Not From Here – Page 13

HOW I FEEL (in Guatemala) | It’s All Catching Up With Me Now

October 19, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

The last two days have been uglyfeelstown, USA. I’ve had a feeling of indigestion in my gut that doesn’t go away, but the kind of sensation that churns inside my emotions instead of my esophagus. The feeling is equal parts[…]

Paciencia | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

October 19, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

Paciencia. I need paciencia with the pace of culture, paciencia with learning Spanish, paciencia with my life direction, with jogging slowly instead of sprinting. So much patience required here. The pace here is hardly comparable[…]

Novia | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

October 19, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

My host mom and I stood at the entrance to her house, waiting. She had a beautifully wrapped present in hand. I had enough Spanish to get me through the drive thru at Taco Bell.[…]

Bienvenida | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

October 17, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

September 28, 2016: All 28 of us hazily departed the plane. We eventually approached volunteers with a sign: Bienvenidos a Guatemala. In my bedroom, Bienvenida hangs above my mosquitero. For a quick language lesson: because[…]

Smiling in Spanish, The Next Wedding Shower

October 12, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

So……… I was bamboozled AGAIN. Two Sundays in a row. Last Sunday I went to a ‘lunch’ that was a 4.5 hour wedding shower. This Sunday I went to ‘meet my host mom’s family’ and it[…]

Meals | Guatemala At Home

October 10, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

If you want to learn what a culture values, eat within that culture. Eat at a home. Eat. Eat. Eat eat eat. Ever since I moved in with my host family (8 days ago), I[…]

Bodies, 5 Observations from a Newb.

October 9, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

In no particular order. The Front Seat: My host mom sat with me in the back of her car and her two sons sat up front. Francisco & Javier are in their 30s, Rosa Maria[…]

Language Class, 7th day in Guatemala

October 5, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

My first week in Guatemala! Bailamos! I stood over the pila tonight, brushing my teeth and wondering about my 20s and how I got to 30. It’s the stuff you shouldn’t think about when you’re[…]

The Party: Day 6 of Peace Corps

October 3, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

On my 5th day in Guatemala, my 6th day in Peace Corps, I went to a party. I learned so much. I have so much more to learn. The night before, Rosa Maria said she had a[…]

My First Night with the Host Family: Day 5 of Peace Corps

October 2, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

The courtyard was vibrant with mid-morning sun. The hydrangeas/hortensias were calm, but every other living thing was excited, nervous, on edge. Maybe even scared. Our group entered the courtyard of Peace Corps Headquarters, anxiously scanning[…]