cositas y gracias

Rise and shine, it’s cherry-pickin’ time! School here has been out of session for a little over a month now. But for many Pedrano families, this three-month vacation falls in line with the coffee harvest. Years ago, all the children were sent to the family campo to pick coffee cherries. I’ve spoken to locals (in reality, most parents here are more or less my age) about their childhood days in the coffee fields. Picking the plump red fruit from the tree was a job for the whole family. With a plastic basket or bag strapped around their waist, the workers scan each tree for the brightest red, the ripest berry and pluck it into the basket. (Hopefully Kevin and I will get to visit a campo and pick some coffee berries soon.)

Today, there are less children doing this work, but many families in San Pedro still have small plots of coffee trees to tend to this season. There is an old, abandoned coffee finca at the end of our road, hence the road is called Calle Finca. Kevin and I walked out there yesterday and passed through some small huts still occupied by a few families. The finca facilities seem to be in good shape, but are not in use anymore. At the very end of the road, there is a footpath that leads down to the lake- Playa Finca. There were a few families enjoying a Sunday picnic (as well as bathing and washing their clothes- the lake is so useful, ha), so we decided not to swim here. But there was a newly constructed dock and a little visible sand/dirt; which is hard to come by in town because the lake has risen so much and is continuing to wash away the earth.

We went to the oldest town on the lake last Saturday, Santiago Atitlan. It was a very interesting place, very traditional and quite spread out. We forgot to bring a guide book (or even look one over before we left, so we probably missed something) but the trip was fairly productive. Kevin got his hair cut for Q10 ($1.25!!!!) and I got to talk to a yoga instructor about a teacher certification program and his experience living on a sustainable farm at the base of the volcano.

Last week, I had some terrible allergies (first time in months!) and today I’m feeling much better. The wind has finally died down, and the weather is beautiful! The sun is strong and warm, but under the shade of a tree the air is refreshing and cool. What disparity from the autumn chill at home, eh?

Kevin and I have been thinking a lot about Thanksgiving this week. We are really going to miss our holiday family time, and we’ve enjoyed sharing our Thanksgiving traditions with each other. Unfortunately, it is unlikely that we’ll be creating any of our own here, as we have no access to the typical Thanksgiving staples. In fact, we don’t really have anything planned for Thursday, although Kevin is determined to make mashed potatoes (yessss!). We’ll have to get pretty creative :) and we’ll try to document the experience, of course.

Then on Friday, we’re heading off to Copan, Honduras. I must renew my passport before November 30, and rather than go to the city and pay for another stamp, we’re going to take a short vacation so I can be outside the country for 24 hours. We’re looking forward to seeing the Mayan ruins of Copan, but not too excited for the actual trip. Getting here and there in this country is never easy. It will likely be a ten-hour drive, and we have to stop in Antigua and switch shuttle companies. Then once we get to the border, we will probably have to pay exit and entrance fees (although there is a Central American Four agreement, which implies that tourists pass FREELY between Guatemala, Honduras, Belize and El Salvador) because all the government officers are corrupt and bored. Thus is life here.

Please enjoy some turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and vino for us on Thursday! Finally, some things I’m thankful for:

-health! The fresh food I’m eating and daily yoga and meditation I’m doing here have given me a new perspective on feeling healthy.

-friends and family! Always you are in my thoughts and I’m sending health and happiness to you this week

-Guatemalan generosity! For the wonderful people and the abundant land and nature here, I am thankful to be a part of it.

-opportunity! I have been so fortunate this year; being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people. I am so grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me and hope that I can keep the positive karma flowing.

-Kevin: I am thankful and so lucky to be here with you- te amo.

ps: feliz cumpleaños nana! wishing you a wonderful day! besos y abrazos!