Dia uno

I made it!

Today began early and continued slightly later. I arrived in Guatemala City around 730am (630am PST, only one hour difference until you fall back). After collecting my bags and customs, I was greeted by Molly and Kate with a "Somos Hermanos" poster - already warm and sunny. Molly is a participant from Los Angeles who graduated last year from Columbia. Kate is a coordinator for our group and took us around the country today. We headed to the Hostel to meet the rest of our group.

My first experience with everyone was positive but very groggy. With only four hours of airplane sleep and the exhaustion of everyone else who had arrived the night before, there was limited conversation over breakfast (scrambled eggs, toast, and tang - just like in el salv). I met the other participants as they came down for breakfast. There are 14 of us in total, only 2 boys.

After breakfast we loaded the crew and our stuff into a small yellow school bus. I was worried I would be judged for packing too much but I was WAY out done. There were a few girls who could not carry their luggage for themselves or had multiple pieces to carry. We sat two to a seat with our bags stacked on the back row in the aisle. When we stopped for gas, we had to climb over each seat and jump down the stairs to get out. We traveled for about 4 hours from Guatemala City to Xela. The road was a bit windy but well paved and Oscar, our driver, navigated it well. I spent my time napping and chatting with Molly. I think she and I will get along well.

In Xela, our first stop was Subway for lunch. It even smells the same here. I had vowed to avoid Subway sandwiches post TFA institute but I had no choice. Luckily melted cheese, chicken, and guacamole was not too bad. I splurged and bought myself a chocolate chip cookie after for Q4. Kate says that Subway is way beyond the means of most people living in Xela. However, it was one of the cleanest restaurants I have ever been in.

We then traveled a short distance more into town. We arrived at our Spanish school. Gladys, the director of the school, greeted us as well as Erika, the manager of our program. Our orientation was brief and our home stay families arrived to meet us. I moved my luggage in the first big afternoon rain shower. Another girl from the program, Hannah, is staying with the same family as me and we are glad to have each other as buddies for this adventure.

Our family is composed of quite a few individuals. So far, I have met Patty and David, our hosts, tia (whose name I have forgotten), and Josie, their granddaughter. They gave us a brief tour of their home, which is a short walk to the school. There seems to be a central courtyard, 4 bedrooms, the bathroom, and the kitchen on the perimeter. They also have a tienda, which shares a wall with my bedroom (see pictures below). Josie helped me unpack my things. She told me the names of things I did not know and asked me to explain items she did not recognize. Later, Josie, Hannah, and I played an intense game of hot potato. My first impression of the family is great. They host students all the time and are very welcoming. My host mom Patty says I already know enough Spanish to listen to her and the language school here teaches people who have no Spanish how to speak in just a few months. I hope to become fluent by the end of my six months.

Tomorrow we meet at the school for an orientation at 9am. We will take a language exam to assess our level and start classes on Tuesday. I'm not sure what to expect with our afternoons but we will receive a calendar tomorrow as well. My first impression of the program as a whole is very laid back. You can come and go from your home stay as long as you do not miss you meals (we have our own keys to our rooms and front door). I think this is the type of break I need. Right now it feels very surreal that I will be living here for six months. I cannot grasp the changing of the seasons, the special occasions, and the experiences to be had.

I am going to do my best to update this blog with exciting or funny stories but for now most of it will just be informative so you all know I am safe and doing well. If there is something you want to know about, let me know.