My family

Family is number one in Guatemala. If you don’t get married, you live with your parents in their house which is most likely made out of cement blocks, maybe some sheet metal roof, and a tile floor if you’re lucky. People also tend to live in compounds with their family. My house is especially nice--all of my companeros have raved about how great my bathroom is. Needless to say, I feel extremely lucky!

My famly lives off of the main road, which is extremely busy and loud. I don’t think you can quite grasp it unless you are here. There is no yard and barely sidewalk so the houses or compounds just look like cement walls with metal doors. When you walk inside my house, there is a big concrete courtyard that has rooms on both sides. On the right is there little store that the family operates from 6:30 am-9:00 pm, a bathroom, the kitchen, the dining room, and an additional kitchen of sorts. On the left are two bedrooms, one of which Brenda and Wilson sleep in, my room, the bathroom, a big bedroom that the twins and sometimes Dona Susana sleep in, and then the area for washing. Straight back behind the courtyard is another small concrete house that Brenda will move into once it is finished up. The backyard is small but has chickens, geese, a dog who’s named Chester, and some plants. It’s not common to go back there though. I think that might be where I got fleas the first night. Oh yea, fleas. “Welcome to Guatemala!” was what one of the Peace Corps Medical Officers told me. At least it’s not lice!

The more time I spend with my host familiy, the more I like them. They're really warm, friendly, have a good sense of humor, and understand how difficult it is to leave my friends and family to help their country. I'm really enjoying my time with them. Buena gente!

Don't worry! Pictures to come...