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!

Early Morning Departure

Time now: 11:30 p.m.

Time the transport is picking me up: 2:30 a.m.

Three hours before leaving, and I'm blogging instead of sleeping. Oops. Well, I figure I'll have plenty of time to sleep on tomorrow's 15-hour bus ride. A la gran puchica.

I'm heading off to the NPH Nicaragua house for this year's Home Correspondent & Proyectos workshop hosted by NPH International! I'm really excited about the workshop -- less excited about this bus ride.

I get back in town Saturday night, so be on the lookout for updates soon after that. Oh, and I owe you a post about yesterday's hike up Volcano Pacaya! :)

Orale pues. Nos vemos!

Flying Barriletes

Barriletes. They're everywhere right now in Guatemala.

They're kites! :)

In celebration of Día de los Santos, or All Saints' Day, on November 1, the entire country of Guatemala has been breaking out giant, colorful kites. Lately, you can find them in every store, in every roadside tienda, and everywhere you look in the air. It's so fun!

Tomorrow on All Saints' Day, a Guatemalan national holiday, herds and herds of people will make their way to the famous cemeteries at Sumpango and Santiago Sacatepequez to honor the dead, eat, drink, and fly barriletes, and on this day, the barriletes are said to be windows of communication with loved ones who have passed. The famous kites at Sumpango and Sacatepequez are giant -- they can be more than a dozen meters in diameter -- and the most intricate ones take over two months to construct.

Unfortunately, I'll be on a bus all day tomorrow (more on that in a minute) missing out on the Día de los Santos party, but today at the NPHG home, we had our own mini barrilete showcase! Each section of kids has been busy making their own colorful kites, and today they flew them over the campo (soccer field). Check it out!

The Class of 2010!

On Friday, NPH Guatemala celebrated the graduation of our Montessori kindergarteners, our 6th graders, our 9th graders, and our high schoolers.

It was an adorable day of hats and gowns -- and big big big smiles. The kids were pumped, and we felt like proud parents. :)

Congrats, grads! We can't believe you'll be one grade older next year!

 My 6th grade graduates.

Me with my little graduates. :)

 Congrats, Irma!

 Escuela = School.

 Quite possibly my favorite brother-sister pair ever.

Quite possibly my favorite sister pair ever.

Leeah, Katie, and me -- representing the house well. :)

Congrats, Abner!

Story Update 24

Special Therapies Offered in Our Home - A look at three different therapy programs offered to our children with extra-special needs.

Día del Niño - Celebrating International Children's Day with a special day out for pequeños.

The Talleres - Six vocational workshops train our students in a trade of their choice.

Kimberli - A child who has made NPHG her new home this year.

Katie Dowd - (USA) Academic Guidance Counselor ---> Read Katie's volunteer testimonial!

Just Your Typical Tuesday Evening

Leeah is reading The Hunger Games aloud to Katie. Since Leeah's reading aloud, Katie's eyes can focus on making guisquil bread muffins (like zucchini bread but made with this popular Central American veggie). I'm annoying them both by sneakily taking a video.

We spend way too much time together.