Intra-Office Flirting

My office desk sits in a funny location.

To my 1 o'clock sits a teenage boy from within NPH who is studying in high school but working in our office during the months of summer vacation.

To my 11 o'clock sits a pretty girl from outside NPH who has recently started interning in our office while another employee is on maternity leave.

All day long, every day, the two of them sneak looks at each other, as well as reasons to start up conversations. It started out slow, but the flirting increases daily. This morning, they even progressed so far as to greet either other with a Buenos días and a kiss on the cheek. Talk about intense!

Ay, ay, ay. I'm basically privy to my own personal telenovela every day. Oh, NPH Guatemala.

Celeste Is Visiting!

Attention people: Celeste is visiting!

Early yesterday morning, Celeste, ex-volunteer/housemate/frienemy, arrived in Guatemala for a surprise two-week visit to the NPH house! Ok, so some of us actually knew about the visit in advance. But for the kids, it was a huge surprise!

Celeste left NPHG in July after two years of volunteering here, and now she's back just in time for one of the biggest events of the year -- this weekend's Aniversario celebration.

We're super excited she's here -- mostly because she's staying in the visitors' house, which means Katie, Leeah, and I could help ourselves to the visitors' house's stock of good cereal, cold milk, real coffee, and a coffeemaker yesterday morning for breakfast.

Just kidding Celeste. We love that you're back. Oh, and <3.

The Nicaragua Workshop!

 The group. Que guapos.

So, as you know, I spent last week in Nicaragua at the NPH Nicaragua home! NPH International hosted a week-long workshop for all Home Correspondents and Project Coordinators so that we could meet up face-to-face and discuss our jobs, our difficulties, and our ideas on how to keep improving things.

It was an awesome week. We spent most of our time at NPH Nicaragua's San Jorge location, where their office and visitors' house is located. While I looooooved the warm, tropical weather and the incredible food Chef Eva fed us every day, we all agreed the best part of the experience was actually meeting everyone from the other homes.

All nine NPH homes (Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru, and Bolivia) are very different from one another. It was incredibly interesting to spend a week comparing, learning, and swapping thoughts about our houses, our jobs, and our volunteer programs. We all came back with tons of fresh new ideas.

As different as they are, however, all nine NPH homes still encounter the same problems, frustrations, and conflicts. It was also incredibly therapeutic to spend a week realizing there are eight other people just like me, in my same job, about to lose their sanity just as often as I am. We all came back with the wonderful feeling of I am not in this crazy experience alone.

So, here's to a great workshop week at NPH Nicaragua. Here's to new friends spread over 9 different countries, inspiring discussions about the work we do, and exciting developments in the Home Correspondent...I mean Communications Officer job position. And here's to being reminded that being part of NPH means being part of something that extends far beyond tiny Parramos, Guatemala.

 Guatemala and Honduras! Roomies for the week! 

The lovely visitors' house where we stayed.

NPH Nicaragua's new property -- they're building a completely new house.

The new house is built village-style with kids living in lots of small homes.

Mid-walk to the bar, it started absolutely pouring. We had to take shelter in some random woman's living room. Awkward. Here: Jane, Kristina, and Danielle wait out the rain.

Loved these friendly signs.

Mid-walk to visit the Babies' House, we encountered a river in the road. Hmm.

 Babies' House! Baby-sized pews. :)

 The Babies' House at NPH Nicaragua -- right on the shores of the lake.

 The babies gave us an adorable song and dance presentation.

 Dance party with the babies!

Wise Words

Vicky Medley, the International Volunteer Coordinator for NPH volunteers from the U.S., passed along a quote to us today.

For those days when we start to let ourselves feel guilty about vacation time, relaxation time, or just plain "me" time, these are wise words:

The world will not be changed, poor people will not receive their basic rights, militarism will not be stopped, trust will not be built between nations, justice will not arrive if tired, bleary eyed, depressed, burnt-out people are those trying to bring about change. -- Jody Shearer

Hiking Volcán Pacaya

A few weekends ago, Katie, Leeah, and I decided to cross off an important Guatemala must-see from our list of things to fit in this year. That's right, we hiked Volcán Pacaya!

Pacaya is probably Guatemala's most famous active volcano. It's situated near Guatemala City and Antigua, making it a super easy tourist stop. In recent news, Pacaya also became famous for its May 27, 2010 eruption that covered the region in ash and shut down the airport for several days.

We <3 danger. 

Now calm down, Mom. Yes, this volcano violently erupted just a few months ago. Yes, I knowingly decided to climb all the way up to its molten lava-filled top. But, the way we see it, what better time is there to hike an active volcano?? Honestly, what are the odds that it will erupt twice in such a short time. Ok, I doubt that makes you feel any better. :P

Anyway, our hike went off problem-free. We left Antigua on a 2 p.m. shuttle, drove the hour and a half to the base of Pacaya, paid our Q 5 to buy a handy walking stick from a really cute kid, and then joined our guide for the hour and a half hike to the top.

  The view from the hike up.

 Katie proudly sports her Q 5 walking stick.

  The view over at Volcán Agua.

Now before the May eruption, tourists used to be able to walk right up to rivers of lava, and you could even roast marshmallows in the fiery liquid. Since the May eruption, however, there's no more lava to be seen. It's mostly rock and ash and hot spots where the heat is so strong it makes the air around you move in funny waves. It's definitely not the Pacaya it used to be, but it's cool in a different way.

 Almost at the top.

 Gorgeous.

The views are beautiful -- we watched the sun set and the clouds roll in over opposite Volcán Agua -- and the experience is just sort of surreal. "I'm standing in what looks like a strange desert wasteland, on top of an active volcano." Oh, and did I mention that we hiked an hour back down the volcano in complete darkness? Between the walking stick and my flashlight, I managed to only wipe out once, but let me tell you, that hike down was an adventure in itself.

 That cave was HOT.

 Throw some brush in a cave radiating volcanic heat, and you get fire.

Finally,we made it back to Antigua by 8 p.m.-ish, grabbed a pupusa dinner, and then, exhausted, hopped a taxi home. Life was good.

Hike Volcán Pacaya: CHECK!

A Change of Name

I'm back! And how is it already November 8th?

I'll catch you up soon (I promise) about my week in lovely, tropical Nicaragua, but to hold you over until then, here's some fun news from the Home Correspondent workshop:

We've changed our title. Instead of Home Correspondent, you can now call me the NPH Guatemala Communications Officer.

Fancy, huh? :)

Ooh, Look!

Qué Pasa is arguably one of Antigua's most popular magazines. It's bilingual, it's free, and it covers the best of what's happening in Guatemala. We always have a million copies sitting around our house.

And this month, I have an article in it!

Go here to see my short story about Cerro de la Cruz, and then, click around through the rest of the newly-redesigned site!