We are alive and well! Our apologies for the delay to those waiting for a post... There has been very little "free" time and competing for time on the Internet is difficult. Enough "excusas"... Thanks for your patience! We have been in Guatemala for almost 2 weeks and are living at 7,000 feet between Guatemala City and Antigua near the Peace Corps training center in Santa Lucia. After the first few days at the training center where we were drilled on how to keep safe and healthy in Guatemala we separated into groups and moved to our villages where we will live and train for the next 3 months. We were placed in 2 wonderful families in neighboring villages, only about a 20 minute walk apart. Both families are sympathetic to the fact that we are living "separado". Our days have been filled with Spanish lessons, safety and security training, technical training, health lectures; thrown between long meals with families as we struggle to have menial conversations. Also lots of homework! The Peace Corps keeps you busy during training!
Some interesting tid-bits
- 5/7 - We experienced our 1st earthquake
- We haven't actually had a cup of Guatemalan coffee yet as it's mostly all exported (Guatemalans drink instant)
- Trying to Explain why I'm a vegetarian in Spanish (kelly)
- Watching a gigantic Elmo piñata get beat to a pulp at a birthday party (pictures soon to follow)
- Working at a center for street children (mosiah)
- Getting sick and having to give a stool sample... (kelly) i'm better now :)
- Host mom holding my hand as i walk around town (kelly)
- Fireworks at 4:30 am and singing to celebrate Mother's Day
- Getting "used to" dead dogs in the streets (mosiah)
- Visited a Mayan women's co-op and green been factory (other PCV's projects)
These first 2 weeks have been challenging and we're learning a lot. You are all in our thought and we love you!
Oh... we found out that the Guatemalan postal Service is now being run by a private Canadian company and is now much more reliable. So... care packages of all shapes and sizes are now safe to send :). For those of you that forgot our address it is:
Kelly & Mosiah Montoya, PCT
8 Calle 6-55, Zona 9
Guatemala City, 01009
Guatemala, Central America
Note: PLEASE only send via US Postal Service and NOT FedEx or UPS.
We love and miss you all!
Until next time,
Kelly & Mosiah
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9 comments:
Sounds awesome. Your mention of the Mother's day fireworks makes me laugh as I too remember the fireworks when I was down there. I wonder if Guatemalan mothers like those fireworks or if the kids setting them off have a better time.
Sounds like you're having fun-
c
Kelly & Moe: It sounds like a blast! what an adventure ... (glad you're feeling better Kelly) Make a list of things you crave for those care packages and we'll get them off ASAP.
Tam & Dad
Hey-
Good talking to you last night!
It makes you seem so "close"!
I don't think that I would like all the fireworks....so don't bring them home to celebrate Mom's day here.
Glad to hear you are better and that the PC takes such good care of you.
Can't wait to see pictures!
Love, mom and dad
Wow! Pack it in, why don't cha! What a huge two weeks it has already been for you! We're glad to hear you arrived safely. The suspense was killing me!
Phone calls and care packages will be coming soon!
Love,
Matt
Hang on tight to your host mother's hand - she doesn't want to lose you! Let me know if you need some Pepto - and when in doubt, go for the bottled coke :-)
It was good to hear from you Mo, we are glad that the two of you made it in country safely. Let us know what makes a good care package and any country codes if needed. It was nice to hear that Kelly got passed her feeling ill.
Love
Dad and Tam
Hi Kids!
Glad that you made it safe and sound and full of adventure! I can't wait to hear more!
Love
Christina
hey bro. I just moved here to Guat City in Zone 17 and am wondering how successfully you are receiving your packages and how that works exactly. Would you mind calling me or emailing me and let me know? You can email me on http://www.bjmurrey.com/ on the contact page or call me 4378-8144. Thanks bro!
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