hola, otra vez!

long time no blog. wow! wasn't planning on a month-long hiatus, but it's been a very busy month. the holidays were wonderful: lots of family time, lots of good food and lots (bordering on too much) travel. between driving back and forth across tennessee several times and from nashville to austin, i thought maybe i was well prepared for the day-long journey back to guate. little did i know, mr. winter turned that journey into a four-day one.

worst: the waiting. it's always the waiting. that helpless feeling that something out of your control is orchestrating your precious time. while i would have much rather stayed home for the duration of the flight delay than be cooped up a hotel in southern atlanta, i was lucky to share the time with my mom. as frustrated as we both were, i wouldn't trade those days for the world. the older we get, the less time we seem to have (or the faster it passes, not sure which) and it's important to relish those moments.

anyway, suffice it to say it was a long trip. and boy was i glad to see kevin. he was so sweet to make that trek twice (in the same week is incredulous to me, much less in three days). and now after a week being home, i'm beginning to understand why people tend to stick around this place longer than they originally intend to. it was so nice to return to something familiar. as kevin already explained, the chinga was definitely familiar. but i underestimated the comfort that i've felt this week hearing familiar bird calls, squirrel (yes, squirrel) calls, the T'zutuhil language, the patting of tortillas being made, the roar of picops and tuk tuks flying down the road in front of our house... it's not that we're starting over, per se, but being here after the initial culture shock and displacement has worn is truly amazing.

so far, kevin and i have been very agreeable and supportive of each other (high five!) this due in part because we're aware of things that have to get done everyday and the burden can't fall on one person. it also helps that he's got some goals with FEDEPMA and i've started working with a local art collective, and have met some really neat people.

they're working on establishing a weekly art workshop for local kids. i'll have much more to write on the subject once the ball gets rolling... right now, we're still organizing and setting objectivos... some of the photos below are from the first saturday (basically a try-out), but it was super fun.

also featured below: la guitarra (se llama "chito" aranjuez), but kevin calls it the aranjuez POS 500. get it? it doesn't stay in tune for more than a 2 and a half minute song... but it is certainly the thought that counts :) we are both enjoying it.

and now, if you'll excuse me, i'm going to go eat a mango.

going away dinner for Lorenzo. so yum.