPG" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-78871843755670871982010-08-16T15:42:00.000-06:002010-08-16T15:42:32.807-06:00Caught up in the whirlwind<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sometimes I feel like I don't have time to catch my breath. Especially these past few weeks. They've been super good, don't get me wrong, but just packed with...stuff. I've been involved with lots at the park, the normal and not so normal (we had a group of Canadians with us again this time for 5 weeks, I'll have to include them in the next post). I also finished up an online class for my masters which kept me on my toes more than I expected...as you'll see below that I had through it all more than my fair share of social distractions, hehe. A wedding, first communion and a couple birthday parties :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Selvyn and Dina's Wedding</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Panajachel, Sololá</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some of you will remember that Selvyn was my counterpart last year (the person I worked most closely with at the park). He's moved on to a position in a different organization, however we still keep in pretty good contact. I was happy to be with him on his wedding day with a lovely girl from Cobán, Dina. It was a beautiful setting on the lake! However, the wind did something unfortunate to the cake...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDzEorTjimG7Fz8rihabPorm_e0wb4P1rZ2fuWqJaPL1GzOUqIzAVdjukGzFbi00LK_cpPEAYVTr-QyuZRH4DWAtSSTqJF0FUapLzLMZZYC_GRPe7eBI3AeK1HD_OWZGj5cvTyNsyzZQ/s1600/IMG_2468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDzEorTjimG7Fz8rihabPorm_e0wb4P1rZ2fuWqJaPL1GzOUqIzAVdjukGzFbi00LK_cpPEAYVTr-QyuZRH4DWAtSSTqJF0FUapLzLMZZYC_GRPe7eBI3AeK1HD_OWZGj5cvTyNsyzZQ/s320/IMG_2468.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvzhLzoqntnSjxW20NrMBy4s_wX9-8d3RsUbN23Cv__YTC6SLC2F96V2nqTHEetPi3i4MeHHD8jhziaYtkaHVhmYOgLcf4gv5xXTnWB8w7xyp-UONziK6LUcZC95SE-UBnFn7xMPmLEw/s1600/IMG_2469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBvzhLzoqntnSjxW20NrMBy4s_wX9-8d3RsUbN23Cv__YTC6SLC2F96V2nqTHEetPi3i4MeHHD8jhziaYtkaHVhmYOgLcf4gv5xXTnWB8w7xyp-UONziK6LUcZC95SE-UBnFn7xMPmLEw/s320/IMG_2469.JPG" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My good friend Erin was also invited and showed off her traje from San Marcos La Laguna (where she was living). I have to brag that she did the embroidery for her corte (the skirt). I also get a bit jealous of her chapina stature, as she fits in so nicely here with the women!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiV7Rdl6qceSjfSOOPkI6FUksSXdd9WqRkSD3eAGHycrxGBH5Ty5SCj29Ii8p_FXhVnFBgWi8J48_Lue2yeiz0YWPZaXxRTAuOHEglXVt3V4cYsEPxq8Vcd1ZxxqWLxUVWRxCIt18vzY/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMiV7Rdl6qceSjfSOOPkI6FUksSXdd9WqRkSD3eAGHycrxGBH5Ty5SCj29Ii8p_FXhVnFBgWi8J48_Lue2yeiz0YWPZaXxRTAuOHEglXVt3V4cYsEPxq8Vcd1ZxxqWLxUVWRxCIt18vzY/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Selvyn and I</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79VMeSKhuz5jcxxxC1M5afsyBZwDtgFgeLB1GoZkxFZxQToLrSl0GKxjtwA_KpOyHrJXzsclLl0or35LGpgNrHJObJqp_Z5KKeIng9tkl9XW8n23L_kRCvSiEZDQPkg4n-xFkjgqk25E/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh79VMeSKhuz5jcxxxC1M5afsyBZwDtgFgeLB1GoZkxFZxQToLrSl0GKxjtwA_KpOyHrJXzsclLl0or35LGpgNrHJObJqp_Z5KKeIng9tkl9XW8n23L_kRCvSiEZDQPkg4n-xFkjgqk25E/s320/IMG_2476.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Dina, the bride in pink :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyphenhypheniiRs0ZftnWvQ_FwyIA7EIf8i04TeExkZF_PPlkod57PNihlvPb1rc7vHHy43B4MQcsoVz5rNNBYfGyL2IHMbr82ZhyKI5UZl9tDWNSoJ_ddWIIrNOLhg2-Imkr_1BZdL3xVZ3abmA/s1600/IMG_2487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhyphenhypheniiRs0ZftnWvQ_FwyIA7EIf8i04TeExkZF_PPlkod57PNihlvPb1rc7vHHy43B4MQcsoVz5rNNBYfGyL2IHMbr82ZhyKI5UZl9tDWNSoJ_ddWIIrNOLhg2-Imkr_1BZdL3xVZ3abmA/s320/IMG_2487.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's a look at the wedding site from up above (it took place where the white tents are). You can also see on the mountainside behind the area where there was a landslide back a couple weeks. It washed away part of the already precarious highway in between Sololá and Panajachel. Luckily it happened early in the morning and no one was hurt. It did prevent me from getting to an important meeting, but such is life here- you never quite know what to expect.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDXYkmDelDEpzqqBQoIlfwG5YSpYLQ1IQVvfuXW8ODIzh6C2vI2bC7kGIRtB8EvAOZD8ugJJM4H2zSEwmGp18fg9HbO_EFyokFh-wGTFQIBg5bBHnGVs0c3LagmYO1PvcLJIcWaD5JVc/s1600/IMG_2501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGDXYkmDelDEpzqqBQoIlfwG5YSpYLQ1IQVvfuXW8ODIzh6C2vI2bC7kGIRtB8EvAOZD8ugJJM4H2zSEwmGp18fg9HbO_EFyokFh-wGTFQIBg5bBHnGVs0c3LagmYO1PvcLJIcWaD5JVc/s400/IMG_2501.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cats warming themselves by the fire at Grandma's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPvJ0vlk7nG4eeZvdxSqO5uhmwytvnkXn1RsyeL2XUntiHRCP-xXASxXND_Sc-gizXrCFXY9k6VKb8ocxRarXkCfvGXyuwemBk37rizvqK2I1OW6Q4f-0_8dmHM0MtYWm4hUgZNqiD0I/s1600/IMG_2446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPvJ0vlk7nG4eeZvdxSqO5uhmwytvnkXn1RsyeL2XUntiHRCP-xXASxXND_Sc-gizXrCFXY9k6VKb8ocxRarXkCfvGXyuwemBk37rizvqK2I1OW6Q4f-0_8dmHM0MtYWm4hUgZNqiD0I/s320/IMG_2446.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bird feeders made from old plastic bottles....I helped out with a training for all the preschool teachers in my department (over 200). We gave ideas for lesson plans using recycled materials; my friend Molly talked about conservation of bird habitats and the different species endemic to the area while I gave instructions on the bird feeder and taught some games relative to the topic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlz8-rQMmRWk4bv39V_mhTI08nlf7BqSfSHlO4AN-UtDXy1tk_ammWCJJf4Bsf5D8adpujTPM4tYxJNDsQ2LWReB7EWZrSxYoehf3zBfjp98yRAWadpT-JtI1Ph9SDzocTjYm1E5w2xY/s1600/IMG_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlz8-rQMmRWk4bv39V_mhTI08nlf7BqSfSHlO4AN-UtDXy1tk_ammWCJJf4Bsf5D8adpujTPM4tYxJNDsQ2LWReB7EWZrSxYoehf3zBfjp98yRAWadpT-JtI1Ph9SDzocTjYm1E5w2xY/s320/IMG_2454.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Staying with Patty the night before her brother Oliver's First Communion in San Antonio.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-WhGNJiU2PLkprymPAzyjk5u2I_LCJynZbdLUl1OLV7LOFIJzZJOfVyjgL3IKSh0yfHxCJWptr55J1U07iYqzIPVggZMCN4g1J6g_XgNRLCk3y22Fk9SErE4yMCbMbiLfC9YQPv9dnY/s1600/IMG_2507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-WhGNJiU2PLkprymPAzyjk5u2I_LCJynZbdLUl1OLV7LOFIJzZJOfVyjgL3IKSh0yfHxCJWptr55J1U07iYqzIPVggZMCN4g1J6g_XgNRLCk3y22Fk9SErE4yMCbMbiLfC9YQPv9dnY/s400/IMG_2507.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I love the women who still wear the full traditional traje (including the súte on their heads). Couldn't pass up the chance to capture these six old ladies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID-PbJXvTWUZ_7-OuKsYGo36CebIl4PoD5eF9GCe_cNKDdluJmRIaEQTzFlqDyXUV4ZxVPOD3HHnwoXvAoX45tpO-yDUOf4GSOABaCk6vd0UoWjvaEWN3ytd6eMhYTeDqL9UVDzpoDYc/s1600/IMG_2522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID-PbJXvTWUZ_7-OuKsYGo36CebIl4PoD5eF9GCe_cNKDdluJmRIaEQTzFlqDyXUV4ZxVPOD3HHnwoXvAoX45tpO-yDUOf4GSOABaCk6vd0UoWjvaEWN3ytd6eMhYTeDqL9UVDzpoDYc/s320/IMG_2522.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The mass</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TNawxFVHOkryV46wAAyRHa9M3xUXX30GAa4c20qbaNsbusrD_wr0qDW_giSzR5wJuwYtRGhXRw2s8Mxs4yFSs9mN93n_jGXRZB2LePw78gvMEW-13W7x5qwqtv5CzYOA7R4qojwJgDs/s1600/IMG_2518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TNawxFVHOkryV46wAAyRHa9M3xUXX30GAa4c20qbaNsbusrD_wr0qDW_giSzR5wJuwYtRGhXRw2s8Mxs4yFSs9mN93n_jGXRZB2LePw78gvMEW-13W7x5qwqtv5CzYOA7R4qojwJgDs/s320/IMG_2518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSqNZu8J4VAr4Xdtnqla-ogmmt4wYv8a7PF9qJq8m0i2FWm5JNOQAdoi9hc9uYFINku8oOIPFRVc_F5Dfm8BfHgzruIrd-yb3qnYRC9HZODInmxdw-DabYDtDEhTnruvP6olZ3nn0Sk8/s1600/IMG_2543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwSqNZu8J4VAr4Xdtnqla-ogmmt4wYv8a7PF9qJq8m0i2FWm5JNOQAdoi9hc9uYFINku8oOIPFRVc_F5Dfm8BfHgzruIrd-yb3qnYRC9HZODInmxdw-DabYDtDEhTnruvP6olZ3nn0Sk8/s400/IMG_2543.