Hogar, Dulce Hogar

I AM BACK IN THE USA (arrived late last night)!

While I haven't made it back to Cincinnati yet, I have spent a great day in Dayton, hanging out at my sister's new house, having lunch with Mark (got salad for the first time in two months!) and getting my hair test drug screen for my new job which starts in TWO WEEKS!

It feels great to be back although it was hard to leave yesterday. But, Kevin and Franz called me today from Guatemala (gracias por the phone call, guys!) and they seem to be doing well and I wasn't too sad I wasn't with them.

Weirdest adjustment back to the USA: flushing the toilet. I think I flushed the toilet about ten times all summer so I have caught myself getting up and washing my hands before I even flush. Along with that, I am having trouble adjusting to putting the toilet paper in the toilet and not in a trash can. Haha!

My plans for the next two weeks before I start my job include my sister's med school white coat ceremony, Sandra's wedding, Cedar Point, and hopefully lots of dinners with friends.

Then at the beginning of the month my job begins (first week on the job in Dayton, haha) and then my sister and mom are graciously helping me with my big move later that week. Should be exciting!

This is my last ETHOS post. Just wanted to thank all of you who have read and commented on my blog. I can't even write how grateful I was to have a fan club this summer. I am glad I was able to share my experiences with you and you were interested enough to read about them! I know they sometimes got long but I appreciate the persistence! I wasn't writing to a wall! It inspired me to maybe do another blog at some point. Take care everyone and God Bless!

Love,
Laura Betty :)

whoops

sorry if it seemed like I was complaining in my below post, but I just wanted to explain to people what the weather is like because I think there is the common perception that I'm in Central America in the summer time-it must be hot! miss you guys and thank you for reading!

loooove/amor,
lowraaa :)

Rain and Spain and Foto!

Hola todos,

This post isn't necessarily an update on my day or anything, but considering the fact that it is pouring here and Spain won yesterday, I have a few things to say.

I don't know how many of you realize the weather patterns that I have here in Guate. Here's a typical overview: I go to bed under my three sleeping bags wearing my boxers (because I didn't pack any sweatpants), long soccer socks I bought at the market (because I didn't pack any sweatpants), my one long sleeve t-shirt (if its not dirty from work) and I usually hug my one sweatshirt unless its really cold and I wear it. So its coldest at night and we live in a cement box. In the morning, I usually put on whatever I'm going to wear that day plus my sweatshirt to wear to breakfast and ward off the morning dew and chill. Then once or twice a week it gets warm until about 2 pm. Like warm where I'm putting on sunscreen. Maybe once a week it gets REALLY COLD where my nose sniffles and I wish I had two sweatshirts. Then come 2 pm, we get our afternoon rain. We are excited when it doesn't rain because then my warm close don't get wet, however no rain one day means double rain the next day. I just wanted to describe this to people so that when I come back, nearly as pale as May, you aren't shocked with "LAURA, WHY ARE YOU SO PALE?" You also might see me bundling up in sweatpants although I know its very very hot in Ohio, but I really miss my sweatpants, haha.

Currently ,I'm reading Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" and he comments on rain. This might be a little more extreme than my conditions, but not much:

"Rain spoils everything. There is no pleasure in walking in waterproofs. There is something deeply dispiritng abotu the stiff rustle of nylon and the endless, curiously amplified patter of rain on synthetic material. Worst of all, you don't even stay dry; the waterproofs keep out the rain but make you sweat so much that soon you are clammily sodden."

I heard Wisconsin is having great summer weather, too. Let's hope I don't bring the wet spell in August!!!

So, last weekend in Xela I bought my first ever sports jersey-Espana! Franz wanted Germany, Kevin wants Holland, and I want Spain to win the Copa Mundial. Before the semi-final games were played we decided to make a bet for the winner of the tournament! I have a 50-50 chance of winning! Take that men! Winner gets to buy at the market something ridiculous/embarassing/funny that the losers have to wear to my Despedida (goodbye lunch) on Monday. Losers also buy the winner something goofy from the market, but they don't have to wear it out anywhere. GOOOO ESPANA!

