small snippets

The fireworks here are ceaseless! There are constantly reasons to fire them off, from 6:00 a.m. to at least 10:30 p.m. The people here are very accustomed to the sporadic noises of explosions, but it still catches me by surprise. My host family laughs at dinner when I jump, yet after being here for three weeks, it still happens on the regular! 

I don't have firework pictures, but here's a beautiful photo from the mountains!

One day my teacher assigned me the task of asking my host family about the legends of Antigua, of which there are many. Antigua is an old town, full of ghost stories that are believed by many. We sat at the dinner table long after the food was gone, discussing the ancient stories. I heard stories of the Llorona, the crying woman that wanders around the town wailing in pain at the loss of her husband and kids. I’ve now asked three people about this story and everyone has told a different version, some more gruesome than others. Antigua has a rich history and the people here are eager to share it.

I think I have found my next race to train for: a waitress race! In the US, there are all sorts of fun runs such as color runs and mud runs, but our country is definitely missing out on the waiter and waitress runs. Hundreds of waiters and waitresses raced through the streets of Antigua last week with a tray in hand balancing four drinks on top. If any of the drinks tipped over, they were disqualified. They are running the entire race on uneven cobblestone! My teacher and I ditched the books to watch the race last Wednesday morning and I found it to be hilarious. The streets were full of waiters and waitress in uniform, some running precociously, while others walked, careful not to tip their drinks. I need to find myself a tray so I can begin my training each morning! (I didn't get my camera out quick enough to film the waitresses race, so here are some of the waiters.)

I was strongly encouraged to go visit the McDonald’s in Antigua. I really had no interest, as I have spent my entire life avoiding the establishment, but I was assured my experience here would be different. McDonalds is a palace here! It’s full of flowers, internet and ice cream, all things that I highly approve of! There’s a coffee shop as well. My friend and I have added this place into our rotation of study spots and we look forward to more afternoons in the McDonald’s garden.

After a few years of studying early elementary reading and leveling students for books, I was excited when my teacher brought me a book within my own Spanish abilities. Much to my chagrin, I now walk around town carrying my first grade reader, stumbling over words which I don’t understand. I was hoping to get more books, so I walked into the little used book shop nearby. The owner now recognizes me and takes me over to the corner with the children’s books. It reminds me of going to the library in elementary school and having the librarian show me around books I might like. Hopefully I’ll make it to second grade next week.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at home in the states!

 I'll be extra thankful on Thursday, my first Thanksgiving in school :)