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chico and Papa Chico</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlPw303vTvo9EJQRIin8wPB1pFhHADhvcU-KpzrDO5IxwzwBhpF1WCYEnUD6KFOwcthKemeSLd5_PydOScX9uxraTxa_oHoYsNVCeEZZ_IJeHls_4EJ7-MPcvFX86MReNKNDT4JFgNyw/s1600/IMG_2552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlPw303vTvo9EJQRIin8wPB1pFhHADhvcU-KpzrDO5IxwzwBhpF1WCYEnUD6KFOwcthKemeSLd5_PydOScX9uxraTxa_oHoYsNVCeEZZ_IJeHls_4EJ7-MPcvFX86MReNKNDT4JFgNyw/s400/IMG_2552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two birthday boys and the cakes I made them. They were happy, don't let their serious faces fool you!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8jyK0vODdf0HtCSKcIxBGUPUEJpG4UE_w14MRHTG5vg5xjcC0D3cSBrrmrR55CalnGvRqbuOboXY1tQgZO5p7NuQ64G00mSiB0LdqCP3zATl6-IRPk3Z7CUnJyMb-ols2PZzazxWfyk/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8jyK0vODdf0HtCSKcIxBGUPUEJpG4UE_w14MRHTG5vg5xjcC0D3cSBrrmrR55CalnGvRqbuOboXY1tQgZO5p7NuQ64G00mSiB0LdqCP3zATl6-IRPk3Z7CUnJyMb-ols2PZzazxWfyk/s400/IMG_2580.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Us girls<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSzyytQgvVdysxTRhprj5dt06EbNnHGj4R4sqx3be-1LtJ3716m78cgdS-BNiPL4sVatFtib6U5HtmjRqTW2zakmPWsydq3hypzxCtCv84uyXIFmkHmagImnnVJgz8_I8ciuF3MzPZM/s1600/IMG_2651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvSzyytQgvVdysxTRhprj5dt06EbNnHGj4R4sqx3be-1LtJ3716m78cgdS-BNiPL4sVatFtib6U5HtmjRqTW2zakmPWsydq3hypzxCtCv84uyXIFmkHmagImnnVJgz8_I8ciuF3MzPZM/s400/IMG_2651.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-15274008947193015072010-07-23T12:41:00.000-06:002010-07-23T12:41:03.591-06:00Being a tourist...Guatemalan style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So a couple weeks ago the extended family on Oralia's side decided to go down to San Marcos La Laguna one Friday night and stay at a place her brother owns...just an hour away but since we rarely do overnight trips anywhere it sounded pretty exciting. We were told the place had plenty of space for all of us, but in the end we only ended up being 17 instead of the whole 28. Good thing too, cause once we rolled in to town (with a trunk full of blankets, plates, Cream Soda (India K´iche', my treat, cause it's so good!), tea and bread) we found out that the 'house' was really just two rooms made from concrete blocks right next to a store that the other brother owns, meaning that it was currently being used to store a huge pallet of sugar, water and a stack of 20 foot long rebar for upcoming construction. There was a twin bed in the corner of the one room, a desk with one chair and enough spiders and random bugs to make this more of a camping experience (or jail cell), complete with a latrine out back with a sheet of corrugated metal as a makeshift two foot tall door that you had to move to go in and out. But the funny thing was I didn't even bat an eye, not surprised at all. We got to work grilling meat, tomatoes (to make chirmol, the sauce) and heating up tamalitos. Despite the rain, which caused us to grill under the roof out back, trudge through mud to get to the water and the proximity of everything which filled the house with smoke, we had a delicious dinner. The muchachos decided to go take a stroll through town with their uncle and I was privileged to be invited (instead of staying back with all the adults). I'm pretty sure we looked like an interesting bunch....5 guys between 12-19 years old and a 38 year old Guatemalan walking around with a tall blond, joking the whole time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijtlIZcG2k3kT_QIJuWzSkvroHf-doH_LdYJtEK3g5Ol5kv2Nxi9UT15Kd0CuVgkRPySsd-TZwCm2PE8rvzFVMCMU-V_VeTtsxZbCtLVyIGgt4yR5NkpzbEYfFpJUgu6hjkHM7ZZrJv0/s1600/IMG_2385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiijtlIZcG2k3kT_QIJuWzSkvroHf-doH_LdYJtEK3g5Ol5kv2Nxi9UT15Kd0CuVgkRPySsd-TZwCm2PE8rvzFVMCMU-V_VeTtsxZbCtLVyIGgt4yR5NkpzbEYfFpJUgu6hjkHM7ZZrJv0/s400/IMG_2385.JPG" width="400" /></a>We get 'home' and its time to set up sleeping arrangements. Luckily I brought a thick sleeping blanket and this ends up being the mattress for me and two of my brothers on the cement floor in the room with the sugar and water, with our feet dangling over iron rods. Everyone piled on the floor in the other room in sections according to family (the grandma got the twin bed and shared it with the newborn baby some girl just gave to her a few weeks ago to raise). As I got comfortable in my corner, arranging my pillow and blanket, I tried not to think about the creepy crawly things that most likely were watching me from the rafters above, plotting their journey down the wall to join me in my slumber. Little did I know, those things would not keep me from sleeping, instead I passed the night listening to a chorus of snoring champions (who would have known the grandma would be the worst!?), the baby who cried and cried, which the grandma had no trouble sleeping through so Oralia would have to get up to take care of her, and tossing and turning to avoid the pains of concrete support. All this made it pretty easy to get up early, accidently wash my face with the water that's used to flush the toilet instead of the water out of the faucet (the basins were close to each other and I was tired...), and head down to the lake to check out the view. On our way we wanted some coffee to eat with the bread we bought, but since San Marcos is pretty touristy the only thing that we found open was a dingy hippie place that had some for Q7 a cup!! Super expensive but since we were a big group and the men were good at bargaining, they got it down to Q3 and good thing too cause it turned out to be pretty bad tasting and served in chipped, stained cups of all shapes and sizes. Oh well. The day started out pretty cloudy but cleared up and turned out beautiful! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The view from the rocks of San Pedro volcano.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SFZH33urmRAul_bu3V8DF-RdxZWZM85-h4V1j8RyS50CniPbLhMWNBvaD7ME04MhspTSVkBELullWK_-PF9FPvD6Doni0rBm-nc3IxdmwCodHQD_mAnQA8dFO8Fufpm99ycPR7xsJDI/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SFZH33urmRAul_bu3V8DF-RdxZWZM85-h4V1j8RyS50CniPbLhMWNBvaD7ME04MhspTSVkBELullWK_-PF9FPvD6Doni0rBm-nc3IxdmwCodHQD_mAnQA8dFO8Fufpm99ycPR7xsJDI/s400/IMG_2416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Erin (a volunteer and good friend of mine who lives in San Marcos for now) took us around to the best spots.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn9HfaY0MFa5RjfUvK9Ud1KTojVjCbTbc6NlwlfbfpTqIvWq9h6v2hdy2H_pePrTkdoaJaoIA60zX4K8oH-3vaV6lho1-jUscj4WoZ2d3mFF5Pjo8f6TrBW8-g-L7prA-mPCWnx25igE/s1600/IMG_2423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinn9HfaY0MFa5RjfUvK9Ud1KTojVjCbTbc6NlwlfbfpTqIvWq9h6v2hdy2H_pePrTkdoaJaoIA60zX4K8oH-3vaV6lho1-jUscj4WoZ2d3mFF5Pjo8f6TrBW8-g-L7prA-mPCWnx25igE/s320/IMG_2423.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Lunch! Crab soup, turned out puro utz' (really good)<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG77Ndd1AtTb-Gndbg94E-HawVI-DTvu49vCa0iYVnfx3HeaxlHm8uftJ5GlEiDrT3NxuraXK-X6pAwcCjlem48Jdei4xt8-MUbvtsDePfYd8MdJFuRcNqEurnJMFSymX8-FSpaE6XlTA/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG77Ndd1AtTb-Gndbg94E-HawVI-DTvu49vCa0iYVnfx3HeaxlHm8uftJ5GlEiDrT3NxuraXK-X6pAwcCjlem48Jdei4xt8-MUbvtsDePfYd8MdJFuRcNqEurnJMFSymX8-FSpaE6XlTA/s320/IMG_2407.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The boys trying to fish.