Returning to the USA

TOURING GUATEMALA (4) (and my 300th Post!!): The Last Microbus and The Livingston Lull and Goodbye

April 22, 2019April 22, 2019 First Person ForeignBoat

When Amanda and I started planning our trip in January, she suggested to me that we rent a car. Now, please enjoy the story: On the morning of April 6 we left Semuc Champey for[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Ringing That Bell

April 10, 2019April 10, 2019 First Person ForeignChanges

I’ve imagined the bell-ringing since the third week of service. An RPCV (return Peace Corps Volunteer) finished her service as we were starting ours, and she had a ceremony and she was kind enough to[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Despedida Lunch and Hiking a Volcano Through The Night (Never Again)

April 8, 2019April 8, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

I moved out of site on Wednesday. The last hour was the most horrible, a weeping host family, heavy bags and an honorable Lic. Enrique (the educational superintendent) who picked me up in his red[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): The Last Santa Clara Day

April 3, 2019April 3, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

I’ve called Santa Clara home since December 2, 2016. Abuelita, Clara and Rosario are all part of my story now, and me a part of theirs. And I know how hard it is going to[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): Translating For The Master Stylist

March 21, 2019March 22, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

On our last day, our group of 16 stood in a large circle while the youth gave us palabras de agradecimiento. They also gave each one of us Estadounidenses little gifts to take home, recuerdos[…]

T-Minus Guatemala (Peace Corps Ending): How To Lose A Pueblo in 10 Days

March 18, 2019March 18, 2019 First Person ForeignBeauty

It’s 11pm on a Sunday night. It’s my second to last Sunday in site. Tomorrow I have a session to observe and some tasks to accomplish, and then I go to another school in the[…]

The Beginning of the End: Peace Corps

February 22, 2019February 25, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

Reflecting on Service and General Updates On Me.

Hi-Lo 10: Project Framework & Shift

January 16, 2019January 16, 2019 First Person ForeignAbuelita

This week marks an exciting undertaking which is the PROJECT FRAMEWORK REVISION for Youth in Development. Basically, each Peace Corps project has a ‘logic project framework’ or in Spanish marco de trabajo that defines our project goals and[…]

Hi-Lo 3: Holding Hands and Africa

October 26, 2018October 26, 2018 First Person ForeignCompany

The weekend was ending. I was excited to get back to Santa Clara, to my bed, to my home. We bid Ryan goodbye, Sabrina and I, and got on a bus. The first of many.[…]

Hi-Lo 2: Screaming Babies and Crying Grandmas

October 19, 2018October 19, 2018 First Person ForeignAbuelita

I ran past the place where I fell and I didn’t fall. There was no chucha to scare me off the road and onto the sidewalk which is why the whole thing happened. To be[…]