Our Life Here

Many parts of living take longer and require more effort in Guatemala than they do in the US. I have found this to be a welcome relief rather than an increased burden. Perhaps this increased difficulty is part of what keeps the pace of life slower here. We are enjoying the simple (if never-ending) tasks of watering plants, sweeping floors, and washing dishes by hand.

                               

We are also enjoying the pool and basketball courts we have access to in our gated community here. Privilege and unequal distribution of wealth really stand out here as we walk past dirt floor shacks made of sheet metal tucked behind fancy houses with elaborate courtyards.

                                

Our Airbnb is owned by a couple who have two boys our boys ages. They rotate between their houses based on which one is rented or available at time. We were glad they left us some toys to play with. And grateful for the Legos our friends are letting us borrow. Charlie even discovered a sheet set that matches the set I inherited from my Grammy! She had it when she lived in OH; it blows my mind that we found it here in Guatemala too. It feels strangely comforting to have this tiny piece of my grandparents here with me in Guatemala.

I have found grounding in the morning rituals surrounding us. Our own family picnic lunch rhythm has become similarly special. Steven pauses his remote work to join us. Kids sway in a hammock. Wind blows. Sun shines. We connect, refuel, and then spread out again.

As street food and restaurants are plentiful and quite inexpensive here, we decided to eat out often. Our favorite kinds of street food involve some kind of bread, meat, and cabbage mixture with tomato sauce. Many servings cost only $1 or $2. Pictured here are pan con carne, pupusas, and tortilla con carne.

  

Twice a week we get to interact with kids that are part of an after school program that our friends run. For about 2 hours, they memorize Bible verses, practice math facts, play games at a local court, eat snack, talk about a Bible story, and practice English.

There is a lot of concrete in Guatemala. And a lot of volcanic ash. And a lot of dust (it's the end of the dry season now). But there are even more flowers. Nearly every property is growing something - often in containers because population density leaves little space for ground that isn't house, road, or store front. Houses are covered in flowering vines or potted plants, hills are covered in gardens.

        

Though downtown doesn't leave much space for growing, the gardens exist somewhere because fresh produce is ABUNDANT here. It feels easier to find fruits and veggies here than finding McDonald's or Starbucks in NYC. Volcanic rock and ash make for extremely fertile soil. Plenty of sun and inexpensive water make perfect gardening conditions.

Another side effect of volcanic rock is black sand beaches
(which are too hot to walk on barefoot in the sun)

                    

Speaking of volcanic rock...

This is our favorite evening activity. For the first week, Fuego was covered by smog/clouds, but it was visible the past few nights!