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbilYpks2F5VXQ2FJ-DguBdxZa_DD34ZITD_DEFsxr5XphnfdfZGLwVoWetM7PU27cXcz8bWgDUqvLCYl29RUqgWFBHoif-je0R9d7Rl0SW7H1l6GBy0fc9uh-wQglPJrRZFRtpjTeD_k/s1600/IMG_2429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbilYpks2F5VXQ2FJ-DguBdxZa_DD34ZITD_DEFsxr5XphnfdfZGLwVoWetM7PU27cXcz8bWgDUqvLCYl29RUqgWFBHoif-je0R9d7Rl0SW7H1l6GBy0fc9uh-wQglPJrRZFRtpjTeD_k/s400/IMG_2429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Swimming....so the lake is still super contaminated (Erin, who has her masters in oceanography with an emphasis on fecal contamination calls it a gigantic toilet bowl since there are almost no functioning water treatment plants and all waste waters run directly in to it from the many towns and cities that lie on its edge and from the whole watershed itself). Apparently this area is less contaminated so she took us here and the boys hopped in a bit to cool off. Erin just shook her head.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmv7tTvzs0C_V952pc-y7ruipXFqPa2anaFWxGXKJvNS_OytbOZqzjcGNf1iWxhPBrGSa4CIcxnH-eVW3QlUHKh3r0Nrm-7mU-MIuRdk9rZppx0DhXH8tHHhO0E3UugFgNFYOGaHDvR8/s1600/IMG_2421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmv7tTvzs0C_V952pc-y7ruipXFqPa2anaFWxGXKJvNS_OytbOZqzjcGNf1iWxhPBrGSa4CIcxnH-eVW3QlUHKh3r0Nrm-7mU-MIuRdk9rZppx0DhXH8tHHhO0E3UugFgNFYOGaHDvR8/s400/IMG_2421.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juanita (Oralia's sister) and her two little girls. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G2IA3-HEGFTRieLOuAV1zcCvoh_qs9IsULpB6z0Y6-LiDOfgPenr073UyNMRzT7nRXzpLjb_reE0GLJIsGfihk7Y32c6iu0af53sf50ZNYtw9nI7QL5myjl12ISA1kB7LUJ_RitqAnw/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5G2IA3-HEGFTRieLOuAV1zcCvoh_qs9IsULpB6z0Y6-LiDOfgPenr073UyNMRzT7nRXzpLjb_reE0GLJIsGfihk7Y32c6iu0af53sf50ZNYtw9nI7QL5myjl12ISA1kB7LUJ_RitqAnw/s320/IMG_2405.JPG" /></a></div>We came home dirty and exhausted but with big smiles on our faces :) Call me crazy but I enjoyed this much more than heading out with other foreigners for a weekend away (nothing against my fellow volunteers and other gringos). I've been fortunate to have traveled to many places and countries before Guatemala and my way of looking at things is very different from people who rarely get out. It's like the joy you get when you watch someone open a gift...you don't get anything material out that but the happiness is contagious. It's nice.Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-89422054342734415412010-07-10T17:38:00.002-06:002010-07-10T17:52:47.901-06:00Party in the USA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">I didn't mention in my last post that the end of June I took a trip home to the States, returning to Guatemala oddly enough on Independence Day. Below you'll find an overview of my time in both North Dakota and Chicago...</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">*NORTH DAKOTA*</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of my best friends from back home, Tanner, got married to the wonderful Amy and I got home just in time to go celebrate with old friends :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2S8VWTyWle14CZRXn6cUamjgBeGG7MYsjcRf8vKynJ_qKhDH8CaPd0Q2-6W9-dF3VMI_MtqwI_fN-Yap5QMyHPvSEw-ReEIhTAl8fm4UDNhT6CWBNLZXR4tlouQMwNiofkeOuGXpOkQ/s1600/taIMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb2S8VWTyWle14CZRXn6cUamjgBeGG7MYsjcRf8vKynJ_qKhDH8CaPd0Q2-6W9-dF3VMI_MtqwI_fN-Yap5QMyHPvSEw-ReEIhTAl8fm4UDNhT6CWBNLZXR4tlouQMwNiofkeOuGXpOkQ/s400/taIMG_1847.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The cake cutters. Oh yeah, that cake had no idea what was coming.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5axA4TxGEQbZeroouMuCXprXgSgtKnsANQIgppMnRYbyG9oxc4i5cRnbtDYrPTAYRw0tzeyqv5ZbcF5E0-6ft2RrKTrzjf99OnYudgcuV8OjkYraAabMmNxQn84KuCtuqxklH8BvcQM/s1600/taIMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5axA4TxGEQbZeroouMuCXprXgSgtKnsANQIgppMnRYbyG9oxc4i5cRnbtDYrPTAYRw0tzeyqv5ZbcF5E0-6ft2RrKTrzjf99OnYudgcuV8OjkYraAabMmNxQn84KuCtuqxklH8BvcQM/s320/taIMG_0880.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The beautiful couple.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvUvLbkFqZXDpOQUWWCb30WByarCWkvpeMV3fR5OWNvotkVFMPYmcOGEqz7whyphenhyphen6qJ_AKAtSbN1xAEfqQq-kIfBGUbTk81jPEHUgT-HKr9BEC87taHswZjDErXnfD6iA563lH-VJR1CEQ/s1600/taP6190278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvUvLbkFqZXDpOQUWWCb30WByarCWkvpeMV3fR5OWNvotkVFMPYmcOGEqz7whyphenhyphen6qJ_AKAtSbN1xAEfqQq-kIfBGUbTk81jPEHUgT-HKr9BEC87taHswZjDErXnfD6iA563lH-VJR1CEQ/s1600/taP6190278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvUvLbkFqZXDpOQUWWCb30WByarCWkvpeMV3fR5OWNvotkVFMPYmcOGEqz7whyphenhyphen6qJ_AKAtSbN1xAEfqQq-kIfBGUbTk81jPEHUgT-HKr9BEC87taHswZjDErXnfD6iA563lH-VJR1CEQ/s400/taP6190278.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me dancing with the lovely Lucy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hScANcZv79g90sBRUFXM5WjaahlYUYRJZ8qd2s8H2cKxhL15bH6yEWj8vVKCM2ttMwIK0kPPEDCOCWL3OPu7bCeFqnnvQ68y0pI2dggHPOyrwkHgzzPHJEDDwwEOfhcG5zINNQtUqX8/s1600/taIMG_0903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2hScANcZv79g90sBRUFXM5WjaahlYUYRJZ8qd2s8H2cKxhL15bH6yEWj8vVKCM2ttMwIK0kPPEDCOCWL3OPu7bCeFqnnvQ68y0pI2dggHPOyrwkHgzzPHJEDDwwEOfhcG5zINNQtUqX8/s400/taIMG_0903.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">North Dakota at its finest!!! I know we probably all love our home states and believe with foolish pride that we come from the best part of the US...so I won't go in to my long and prideful description of ND's wonders, but see for yourself some of the great open spaces, animals and good people. Below is a view from inside <a href="http://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Theodore Roosevelt National Park</span></b></a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltQRCB6UB0eDsySBUCN1b_P-16JnIggwIxsu5x42jomTJ60P7jNnPGu19OTa56bFxZTbTS_KInvY4avzj7FednedLqPPKgPPd-H2XJlF_i2G9x8kGXFizF7E7OIltZ2BOsRbp-8IWPKA/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltQRCB6UB0eDsySBUCN1b_P-16JnIggwIxsu5x42jomTJ60P7jNnPGu19OTa56bFxZTbTS_KInvY4avzj7FednedLqPPKgPPd-H2XJlF_i2G9x8kGXFizF7E7OIltZ2BOsRbp-8IWPKA/s400/IMG_1963.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Buffalo!!! We pulled in to a lookout point and from afar I totally thought it was a statue...really it had wondered in to the parking lot and was thoughtfully cutting the grass in front of the visitor's center.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H3ndRC3EUE0GZg346LN7DxcSBkzS4761CNyEkcU1egQjUCYdj5dVQ0pusS8Id1xZU7zwqC3Y-jnc_LpTvU-PN9eFQI687lKowgTyko5XvkTPTbeKWYWTjF9l-a0UXXpUmwHcGVLtx94/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H3ndRC3EUE0GZg346LN7DxcSBkzS4761CNyEkcU1egQjUCYdj5dVQ0pusS8Id1xZU7zwqC3Y-jnc_LpTvU-PN9eFQI687lKowgTyko5XvkTPTbeKWYWTjF9l-a0UXXpUmwHcGVLtx94/s320/IMG_1988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Taking a walk around the farm on a gorgeous summer's day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H3ndRC3EUE0GZg346LN7DxcSBkzS4761CNyEkcU1egQjUCYdj5dVQ0pusS8Id1xZU7zwqC3Y-jnc_LpTvU-PN9eFQI687lKowgTyko5XvkTPTbeKWYWTjF9l-a0UXXpUmwHcGVLtx94/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLoXVO2N9X80_RsVfGXmq_ly84WEG9kHxXYwmrUDXcsPyTNx7ZMlvpCh6FnEfQPgGuiXShT8tExn1cQrOZMc2Zk99-FI1kjzwYCSe81xsU84uRKpiwsGP62BwJ-1MqNTI2-ui1a71LTI/s1600/IMG_1931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpLoXVO2N9X80_RsVfGXmq_ly84WEG9kHxXYwmrUDXcsPyTNx7ZMlvpCh6FnEfQPgGuiXShT8tExn1cQrOZMc2Zk99-FI1kjzwYCSe81xsU84uRKpiwsGP62BwJ-1MqNTI2-ui1a71LTI/s320/IMG_1931.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and some cousins at a family reunion...how I loved showing this picture to people in Guatemala- for once I'm not the tallest!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWMcMMp2BJeKt7j0jrMUTGqyEaRihWwQHFV5223ALGEhqAS4Z594JsJogJs6sdGMP3Z3csMbAmhdHWpS_wtFph8xX0uJb8aAr3XVzXvDeLafz15Czl5vOldlBHNKuRZIQQI2fFX-jBbU/s1600/IMG_1942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCWMcMMp2BJeKt7j0jrMUTGqyEaRihWwQHFV5223ALGEhqAS4Z594JsJogJs6sdGMP3Z3csMbAmhdHWpS_wtFph8xX0uJb8aAr3XVzXvDeLafz15Czl5vOldlBHNKuRZIQQI2fFX-jBbU/s320/IMG_1942.