- Girls' Weekend! Me, Sam, Jenny, Sarah, and Cheryl.
- Sam and I stayed in Cheryl's MANSION! Two rooms, kitchen, tile floors, 3 beds, and cable TV. Definitely a mansion by my Guatemalan standards.
- Ate at Guajimbo's three different times, as usual for Pana weekends.
- Delicious pizza and margaritas at Pana Rock.
- Saturday, Sam and I lounged in bed watching aforementioned cable TV literally all day long while Cheryl picked her sister up at the airport. We only left the house to eat breakfast and not again until dinner. What better way to spend a rainy afternoon than watching A Cinderella Story dubbed in Spanish and several trashy episodes of MTV Tres's Quiero mi Quince?
- Several visits to the Palapa bar where the president of El Salvador's son was hanging out -- girlfriend and undercover security team in tow.
- Spent Sunday morning at a beautiful hidden beach Cheryl showed us. Sunburn: check.
- Did not take a single photo from the weekend. That proves just how relaxing/lazy it was.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Laziest Weekend Vacation Ever
After losing my voice this weekend (cause = unknown) and being super ultra congested and cracked out on cold medicine today, I am probably in no condition to be writing. So, here is your bulleted summary of our weekend in Panajachel!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Story Update 10
Guatemala's Student Leaders Organize Community Service Project - Testigos del Bien spent a weekend bringing donations to needy communities.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Watch Quinceañera Practice!
Last night was the final night practicing the quinceañera dance just us girls! We finished the dance, and this weekend they start practicing with the boys (their dates/dance partners). Sharon and I have been practicing with the boys on the weekends (best call ever to separate the groups at first), and they are pretty up to speed too. Things are looking good!
Monday afternoon the girls also get to go and buy their high heels at the mall, and they begged Sharon and me to go with them. It's going to be hilarious.
In general, the girls are more excited than you can probably comprehend. Every time we finish running through the dance, they screech and squeal and jump around and applaud themselves haha. Sharon and I also brought our own heels down to practice last night, and the girls had a blast trying out the dance in our shoes.
We have a little more than a month left to practice, but we feel like we're in great shape! Volunteering to teach this dance has been crazy and frustrating and stressful at times, but I'm so glad I did it. We're having a blast, and if you want to know the truth, some of that screeching and squealing and jumping around post-dance routine is also being contributed by yours truly. :)
And now for videos!
I'm video recording in the first one, but in the second one you can see me out there dancing with the girls.
A few notes about the vids: Sorry, there's no sound. I used the weirdo office camera. It also looks kind of goofy because the girls aren't dancing with the boys, so they're doing all the moves with imaginary caballeros (dates) -- unless Sharon and I are partnering them at the moment. And no, it's not at all perfect right now, but just wait until June!
Quinceañera Practice - Girls Only - Video 1 from Carrie Daut on Vimeo.
Quinceañera Practice - Girls Only - Video 2 from Carrie Daut on Vimeo.
Monday afternoon the girls also get to go and buy their high heels at the mall, and they begged Sharon and me to go with them. It's going to be hilarious.
In general, the girls are more excited than you can probably comprehend. Every time we finish running through the dance, they screech and squeal and jump around and applaud themselves haha. Sharon and I also brought our own heels down to practice last night, and the girls had a blast trying out the dance in our shoes.
We have a little more than a month left to practice, but we feel like we're in great shape! Volunteering to teach this dance has been crazy and frustrating and stressful at times, but I'm so glad I did it. We're having a blast, and if you want to know the truth, some of that screeching and squealing and jumping around post-dance routine is also being contributed by yours truly. :)
And now for videos!
I'm video recording in the first one, but in the second one you can see me out there dancing with the girls.
A few notes about the vids: Sorry, there's no sound. I used the weirdo office camera. It also looks kind of goofy because the girls aren't dancing with the boys, so they're doing all the moves with imaginary caballeros (dates) -- unless Sharon and I are partnering them at the moment. And no, it's not at all perfect right now, but just wait until June!
Quinceañera Practice - Girls Only - Video 1 from Carrie Daut on Vimeo.
Quinceañera Practice - Girls Only - Video 2 from Carrie Daut on Vimeo.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The Talleres
I've mentioned them before, and today you get a photo tour of the workshops, or talleres, at NPH Guatemala.
At the NPH house, we have five workshops for our básico students. Each student in básico (or middle) school selects a workshop in which to study for their 3 years of básico. They spend half of their day in regular school classes and half of their day in the workshops. The philosophy behind the workshops is that when kids finish school and leave NPH, we obviously want them to continue their education. However, NPH is also realistic. University in Guatemala is expensive, hard, and very uncommon for the average citizen. So, the NPH house wants each child to be proficient in a trade that is practical and in-demand in this country -- just to keep their post-NPH options open.
At the same time, the workshops keep NPH running smoothly and incredibly self-sufficient. The panadería students make all bread, snacks, and cakes for special house occasions. The carpentería makes all wooden bunkbeds, tables, and other furniture. Herrería makes metal bunkbeds and the tables and benches used in the comedor. Cosería students sew all school uniforms and pajamas for the younger kids. And the belleza workshop keeps everyone's haircuts in-house and completely free.
The whole set-up is really cool, and the kids' skills are seriously impressive. I have no idea how to make pizza from scratch, but Yesika in panadería can rattle off the exact ingredients to me in a split second. You wouldn't want me anywhere near your hair with a pair of scissors, but apparently one of the girls in belleza is absolutely the best stylist NPH has ever seen. :)
So welcome to the talleres!
