Feria Pics and Circuit Story
These were some of my favorite pics from last week.
It was neat because schools from all over eastern Guatemala were in our parade. Each school had their own band and dance team.
Hey dude!!! Getting ready for the rodeo to start. Nothing better than getting your picture taken in front of a bunch of bull's @sses.
I was a little appalled that families were sitting on the ledge during the entire rodeo. Thankfully nobody but the riders got hurt.
Last night another one of those classic moments occurred that I couldn’t wait to blog.
I had my night all planned out…I was going to spend an hour cleaning, then make dinner, and finally relax and read my book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On the dance channel it was “Hora de Salsa” with great salsa music so I had the TV blaring while I was cleaning.
I washed my hands and started to chop veggies for dinner and decided I could let them steam while I took a shower. Had the electric stove turned up full blast and jumped into the shower…meanwhile keep in mind I still got salsa music jamming, with most of the lights in my house on, my fridge plugged in, and now I was about to turn on the shower which is heated by this obsolete electric device called a “calentador”.
I got about 90 seconds into my shower when I hear firecrackers going off, only it wasn’t firecrackers because immediately afterward the lights in my house went out. At this point I realized that I forgot a towel and clothes to change into and now the adventure starts because I can not see a thing due to the obscurity that is my casa. I open my shower door and see this beautiful display of fireworks when it occurs to me that it is a massive electrical fire. We are talking about a tremendous array of sparkles and lights that would rival most 4th of July fireworks. (jeez Drew did you ever consider that because the electric wires in this country are so primitive you maybe shouldn’t have every appliance and light in your house going at once???)
So at this point in total darkness I am wet, naked, and scared to death that I am going to get electrocuted while also looking for a my flashlight, towel, and maybe some clothes to change into. To make matters even better there is now a mob forming outside of my house of all my local neighbors and friends worried about my safety but maybe more so how they can put out this electrical fire. Everyone is screaming my name “Andrés, Andrés” when I finally found my flashlight.
In moments like these it really doesn’t matter how much Spanish you have studied because when experiencing sure terror/embarrassment it all goes out the window. I start to understand them telling me that they are going to put out the fire by throwing mud at it (which was pretty good thinking instead of water making it spread). I finally got dressed and greeted the helpful crowd after they put out the fire.
What makes this a unique and amazing experience is that after spending such a significant amount of time here you really become part of the community. It was so reassuring to know that during a moment like this I could count on all of my neighbors to help me out. The other thing that we volunteers experience is a greater understanding of the culture. Here in Guatemala I have learned that when your friends and neighbors are giving you a hard time, making fun of you, or calling you by an offensive nickname it is almost never to insult you but out of “cariño” (love or that the care about you) Immediately after the group realized I was ok they started giving me a hard time. “Andrés what are you trying to do burn the town down?” “Andrés you are going to have to get a bunch of candles and a pretty girl to keep you busy now that you don’t have power.” One of my buds even asked me jokingly “Andrés is it true you didn’t come to the door right away because you were playing with yourself?” You just have to learn to accept it, laugh with them, and dish it back. "No but I was wet and naked I told them."
Still waiting on the electricians as total darkness prolongs. A la gran puchicá!!!
Take care,
Drewski
I had my night all planned out…I was going to spend an hour cleaning, then make dinner, and finally relax and read my book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. On the dance channel it was “Hora de Salsa” with great salsa music so I had the TV blaring while I was cleaning.
I washed my hands and started to chop veggies for dinner and decided I could let them steam while I took a shower. Had the electric stove turned up full blast and jumped into the shower…meanwhile keep in mind I still got salsa music jamming, with most of the lights in my house on, my fridge plugged in, and now I was about to turn on the shower which is heated by this obsolete electric device called a “calentador”.
I got about 90 seconds into my shower when I hear firecrackers going off, only it wasn’t firecrackers because immediately afterward the lights in my house went out. At this point I realized that I forgot a towel and clothes to change into and now the adventure starts because I can not see a thing due to the obscurity that is my casa. I open my shower door and see this beautiful display of fireworks when it occurs to me that it is a massive electrical fire. We are talking about a tremendous array of sparkles and lights that would rival most 4th of July fireworks. (jeez Drew did you ever consider that because the electric wires in this country are so primitive you maybe shouldn’t have every appliance and light in your house going at once???)
So at this point in total darkness I am wet, naked, and scared to death that I am going to get electrocuted while also looking for a my flashlight, towel, and maybe some clothes to change into. To make matters even better there is now a mob forming outside of my house of all my local neighbors and friends worried about my safety but maybe more so how they can put out this electrical fire. Everyone is screaming my name “Andrés, Andrés” when I finally found my flashlight.
In moments like these it really doesn’t matter how much Spanish you have studied because when experiencing sure terror/embarrassment it all goes out the window. I start to understand them telling me that they are going to put out the fire by throwing mud at it (which was pretty good thinking instead of water making it spread). I finally got dressed and greeted the helpful crowd after they put out the fire.
What makes this a unique and amazing experience is that after spending such a significant amount of time here you really become part of the community. It was so reassuring to know that during a moment like this I could count on all of my neighbors to help me out. The other thing that we volunteers experience is a greater understanding of the culture. Here in Guatemala I have learned that when your friends and neighbors are giving you a hard time, making fun of you, or calling you by an offensive nickname it is almost never to insult you but out of “cariño” (love or that the care about you) Immediately after the group realized I was ok they started giving me a hard time. “Andrés what are you trying to do burn the town down?” “Andrés you are going to have to get a bunch of candles and a pretty girl to keep you busy now that you don’t have power.” One of my buds even asked me jokingly “Andrés is it true you didn’t come to the door right away because you were playing with yourself?” You just have to learn to accept it, laugh with them, and dish it back. "No but I was wet and naked I told them."
Still waiting on the electricians as total darkness prolongs. A la gran puchicá!!!
Take care,
Drewski
posted by Drew Anderson @ 6:02 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
this is your best blog ever..you could write a best seller with pics--no maybe a movie would be better..ohyah..light up the town with DREW"S fireworks and those big brown eyes and big white smile welcoming your neighbors..how to make friends can't be topped with this one..
love it..only you..
NSP
About the fire shower... HAHAHHA.
Well, I've just found this blog, and noticed you're about to end your assignment in Guatemala. The job you've done is really nice, and I hope you keep this blog so your experience is at hand for other volunteers, for randoms like me, but specially for the people you worked with and those you helped.
Congratulations.
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