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Being away makes it hard when you have friends back home raising kids (they grow so fast!) It was super fun to hang out with Jana and her cute kids (who knows where they got it from, hehe). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoeqSq8pS2UkP2sIrrg0JlBeo9UhPSs081cB6ToBh0Kft4RonupBfYLr8hrQ8Zaj0MqeHStAJdOB591D3TuQZAqOgxc3BOVam_9udekVKfWC6DR1ACVtQd4PHjGtiGkWuoSZaVTNQgcc/s1600/P6220329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfoeqSq8pS2UkP2sIrrg0JlBeo9UhPSs081cB6ToBh0Kft4RonupBfYLr8hrQ8Zaj0MqeHStAJdOB591D3TuQZAqOgxc3BOVam_9udekVKfWC6DR1ACVtQd4PHjGtiGkWuoSZaVTNQgcc/s320/P6220329.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This picture is from a talk I gave to kids about life in Guatemala. I loved their questions: are there killer lions there? do you eat real food? I wish I could take them with me to see it all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLR2JqpvZiDhUbkwYdz7nUyZka4vYgFFAxHGmIv3fnnXeFcsmXq_z2DPDYMPQH1sL6GeH5cIjEYuYJTFqWTq0pikfR9wrSKxwCdQmGbPR5BePfjfsfcojDECLPwidVdRi_cJ-KwzWkyQ/s1600/IMG_2098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieLR2JqpvZiDhUbkwYdz7nUyZka4vYgFFAxHGmIv3fnnXeFcsmXq_z2DPDYMPQH1sL6GeH5cIjEYuYJTFqWTq0pikfR9wrSKxwCdQmGbPR5BePfjfsfcojDECLPwidVdRi_cJ-KwzWkyQ/s320/IMG_2098.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bismarck is home to the Superslide Amusement Park, which offers a variety of attractions, our favorites being mini golf and the slide featured in the background. No visit home in the summer is complete without a race down! I'm pretty sure I would have beat Kaela had it not been for my skirt...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tKUa8Lbf_b2e9EnBseh8LU9-XYlHIOctJWKP8L5vOxkE4easgBSlwlwKW_HE2I-9IUT4Zp4Ag83dwkPUnV7d-ftL2oNq6OY5H4CWQPr32awouelvj8YbPVPYIi7l1Lja6G7No5Kcq-I/s1600/IMG_2144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tKUa8Lbf_b2e9EnBseh8LU9-XYlHIOctJWKP8L5vOxkE4easgBSlwlwKW_HE2I-9IUT4Zp4Ag83dwkPUnV7d-ftL2oNq6OY5H4CWQPr32awouelvj8YbPVPYIi7l1Lja6G7No5Kcq-I/s320/IMG_2144.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Jana and I having fun exploring <a href="http://www.fortlincoln.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Fort Lincoln State Park</span></b></a>. I can't think of anyone else I'd rather spend a romantic sunset with...wait a minute. Oh well, we had a good time exploring the cementery (the headstones give causes of death such as froze to death, drank himself to death, gunshot, or typhoid fever) and climbing around on the old military blockhouses.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O-oe9r9T9Tw6Sr_lMbs7Uzn26pKiElvULWQmAr1h4HYiP0bjpIM4YpJF51kL3nil7v-54kxpfqsJ7U-WRjI1IW8wEq4PQJJnvt0K4R5GZWRhjxOOcDBpbv25frwE2OOKkB6hOG553Ps/s1600/IMG_2040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1O-oe9r9T9Tw6Sr_lMbs7Uzn26pKiElvULWQmAr1h4HYiP0bjpIM4YpJF51kL3nil7v-54kxpfqsJ7U-WRjI1IW8wEq4PQJJnvt0K4R5GZWRhjxOOcDBpbv25frwE2OOKkB6hOG553Ps/s320/IMG_2040.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGBhVR2AfLsULQHMZZERcO2mULcD6ZgIItCc-AtWgqp-n5R6n__RUMPcvAYndGIVXceojva-4wR-9qb1k2NixTQbGFCSwMUc-PXYEMEZyUGk8J-L05n00kGnjbQ8-0LV1ML6SOvof7PE/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjGBhVR2AfLsULQHMZZERcO2mULcD6ZgIItCc-AtWgqp-n5R6n__RUMPcvAYndGIVXceojva-4wR-9qb1k2NixTQbGFCSwMUc-PXYEMEZyUGk8J-L05n00kGnjbQ8-0LV1ML6SOvof7PE/s400/IMG_2072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hanging out with the 'rents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9XkTCtzRk30i26M8PfJO3lOVKHn7JnL7JZ6C0KQnuy8gjt-vaCGwTmJbKYl8vS9lqJrkOSRNEv3_RWLZn6dYyUtHL4kTjPffaKBr-Nb-6v-vsNjv-n8-4MUD9xl_dJpckww3VinMOUI/s1600/IMG_1989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9XkTCtzRk30i26M8PfJO3lOVKHn7JnL7JZ6C0KQnuy8gjt-vaCGwTmJbKYl8vS9lqJrkOSRNEv3_RWLZn6dYyUtHL4kTjPffaKBr-Nb-6v-vsNjv-n8-4MUD9xl_dJpckww3VinMOUI/s400/IMG_1989.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">*CHICAGO*</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My brother Matt and I biked to the lakefront for a sunny picnic...yay for summer!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK47P4737T3r6bkX_lIsGyFyAjS3Pn4LnbwUhwFUrrZ1HY7qZpHDXAA8tJYi6i_xwY0INOwPDFN_Fesq3o2oVcImme-Yz8aI8aXPOi4N7xMN1LkQaAtgKirP2icKdjBFxTvazKvG-C15c/s1600/IMG_2213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK47P4737T3r6bkX_lIsGyFyAjS3Pn4LnbwUhwFUrrZ1HY7qZpHDXAA8tJYi6i_xwY0INOwPDFN_Fesq3o2oVcImme-Yz8aI8aXPOi4N7xMN1LkQaAtgKirP2icKdjBFxTvazKvG-C15c/s400/IMG_2213.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The afternoon included a walk through the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Conservatory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtolLAUcfLR4k0ssdCstKJMt5EEJt6d5EbTOUHMfmKH_ntVr7qH5efL3Bc3hwHFwbGVhVXWUdMS-OUzyhMaqrRC9ho61UPTXNuA2x5N4mZLPZ7gx13HPjT5Ah0ytagi8ANa4NYNl4080s/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtolLAUcfLR4k0ssdCstKJMt5EEJt6d5EbTOUHMfmKH_ntVr7qH5efL3Bc3hwHFwbGVhVXWUdMS-OUzyhMaqrRC9ho61UPTXNuA2x5N4mZLPZ7gx13HPjT5Ah0ytagi8ANa4NYNl4080s/s400/IMG_2255.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Bachelorette Party for Jess! So great to reconnect with the old crew from IWU.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof-URdubsRZ1068kPoZQKVkx0Chp4ripG9nfEFAU_2jmUwcHZ6PlHBu7BoXnTDe8H9cZAFmdAfSJU0PSWHrO_RcB0FVQeEZFpKGs6knp9N8WWpFTB147M7_TervPBjuhyz7W-GPGdKDw/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof-URdubsRZ1068kPoZQKVkx0Chp4ripG9nfEFAU_2jmUwcHZ6PlHBu7BoXnTDe8H9cZAFmdAfSJU0PSWHrO_RcB0FVQeEZFpKGs6knp9N8WWpFTB147M7_TervPBjuhyz7W-GPGdKDw/s400/IMG_2263.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So Jess's wedding included many Indian traditions (since her husband is originally from there). Here's her hand soon after she had the Henna artist work on them (up to her elbows! 3 1/2 hours)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8aJFbUmkXYc3dFaaLMiwyvIQWw900uhIDtcml48uvEeapvahwm66LY_rh0Whlr0wedLeuqJdpOix9m1g0tMAt2wLL8q3Hi8CXMq40m5jyfQnCl2doMFvKipULAQDWKmWg9Te2lH53HY/s1600/IMG_2257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC8aJFbUmkXYc3dFaaLMiwyvIQWw900uhIDtcml48uvEeapvahwm66LY_rh0Whlr0wedLeuqJdpOix9m1g0tMAt2wLL8q3Hi8CXMq40m5jyfQnCl2doMFvKipULAQDWKmWg9Te2lH53HY/s320/IMG_2257.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Beautiful bride :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QE2qsS-dvCOTi8xekLyKhPBZfVloJe_5qMyCPLccAsIYXCszQ_nf9uh-RoIlLXgD2mc8Ha40k7jL0UK-Ld3-tQ-cMRw2JwyfnOT1jusZPi22RcpSOBEbbFDIaYozFH72mbsMnvZXbAY/s1600/IMG_2349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QE2qsS-dvCOTi8xekLyKhPBZfVloJe_5qMyCPLccAsIYXCszQ_nf9uh-RoIlLXgD2mc8Ha40k7jL0UK-Ld3-tQ-cMRw2JwyfnOT1jusZPi22RcpSOBEbbFDIaYozFH72mbsMnvZXbAY/s320/IMG_2349.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Part of the wedding ceremony. Her sister is to left, in a sari just like the rest of the bridesmaids. The officiant is seated to the left. He would explain parts in English but mainly did the ceremony in Hindi.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrgNfD5u68FgO1bXxNw9rca8sOkXhUdkIULZ19LhFwd7OxaZZwdmj8mS9arYFtNQyzkskIqILZypirWbPx8qoxdlTE7WlnrjrHwF_LufAcPZeNLUOeyHhUSH8wlWoitgWYfN3HScXX4/s1600/IMG_2302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrgNfD5u68FgO1bXxNw9rca8sOkXhUdkIULZ19LhFwd7OxaZZwdmj8mS9arYFtNQyzkskIqILZypirWbPx8qoxdlTE7WlnrjrHwF_LufAcPZeNLUOeyHhUSH8wlWoitgWYfN3HScXX4/s400/IMG_2302.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another part of the ceremony where colored dust was put on top of her head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfbRUSVYdP9cIpnVacGpo6ndCpnUu2DlmPurXzK-flLxt9s04eISwqaTyhCuJ4NGeZrLtqS1S_K-W64g8nQyskZPT1ROWVHrSEMIVCbJ_JhOv2vbJNoemjdkY323pcLI6heU0VfhvvvE/s1600/IMG_2323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfbRUSVYdP9cIpnVacGpo6ndCpnUu2DlmPurXzK-flLxt9s04eISwqaTyhCuJ4NGeZrLtqS1S_K-W64g8nQyskZPT1ROWVHrSEMIVCbJ_JhOv2vbJNoemjdkY323pcLI6heU0VfhvvvE/s400/IMG_2323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"I now pronounce you man and wife!