We started the day with our first language lessons. All the language teachers lined up to call out our names at the front of Salon Quetzal. A friendly man named Eduardo called my name and we headed to our classroom, which was a cute little wooden outdoor cabin type space for language training. They each had different Guatemalan names like Huehuetenango. The facilities here are nice which I really appreciate. I love the courtyard and the beautiful flowers. The classroom is small and cute and perfect for 4 people.

We had a 1-hour conversation (to double-assess our skills) and it was obvious that Tanya and I were in one boat and Galen was in another boat in another harbor of Language Town. He was very conversationally strong and didn’t have to pause and eye-scramble for words. You know the eye-scramble, when you’re eyeballs are reaching madly for a word that won’t come. And you simply pause. There is nothing else to be done. Pause and gawk at the hole in your brain.

Then we had two more hours of Health training: we made rehydration salts, received our first aid kits and mosquiteros (mosquito nets) in blue bags.

The doc needed to know that if we had acute diarrhea, we could use our rehydration salt packets to replenish the electrolytes and survive. (Apparently a young man died in Peace Corps Asia from dehydration and improper response). I believe this is why we had to taste every variation of rehydration salt.

Then we went outside into the sunshine. The staff and PCTs (Peace Corps Trainees) were charged to pick a picture and explain how it relates to our personalities, all in Spanish. We also said where we are from and which department we are in. (I forgot to say, it is Youth in Development). I picked a box of crayons. I stepped forward and said “Hola. Me llamo Beyoncé” and then explained that the crayons represent that I have a personality who wants to experience everything: light and dark colors.

Then we got reassigned to our group, Galen was moved up to a more advanced class, and we attended a bell-ringing ceremony.

It was bizarre to witness someone’s last day in Peace Corps on our third day.

Eloisa, a kind and wise PCTs, bought us all rose petals to toss in celebration. The ceremony was very emotional. Naima read her Aspiration Statement that she wrote when she started (3 years ago). She mentioned that she was med-e-vac’d from Guatemala, so she had serious ups and downs (and an extended service). Then she read a letter in Spanish to her host family and started to cry. The women who hosted her also started to cry. It was very emotional and I teared up, too! Then, she rang the bell.

The day seemed to go on and on. I knew we were meeting our host family the next day which had me a bit anxious, just because I haven’t had a minute to myself since I got here.

We got back to the hotel and had about 1.5 hours before dinner.

After dinner it was time for the talent show. I told them I would sing (and so, Taylor the Latte Boy). We have an extremely nice group! It’s like everyone is so supportive and we ended up doing standing ovations for every single performer. Too funny.. They started some kind of fashion show but I was out. Galen played the guitar and he is mondo-talented. George also played and sang. Cristina Smile-Face sang “Summertime” and Laura recited a poem If by Rudyard Kipling.

The rest of the talent show was fun but I left before the fashion show because I have truly not been alone for three minutes since I got to Houston on Tuesday.

I slept but not nearly enough. I managed to get a shower with hot water and toss some of my things in bags in anticipation of checking out the next morning.

I’m not feeling as anxious about meeting the family as I am about leaving my co-PCVs, and not having enough time to be by myself when I move in with the family. They are just things I wonder about..