earthquakes and yoga and nostalgia, oh my!

Usually, I wake myself when I´m having a bad dream. Kevin´s been having unusually bad-weird dreams lately, and I always know when he wakes from them. Last Friday morning at 5 am, Kevin and I were suddenly awoken. We were silent and completely still, but everything else was moving- the floor, the bed, our clothes on the shelf, the roof. I thought I was dreaming. Then I heard Kevin say "That was an earthquake."

WHAT!?! Incredible. Maybe you wouldn´t call it an earthquake... it only lasted about 30 seconds... but still! Guatemala popped my earthquake cherry. I talked to people about it all day, and I preferred to call it a "lakequake."

Then as I sat down to check my email around 5:30 pm, there was ANOTHER one! The computer almost fell off the little plastic desk. I expressed my fear and surprise with facial expressions as the couple at the internet cafe began speaking loudly and rapidly at me in awe. Twice in one day? Is this what it´s like to live in California?

Anyway, another week has already come and gone. I taught my second yoga class last weekend. Tourism is picking up this month, which is great. I had seven students! The class overall went well, I think. No one is much for giving feedback yet... not sure if that is good news or bad news... But the students, for the most part are super nice and very receptive. I really hate not having any background in group instruction... but hands-on learning is the best way, right? The space is so wonderful, even though sometimes it´s impossible to fall into a state of relaxation because of the unique surroundings: roaming dogs, loud tourists walking around the bamboo walls, sqawking birds, nearby construction, squirrels having their breakfast and dropping the remains of nuts and berries onto the students lying below... It´s a definitely a challenge to concentrate here.

Next month, there will be some changes in the studio- namely a price increase for the classes. In exchange, we hope to begin providing tea after the classes, as well as a meditation session at 8am throughout the week. Right now, we are completely dependent on three somewhat lazy workers who have been promising a table and bench for the studio for OVER A YEAR. So. We´ll see how that pans out in the coming weeks. There are a lot of things I´d like to do to improve the studio, but as each instructor gives HALF of their earnings to the workers, it may be counter-productive to take the initiative. Who knows. There´s always something new to learn about a culture the longer you live in it.

That being said, here are a few things that I was surprised to learn that I miss terribly:
- my guitar!
- pillows
- grapes
- having a washing machine
- fresh cold milk and honey nut cheerios
- wifi (namely using the internet whenever I want and not being aware of how much every minute is costing me)
- reliable electricity
- being able to call people I know when something I see or hear reminds me of them
- riding my bike
- being out of the house at night and feeling completely safe
- being completely aware of the price of products and services, and knowing that I won´t be charged more because I´m white or because the woman selling piña has had a bad day.
- sleeping later than 7am
- and last but definitely not least... I miss Twizzlers like mad! surprise? nah...

Anyway... you get the idea. This week is actually going to be quite busy for Kevin and I. We´re both working every day, and I´m still taking Spanish classes. The house really needs to be cleaned because we´re hoping to have people over for dinner on Friday. Then, Saturday after my yoga class, we´re going to Antigua to meet up with my favorite, KEN TU, and attending a wedding brunch at Finca Filadelfia. I´m stoked about the weekend- apart from the actual trip to Antigua, which will likely be a bit of a nightmare. Alas...

More to come. Plus captions for photos! Hooray! Miss you all!