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1bVi1X6M12N8flgWLo84TJaJwfJOAaMKp8oIYX0VnSsRqcO8EodVsdjv8ETfIQVHkWPZTx9TwDA2B62I7SgBPksVGR2SF1XsC-d62n6hCDSfkOaGibciebcxkPwXqpdlLxs0RuieFNE/s1600/IMG_2333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO1bVi1X6M12N8flgWLo84TJaJwfJOAaMKp8oIYX0VnSsRqcO8EodVsdjv8ETfIQVHkWPZTx9TwDA2B62I7SgBPksVGR2SF1XsC-d62n6hCDSfkOaGibciebcxkPwXqpdlLxs0RuieFNE/s400/IMG_2333.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfXlljut_RC2WVPW2DuNO97LdM-tyE0d7k4GRXQWCAOdkArXm0QBOC3gUGBf5PsZXA8XUmwwFAe29V-00_rK0otMgPcQdZuWQM7iD-XcB1vbn0TyZPGDGdw7aUTDS6Xo7B45ZvcVvcZE/s1600/IMG_2337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfXlljut_RC2WVPW2DuNO97LdM-tyE0d7k4GRXQWCAOdkArXm0QBOC3gUGBf5PsZXA8XUmwwFAe29V-00_rK0otMgPcQdZuWQM7iD-XcB1vbn0TyZPGDGdw7aUTDS6Xo7B45ZvcVvcZE/s320/IMG_2337.JPG" /></a>Kellie!! We met many years ago in a freshman Spanish class (we had an amazing corner, right kellie? jajaja). </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_e2bzda1OPzJBPDSvyv1a3o4WzNZ6iEdMhcjDaMF2tVyazRta9RgnLouqF6CH54gOOFpldaAoBTqK6GvJz4MABpJCQ-Vqf35DJNQvFDktuz2zMdKZmrHIlPkra32COg4ER8mtPboJuo/s1600/IMG_2355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV_e2bzda1OPzJBPDSvyv1a3o4WzNZ6iEdMhcjDaMF2tVyazRta9RgnLouqF6CH54gOOFpldaAoBTqK6GvJz4MABpJCQ-Vqf35DJNQvFDktuz2zMdKZmrHIlPkra32COg4ER8mtPboJuo/s200/IMG_2355.JPG" width="200" /></a>Erika and I met in Miami when her study abroad group passed through and I came to visit friends of mine who were staff. A year and a half later we randomly met up again but this time at a bonfire in rural Illinois (Jess's mom's house). Such a small world! Some of you may remember that both Jess and Erika came to visit me last August in Guatemala.</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJRZ3f8IMKkwET-KsWZkvwCTn8w7mBExXqDR2WbpDXT88QLTKkfLYazhyphenhyphenH5CDUgiysvr-7hpI-2Z3TM475qQGPtdhKNjR6kDlu_clijyW0u-NUgGVkDTBeVz5LGXnqwMIVKNVjbmwShk/s1600/IMG_2265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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Sarah and Tiff made the drive up from IN to hang out and catch up. Here's us enjoying the afternoon walking around Bucktown and the Ukrainian Village.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJRZ3f8IMKkwET-KsWZkvwCTn8w7mBExXqDR2WbpDXT88QLTKkfLYazhyphenhyphenH5CDUgiysvr-7hpI-2Z3TM475qQGPtdhKNjR6kDlu_clijyW0u-NUgGVkDTBeVz5LGXnqwMIVKNVjbmwShk/s1600/IMG_2265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJRZ3f8IMKkwET-KsWZkvwCTn8w7mBExXqDR2WbpDXT88QLTKkfLYazhyphenhyphenH5CDUgiysvr-7hpI-2Z3TM475qQGPtdhKNjR6kDlu_clijyW0u-NUgGVkDTBeVz5LGXnqwMIVKNVjbmwShk/s320/IMG_2265.JPG" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danielle joined us soon after. We were roommates all four years in college until she got a new one (her husband). We have such good memories together and of course keep making new ones!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNGZ3IARncH6WPKsw6gRA5jCxEm1nDbkZ45T-n6Q2ikfLoAnz9weR_6sgsdYwEvihaKTZOljX0NlyXtFHcEwKGK_WTePhWbbRnU3pOI04-ByUaWJ53gkW1Ajqeh8sg91XXnPCzFvsFMg/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNGZ3IARncH6WPKsw6gRA5jCxEm1nDbkZ45T-n6Q2ikfLoAnz9weR_6sgsdYwEvihaKTZOljX0NlyXtFHcEwKGK_WTePhWbbRnU3pOI04-ByUaWJ53gkW1Ajqeh8sg91XXnPCzFvsFMg/s400/IMG_2270.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Great Cuban food for dinner. I even got my favorite- vaca frita! Tastes way better than it sounds, hehe. I have such great friends....here the jungle is only missing Steph and Yue'e.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNGZ3IARncH6WPKsw6gRA5jCxEm1nDbkZ45T-n6Q2ikfLoAnz9weR_6sgsdYwEvihaKTZOljX0NlyXtFHcEwKGK_WTePhWbbRnU3pOI04-ByUaWJ53gkW1Ajqeh8sg91XXnPCzFvsFMg/s1600/IMG_2270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgPkTPSO0aSlv_AT37uZfojYLOUi4Z1J9I9mD6KVdzgq4aOLBS2ymUs7wWN0FAQVud1-Bz4cOpIPEq2L5ySw1cWvRaO4MF5XYgqvLWHb6Z-KIL0YFTJbxq0sMgWtRLRQCYuVVc9KZuuA/s1600/IMG_5963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdgPkTPSO0aSlv_AT37uZfojYLOUi4Z1J9I9mD6KVdzgq4aOLBS2ymUs7wWN0FAQVud1-Bz4cOpIPEq2L5ySw1cWvRaO4MF5XYgqvLWHb6Z-KIL0YFTJbxq0sMgWtRLRQCYuVVc9KZuuA/s400/IMG_5963.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I also have great brothers! I unfortunately didn't get a picture with Brad this time but here I am with Matt before taking off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dYart3Oassb8TOALh7dITXmDQFsxAPPLvekoelUwwbfndsmNTiZH4vnxaW932V26VBGKD0oABW09RgoZ8uT7I1Cx-lewoM_ZhZdCzWGqtCN1OH3e9Mrl1Hev-lTZl2Bf9ryptr-OWwc/s1600/IMG_2273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9dYart3Oassb8TOALh7dITXmDQFsxAPPLvekoelUwwbfndsmNTiZH4vnxaW932V26VBGKD0oABW09RgoZ8uT7I1Cx-lewoM_ZhZdCzWGqtCN1OH3e9Mrl1Hev-lTZl2Bf9ryptr-OWwc/s320/IMG_2273.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And that's all folks! Now I'm back to daily torrents of rain, lots of black beans, tortillas, washing my clothes by hand (I think I washed every day at home in the washing machine just cause I loved how easy it was), world cup final fever, traveling in camionetas and learning new things around every corner.</div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-61924167765328256912010-07-08T14:53:00.001-06:002010-07-08T15:07:12.053-06:00The World I KnowYet again there's been a lapse in my blogging activities...whoops. Things (as always) have been pretty crazy with me, but life's good and I wouldn't have it any other way :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kudos to Mama Lupe for helping me with my birthday bash. We toasted ingredients for my favorite dish, pepian de pollo. Below you'll see dried chiles, tomatoes, miltomates, bread, onions, sesame seeds and pumpkin seeds. It turned out fantastic! Oh I should mention that we started prep for this party on Fri May 28 (to have it on Sat), of course the two days that the tropical cyclone Agatha hit Guatemala hard. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">More on that to follow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGGEOoomnkNXdx_qP57DsOBeafUexs9AagNmPt4Y8dAHnqDgVCabNXngtcC2I22byCbs1aksSdVBbnTotxhJcjzUZpSu_Dq-HYIjGEplAtABBKWKdDM1d80KV_mzDU0xtM1bDqbt_a74/s1600/IMG_1487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigGGEOoomnkNXdx_qP57DsOBeafUexs9AagNmPt4Y8dAHnqDgVCabNXngtcC2I22byCbs1aksSdVBbnTotxhJcjzUZpSu_Dq-HYIjGEplAtABBKWKdDM1d80KV_mzDU0xtM1bDqbt_a74/s320/IMG_1487.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I am blessed to have such wonderful people in my life here. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Juanita's not in this picture but she was so great that she went out during the storm to pick the leaves from the corn stalks so we could wrap up tamalitos in them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTogQy_L9LaK3CGGmpuwcPth8b7QV94JM_28IqeHlkg4KZGbdqKmY7oRkylGFgwJY7E2wUS9RCbB2o1IGsEexmFJI6B5agtVMKDNMAOWKsF-zOvXzesDXdzxkJffytLgXBlnPUWvaAJE/s1600/IMG_6573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-GVvn28j2UfyNcXy-EUOyRIot73GFK9vEuVIr8gMfGu1045Aa1plVOGG50i36qp2l1GQIG62nsQOzLfGgXuWWy0y_JX21AkhrlYMgn_Ny2tG4u5ji-n_LSStsTh5wlGqP8AMLhkST6A/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-GVvn28j2UfyNcXy-EUOyRIot73GFK9vEuVIr8gMfGu1045Aa1plVOGG50i36qp2l1GQIG62nsQOzLfGgXuWWy0y_JX21AkhrlYMgn_Ny2tG4u5ji-n_LSStsTh5wlGqP8AMLhkST6A/s320/IMG_6496.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Picture with the family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-GVvn28j2UfyNcXy-EUOyRIot73GFK9vEuVIr8gMfGu1045Aa1plVOGG50i36qp2l1GQIG62nsQOzLfGgXuWWy0y_JX21AkhrlYMgn_Ny2tG4u5ji-n_LSStsTh5wlGqP8AMLhkST6A/s1600/IMG_6496.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTogQy_L9LaK3CGGmpuwcPth8b7QV94JM_28IqeHlkg4KZGbdqKmY7oRkylGFgwJY7E2wUS9RCbB2o1IGsEexmFJI6B5agtVMKDNMAOWKsF-zOvXzesDXdzxkJffytLgXBlnPUWvaAJE/s1600/IMG_6573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiTogQy_L9LaK3CGGmpuwcPth8b7QV94JM_28IqeHlkg4KZGbdqKmY7oRkylGFgwJY7E2wUS9RCbB2o1IGsEexmFJI6B5agtVMKDNMAOWKsF-zOvXzesDXdzxkJffytLgXBlnPUWvaAJE/s320/IMG_6573.