Yes, it has been a long time comming, but as I pomised, I finally have photos.
http://boisestate.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2020300&l=54b59&id=52300282
I decided that I didnt care for the way this website uploads photos, but just click the link above and you can see them. If you have any problems, please email me jennymontague@gmail.com
Things in xela are as crazy and wonderful as ever. One of the teachers at our school started a program here that helps to create libraries in some of the surrounding pueblos. It is an awesome organization and run by some great people. This last weekend, the org had a day of drawing, movie watching (ice age) and teaching about the importance of taking care of the earth and animals. Our group was invited to go and had a great time!! It was so much fun playing with the kids. Theresa, Annie and I taught some of the girls cats cradle (a popular game among girls in the states). Some of the boys even got into it! It was awesome!
Life at home has been a little frustraiting. I have been having a really hard time understanding my host family, and I had been getting really discouraged because after three weeks I couldnt understand them any better than the first day I arrived... until we went to help out with the kids. While we were there, I kept thinking that their accent was strangly similar to that of my host family, and once again, I couldnt understand anyone. I can not tell you how relieved I was to find out that they were actually speaking a different language!!! Many of the mayans here speak mum or kique (I am pretty sure I spelled both of those wrong). The language sounds completly different, because they use some spanish words, I thought it was all the same. I changed host families this weekend just to get a different experience, and now, I feel like I am fluent! Life is great!
Well, I had better get out of here. I need to get to studying. Hope you all are doing well! Keep the emails comming! I always love to hear how you are doing!
besitos,
Jenny
p.s. sorry about the spelling, as I am sure it is horrible. This computer is a little different and I cant figure out spell check or puncuation. I will try to get it fixed soon. :)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Jenny hates computers
Hola todos!
So I decided that it was time to do this blog thing. I have posted a few emails that I have sent out to random people, so ignore the repeat.
I am having a hard time uploading photos as this computer is so slow, but I´m working on it. I will get them up as soon as I can figure this stuff out!
Love y´all!
Jenny
So I decided that it was time to do this blog thing. I have posted a few emails that I have sent out to random people, so ignore the repeat.
I am having a hard time uploading photos as this computer is so slow, but I´m working on it. I will get them up as soon as I can figure this stuff out!
Love y´all!
Jenny
Santa Maria
A few moments in my life I know I will never forget. I get to add today to the list.
Today a group from spanish school decided it would be a good idea to hike to the top of a nearby volcano. I have spent the last ten minute staring at the computer screen trying to decide where to begin... words could not possibly do it justice.
We arrived at the base of the volcano around 0530 to start the journey. After the first hour or so of hiking, I gave up on taking pictures. Every step closer to the top was more beautiful, and I needed to save my batteries for the summit. After the the second hour of hiking, my legs were starting to feel a bit like jelly, but the scenery and conversation were both great distraction from the growing sensation of uncertainty of reaching the top that creeped up from my legs. After the 3rd hour, I turned my focus to the decent, realizing how treatourous it would be due to the slick, steep, terrain. After the 4th hour, I was hoping that the volcano would erupt and put me out of my misery. 4 hours, 50 minutes, 32 seconds after we started out little hike, I entered a new world.
When we started out the hike, there was not a cloud in the sky, but when we reached the top, they had completely surrounded us. One in a while, there would be a slight break in the clouds and we discovered just how high we had climbed that morning. It was unbelievable to be able to look over the top of the clouds and not be in a airplane!
Yes, I took pictures, and they suck compared to the real thing. But, as soon as I get a couple 4 hours free, I will battle the computer and get them posted.
Keep your stories coming! I much prefer to hear about your lives than ramble on about mine!!! :)
Love y´all,
Jenny
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
life, the universe, and everything...
Life in guatemala is incredible (and it´s only week 2!) Actually, today it has been a little frustrating. Spanish classes this week have been a little more challenging, and I´m struggling to find a way to express myself in english or in spanish. My theory is that I have studied so many different rules and topics in spanish that right now I´m struggling to keep them all straight in my brain. Today, for instance, I couldn´t remember how to conjugate regular present tense verbs... something that I have understood well since high school. I´m thinking that the combination of discussing more in depth topics with the great multitude of rules I have rolling around in my head, my brain needs a little time to get them all figured out. And this will only come with a little patience and time. Other than the frustrations of trying to bumble my way around in a different culture and with a new language, I have absolutely no complaints. My life is truly is incredible. The group that I am with right now (my volunteer class) is an incredible group of people. I can´t believe I get to be apart of it. There is such a array of skills, knowledge and humor that there is never a dull moment. I already feel like I´ve known them for so long even though it´s only been two weeks.
Qué más... I´ve also had the opportunity to take some amazing trips to nearby pueblos. Last weekend, we visited some Mayan ruins and this weekend we´re going to hike up a volcano. The scenery here is breathtaking. I often find myself smiling stupidly completely amazed at my surrounding (both scenery and people).
