WiLd TiMeS!

Hello Everyone,

It's been like a week since I last wrote, sorry for the delay. It has been very busy here in Antigua. Well this past weekend I went to this 'finca' (Like a plantation or farm land area, except HUGE) with Mina, Libby, and Jill. The drive there was very interesting it took about an hour and we passed some AMAZING views, and some little villages that reminded me what most of Guatemala really looks like. There were these trees that were really just a type of pine tree but most of their branches had been cut off because they are often used for ceremonies and celebrations here. So, these pine trees looked liked Truffala trees from Doctor Suess's book 'The Lorax'. Except they weren't really bright colours just a normal green colour. It's very easy to forget while living in Antigua what the rest of Guatemala is actually like. Antigua is invaded by tourists and wealth in many areas that you don't see a lot of the poverty that exists here. So we went to this plantation and we went zip-lining across two mountains. It was such a beautiful view while we were zip-lining across . . . it was hard to believe. Then we went horseback riding which was all very nice and slow paced. We took a nice trot around the plantation and my horse named Juanita or something to the effect kept eating everything in sight especially coffee leaves. I had an unfortunate accident while getting off the horse..... in which I fell off. It was so ridiculous, I didn't get hurt seriously just a big bruise on my knee and I cut my lip open and just ended up with a bruise on my lip hahaha! I can't believe that happened, but I have learned my lesson. One must get off the horse pulling your leg behind... not in front haaha rookie mistake. Anyway after that we went blackberry picking, which was SO MUCH FUN! We just went up and down the lines of blackberries and picked up the nice black ones, it was very relaxing. We also had a chance to milk some cows. . . it was so weird. Very interesting experience I have always wanted to try it . .. quite different than what I thought it would be like. We got to try the milk afterwards and it just tasted like normal milk. :) Then Sunday we went to this NGO (Non-Government Organization) on a 'chicken bus', which is just a normal intercity bus here... they are like school buses but painted all these different colours. A lot of them have names as well. On our way the bus was CRAZY packed, we had to sit 3 or 4 to a seat on a school bus hahaha it was so funny. We were only on it for about 10min and then we got off and walked about 10 min down a path towards the NGO. The NGO is called 'Semillas del Angel Guardia' (Aka: Seeds of the Guardian Angel). It is an NGO that was set up by a Guatemala women for single mothers in the region. The single mothers come and help grow herbs and vegetables and are paid in grains and rice. This NGO hopes to soon gain enough money to pay the women for their help in cash and eventually hand over these gardens, hens, and talapia farm (A kind of white fish) to the single mothers so they can grow they're own food. A Dutch women donated 300 chickens to the NGO and they are producing many eggs, and they sell them to offset costs. They also have some little goats that are SO CUTE! They know their names, and they always try and eat the herbs but they know they are not supposed to so they run away when they see anyone coming. They are apparently very young only months old and I had no idea how cute they were. But many people say they look cute but they destroy everything (living that is) and not living as well. Anyway while we were there we tilled two and a half rows of land and took out the rocks, mixed in compost and white sand, watered it and finally planted some spinach and tomatoes seeds. It was so much fun! It was so quiet there as well and the view is just astounding. I am thinking about volunteering there once a week, but I am also searching for another NGO to volunteer at perhaps with kids, or young girls. There is one NGO that I found that helps to empower young women through educational seminars, and through funding their education. Moving right along . . . school has been picking up lately, homework wise. I feel like I'm on vacation but I have homework .. . it is a little bit weird. I am currently taking five courses, poverty and health and economic development are both once a week for 3 hours. Spanish literature is twice a week for two hours, and spanish is every week day for two hours. Then I have the NGO class as well. Spanish literature is very interesting! We just finished studying the 'Popol Vuh' which is like the Mayan bible which discusses how humans were created. It is very interesting and I am finding a lot of correlations between the Egyptians and the Maya. The other day I bought some gum from a street vendor, and they sell them in these small packs of 4 and they have all these great flavours. I bought strawberry, grape, and mint. Also I bought a new pair of sun glasses since my other ones broke last semester, the only cost me like 4$. Well it has been really good, but very busy! I could write for days, but also there is not that much time. Well take care miss you all <3