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So many of you might know what happened during Agatha, but if not click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Agatha_(2010)">here</a>. The storm came just two days after one of our active volcanoes, Pacaya, erupted, and caused immense destruction throughout the country with flooding, mudslides and even a giant <a href="http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2010/06/100603-science-guatemala-sinkhole-2010-humans-caused/">"sinkhole"</a>. Luckily my community was spared from losing any people, but the park sustained significant infrastructure damage. Here's what happened to the hydroelectric dam... I have a post back in April that shows what it looked like before.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPZTlEv5EHVAkMTky0c8PaQHhZ67UytkfDhvMB7DPikdXNqX5IfyncYSpPyFJ6AlckaKuERt-nzgtjKow_fQ23u1saC5I7iXY92oAV3a1zpjynDMasDk3A3mwMWXHZDkLN0t_iMUj4X4/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPZTlEv5EHVAkMTky0c8PaQHhZ67UytkfDhvMB7DPikdXNqX5IfyncYSpPyFJ6AlckaKuERt-nzgtjKow_fQ23u1saC5I7iXY92oAV3a1zpjynDMasDk3A3mwMWXHZDkLN0t_iMUj4X4/s320/IMG_1493.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our entrance was completely washed away and one of our concrete arches is now falling down because the land underneeth it was washed in to the river.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltBzx1CWKYkCEG1yicZVWbUudm9A5NqoQguLfMCj_WDGTM03yBm1_QXbOv0bCLUlRIatoIKQ4h-3TyGcj6h8wdlvqBQ1B_NAISJ_1i6DMB8enKvVP7GbOHTq4x6bm9aGRXms8OjaWbLI/s1600/IMG_1561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltBzx1CWKYkCEG1yicZVWbUudm9A5NqoQguLfMCj_WDGTM03yBm1_QXbOv0bCLUlRIatoIKQ4h-3TyGcj6h8wdlvqBQ1B_NAISJ_1i6DMB8enKvVP7GbOHTq4x6bm9aGRXms8OjaWbLI/s320/IMG_1561.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's the turbine and generator buried under mud.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtyTufVC-jw1GQtSQrNEF13v_vbwEJlg1v1jAVN7xOvUy6CDyu3Qm-7TiQQABJ1T0mQezjYppj3oTYNv6Qwx7Gqu8QBFdJYHsHNxzoZqYhP1PR_WK1GrFXhVqlCeG4voI-dcaLwkU4Q/s1600/IMG_1583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZtyTufVC-jw1GQtSQrNEF13v_vbwEJlg1v1jAVN7xOvUy6CDyu3Qm-7TiQQABJ1T0mQezjYppj3oTYNv6Qwx7Gqu8QBFdJYHsHNxzoZqYhP1PR_WK1GrFXhVqlCeG4voI-dcaLwkU4Q/s320/IMG_1583.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We didn't have any power at the park for 5 days, so we all pitched in a hand to clean up. I joined the men fixing the bridge and entrance. Here Don Martin and I are exhausted from shoveling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfuztGik0E1O615qga2oBkzviSbiz5Llb8S8PLAhAW-hun_33tDt9hepN3dc_cDIS5x2BSIrSrUgt0iTfqtRbia7EZmYIXzGy6u-aYIwURcoozqm2_cB_ySxmEQQpLUguzEkliBTVT78/s1600/IMG_1660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFfuztGik0E1O615qga2oBkzviSbiz5Llb8S8PLAhAW-hun_33tDt9hepN3dc_cDIS5x2BSIrSrUgt0iTfqtRbia7EZmYIXzGy6u-aYIwURcoozqm2_cB_ySxmEQQpLUguzEkliBTVT78/s320/IMG_1660.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Luckily the roads got cleared a bit and I was able to head to San Antonio for a visit. I love these kids!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OzMl-hYL7cCyf2MWD7wSD5_o0lLDjlJztygwLwHsj4h4qSGLBPXHMCh1TgrL104oDY7jnDEXZu5hZoO_88nT6XPkgcs318WGMjHrBdY1h2_xLp3iLUIUz-20RYXh5-Rh9cLMz7GG5Xw/s1600/IMG_1457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5OzMl-hYL7cCyf2MWD7wSD5_o0lLDjlJztygwLwHsj4h4qSGLBPXHMCh1TgrL104oDY7jnDEXZu5hZoO_88nT6XPkgcs318WGMjHrBdY1h2_xLp3iLUIUz-20RYXh5-Rh9cLMz7GG5Xw/s320/IMG_1457.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Randomly hanging out with my co-worker's mom while making dinner. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Each day brings surprises and new experiences.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUn8ooyoY4bqO96oitHaoGaaQPE3h1A63oQKH9G954dek0OLdjCUI-YH6GWNOs0_k-xeE_wCkdAjGWAkPitcZEpyiTJGlzi1MWGOjOMIgOiCkfYvJ41-llue2tiag-WEAFguPUQFrAoM/s1600/IMG_1719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUn8ooyoY4bqO96oitHaoGaaQPE3h1A63oQKH9G954dek0OLdjCUI-YH6GWNOs0_k-xeE_wCkdAjGWAkPitcZEpyiTJGlzi1MWGOjOMIgOiCkfYvJ41-llue2tiag-WEAFguPUQFrAoM/s320/IMG_1719.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chico, Eddy and I took off on a Friday after work and class to hike up to a gigantic rock on the mountainside. Here we're taking a shortcut through someone's corn field.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsare9XylXfQ3dR6MiMJ7-TmM7bPC5ztup0HC_6Qxmaucfd0qoNz7AH35mNf6K8Ti5LHkFbEJNcsDt_txJkpZHP6qmJW6AMqHyw4Lzn5vY-5hTo6sOIKJd26JpnLkIQ6bG2GJYmnTtCr4/s1600/IMG_1730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsare9XylXfQ3dR6MiMJ7-TmM7bPC5ztup0HC_6Qxmaucfd0qoNz7AH35mNf6K8Ti5LHkFbEJNcsDt_txJkpZHP6qmJW6AMqHyw4Lzn5vY-5hTo6sOIKJd26JpnLkIQ6bG2GJYmnTtCr4/s320/IMG_1730.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">My first baby shower in Guatemala. Exactly like the ones back home, except for the food (tostadas and tamales). We even played the guess the size of the mom's tummy game with string and the race to burst balloons between two people (below)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVECkSTsIyNlm9buct4dEREyQ0bo2jb8y7A-RodFc2km6jPEpKMbAScywtx8w30YCir7O85CxDD6Tb9MqeM7FYl9QE-tVIBmev6cDtkUsai-Q0hgGpkiVe93lbghNKTpVEVZq4mesP5N0/s1600/IMG_1767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVECkSTsIyNlm9buct4dEREyQ0bo2jb8y7A-RodFc2km6jPEpKMbAScywtx8w30YCir7O85CxDD6Tb9MqeM7FYl9QE-tVIBmev6cDtkUsai-Q0hgGpkiVe93lbghNKTpVEVZq4mesP5N0/s320/IMG_1767.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had the pleasure of hosting a group of Canadian tourism students for two weeks in the park. They were amazing volunteers and helped make signs, clean the trail, paint the office, plant trees, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW24Q8Qu2VEYKgXrQYXiCWTph12ns_wllFDtGAjs_tEIHnR-O-pJvhOoa8qhIDnI6vgtOEpDPemqCp2EhsYbACzNNbPYtT1vPvDHdQD0c44V40cZpq8Z2bF5U8ac_tFjLznaHil8q0698/s1600/IMG_1837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW24Q8Qu2VEYKgXrQYXiCWTph12ns_wllFDtGAjs_tEIHnR-O-pJvhOoa8qhIDnI6vgtOEpDPemqCp2EhsYbACzNNbPYtT1vPvDHdQD0c44V40cZpq8Z2bF5U8ac_tFjLznaHil8q0698/s320/IMG_1837.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fair in San Antonio Aguas Calientes. Could not believe the men spent all day Saturday cutting huge pieces of plastic to make this decoration for their street. The design is a depiction of St. Anthony.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlqEa9DP7nDuVVnIDe0VHDmUD5myFOypcT_cNMJyInLTGIQqhyjT7PdpWb-_QYDxDeK0QhBcqH6b3TvbYeDpRGqxiMzHkjsvbCTnGFv-uyBoeRfGHE_3aT1Xh1y1nuZY-NNTKMf1YBU4/s1600/IMG_1758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizlqEa9DP7nDuVVnIDe0VHDmUD5myFOypcT_cNMJyInLTGIQqhyjT7PdpWb-_QYDxDeK0QhBcqH6b3TvbYeDpRGqxiMzHkjsvbCTnGFv-uyBoeRfGHE_3aT1Xh1y1nuZY-NNTKMf1YBU4/s320/IMG_1758.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My dear friend Patty gave me this bag for my birthday. She tried to make it to the party, but like all of the volunteers I invited she also couldn't make it due to the storm, so we celebrated later. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fr51BMhjqFAo_3W8EijDRToBCr_CQRqTkp5dkezodpNPyaZC7TjijLQupeAQpK0ezDZ0VlGotNTni1aA9t5aknwydLuxXJbCtE-Ke4v22asAu-vUG1spcgttdJSnfIdcZQI23WNPguA/s1600/IMG_1740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_fr51BMhjqFAo_3W8EijDRToBCr_CQRqTkp5dkezodpNPyaZC7TjijLQupeAQpK0ezDZ0VlGotNTni1aA9t5aknwydLuxXJbCtE-Ke4v22asAu-vUG1spcgttdJSnfIdcZQI23WNPguA/s320/IMG_1740.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Danika and Fatima all ready for their brother's birthday party.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREA5anD_JWpghFAFM3oMVaFBy0N8Uqvr8fo0XGUSRjbCOIeTl2j-sViW_FM-FXLz0SQlJ1h1hOMEre1kHCwwfFTnWEuRF7XS7Es4AfgWxW3XObBClPIDbEbdJ3ToLMUWD1ZHqD7t6OrA/s1600/IMG_1785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREA5anD_JWpghFAFM3oMVaFBy0N8Uqvr8fo0XGUSRjbCOIeTl2j-sViW_FM-FXLz0SQlJ1h1hOMEre1kHCwwfFTnWEuRF7XS7Es4AfgWxW3XObBClPIDbEbdJ3ToLMUWD1ZHqD7t6OrA/s320/IMG_1785.