Travels – Page 4

De Tal Palo, De Tal Astilla 2 | My Parents’ Visit

June 10, 2018June 10, 2018 First Person ForeignBeauty

Continuing, my parents visit, the first post here. DAY FOUR: In the morning on Thursday, March 29th, I woke up on fabulously comfortable mattress in Antigua to find my parents had already eaten breakfast. Hostel[…]

Touring vs. Foreigning | Encountering Tourists while in Peace Corps

June 3, 2018 First Person ForeignGuatemala

I’m a long-term foreigner with an expiration date. The following terms don’t quite apply: transplant, resident or visitor. Each of those has a defining set of circumstances that doesn’t fit that of a Peace Corps[…]

I’ll Be Home for Christmas (2017)

February 3, 2018February 3, 2018 First Person ForeignBest Friends

Since I booked my trip in August (through my parents’ generous sponsorship), the thought of going back to the United States for Christmas shimmered in the wintry distance. I would say it was a “much-deserved”[…]

El Otro Lado | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

December 19, 2017December 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

“Su país/hogar/pueblo/de dónde viene” are all terms for the US. Most commonly it is “Los Estados Unidos” (never America- Guatemala is in Central America). Ana María (we’ll call her) is a school secretary. First I[…]

Terremoto | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

September 4, 2017September 4, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

In Guatemala, temblores/tremors are a part of life. Terremotos son otras cosas, they are earthquakes. Terremotos jumble the earth. My host family asked: “Do you have them in your home?” and la verdad es no,[…]

First Time Back | The Last Day in New York

September 2, 2017September 2, 2017 First Person ForeignFamily

On Monday July 3 I woke up in a hotel on the corner of 7th and 51st, Midtown Manhattan. My sister and brother-in-law had already found a place for breakfast/lunch (we slept in!). As we[…]

First Time Back | Broadway Reunion & Family Reunions

August 14, 2017August 27, 2017 First Person ForeignFamily

Where did I leave things? My first night of sleep on US soil in a Vacation Rental By Owner in Jersey City, air conditioning puttering, skyline dazzling as I fell into dreams on an orange[…]

First Time Back | A Peace Corps’ Brain on Fire

August 12, 2017August 27, 2017 First Person ForeignBlank Slate

On July 1, my cousin got married. After 9 months outside the US of A, I was returning for 5 days. In late March I bit the bullet and bought the ticket from Guatemala to[…]

Buen Provecho | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

July 23, 2017July 23, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

“Feliz Cumpleaños” means Happy Birthday, but cumple means “you complete” + “years.” So the term is also used for death anniversaries or any anniversary, every time you complete a year… For example, on July 19[…]

Significa | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

May 7, 2017May 7, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

I called from across the street to a man in a bright red shirt. I recognized something: the font of that familiar “KEEP CALM and CARRY ON” message. It said “KEEP CALM and TAKE ACTION.”[…]