Thursday, Friday 3/26 - 3/27 On our feet

Firstly, here is the link to the Mayan Water Project for more information.

The rest of the week seemed like utter chaos in the best way possible. A few of us fell sick in Panajachel and 12 out of 14 of us slowly dropped like rocks, staying in at nights and popping pills to speed up the recovery process. Unfortunately, more than half of us came back to the states still feeling the effects, but we kept our heads up and tried to make the most of the trip.

We spent most of Thursday seeing the sights and shopping. Known as the most colorful market in America, Chichicastenango's Thursday market carried a variety of things from fruits to garments to little toys and bags. It reminded me a lot of the Taiwan night markets, but with vendors welcoming me in a foreign language and with vibrant colors beckoning me from left and right.

Lacking the appropriate Spanish conversational skills necessary to haggle, I spent the day with Rocio and we got ourselves some great deals. We also watched as thick incense filled the air during the Semana Santa celebrations at Santo Tomás Church, a building built on top of the steps of an old Mayan temple.

On Friday, we went to a church in Antigua to meet with a local mental disabilities facility. We talked with the adults and ended up wheeling them back to their facilities -- a good two mile walk on cobblestone. I feel as if it was not exactly the safest thing to do, but if they enjoyed their day outside, then it was probably worth it.

I spent the rest of the afternoon feeding children. After trying to feed a boy who began throwing a temper tantrum, I asked for assistance and was told that he has a habit of throwing tantrums when he doesn't like the food. Even though that was not a satisfactory answer, I moved on and thankfully one of the staff members took over. I fed a boy named Roberto, who was all smiles and extremely in tune with his sense of touch. He would grab my hand and move the bowl closer to him when he wanted more food. When I looked at him and talked to him in my broken Spanish and English, he smiled a crooked smile and uttered a quiet laugh. At some point in time, the wind blew my bangs across my face and he found great amusement in this. He then learned that I had pigtails and proceeded to reach out and yank them with his tiny hands. He was the most adorable kid ever. It hurt to see these kids with severe retardation or disabilities lined up in rows of wheelchairs, but it was definitely a learning experience.



Unfortunately, I don't have any photographs but I do have a couple from our trip to the coffee plantation later that afternoon. I cannot get enough of the smell and taste of coffee, so the tour was interesting. I learned about picking, processing, drying and roasting the coffee beans and that Guatemala has some of the best coffee around (in my opinion). I hardly drink coffee black because I cannot stand the bitterness. Guatemalan coffee? I could drink cups of it black because it tastes amazing. I brought some back for my roommate and me, and man, what a wonderful smell and taste to wake up to.