Proyecto Linguistico Quetzaltenango

Monday morning included the orientation to Proyecto Linguistico Quetzalteco.  The school is absolutely fabulous - they are very progressive and interested in teaching the students about important issues in Guatemala - rights of the campesinos (farmers), human rights in general, issues of land ownership, the history of Guatemala and 30-something year war that ended in 1996.  After the orientation we got an introduction to the activities of the week, which included a film (yesterday) on the School of the Americas (www.soaw.org) for those of you who are not familiar with it.  Today we had a campesino de cafe de Santa Anita, which is south of Xela.  His story of the life of a coffee farmer and the impact of Hurricaine Stan on their crop this year and the effect that would have on their income was heartbreaking.  Today he actually had already spent hours and hours today planting his coffee crop before coming to speak with us.  I was very happy to find out that the cooperative that he is part of is connected with cafe campesinos, which is somewhere in Georgia.  Something I will need to investigate when I return.  At the very least, after hearing his story, I know I will spend the extra couple bucks on FAIR TRADE coffee from this point forward.

My Spanish study is going well.  It is exhausting to study for 5 hours a day.  Most of the time we are just talking, about any and every thing, so this, for me, would be exhausting if it was in English, but in Spanish it is not only exhausting, but extremely frustrating, especially, say, at about the 4th hour.  I opted to study en la tarde rather than in the morning, so my teacher and I talk from 2-7.  Today I found out that she has 4 children, the oldest of whom is nine.  It sounds like they are home by themselves for the day.  She has a student from 8-1 and then me from 2-7, so during the 30 minute break during the morning, during lunch, and then during the 30 minute break in the afternoon she walks home to check on her kids.  I am glad to know she is being paid a living wage by the school, but still, the reality of her life is a little hard to imagine.

FAIR TRADE coffee from this point forward.

This morning I walked across town to a Mennonite "Bakeshop" which is very popular with the estranjeros (visitors).  I got a little bag of cookies for a treat.  I offered some to my teacher and she had a couple.  Then I got home and offered 1 to Yolly, but she took the whole bag.  I was a little confused by the transaction, but I am quite sure I said Ud. quiere una galleta, definitely singular.  Well, I am glad I got to try one with my teacher.  Quiero mis galletas!  (They were chocolate chip).  Oye vey!

I keep hoping to upload some photos, but I am a bit indimiated by the process and always seem to run out of time.  There has been more excitement in Xela, but the internet cafe I am sitting in closes in 5 minutes.  Last night I was thinking of coming here but the power went off in the city for a couple of hours (this is apparently a regular occurrence in order to save energy).  Hmmm...