Host Mom

Aceite | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

February 26, 2017March 9, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

I explained the situation over the fire. It’s where I explain most situations. The ‘situation’ being: I’m not decided on the next time I should go home, a normal question for PCVs worldwide I’m sure. Luckily[…]

El Monte | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

January 9, 2017February 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

December 22, 2016: Today we went back to ‘El Monte,’ the same spot as the first. I’ve gone with her to three ‘montes’ but this is the first time I’ve returned to the same spot,[…]

Moler | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

January 6, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

Moler means ‘to grind’ or ‘to crush.’ After we’ve toasted coffee beans over the plancha (stove) in the kitchen, Doña Rosario produced a wide cylindrical stone out of the other room where she keeps kitchen supplies.[…]

Cortar Café | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

January 6, 2017January 6, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

My alarm went off at 7:17am. Already winning. On my second morning in my new pueblo of Santa Clara, I descended the stairs to find my host mom in her tasked cooking pace, donning her[…]

“Mondays Are Hard Here Too” And Other Easing-In Stories

January 5, 2017 First Person ForeignChanges

This is a patchwork of all the feels from week one. As wavering as unrooted as the feelings were, they came and went like the incumbent GI issues I experienced. I laid on the cold[…]

The First Night in Site.

January 5, 2017January 5, 2017 First Person ForeignBeauty

A first impression fest indeed. Santa Clara: I don’t know what this map means except that the lake is shaped like a fleeing flea. Or perhaps a cow leaping. Or maybe like a lake. My site[…]

Week Seven: Thank Heaven You’re Done.

November 22, 2016November 22, 2016 First Person ForeignBeauty

Week Seven was a pile of dung. Not really. It was like a roller coaster and I came close to high-fiving Heaven’s gates and dragging my shoes through piles of poo every on a 4-hour rotation.[…]

Pica | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

October 28, 2016February 19, 2017 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

You know “pica” because you know “picante,” right? The first time I heard “pica” was actually in regards to a mosquito bite. My host mom and I just found each other in the courtyard. The[…]

La Mera Mera | 75 Palabras in Guatemala

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 First Person Foreign75 Words in Guatemala

La Mera Mera is slang for “Big Boss Lady.” My first ‘Profe,’ Eduardo, taught us this word. I knew instantly that my host mom is La Mera Mera. I knew my host family wouldn’t be expecting[…]