It felt like someone was behind me rocking my chair from side to side. It lasted for about 4 seconds. 10:10 am was my first earthquake. Considering Guatemala has something like 1000 earthquakes each year (most too small to feel and most a couple hours drive south of where I live), it probably won’t be … [Read more…]
Families are registering their children in our brand new school in Chicoy. Classes begin Monday for Kinder, Prepa, and Primaria (equiv. K,1,2). We hope to have 75 kids in the school and 50 in the afternoon program. There has been incredible opposition from one man in the community – a liar, extortionist, and pastor of … [Read more…]
Alberta’s oil sands are predicted to be the next major oil source in the world. And it’s in the private sector. Compare this with Norway’s off-shore oil. Norway has been building it’s national infrastructure for years with oil revenues and is one of the most prosperous places to live in the world. And they share … [Read more…]
I walked home from the colegio this morning and used the following greetings with various people as they passed by: buenos dias (good morning)buen dia (good morning)buenas (variation on good morning)hola (hi)que tal? (how’s it going)adios (mix between goodbye, farewell, literally -to God) I’m perplexed as to how people decide to use, as everyone uses … [Read more…]
One of my life goals is to keep a daily journal for 5 years. I have attempted this goal at least 10 times. Inevitably I get 2 days behind and spend half an hour trying to recollect those 2 days. This exhausts some cortex in my head so that by the time I get at … [Read more…]
[Ervin and Estuardo carrying blankets] Friday: I was in San Lucas Tolimán delivering aid to the victims of Hurricane Stan, walking down this pictured street, speaking to Amber on the phone when behold! I had to jump to the left because I was about to step into a fountain of urine proudly spouting from a … [Read more…]
We’ve been experiencing major power outages here in Tactic. The normal 1/8 of a second outages that switches my computer off and then laughs at me has been replaced with 8 hour outage assaults. Coincidentally, electrical circuitry in my brain seem to be in disrepair. I have been having an unusually difficult time speaking French, … [Read more…]
[Apparently Canadians talk about the weather more than any other nationality] I shiver. This is Guatemala, not a lake in north Ontario in late November. Yet, I shiver. Poor little Blaise has a cold, so his nose whistles when he sleeps. His voice reveals he has a cold too. The past two nights Amber has … [Read more…]
Amber purchased this “melocotón” for 8 Quetzales. A melocotón is a peach. This is clearly not a peach. I purchased these cacao beans for 6 Quetzales. This is what chocolate comes from. The process: roast, peel, grind. Very delish.
Les had to remind me to write this in my blog. Two weeks ago, enroute to the capital (a three hour drive), our vans were pulled over by some roadside policemen. Usually there are about three places on this journey where cops do registration and license checks of selected vehicles. It is interesting to note … [Read more…]