Studying in Xela (Quetzaltenango)

Howdy! Going into week 7 already! Hope everyone is doing well!

Decided to forego a week studying in Panajachel for Xela, the second largest city in Guatemala (very wise decision). This is real everyday (modern) life in Guatemala. The city is much less touristy than Antigua and I'm finding my school here to be of higher quality than that in Antigua. Well, at least more practical. I learned a lot (on paper) in Antigua but was using very little on a daily basis. I've only had 4 days of class here in Xela, but I've spoken more Spanish than in 4 weeks in Antigua!!

The weather here, as you'll be able to tell by the photos is really nice during the day. Usually in the high 70's. By about 4 or 5 pm, the clouds get much darker and it often sprinkles in the afternoons. It's rained quite heavily a few nights here in Xela. However, better weather here than in Antigua, where it rained like clockwork in the late afternoons and evenings.

My teacher (at Miguel de Cervantes school http://www.learn2speakspanish.com/index.htm), Lizandro is awesome. He's very chill and progressive. He's even teaching me some of the "street" lingo, which is helpful with the younger crowd. He LOVES American music, and it comes up many times a day. He's very genuine and authentic and I consider myself lucky to have him as my instructor.

Here's some photos of the main park in Xela as well as views of the church.

I'm chillin this weekend in Xela proper, but will most likely go to Fuentes Georginas (natural hot springs + hotel- about 15 miles outside of Xela) next weekend. More phtos then!
Adios!

Just arrived in Quetzaltenango today. No photos yet...but here's the link to see the school I'll be studying at this first week. http://www.learn2speakspanish.com/index.htm
More photos soon!

Some new photos from Antigua. They just finished celebrating their independence this past weekend. ALL the schools here have marching bands, even the primary ones. They start very early on in their training. I actually didn't take any photos on the day of all the parades, but took tons of video. The photos here are from a couple Friday's ago when the schools all put on a maize festival in the center plaza. Those girls are amazing!

Weekend at Lake Atitlan

Spent four days at Lake Atitlan and surrounding areas with three other girls from my school. We visited Panajachel, San Pedro la Laguna (across the lake from Pana) and Chichicastenango (a nearby town with a HUGE market). Panajachel is a cute little town with great nightlife, fantastic food, and awesome shopping. We arrived Saturday and spent the night in Pana. These first four pics are from Pana.

View from Panajachel Panajachel dock

Menu del Dia meal in Pana 25Quetzals(approximately $3.00 US)Nice View...silly pigtails!
A great little spot we found that had live music, great food and awesome ambiance.
Sunday morning we hopped on our first "chicken" bus (local use these everywhere in Guatemala and the drivers haul ass...plus they are really cheap!) The ride there was quick with not too many people on the bus. The ride back was entirely a different story, with people practically sitting on top of one another. The picture will show that we stood the whole way back. Jokingly we said to the guy taking the money, "donde estan las cervezas?" We had the people, the music, atmosphere, only thing missing from the party was the beer! Great shopping in Chichi and so much to look at and admire. Too bad this blog doesn't have a smell-a-vision option. Just imagine!











Yarn for all those Guatemalan Like my new hairdo?? This guy is actually using an AXE keepsakes. to chop this meat in a carniceria in Chichi!!










Need to buy a chicken? How bout a turkey?


Church in ChiChi





The electricity often goes out in entire towns in Guatemala. Hmmm...I wonder why?!?




Me and Jana (yawn-a - from Germany)
on the chicken bus!

This past Thursday, Sept 6, we hiked Pacaya, an active volcano about an hour outside of Antigua.
I'll try and post some of those photos tomorrow. For now...gotta run. Laura, one of the gals staying in the same house is leaving tomorrow and we're celebrating her last night here. Adios!