Volunteers Treating Ourselves to a Night Out in Xela

More Defile Pictres!

Feria Desfile!

Every town in Guatemala has an anual Feria (or fair) in honor of it´s patron Saint. My town´s Feria began the 24th of August with a parade (desfile) in which all the local schools march- my school Xecaxjoj received an invitation to participate. The following are pictures from the parade on Friday!

Teeth Brushing, Hand Washing... It´s a Miracle!

So it´s been a little over 4 months since I´ve been working with my schools. I have been lucky to have teachers who are easy to work with and who genuinely want to succeede in the Healthy Schools Project. The process during the past 4 months has been more or less getting to know the teachers and kids, presenting project responsibilities to the teachers, kids, and parents, getting the parents to buy a Utile de Limpieza for each child (small basin, toothbrush, toothpaste, towel, and soap), getting the teachers to construct Rincones de Salud in their classrooms (areas of the classroom to store the Utiles), and getting the children to be more conscious of their own self-cleanliness. The kids are still dirty, but some progress is being made!

House Update

Here is my house thus far. I moved in August 5th, and have realized that the process of making it a home will be longer than expected... I just don´t have the money! But I am so excited to be cooking my own food! Tuna melts, pasta, and vegetable stir fry have been my main dishes thus far. Last night I finished cooking beans - 8 hours soaking and 3 to 4 hours cooking. It feels so good to finally have my own private space. I even feel like my relationship with my former host family is better because they´re not involved in my daily life. I can blast music, sing outloud, use electricity without feeling guilty, I can go to the bathroom in the middle of the night without having to go outside (scary!). Life is good, having me time in my own house means a lot!