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So this was the craziest weekend ever...had a get together with the fam Friday night, took off Saturday morning for San Antonio to hang out with Patty and the old fam, left early Sun morning to get back in time for the baby shower, made cakes all afternoon and then spent the evening celebrating Johnny's 12th birthday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It was great :) <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle71DHlRMRErImbldLgdiBssGmUxpgZtAlaq7hLXjOC1nB3m31d7oB1QrMszF7pIahhmyubfgcB9f3wIWgkhqerdTOdEucP0DvA-TDPIuxxxb_sKePhVICJ3jswJCB79qeW2W6tQajs/s1600/IMG_1799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTle71DHlRMRErImbldLgdiBssGmUxpgZtAlaq7hLXjOC1nB3m31d7oB1QrMszF7pIahhmyubfgcB9f3wIWgkhqerdTOdEucP0DvA-TDPIuxxxb_sKePhVICJ3jswJCB79qeW2W6tQajs/s320/IMG_1799.JPG" /></a></div></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-778416344198371492010-05-25T09:37:00.000-06:002010-05-25T09:37:16.088-06:00Corazón del Bosque: through the lens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium;">A while back I took a bunch of pictures of the park for an upcoming publication from CONAP (the National Council of Protected Areas) and thought I’d share them with you all. Also included are a couple photos a Canadian volunteer took and gave to us to use for publicity. It’s not a big park nor does it have crazy attractions (like incredible views, volcanoes, ruins, adventure activities etc.) but I’ve grown to love its simplistic beauty :)</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Xb0uMdk1yfGA-64wE7Us_vQn-n9bifkOsc2RioSCnt7lRiHu8izGzSwYvZqQmvmuFdHtjSsvGadzsA7HV2LjlWP4bSc5_EcZj39l4OXv3zsuIMA6MXhjaVRenuYVzbPElCQJ6rfdwc/s1600/Bosque+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0Xb0uMdk1yfGA-64wE7Us_vQn-n9bifkOsc2RioSCnt7lRiHu8izGzSwYvZqQmvmuFdHtjSsvGadzsA7HV2LjlWP4bSc5_EcZj39l4OXv3zsuIMA6MXhjaVRenuYVzbPElCQJ6rfdwc/s400/Bosque+I.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF20Y1pbh7Djly-4iNK-rhPPj-xEGPuzM0pZ5JOh2bNi-T6z5VBQzasRgJ4yGjqp7jcSffzkQGKMpx8-IDBETenSfp31hWQ4siyZTHXYQ5gemJlF8ko3e__7A8IZcK3ad9UvXhiSPLjU/s1600/Bosque+II.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrF20Y1pbh7Djly-4iNK-rhPPj-xEGPuzM0pZ5JOh2bNi-T6z5VBQzasRgJ4yGjqp7jcSffzkQGKMpx8-IDBETenSfp31hWQ4siyZTHXYQ5gemJlF8ko3e__7A8IZcK3ad9UvXhiSPLjU/s400/Bosque+II.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX371rxfoQ4G0ABlqkEOYJ9EZKPVpIpFcae57_-AzhPyFIe2-gKlb7PdggHpJ8KNWnlN2gHD5n1LtQU2N5XxKhWkr88gbgW8p642galLyri93vlYSRV_VRRNRckRKzC0OSmP2yCIfG6I/s1600/Bosque+III.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDX371rxfoQ4G0ABlqkEOYJ9EZKPVpIpFcae57_-AzhPyFIe2-gKlb7PdggHpJ8KNWnlN2gHD5n1LtQU2N5XxKhWkr88gbgW8p642galLyri93vlYSRV_VRRNRckRKzC0OSmP2yCIfG6I/s400/Bosque+III.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL_di1uIAlpIlY6mig4OCh7AZBzJiaxC8fegKDb-yHYnqsfLd3kxSExtTW9LZOoVlkMURMjGfxOizFiQQFoGkOm4ZimPuIbWYIqQmr4123ecbHIOSmH7W0o-TzFEpI4kS5_8L06P3SpM/s1600/Bosque+IX.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiL_di1uIAlpIlY6mig4OCh7AZBzJiaxC8fegKDb-yHYnqsfLd3kxSExtTW9LZOoVlkMURMjGfxOizFiQQFoGkOm4ZimPuIbWYIqQmr4123ecbHIOSmH7W0o-TzFEpI4kS5_8L06P3SpM/s400/Bosque+IX.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFoDdOR_YFX-8Wqcgl5s3x7cmHiJ2shfILgKMm4MdBQ2-a6Xocv8F_xQed06W5KHE-RUjxPlOq68gfEp4WkMgmIkyyQ0UMwB8eGcA-c-fWxfd_jEl9AlAIF6p9r2r6nV9x-lzXT8ghD0/s1600/Sender+V.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFoDdOR_YFX-8Wqcgl5s3x7cmHiJ2shfILgKMm4MdBQ2-a6Xocv8F_xQed06W5KHE-RUjxPlOq68gfEp4WkMgmIkyyQ0UMwB8eGcA-c-fWxfd_jEl9AlAIF6p9r2r6nV9x-lzXT8ghD0/s400/Sender+V.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq0LJvTS24ft0AakxszSIhvQJZBdwPX9vc7BRl0jtkY7ujmkhOXqvWQQcHgAkyqmNd8QazNHFWLNzEQWWhcIZbF_xxdASCD06RRjBQbhXLxY3cR0svdeaGD6n7pGGEpf3uu_CO7pGxv8/s1600/Sendero+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieq0LJvTS24ft0AakxszSIhvQJZBdwPX9vc7BRl0jtkY7ujmkhOXqvWQQcHgAkyqmNd8QazNHFWLNzEQWWhcIZbF_xxdASCD06RRjBQbhXLxY3cR0svdeaGD6n7pGGEpf3uu_CO7pGxv8/s400/Sendero+I.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuptILhPpaGH9qbnrjvSxiu4KdW0z_unnpamQkPF51JejMzKo22FvBDd-yDcdiD72KWvuM50XHwQXluOKoLr6Akk46L4X13CSxlMifjOh-BkS3hZVjF5GPqlyl7r1kdekXdrw_IeaEx5o/s1600/Tikalito+I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuptILhPpaGH9qbnrjvSxiu4KdW0z_unnpamQkPF51JejMzKo22FvBDd-yDcdiD72KWvuM50XHwQXluOKoLr6Akk46L4X13CSxlMifjOh-BkS3hZVjF5GPqlyl7r1kdekXdrw_IeaEx5o/s400/Tikalito+I.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPLQ7Cl8BNrZT6PvZRuaGWrAWUGaJSuM0HP242AGEvmsfkJ8q_C_gJtDckY1A_rU5AWMzAbjMw_q3GqNA3MMfLI4Mgkns_raLPpyDnn2jMhxgGzEWFA0jU4L-ofaLnWbCVSgfOaOWR34/s1600/DSC09480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYPLQ7Cl8BNrZT6PvZRuaGWrAWUGaJSuM0HP242AGEvmsfkJ8q_C_gJtDckY1A_rU5AWMzAbjMw_q3GqNA3MMfLI4Mgkns_raLPpyDnn2jMhxgGzEWFA0jU4L-ofaLnWbCVSgfOaOWR34/s400/DSC09480.JPG" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX8wzvoE0B7uAfBv65MfoGmecdk86zbKBl2V3dExVRfNyLZBXLDYosz4N_X6XvtkSuZTLdjwGbOyE_0_g11Xxj2F-CjK7Qkfuemj4eddJTk4R_6IkJdA08jiUjwCLo9MuCzKZiBc6ogQ/s1600/logotipo%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX8wzvoE0B7uAfBv65MfoGmecdk86zbKBl2V3dExVRfNyLZBXLDYosz4N_X6XvtkSuZTLdjwGbOyE_0_g11Xxj2F-CjK7Qkfuemj4eddJTk4R_6IkJdA08jiUjwCLo9MuCzKZiBc6ogQ/s320/logotipo%5B1%5D.jpg" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-768628170076213626.post-4255735924339238792010-05-19T17:04:00.001-06:002010-05-19T17:14:18.345-06:00De todo un poco<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Oops…I can’t believe how I let time get away from me this past month. If I would have been a bit more </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">pilas</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (on top of things) I would have written some great play by plays because there’s been quite a bit of interesting things in and around the bosque. Since I strive not to be a long-winded person, I’ll give the quick summary…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Beach</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHv93GxXkrRgHmtJlRT0Y3qbDihPzvgiC4Lbkzt6k7jjBU3DYd9y7L7FzUGJ2PjrDf9LwL0m73g0S_XAAk8RdlrMahDSZLSVmsSA874apLw-LkMGWCVzsJoVpPqNoFJmtPQe_fZHKyqg/s1600/IMG_0966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHv93GxXkrRgHmtJlRT0Y3qbDihPzvgiC4Lbkzt6k7jjBU3DYd9y7L7FzUGJ2PjrDf9LwL0m73g0S_XAAk8RdlrMahDSZLSVmsSA874apLw-LkMGWCVzsJoVpPqNoFJmtPQe_fZHKyqg/s200/IMG_0966.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ok this has nothing to do with the craziness but I just wanted to share my excitement at the fact I was able to go to the ocean two times this past month! The first was down to Hawaii (just past the famous Monterico) for a combination lifeguard training, </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">despedida</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (goodbye party) for a fellow volunteer and fabulous dip in the ocean (although the current was unfortunately strong). Accompanying me was the crazy duo of Jamie and Josh…talk about attention when you have three tall </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">canches</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (blondes) walking around together! The second time was a day trip with the park staff to Champerico. The waves were strong here too so we just played a bit, ate some fish and spent the afternoon at a pool. Even with 3 applications of sunscreen I came home the lovely shade of a tomato.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrjvZXeuXj0cfeLibBK4KD8RyDObhPTOZLBqP0BSSDp8l0IpAuuPQ45rQa5PoHj4tvxQtq6seSkDaFgWsGB93n2i062a9sOquW7VMQyh7LjaI4ZirpfAwEuhI1B2C832OQXCt4eTMUrs/s1600/IMG_1167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrjvZXeuXj0cfeLibBK4KD8RyDObhPTOZLBqP0BSSDp8l0IpAuuPQ45rQa5PoHj4tvxQtq6seSkDaFgWsGB93n2i062a9sOquW7VMQyh7LjaI4ZirpfAwEuhI1B2C832OQXCt4eTMUrs/s320/IMG_1167.