Too Busy to Study Spanish

I took my first chicken bus. Chicken buses are over-sized school buses on drugs. They are painted in a colorful manner and each has its own personality and flair. Mine had religious signs. The sign above my driver read, The hands of God. I can see how that makes sense. I have to have a lot of faith that I am going to make it to my next destination since riding in a chicken bus is akin to riding on a roller coaster, but without the fun since I hold onto the rail in front of me out of sheer fear. After being dropped off on a random street corner, I took a nearby pick-up truck up the hill in order to visit a colorful church. Again, I had faith that I would make it to my next destination.

I found the church interesting, however, the children and people interest me more. I have to be careful though in taking photos of children because the locals think tourists all want to kidnap their kids. Although, I find them all adorable, I don't plan to return with my own soccer team. Some tourists have even been killed because the locals feared for their children.

At a religious house along the way, I found a woman praying for money in front of a hand made cross. She hogged the cross, and so I couldn't pray for my own money.

After returning back to the city, I went out to dinner with some new found friends and then I watched a documentary on how Canadian mining firms are displacing the indigenous people of Guatemala. A real up-lifting movie.

Yesterday, after class, I took another chicken bus followed by a pick-up truck up to Fuentes Georginas, a natural hot springs nestled between Volcanoes. I enjoyed the afternoon relaxing in the scalding hot water surrounded by the mist of the Valley while rain fell on me. I can get use to this new lifestyle.

After dinner, I went out in search of salsa dancing. In the end, I spent the evening playing pool with friends and having my one cerveza. Of course, after a beer, I had to grab a bite to eat. At 11pm I stopped by the local street vendor and grabbed a hot dog, or as I like to call them perro caliente, and then I called it a night.

I forgot to mention my interview. I spoke with a woman from the rural health clinic yesterday and I plan to visit the clinic on Monday. If my Spanish is up to par, I will teach rural children about basic health topics and if not, then my other option is to work as a lab tech and test stool samples. As much as I like to be a team player, this isn't what I had in mind for myself. I need to cut down on my social activities and really study Spanish. I'll see how much I can learn in the next couple of days.