It is a strange life though because in the back of my mind, I know I´m only going to be here for 5 1/2 more weeks. This is somewhat of a scary thought, but I am really anxious to get to meet the others at the finca.
So that, in a small nutshell (perhaps a pistachio), is my life today. Pretty damn good.
Well, I´d better get. I´m going to a converence this afternoon about guatemalan education. It will be eye opening, no doubt.
mucho amor, besitos y abrasos,
Jenny
Qué más... I´ve also had the opportunity to take some amazing trips to nearby pueblos. Last weekend, we visited some Mayan ruins and this weekend we´re going to hike up a volcano. The scenery here is breathtaking. I often find myself smiling stupidly completely amazed at my surrounding (both scenery and people).
It is a strange life though because in the back of my mind, I know I´m only going to be here for 5 1/2 more weeks. This is somewhat of a scary thought, but I am really anxious to get to meet the others at the finca.
So that, in a small nutshell (perhaps a pistachio), is my life today. Pretty damn good.
Well, I´d better get. I´m going to a converence this afternoon about guatemalan education. It will be eye opening, no doubt.
mucho amor, besitos y abrasos,
Jenny
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
serious rain storm
Dude!!!
I didn´t think my classes this morning were ever going to end!! About a half hour to the end, I told my professor my brain was full and I couldn´t take it anymore! Amazingly, she thought I had been speaking better today. I don´t know how it was possible. I think the trick is that you just have to slur a bunch of sounds together and then say ¨right?¨at the end and then they know it´s their turn to start mumbling. It´s actually quite a simple system when you get down to the bare bones. ;) After classes, we watched a most exciting soccer game between Argentina and Xela. It was a pretty important game, and thankfully we won. If we had lost there probably would have been riots. They take their fútbol here pretty seriously!!!
Then it was back to school. But this time we were the teacher and we got to speak in english!!! It was so exciting! Until, that is, i got to the school and realized that I was ¨teaching¨ a bunch of teenage boys and all they wanted to know was if I was married. It didn´t work out exactly as I had hoped, but I did have a few students who truly were interested in learning english, so I had a good time.
I realized when I got back that I had just enough time before dinner to go to the bank... and then came the rain storm. Seriously, the rain storms here remind me of the thunderstorms in arkansas, except like 20 times more rain and no thunder or lighting. I pulled out my handy dandy umbrella which did a great job of keeping my hair dry. Really the umbrella didn´t stand a chance. So I had a lovely little walk home in the torrential down pour and got home just in time to have a delicious dinner with my host family. All in all it was a great day!! ;)
Okay, now I need to get going. I have ¨reviews¨ (which are amazingly similar to tests) twice a week (I think I have the toughest teacher in the school), so I need to study for my ¨review¨ tomorrow!!! I love you all and miss you TONS!!!
Jenny
I didn´t think my classes this morning were ever going to end!! About a half hour to the end, I told my professor my brain was full and I couldn´t take it anymore! Amazingly, she thought I had been speaking better today. I don´t know how it was possible. I think the trick is that you just have to slur a bunch of sounds together and then say ¨right?¨at the end and then they know it´s their turn to start mumbling. It´s actually quite a simple system when you get down to the bare bones. ;) After classes, we watched a most exciting soccer game between Argentina and Xela. It was a pretty important game, and thankfully we won. If we had lost there probably would have been riots. They take their fútbol here pretty seriously!!!
Then it was back to school. But this time we were the teacher and we got to speak in english!!! It was so exciting! Until, that is, i got to the school and realized that I was ¨teaching¨ a bunch of teenage boys and all they wanted to know was if I was married. It didn´t work out exactly as I had hoped, but I did have a few students who truly were interested in learning english, so I had a good time.
I realized when I got back that I had just enough time before dinner to go to the bank... and then came the rain storm. Seriously, the rain storms here remind me of the thunderstorms in arkansas, except like 20 times more rain and no thunder or lighting. I pulled out my handy dandy umbrella which did a great job of keeping my hair dry. Really the umbrella didn´t stand a chance. So I had a lovely little walk home in the torrential down pour and got home just in time to have a delicious dinner with my host family. All in all it was a great day!! ;)
Okay, now I need to get going. I have ¨reviews¨ (which are amazingly similar to tests) twice a week (I think I have the toughest teacher in the school), so I need to study for my ¨review¨ tomorrow!!! I love you all and miss you TONS!!!
Jenny
Sunday, August 12, 2007
mayan ruins
¡Hola todos! ¿Qué pasa?