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-PJJWZVhcEVTS3pfSnIGsxPnmrvAwvuZb-06eoRhIDJMabsMUzBh1bzjqLSiucdgGoAI61u_MtCpNd87kQ4Hfgsotn6rv_-hmbxtffNltauG5NPu6CwMnshuDaCEjfR7DrHJawKZctg/s1600/IMG_1146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-PJJWZVhcEVTS3pfSnIGsxPnmrvAwvuZb-06eoRhIDJMabsMUzBh1bzjqLSiucdgGoAI61u_MtCpNd87kQ4Hfgsotn6rv_-hmbxtffNltauG5NPu6CwMnshuDaCEjfR7DrHJawKZctg/s320/IMG_1146.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Wedding</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q0OqAlUNz5hjKQzp9PDFKV8rLJZfHKdteJa46ifQOrhM_Ub3acVghvXrLe2nVtmCgfC-6iq7IwTLh36RddHByM7URc4d7bCaM07TOyBxPFTpRfkobrRUeQwgiEpfJxUIOr58HFAoccM/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q0OqAlUNz5hjKQzp9PDFKV8rLJZfHKdteJa46ifQOrhM_Ub3acVghvXrLe2nVtmCgfC-6iq7IwTLh36RddHByM7URc4d7bCaM07TOyBxPFTpRfkobrRUeQwgiEpfJxUIOr58HFAoccM/s200/IMG_1121.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Yep, another wedding. This time it was Oralia’s brother who got married. We went to his civil ceremony on a Tuesday and I got to see and take part in several of the traditional customs (bringing food for the family, gifts, the outfit the bride will wear on the other wedding day- green corte, white lacy blouse and veil, and not to the mention the important advice part where all the elders share their wisdom with the couple- I have to admit I was a little offended when they were telling the bride that she better put the right amount of sugar in the husband’s coffee, iron his pants and shirts correctly, keep a separate soap ball for washing his clothes, etc but they seem like a more progressive couple than that so I shouldn’t worry.) As crazy as all that sounds, nothing compares to the actual wedding day. I don’t want to go in to too much detail, but let’s just say that as we’re sitting in the decorated church waiting for the mass to start, the priest comes out and says that the ceremony won’t be taking place!!! Everyone is shocked (just like in the movies). It’s a drama-filled story complete with an ex-girlfriend coming to ruin the day. I felt horrible mostly for the bride (she’s super sweet and of course was so excited for her wedding day). The party for 400 guests had already been arranged so that still took place (they were technically married anyways). Kind of hard to celebrate with everyone upset (mainly at the priest for listening to the crazy rantings of the ex) but there was still the meal, cake, live marimba, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">dancing and so forth.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENa-8DoyNlDB0jIMr8toBaHEKACGd6-VVdLjvVYxAktzXJa0PB4acqr16-O69_Fk95Muf3UeiqME7W2JsAKzKo7eQHOWqMBqoAbXvEq3h68ltwUqrwkXKIXb6jyvqNUsABQwtagClDXA/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENa-8DoyNlDB0jIMr8toBaHEKACGd6-VVdLjvVYxAktzXJa0PB4acqr16-O69_Fk95Muf3UeiqME7W2JsAKzKo7eQHOWqMBqoAbXvEq3h68ltwUqrwkXKIXb6jyvqNUsABQwtagClDXA/s320/IMG_1073.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8_rbXld-xQTmPQ5fK_OszqJzZwU7ucr0U2VD4rB176S09irLNI2yBWE49dIW13ZG4c24QHh9CszK84Y3UleiWCmMZ05P_E9320vQEEJO1i4VXZ24MPzqEj33MJ5FKeJwtt7b892MbTc/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb8_rbXld-xQTmPQ5fK_OszqJzZwU7ucr0U2VD4rB176S09irLNI2yBWE49dIW13ZG4c24QHh9CszK84Y3UleiWCmMZ05P_E9320vQEEJO1i4VXZ24MPzqEj33MJ5FKeJwtt7b892MbTc/s320/IMG_1050.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV353Ma8x_HuuRjk5srpS_bE33d8JoRw7ZwVYcyIQXo_SLu2gxhy_ytknER-Anu2J0cus-Lx-zGfVzKpXpF8OnSN3fVrw2bdnTqnpiAzLXkNZCRdj8fTc2jOl-9GpQt6rK3YF2fLC7fw/s1600/IMG_1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBV353Ma8x_HuuRjk5srpS_bE33d8JoRw7ZwVYcyIQXo_SLu2gxhy_ytknER-Anu2J0cus-Lx-zGfVzKpXpF8OnSN3fVrw2bdnTqnpiAzLXkNZCRdj8fTc2jOl-9GpQt6rK3YF2fLC7fw/s320/IMG_1014.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Fútbol</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The World Cup is just around the corner!!! I’m getting super excited :) Lately I’ve had the chance to go to a few games (almost all in Novillero) but last weekend I made it to the Guatemalan finals and sadly watched the Super Chivos (Xela) lose horribly to a team from the capital (Municipal, aka the Rojos). We sat in the rain and cold all afternoon only to see them end the night with a score of 0-4. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6ZOP9QoFmtQFbYjKoi7cX8PI9qVYUjF2BdxCF26PG-FoIhWz62Pu6mLKTuTu3EQGr-vb935TMpCEQGvubaUJipptod8waA7Qa80nsQsLiHcNsfnCTXfKO485ayJb-ubAS3qH_XToJX8/s1600/IMG_1276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX6ZOP9QoFmtQFbYjKoi7cX8PI9qVYUjF2BdxCF26PG-FoIhWz62Pu6mLKTuTu3EQGr-vb935TMpCEQGvubaUJipptod8waA7Qa80nsQsLiHcNsfnCTXfKO485ayJb-ubAS3qH_XToJX8/s320/IMG_1276.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCBi_SWz9orQQzPDHZiJXVFEbF8itVkY8QIDafCO8pkduHRAsVEzE-5sH4r7nFmp62F1UGFkPQGbesPECje_QFLXxqjFEqDsU9-m-nxBELzq6wJUjcy7UpCyqrBkpgCzMR8nuOjIOy_I/s1600/IMG_1278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSCBi_SWz9orQQzPDHZiJXVFEbF8itVkY8QIDafCO8pkduHRAsVEzE-5sH4r7nFmp62F1UGFkPQGbesPECje_QFLXxqjFEqDsU9-m-nxBELzq6wJUjcy7UpCyqrBkpgCzMR8nuOjIOy_I/s320/IMG_1278.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Luckily the next day the boys played in the finals in Novillero and won 5-4!</span></span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWMsK3JZ8-Adw7O_D_JoPWgbcUWdPRH0uQVy4u-jpl1sCXGKXrW_hXyM0xlyaprkjsTx1ld-FLVhLR4MCGhTKM85eiSgqALvlxqpb9jS4ANCOCaI3umYU4sZTWVJmiEK0RIgsEdXbCDs/s1600/IMG_1295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicWMsK3JZ8-Adw7O_D_JoPWgbcUWdPRH0uQVy4u-jpl1sCXGKXrW_hXyM0xlyaprkjsTx1ld-FLVhLR4MCGhTKM85eiSgqALvlxqpb9jS4ANCOCaI3umYU4sZTWVJmiEK0RIgsEdXbCDs/s320/IMG_1295.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6XQRDv4ZA5eyzYWQuXDX_zP73Fo-OczVGXQO3u9N70i7hePyBcuEOIqb-wbkP5_xziMftMy7GRc6rjlSfS0yQKzfBb3dE1uqp9hQ63rtNEgsPVUM31amvgV2AemCh1u2M2jgs7ko7jM/s1600/IMG_1300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6XQRDv4ZA5eyzYWQuXDX_zP73Fo-OczVGXQO3u9N70i7hePyBcuEOIqb-wbkP5_xziMftMy7GRc6rjlSfS0yQKzfBb3dE1uqp9hQ63rtNEgsPVUM31amvgV2AemCh1u2M2jgs7ko7jM/s320/IMG_1300.JPG" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Birthdays</b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV23rfmCdsgHPl6LORdUPIlA87501gTrCrGvY3zKEtJaWoh1-TLp-TvjhBdDw21bA3j2bP-soWENMAm1TZge46Mn9MR06noPCMhK64peBy8gypQXNUBlRuH46v1fJazLdXsPueqN3Zs0/s1600/IMG_1228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyV23rfmCdsgHPl6LORdUPIlA87501gTrCrGvY3zKEtJaWoh1-TLp-TvjhBdDw21bA3j2bP-soWENMAm1TZge46Mn9MR06noPCMhK64peBy8gypQXNUBlRuH46v1fJazLdXsPueqN3Zs0/s200/IMG_1228.JPG" width="200" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love birthdays. Mostly because it represents a time where everyone comes together to celebrate someone they all love. And also because it implies good food, cake, presents and if you’re lucky, a piñata….hehe. I am fortunate to live with a family that shares the same mentality; we are mad birthday partiers. Here are pics from the past two birthdays (Chico and Mama Lupe).</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I made chocolate cake for Chico and the most amazing brownies (got the recipe from the US ambassador here) for Mama Lupe.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeVM99lgo7gDu5SrXEr7F5gWYW5jgP4pulTlsay3LblD3VRvINFvfc0qEaeCW2bpdZeWslo-l5TW4Kp-QNx26JZnoTBkxBibSE2PB1_P-qJ9j7elBAtdSmQE_Lbc5AXSS3B5_O2Uy8-c/s1600/IMG_1227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWeVM99lgo7gDu5SrXEr7F5gWYW5jgP4pulTlsay3LblD3VRvINFvfc0qEaeCW2bpdZeWslo-l5TW4Kp-QNx26JZnoTBkxBibSE2PB1_P-qJ9j7elBAtdSmQE_Lbc5AXSS3B5_O2Uy8-c/s320/IMG_1227.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjAlpInOWFw3QOfhND26bbeuyt_9EwFO286gp_X2azhDDzQEzElYtaii_llsbstSc760qjYjL6Fz2vkqWX_TFh2w9eQVeUNF0vp0D-3ZkigrNVjfR9ukDlcmpIV7LjKVPK7UrcrsjjDI/s1600/IMG_1357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjAlpInOWFw3QOfhND26bbeuyt_9EwFO286gp_X2azhDDzQEzElYtaii_llsbstSc760qjYjL6Fz2vkqWX_TFh2w9eQVeUNF0vp0D-3ZkigrNVjfR9ukDlcmpIV7LjKVPK7UrcrsjjDI/s320/IMG_1357.JPG" /></a></div>Brittanyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01225061417969054911noreply@blogger.com1