We've got a new Presidente, and I'm at a new Spanish School

SCHOOL

I started a new Spanish school yesterday, El Nahual. It is a perfect fit for me. It is non-profit and all the proceeds from the language program go to their programs for the community: an organic gardin, an accelerated program for people over the age of 14 who did not finish grade 6, an ESL program for adults and an afterschool program for kids with art, english, math, reading, and bike repair and guitar when there are volunteers who have the skills for the last two. The math and reading are taught by professional teachers. Everyone who goes to Spanish classes is expected to volunteer for 10-15 hours a week.

My teacher, Mirabel, rocks. She was two courses away from graduating with her law degree when she had her daughter, but she is going back in three months. We talk about really interesting legal and human rights issues.

Today some other volunteers and I rode bikes about 20 minutes outside of Xela to paint classrooms where there are some of El Nahual's education programs. Tomorrow I am doing community outreach to raise awareness that the programs have started back up again for the year. Thursday I am helping with art class and Friday I am helping with English/ health. Tomorrow we are watching a movie together at the school and Thursday we are having a cooking class. WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!

ACCOMODATIONS

I am staying in a great house. It is a pension full of Guatemaltecan nurses and nursing students. It is very clean, the people are nice, and the food is great! Traditional Guatemalteca food, the cook Marta makes all of it, the tortillas, the tamales, the soups. You get the idea. We have a big lunch and then a small dinner of frijoles, tamales, y queso fresco. The queso fresco comes in corn husks and is lovely The only downside is the shower, while it has very nice hot water, it doesn't work. The tap works in the shower stall (why there is a tap in a shower stall I am not sure) but the shower does not, so there is a bucket involved. But before lunch today I heard a shower running from another part of the house, so I will investigate further.

SEEN...

• a man with pressed slacks and a sweater leading five goats tied together by the horns. On my walk home from school.
  
• Chevrolet sponsorship of the lunchtime news covering Obama's inaguration.
• papas fritas (french fries) sizzling in a little cart infront of a store. On my walk home from volunteering today. I bought a little plate for 4Q (10Q= 1.28 USD) and they were even better than they looked. Crisp, dusted with chili, still warm, served with a squirt of picante sauce.