Day 2- First Impressions

This morning I woke up, extremely tired, to small kitten footsteps pounding on my tin roof.  At first it just resembled the heavy downpour of rain that rattled the roof all night but soon it's meows drew me out of bed.  My room is quite small, about 10 by 15 feet.  I've got a bed, des, and dresser\closet that fill most of the space but the very middle and doorway. My light source is a bare bulb hanging from the ceiling and to open the door I must pulla wire and push my whole shoulder weight down slightly and then forward.  I love it!  The whole house is quite ingenious.  It maximizes all natural light and rain drainage necesities.  You enter a big metal door from the street into a small courtyard covered partially by metal sheets adorned with exotic and huge leafy plants to block the forceful sun.  It is completely open and wall-less except for the kitchen and livingroom that are seperated by the only divide.  Up a stone staircase cut into the side wall of courtyard are the bedrooms.  In my hosts' house there are other volunteers staying, though I havent met any yet.  The singular bathroom is at the end of the second floor shaped like and L.  The rooms all face outward to the hallway\balcony.  My shower last night was short to say the least.  It had minimal hot water, but I didnt mind because the coolness kept me awake.  You arent allowed to flush anything down the toilet, which i find weird. Not even toilet paper. For that, there is a wastebasket adjacent to the toilet.
My host parents Christopher and Nelly are extremely nice.  I found out they've been "hosting" for almost 14 years which explains why they are so good at it.  This morning Christopher took me into town so I could familiarize myself and withdraw some Quetzal, the local currency.  The first thing I saw as I stepped out of the giant metal door onto the cobblestone street was a family of women in traditional clothing, balancing fruit on their heads.  The patters on their clothes juxtaposed with the colorful, but plain building facades is a beautiful first impression. I cant wait to go exploring.

Day 1: traveling

My 26 consecutive hours of sleepless travel time is a personal record I happen to be very proud of.  I think I've successfully begun adjusting to Guatemalan time, now I just have to resist the temptation to nap.  This could prove extremely difficult.  I arrived last night at around 11pm and collapsed in my bed... breakfast is now bright and early at 8 o'clock.

A Day to Mourn

Today will be a rollercoaster.  How else to describe all the emotions I could gurantee will develop??  My last day before I leave for Guatemala (I'm so excited!), but also my last day with Emma Pauken!  Such a bittersweet combination.  In her words, "Last day before E^2 goes on a temporary hiatus. Many shall mourn"  Never a truer statement. 

Permanent Reminders

Some things you’ll remember forever: your first grade teacher, your older neighbor’s cool bike or toy, your first dog, the day you were taught something useless but will never forget, your high school sweetheart or best friend, your first taste of extreme pride or embarrassment. These are ingrained in our memories to fuel creepy déjà vu sensations and recall reminiscing smiles.  They are to help us remember our past and remember the good, innocent times of our lives.  Last night I built a fire with my best friend.  We capitalized on Germany’s first day without rain and pitched up a tent in my backyard.  We shrunk from our teenage selves into 7 and 8 year old curiosities as a last celebration before she heads off to college.  In between the tie-dyeing and making s’mores and lighting things on fire and scaring ourselves with serial killers I could never forget this epitome of Emma awesomeness because it stands for all we believe in: fun, dangerous, thought-provoking, daring, adventurous, creative, and good-natured.  I will never forget Emma Pauken, my best friend. 

Dad

I admire many of my dad’s characteristics; however, there is one in particular that I’ve lately come to appreciate with growing conviction.  An example just occurred the other day as we were running to watch a Women’s World Cup soccer match.  The trail to the Community Center (where they screen the game and give out prizes and such) is about six miles from our house and, thus, proved us with quite a while of so called “father-daughter time.” To be honest, I remember little more than the gist of our conversations.  What I remember most is the occasional occurrence of another runner.  No matter the type- male, female, child, dog, stroller, bicyclist, old, young, serious, casual- my dad always stopped mid sentence and would pause to smile sand say “Hallo!!” as each passed us by.  Now, in retrospect, I can confidently say that he has never failed to do so under any circumstance. Whether it’s down our German street, in the parking lot, at the grocery store, in the doctor’s office, he always finds time for a simple, cheery Hello.  What stuck me as particularly memorable the day of our run was not my dad’s enthusiasm- that I’ve always taken for granted. But it was people’s reactions: it undoubtedly varies, but overall a certain pattern is detectable. The old German men that genuinely smile back are becoming a rarity. For the most part, I’ve noticed that people mostly respond with irritated and suspicious faces, hardly allowing a nod.  To realize that society today has become suspicious toward a good-natured greeting makes me sad. But indeed, I’ve noticed it as well walking in the hallways at school!  People hardly make eye contact anymore.  Passing by a fellow student only to have them avert their eyes to the floor as if the blue linoleum was more important that you is disheartening!! What has happened to social chivalry? It’s important for society to develop that communal bond.  If everyone smiled and said “Hello!” as they passed, so much animosity could disappear. A simple smile has the immense power to change someone’s day!  Whether it’s the store clerk, your friend’s father, a stranger, the mailman, or (and I should say especially) the janitor, it is important to acknowledge them.  It not only lets them know you see that they are there, but that you care. You care they are human and you care they are more than rocks and trees and motorcycle tires: it adds personality to our increasingly solitary and cyber world.  Thank you Dad. 

The Beginning

I leave for Guatemala in exactly one week! In preparation I recently read a wise Hindu proverb: “Pitiful is the one who, fearing failure, makes no beginning.” This seems to perfectly articulate a goal I’ve adapted over the past months: to act with confidence in order to pursue my own dreams, no matter the security of the future. It is important for people to act responsibly without the hesitation that stems from fear of failure. What is failure but another opportunity to learn? This week, through all the forced reading and newspaper articles about Guatemala presented and driven by my parents, I’ve only grown more and more anxious to begin this new adventure in Guatemala.  This trip was sparked almost two months ago by a revelation I had. I realized that I’ve never before challenged myself physically and mentally, at the same time, beyond a point of comfort.   Living overseas, especially in a developed country like Germany has taught me invaluable things; yet I’ve never had to really push myself. I’ve never known hunger or such extremes of physical exhaustion.  I’m impatient to learn more about these feelings that plague a majority of the world.  I want to discover my limits by comparing them to theirs. In Guatemala I’m eager to hopefully catch a glimpse of this other, ever-present world.

Guatemala is ranked as one of the lowest countries in Latin America.  Haiti remains the only country of the area that is lower on the UN Human Development Index.  While more than half of the population lives in poverty (as classified by $2 of income a day per person or less), I will be staying in a village called Antigua.  It is located near the southern end of the country. Here I will be working with a non-profit organization by the name of Constu Casa.  During my two-week stay I will be building a basic house for a family living in extreme poverty.  Constu Casa has built of 480 houses since its foundation in 2004 for families that cannot afford standard living necessities.  Needless to say, I expect much from my stay.  I will be housed with a local family and will be working alongside local masons and construction workers in earnest effort to improve my Spanish.  I want to learn more about the language I love and also explore this depressing, yet colorful and bright culture.  Mostly, however, I am excited to build.  I want to get my hands dirty and fall asleep at night from physical exhaustion.  I want to know that I helped make a difference in but one family’s life through my own hard work and my own ambitious sixteen-year-old hands.