Okay guys, it's legit
I had planned to write about the rest of my time in Guatemala City but it's really boring compared to the last two days. So basically in Guatemala City I spent my time riding the bus, eating crappy food and going to the movies.
Yesterday, I took a four-hour bus ride to get to Quetzaltenango or Xela (Shayla), as they call it. The bus ride was extremely winding and mountainous. I got so sleepy but I had to hang on for dear life every 30 seconds. Half way through the ride, we stopped at a place called El Encuentro to eat and use the bathroom. I had the best meal there that I've had in Guatemala so far. A chicken breast in some kind of cream sauce and three different vegetable dishes. I arrived to Xela at 5pm and Don Carlitos, the volunteer from my school, came to pick me up with some other chatty dude in chatty dude's super old station wagon that smelled like gas and sounded like the engine was going to fall out.
I should stop and tell you that in Guatemala City I had trouble understanding people. They just use really different turns of phrase that I hadn't heard before. For example, at the bus station the man who was checking my bags and putting them under the bus said to me, "All the way to the office?" And I responded, "Which office?!" And he said "The one in Quetzaltenango." Assuming he meant the bus station, I said, "Sure." All of my interactions in Guatemala City were similar to that. But in Xela, I understand everyone and everything makes sense. Also, the people here are nice and very helpful.
Xela is quite beautiful. The streets are narrow and made of either brick or cobblestones, and many of them traverse steep mountain sides. So after the adventure of helping Don Carlitos and chatty dude find my house, I met my host family. Claudia, her husband Paul, and their two little boys Fernando and Pablo. Also living in the house are Arlette and Abner. Arlette is 15 and in high school. Her family lives in Coatepeque. Abner is 21 and in medical school. They both board at the house so they can go to school in Xela. I have my own room and bathroom on the first floor of the house, which is about a four-block walk to my school.
Today was my first class from 8am to 1pm. My instructor is super cool and I had a great first day. I'm learning so many cool things about the K'iché people.
Yesterday, I took a four-hour bus ride to get to Quetzaltenango or Xela (Shayla), as they call it. The bus ride was extremely winding and mountainous. I got so sleepy but I had to hang on for dear life every 30 seconds. Half way through the ride, we stopped at a place called El Encuentro to eat and use the bathroom. I had the best meal there that I've had in Guatemala so far. A chicken breast in some kind of cream sauce and three different vegetable dishes. I arrived to Xela at 5pm and Don Carlitos, the volunteer from my school, came to pick me up with some other chatty dude in chatty dude's super old station wagon that smelled like gas and sounded like the engine was going to fall out.
I should stop and tell you that in Guatemala City I had trouble understanding people. They just use really different turns of phrase that I hadn't heard before. For example, at the bus station the man who was checking my bags and putting them under the bus said to me, "All the way to the office?" And I responded, "Which office?!" And he said "The one in Quetzaltenango." Assuming he meant the bus station, I said, "Sure." All of my interactions in Guatemala City were similar to that. But in Xela, I understand everyone and everything makes sense. Also, the people here are nice and very helpful.
Xela is quite beautiful. The streets are narrow and made of either brick or cobblestones, and many of them traverse steep mountain sides. So after the adventure of helping Don Carlitos and chatty dude find my house, I met my host family. Claudia, her husband Paul, and their two little boys Fernando and Pablo. Also living in the house are Arlette and Abner. Arlette is 15 and in high school. Her family lives in Coatepeque. Abner is 21 and in medical school. They both board at the house so they can go to school in Xela. I have my own room and bathroom on the first floor of the house, which is about a four-block walk to my school.
Today was my first class from 8am to 1pm. My instructor is super cool and I had a great first day. I'm learning so many cool things about the K'iché people.
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