Panadería
Cosería
Herrería
Belleza
Carpintería
At the NPH house, we have five workshops for our básico students. Each student in básico (or middle) school selects a workshop in which to study for their 3 years of básico. They spend half of their day in regular school classes and half of their day in the workshops. The philosophy behind the workshops is that when kids finish school and leave NPH, we obviously want them to continue their education. However, NPH is also realistic. University in Guatemala is expensive, hard, and very uncommon for the average citizen. So, the NPH house wants each child to be proficient in a trade that is practical and in-demand in this country -- just to keep their post-NPH options open.
At the same time, the workshops keep NPH running smoothly and incredibly self-sufficient. The panadería students make all bread, snacks, and cakes for special house occasions. The carpentería makes all wooden bunkbeds, tables, and other furniture. Herrería makes metal bunkbeds and the tables and benches used in the comedor. Cosería students sew all school uniforms and pajamas for the younger kids. And the belleza workshop keeps everyone's haircuts in-house and completely free.
The whole set-up is really cool, and the kids' skills are seriously impressive. I have no idea how to make pizza from scratch, but Yesika in panadería can rattle off the exact ingredients to me in a split second. You wouldn't want me anywhere near your hair with a pair of scissors, but apparently one of the girls in belleza is absolutely the best stylist NPH has ever seen. :)
So welcome to the talleres!
Panadería
Cosería
Herrería
Belleza
Carpintería
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Hark Upon the Gale
Lately I feel like my blogs are much less Guatemala and much more random, useless tidbits from Carrie's brain. I'm not sure if that means I've been especially boring, especially busy, or just an especially crappy blogger as of late, but I promise I'm conscious of the problem and will begin improving this dilemma...oh...sometime after I finish this month's set of vacationing. So on to today's random, useless entry.
The May '09 college grads currently working at NPH have become incredibly nostalgic (even more than usual) for college during the past few weeks.
I can't log in to Gchat without seeing everyone's status updates about their last college paper, their last exam of undergrad life, or how they're jetting off every afternoon to celebrate at the delis.
I can'tstalk people on check Facebook without seeing all your albums depicting the Sunken Gardens in springtime, Blowout festivities, and Williamsburg Bucket List completions.
William & Mary's graduation is this Sunday, and I think I'm still denying I even celebrated my own. It's no wonder Katie, Leeah, and I have been blaring Asher Roth's "I Love College" (trashy but accurate) around the house the past few days. It also probably explains how we spent several hours Sunday evening lying on the living room couches, retelling "Ughhh, I miss college" stories, and downing an entire bag of Dorito's. Depressing...and gross.
It was weird in August when another school year started without us. It's even weirder now that another class is graduating -- still without us. You'd think a home of 350 running, screaming kids might distract us, but it doesn't.
And finally, to make the trips down memory road even more painful, I have Austin Wiese and Kelley Quinn to thank. Thanks, guys, for reminding me of this little URL.
It's where Carrie's blogging addiction began, where her (the) College obsession has been permanently documented, and where she returns when she wants a good cry (kidding, but only sort of).
So, think we're going to miss it forever?
The May '09 college grads currently working at NPH have become incredibly nostalgic (even more than usual) for college during the past few weeks.
I can't log in to Gchat without seeing everyone's status updates about their last college paper, their last exam of undergrad life, or how they're jetting off every afternoon to celebrate at the delis.
I can't
William & Mary's graduation is this Sunday, and I think I'm still denying I even celebrated my own. It's no wonder Katie, Leeah, and I have been blaring Asher Roth's "I Love College" (trashy but accurate) around the house the past few days. It also probably explains how we spent several hours Sunday evening lying on the living room couches, retelling "Ughhh, I miss college" stories, and downing an entire bag of Dorito's. Depressing...and gross.
It was weird in August when another school year started without us. It's even weirder now that another class is graduating -- still without us. You'd think a home of 350 running, screaming kids might distract us, but it doesn't.
And finally, to make the trips down memory road even more painful, I have Austin Wiese and Kelley Quinn to thank. Thanks, guys, for reminding me of this little URL.
It's where Carrie's blogging addiction began, where her (the) College obsession has been permanently documented, and where she returns when she wants a good cry (kidding, but only sort of).
So, think we're going to miss it forever?
I Don't Wake Up in the 5 O´Clock Hour
For the second Tuesday in a row, I woke up today at 5:30 a.m. to do Boxilates (to my new Shakira-Rihanna Power Mix -- yessss) with Sharon in her Chicas Poderosas office (full-length mirror on the wall!) before making it to my desk by 8 o'clock.
Who have I become in this country?
Who have I become in this country?
Monday, May 10, 2010
Harry Potter Kermes!
The volunteers put on another Kermes this weekend! Leeah and I were in charge, and the Kermes theme was....drumroll please hahaha....Harry Potter! Yes, it was hilarious.
Games included:
Quidditch
An obstacle course
Wizard bowling
Face painting (lightning bolt on your forehead, anyone?)
Crafts (magic hats, wands, and pipecleaner glasses -- just like Harry Potter)
Magical, Musical, Wizarding Chairs (ok, just musical chairs, but don't you just love all those other adjectives?)
And the snack:
Poporopos mágicos!
Magical popcorn. Kids could choose one of three "potions" for their popcorn. Chile for strength, pepita for intelligence, or cinnamon for looooove.
As always, Kermes was a little bit hectic, but also a lovely afternoon spent with the gang at Hogwarts.
Games included:
Quidditch
An obstacle course
Wizard bowling
Face painting (lightning bolt on your forehead, anyone?)
Crafts (magic hats, wands, and pipecleaner glasses -- just like Harry Potter)
And the snack:
Poporopos mágicos!
Magical popcorn. Kids could choose one of three "potions" for their popcorn. Chile for strength, pepita for intelligence, or cinnamon for looooove.
As always, Kermes was a little bit hectic, but also a lovely afternoon spent with the gang at Hogwarts.
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