Everyone just needs a shuco

It's nice to be done with our first week of work.  We've been lesson planning from 8-4 every day and I'm about ready to put away The World and Its Cultures for a weekend.

We haven't been able to see much of Guatemala City.  Our new Guatemalan friends have insisted that we be careful on the streets (there is a considerable amount of petty and violent crime in the city) so we've been driven indoors every afternoon and evening.  And really, it's kind of nice to unwind and watch "The Big Bang Theory" with Spanish subtitles.  Music and Lyrics in Spanish, however, is not fun.  

We've been told: "oh, don't walk at night.  It's very dangerous.  And never walk alone.  Or jog.  Or go to any zone except 14.  And even then, don't wear nice clothes, or jewelry, or talk on your cell phone, or have blonde hair, or look American."  Nice. 

I exaggerate, but the truth is that Guatemala City is fairly dangerous if you aren't careful.  Fortunately, we had the chance to see some of the city today with one of our colleagues from school.  His name is Moises, and has been teaching for 26 years and he owns a pig farm about an hour outside of the city.   He drove us into Zone 1, which is the historic center of the city.  We walked around el Parque Central and saw the old president's home called the Palacio Nacional and the National Cathedral, which are both beautiful.  Sam--the palace has been turned into a museum of history...I'm so excited to visit:)   

El Placio Nacional de Cultura en el Parque Central

For dinner, Moises bought us "shucos" which are basically hot dogs with chili sauce, cabbage, and guacamole.  They were delicious!  I think I said "que rico!" a dozen times.  

Un shuco:)

We had to leave by 6 because the parking garage Moises chose doubled as a club after 6.  I'm not kidding.  You pull into the parking garage, park on hardwood floor, and, as you leave, you pass a stage to your left and a bar to your right.  It's so bizarre, but strangely brilliant...

It was wonderful to see Guatemala City with our new friend.  It's definitely, as the Guatemalans say, "a city of contrasts" with it's beautiful Parque Central and guards with machine guns manning every other store (I'm not exaggerating this time).  I think the words graffitied on the police headquarters we passed today said it perfectly: "Donde estan?" 

I live in Guate now...what?

The view from the roof of our "apart-hotel."

I'm finding my Spanish a little lacking, so just imagine this post with a spiffy and celebratory "we made it to Guate!" title in Spanish. I also considered "First Impressions" but I'm not sure Ms. Austen would be pleased with my knock-off.

After an 8 hour plane ride, we arrived in Guatemala and crashed at our "apart-hotel" which is essentially a glorified extended stay hotel with thatched roofs and a live-in cat named Edmond. Our principal Debbie said it was a "very nice place" and while the office staff is friendly, its construction isn't "very nice." Case and point: hail stabbed holes in the roof and caused quite a lake in the lobby yesterday.

Today was our first day of work. We found our Guatemalan colleagues to live up to their glowing reputation of friendliness. They are so sweet and eager to help us with Spanish (if we help them with their English:). There are about 15 teachers at Han Al to manage 200 students, grades K-12 (mostly Korean, go figure), and there are only 5 American teachers. Each of us has a challenging class load; I'm teaching middle school social studies and science, which amounts to five classes out of a five period day. There is also a serious lack of technology in the classroom--no computers, no projectors, and no tvs. Goodbye, Powerpoint:( At least we have electricity!

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by everything. It's a lot to take on for a first-year teacher in a new culture. Also, I'm imaging my students to be monsters in adolescent Korean bodies after the reports of the summer staff, so that's a factor. But I always find that, in my most nervous moments, God reveals himself in powerful ways. Notes from home, a promising new church to try on Sunday, finding an unexpected copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe in my backpack, and a beautiful view from Han Al's third floor.

More to come. Te amo!