...And away we go.

In honor of my friend Adam, I’d like to start this blog by setting the mood with music. As I write, I am currently listening to the Black Key’s album “Brothers.” A lovely album.

I don’t know if I want to call my stay in Guatemala thus far “fun,” but it has definitely been a bit enlightening. I’ve discovered that my stomach et al can adjust to any kind of food and any kind of water. I’ve discovered that if I steel myself to it, I can take a mind-numbingly cold shower. I’ve discovered the difficulty in making a perfect tortilla. I’ve eaten corn flakes with hot milk.

Upon my arrival, I discovered my glasses and hair straightener (why did I bring that again…?) had been removed from the outer pocket of my checked bag. Good thing I brought two pairs of glasses and have relatively straight hair naturally. I discovered that the public transportation consists of a nauseating ride over cobblestones (those geologist out there know exactly the size and irregular shape that I am specifically talking about). Good thing I could sleep through it. I discovered the generosity of people who have very little and the pride with which the give. Good thing I came bearing gifts. I discovered that I suck at Spanish. Good thing the Peace Corps gives us translation dictionaries.

The first three days were spent in Santa Lucia, Sacatepequez. Beginning on the 8th, I moved to Santa Catarina, Sacatepequez. I’ll live for the next three months (the length of training) with a sweet widow named Cristina. She is an indigenous woman whose vocation is weaving. She is an amazing cook and has begun to teach me to make tortillas starting with an ear of corn. It’s not as easy as she makes it look. Also sharing the house are Tico the dog and Mici the kitten. Both are playful and friendly. Every day except Sunday, my companeros and I have either Spanish class or technical job training. I never thought I’d be doing homework again, but here I am. Doing it. So far, I don’t know what my specific job will be or what town I’ll be in for the majority of my two-year stint, but we’ll all be finding out in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, there are 3 active volcanoes (meaning they’ve had some action within the last 10,000 years) within 10 kilometers of my house. Every day, I do my homework on the rooftop and watch the ash billow out of Fuego Volcano. Agua volcano, which is slightly closer to my house, is much larger and generally shrouded in clouds, giving it a luring mystique. On the Monday the 17th I’ll be visiting Pacaya Volcano for the first time with the two other geologist volunteers in my training group. I’m much more excited than is possible to convey through a blog, but putting an inordinate amount of exclamation points at the end is tacky.

It’s been a wonderful discovery so far. The standard of living is different, the people are different, and there are times when I feel pity for the people, the city. But then I realize that Guatemala is at it’s own eutectic. Between stable and falling apart. Perhaps that’s why we’ll be so good for each other.

“If you have come here to help me, then you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.”
-Lilla Watson, Aboriginal Activist

Melting Point

Saying goodbye always holds some level of regret for me. I'm sorry to be leaving people un-hugged, sorry to be leaving places unvisited, sorry to be leaving tasks unfinished. But the excitement and anticipation of moving on trumps the regret. In geology, there is point that certain mineral mixtures reach called the "eutectic point." It is at this ideal point that an alloy can be at it's lowest melting point and at the same time, it can teeter on the solidus line. I am at my eutectic. A point at which I can chose to flow through life's adventures, or settle into a stable, grounded place. It is a comfortable position. One I don't plan to leave any time soon. Guatemala, here I come.