sunshine and stoves

Hola de Guatemala otra vez!

Since I last wrote I had another day of spanish school- its amazing, the same verbs I struggled to learn last time and when in high school, I am still struggling with. Oh well, con tiempo (with time).

And today, I went to Santa Maria, a town on the side of Volcan de Agua, close to Antigua. Since I was last here, three years ago, GVI has built another school. It is FANTASTIC! I literally just stood in the courtyard upon entry and stared, people walked around me, talked to me, but all I saw was the shiny new school. There are now 6 classrooms, a store room, a campo (playing field) and staff dining room along with rooms for Santiago (the village contact) and his lovely wife to prepare meals, etc. It is perfect.

Then I was introduced to Felix, my new masonry man. He is young, short with a sweet smile. We set out for the house where nosotros construidamos una estofa (we're building the stove). As we weave in and out of lane ways walled with 3 metre tall maize plants, I take in the familiar sounds and smells of Santa Maria. We pass kids on their way to school, others on their way to the fields. We pass men leading horses to work, women off to collect water. Its simple and beautiful, all on the slopes of an active volcano.

Once we arrive we get straight to work. I remember the order of events: mix concrete (which I LOVE) cut metal rods (which I HATE), lay breeze blocks, fill gaps with cement, mix more cement and lay bricks, which I've soaked in water. By lunchtime its beginning to look like a stove.

Lunch at the school of meat, rice and tortillas. Yum. Then I help the other volunteers prepare for class and at 2 return for more brick laying and finally putting the metal stove top in place. Its really taking shape now. In the meantime I learn the names of the 5 children, including the little 6 month old baby boy whose cheeks make up most of his face) and share stories of home. I learn that the family has lived in their house for 10 years, and their oldest son is 12.

Felix is lovely. He has helped GVI build 80 stoves. He has two babies, aged 1 and 3, a horse, and a field an hours walk from him house where he grows tomatoes and another crop I didn't quite understand.

Its a humbling experience to stand in these people's homes. The smell of cooking smoke stains the air, the sound of their pet pigeons against the cries of the bub and the feel of the shovel in my hand.

Twice a day they bring Felix and I snacks and the kids help with everything, from moving bricks to cutting the metal rods. It makes me both grateful and happy. Life is beautiful everywhere.

Anyway, tonight I've challenged the other volunteers in my house to only converse in spanish for dinner. So, I better learn a couple more verbs. Hopefully its not a mute dinner!

Tomorrow I finish the stove with Felix. Friday is art day at school, I can't wait!

Life is good, Guatemala is beautiful.

Hugs from sunny Guatemala.

sunshine and stoves