Independence Day

 Preparing for the Acto Civico at La Senda

 My roommate Jo and I at the parade

Zucy and me

Costumed dancers--a common cultural event on big occasions

Life Continues

In the moment, it seemed dreadful.  When Jo said, "Nope.  I didn't leave the light on.  Someone was in here," I think my heart dropped to my toes.  Receipts and papers were scattered across the floor; our clothes strewn across the bedrooms; our money and a few other select things gone.  The slats were removed from the back window: the entry point.  Before entering, they first cut through the barbed wire to allow free access over the wall.  Funny thing, barbed wire-topped walls.  They don't keep intruders out.  (I continue to be reminded of Nadine Gordimer's "Once Upon a Time.") 

But life goes on.  And really, the losses we took, while I am still frustrated about them at times, are so minimal in comparison with what's really important.

I admit that sometimes we still try to figure out the psychology of the robbers to predict whether or not they will try to return, and more pressing, if it will be within this last month.  Hard telling, that's for sure.

Of course, our situation has been put into perspective several times.  Most routinely by Guatemalans indicating that our story is not unique here, and, without having been in the house when the intruders entered, rather benign.  Yesterday, though, the reality check came through my student.  She shared with us that her uncle was killed in San Lucas yesterday morning.  A guy came up to his car window, had him roll it down, and shot him. I don't know what more there is to the story.  I was in San Lucas yesterday morning, too, paying car insurance and picking up groceries.

As Jo said, there's really no safe place in this world.  She would know.  She's seen Israel bomb Beirut (for real!), had her passport held hostage by the Russian mafia, had her car broken into in Columbus, OH, and now had her passport and money to live off of for the next month and a half stolen from her bedroom in Guatemala.

I thank God for his protection.  I am also thankful for Jo as my roommate.  She, along with my student and others here, helps me keep perspective, reminding me that our focus should be eternal.  And in that eternal focus, these small things are really just that--tiny.

Refaccion

Jo and I invited the teachers over for an after school snack.  Though we teach together, we don't often get together as a group outside of school.  We enjoyed hanging out together, snacking on cinnamon bread and somsas (Jo knows how to make these from living in Uzbekistan), drinking coffee, and playing Uno.  I hope we can plan one or two more teacher afternoons before the year is up.

 The spread

Teachers and Me

Teachers and Me

 Learning to play Uno

Humpty Dumpty

At English club, we've been reading a couple of nursery rhymes each week, for the listening skills, a little vocab, a little culture, and a little rhythm.  The boys loved Humpty Dumpty because of the sound; they nixed Hickory Dickory Dock, Jack and Jill, and Little Boy Blue, but they LOVED Three Blind Mice.  Why? Because the farmer's wife cut off their tails with a carving knife...

I think boys will be boys everywhere.