Above, is a picture of me and my host family the morning we went to Xocomil water park (from left to right...Dona Hilda, Georgina, Armando, Ariel, Iwrin). To the left behind us is the town cemetery-very colorful. And directly behind us is downtown Comitancillo. I will try and also attach a picture of downtown which will be above the family picture. Thank you for reading! Lluvia es igual a felicidad, Lowra

"Laura's Move-Out" Plans

Hi all!

So we FINALLY finished our Water Deposit project today and it feels great and I feel really accomplished. Yes we were supposed to finish last Friday however one of our men we work with was sick so our progress was slower. Anyways I will finish the week with repairing the biodigester, watching Spain win tomorrow (I bought my first ever jersey so they are my team. Franz wants Germany and Quebin wants Holand and we have a bet going for the winner hehe), visiting the families who are receiving stoves from AMMID, and visiting the town with Franz where he is doing the water filter work-I think the woman we work with doesn't speak English so hopefully I can help translate what Franz doesn't understand.

A week from today I leave Comitancillo thus beginning "Laura's Move-Out". This takes a few days because we have to go back to Guatemala City, which is a far trip-8ish hours/3 bus rides. We are breaking it up to see a bit more of the country because we haven't really gone elsewhere besides Xela and Comitancillo. So we are stopping for two days at Lake Atitlan (supposed to be gorgeous, might go Ziplining and Kayaking at sunrise), one day at Antigua (have been here before and its very touristy but rustic), and spending one day visiting with the Estrada family of 13 again. I am so excited for all of it! Kevin might show Erick Estrada the solar cooker plans that he has that Erick was interested in seeing for implementation at his medical clinic or nearby towns (near Pacaya actually). Possible future ETHOS worksite? Quizas! Then the boys are returning to Comitancillo to work for two more weeks. I'm really lucky that I don't have to make the trip back to Guatemala City alone!

Exciting thing for Sunday. Well, its the World Cup finals but I am also cooking the Ebetino spaghetti sauce for my host family and Comitancillo friends (dinner fiesta of 12!). I have been craving the sauce (I can taste it en mi boca ahorita) but also love making it and love hosting dinner parties so this will be a great time and a great way to say goodbye to all of my friends and family in Comitancillo.

Albondigas es mi favorita frase en espanol y las de mi mama son mis favoritas,
Lowra Betty :)

work updates!

so we didnt work yesterday because of RAIN and we arent working today because we have to go to the monthly AMMID-update-us-on-what-youve-done-all-month meeting, but we are going to La Reforma tomorrow to finish the water deposits, before heading to Xela for the weekend to celebrate the FoJ (4th). Anyways, we didn't have plans for what to work on next week, my LAST week of work. But at the meeting we talked about it and heres the plan:

We are going to spend 2 days going around the different towns of Comi to determine who needs new stoves. Certain towns have already been picked so we are going to now select the families that get to receive a new stove. AMMID only has funding for so many. Criteria: (1) They need a kitchen and (2) They either don't have a stove or it is terribly old and run down. I will enjoy this because I will get to see different communities of Comitancillo and also work with someone from AMMID, who we haven't had HUGE interactions with this summer.

Also, they are selling or giving away produce all next week (not quite sure how this works yet) but they need help working at the table. I think this will be great because we will be able to interact with the locals and stay in downtown Comitancillo to interact with those people. This will probably help me improve my Spanish!

Comment on my Spanish: I think I have improved this summer, and I think mostly my improvement has come in my pronunciation of words (rolling my r's, etc.) AND PRONUNCIATION IS SOMETHING I HAVE ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH! yay I sound more Spanish-speaking!

Final note: TODAY IS CANADA DAY. HAPPY CANADA DAY! There are two Canadian voluteers here who are our friends (volunteer for Cause Canada) and they gave us tatoos to wear. I have the glittery maple leaf on my cheek and the boys have the flag on their wrists. We are going to a yummy restaurant tonight for milk shakes and to celebrate Canada!

Today I'm wearing very fun earrings and its the girliest I've felt all summer, haha,
Lowra :)