Yesterday, our group traveled to a near by pueble, huehuetenango to visit some myan ruins. It was supercool! One of the teachers accompanied us, and gave us a little rundown of the ruins (no pun intended). It was so intersting. We climbed to the top of one of the pyramids and found a circular pot-like thing. Our guide said it was where they collected the blood from human sacrafices(usually prisioners of war). She really wanted to impress upon usthat they did not have human sacrafices all the time (as is depictedin Mel Gibson´s movie), just when there was a new king, or some kindof celebration, or to pay for the pueblos sins. It seemed that she wanted to make it seem a little less gruesome, but then she told ushow they would take out the hearts and they would still be beating... personally I wouldn´t want to get on their bad side.
Classes are going well, I think. I know I´m making progress, but all of my confidence is crushed when I have dinner withmy family. They talk so stinking fast! It´s quite amazing. It is encouraging to know that others have been through the same process andcame out on the other side with a good working knowledge of spanish. I still have hope that I will get there.
So I realized that this email makes it sound like I never study. If only! I spend a good chunk of the day either at my little desk or ina café studying. If only I can make it through the past tense verbs, I think i´ll be in the clear. Well I´d better get. I´m meeting my friends to play ultimate. Yeah, that sounds bad too. But in my defense, I´ve spent about 3 or 4 hours today studying. I think I deserve a break! :)
Love you all!
Jenny
Yesterday, our group traveled to a near by pueble, huehuetenango to visit some myan ruins. It was supercool! One of the teachers accompanied us, and gave us a little rundown of the ruins (no pun intended). It was so intersting. We climbed to the top of one of the pyramids and found a circular pot-like thing. Our guide said it was where they collected the blood from human sacrafices(usually prisioners of war). She really wanted to impress upon usthat they did not have human sacrafices all the time (as is depictedin Mel Gibson´s movie), just when there was a new king, or some kindof celebration, or to pay for the pueblos sins. It seemed that she wanted to make it seem a little less gruesome, but then she told ushow they would take out the hearts and they would still be beating... personally I wouldn´t want to get on their bad side.
Classes are going well, I think. I know I´m making progress, but all of my confidence is crushed when I have dinner withmy family. They talk so stinking fast! It´s quite amazing. It is encouraging to know that others have been through the same process andcame out on the other side with a good working knowledge of spanish. I still have hope that I will get there.
So I realized that this email makes it sound like I never study. If only! I spend a good chunk of the day either at my little desk or ina café studying. If only I can make it through the past tense verbs, I think i´ll be in the clear. Well I´d better get. I´m meeting my friends to play ultimate. Yeah, that sounds bad too. But in my defense, I´ve spent about 3 or 4 hours today studying. I think I deserve a break! :)
Love you all!
Jenny
Friday, August 3, 2007
buenos dias de xela!
At last! I have arrived! It is so good to finally have a place to stay for a while. I love traveling, but it´s nice to just stay put for a bit.
I arrived in Guatemala city wednesday and have been going non stop since. We (my volunteer group) stayed in a hostel the first night. It was wonderful! The owners were so kind to help out a few clumsy gringos. the next day, we had a 5 hour bus ride to xela (where I will be in language school for the next two months). Our group went to the school and ran into some other students who have been here for a few months. this is such a beautiful city! I love it already, and am learning so quickly:
Lesson 1: Canadians in Guatemala are super friendly and great tour guides!
We all went out to dinner ( with the canadian students) at a great italian restaurant, and after saw an amazing concert! It was a fantastic night!
Lesson 2: House keys break if you try to use them in houses that are not your own.
I walking home after the concert with one of my new compañeros and I got a little turned around. I found what I thought to be my host families house, and tried the key. The key fit, but wouldn´t turn and sadly they key broke. I knocked on the door and found an angry woman and child inside who were definitely not my host family. oops! Just a few more minutes of walking, and we found the house. I was relieved! :)
Well, I have to run, but I just wanted to let you all know that I arrived safely. I still haven´t figured out the phone thing, but I will soon. I love you all and miss you!
Jenny
I arrived in Guatemala city wednesday and have been going non stop since. We (my volunteer group) stayed in a hostel the first night. It was wonderful! The owners were so kind to help out a few clumsy gringos. the next day, we had a 5 hour bus ride to xela (where I will be in language school for the next two months). Our group went to the school and ran into some other students who have been here for a few months. this is such a beautiful city! I love it already, and am learning so quickly:
Lesson 1: Canadians in Guatemala are super friendly and great tour guides!
We all went out to dinner ( with the canadian students) at a great italian restaurant, and after saw an amazing concert! It was a fantastic night!
Lesson 2: House keys break if you try to use them in houses that are not your own.
I walking home after the concert with one of my new compañeros and I got a little turned around. I found what I thought to be my host families house, and tried the key. The key fit, but wouldn´t turn and sadly they key broke. I knocked on the door and found an angry woman and child inside who were definitely not my host family. oops! Just a few more minutes of walking, and we found the house. I was relieved! :)
Well, I have to run, but I just wanted to let you all know that I arrived safely. I still haven´t figured out the phone thing, but I will soon. I love you all and miss you!
Jenny
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