November, 2008

Life in Guatemala is great! It’s November and the weather is wonderful, sunshine everyday; cool in the evening (around 60F) and warm during the day (around 70F). We were thrilled to attend the wedding of Maria Sara (one of our previous students). It was a beautiful wedding with many activities including some traditional and some modern. After this, we attended a party of Eva (Maura’s sister.) Eva graduated from nursing school. There was lots of food and music for dancing. For one of the meals we were served chow mien; its contents is thin slices of vegetables, noodles, and chicken parts. Sue had chicken feet in her chow mien which was quite interesting, she didn’t eat them but some people do. I’m thinking the claws would be hard. After the party, we traveled to Edward’s house to visit his family. Edward is still in school in Wisconsin. We had a wonderful time seeing everyone. Sue’s brother Bill is visiting from Canada, he will be here until December 12. We are planning on buying a vehicle very soon; it will be easier to get around. We are learning and practicing our Spanish daily; it is improving slowly. We are still looking for a church home. The churches here broadcast there service over loud speakers. With several in our city and several across the valley, it becomes quite interesting. There are more speakers in the church than in a rock concert, at full volume, you can feel the message, literally.

Here are typical activities for us:

Studying and speaking Spanish.
Saturday and Monday we teach English.
Children come to our house; they love to read in English, with pictures.
Once a week, we go to Tecpan or Chimaltenango for shopping; grocery
store and open market.
We have a housekeeper Maria who cooks lunch (our main meal), does
dishes, cleans, and helps us with our Spanish. She also makes fresh
squeezed lemonade for us. She is a joy to have around; a very sweet girl.
Enjoying our morning coffee sitting in our back yard enjoying the view.

A few differences between Guatemala and Wisconsin:

• Warmer weather.
• Everyone on the street greets you as if you are their best friend.
• Everyone here eats limon (looks like lime) on salads not salad dressing.
• Drivers can’t drive without using their horns. They toot to say HELL-O or get out of my way, you do the interpretation.
• The main transportation is the caminettas (chicken buses) or
• standing in the back of a pickup truck.
• The use of firecrackers is daily; for any occasion or celebration.

We are enjoying living in Guatemala; we feel at home here. We have been welcomed into the village with open arms.

Remember to e-mail us; we would love to hear from you. santkuyl@gmail.com

Love,

Dennis and Sue