Butterflies and Air-o-planes

The Clarks song was stuck in my head haha so that was the inspiration behind that blog title haha.  I can't believe its already half way through week 3!  It feels like it is going fast but at the same time it feels like there are many more weeks to come.  All in all I am starting to feel comfortable and at home here in a way.  I don't think it will ever feel completely 'normal' but I am falling into a rhythm every day of going to my placement and working with the kids and spending time with my host family.  For those of you who have asked (and thank you so much for doing so!) the language thing is getting easier but always an eventful time when I try to speak in Spanish.  The other day I had to get my internet modem to work again and by the time I went into the fourth store I simply held up the modem and pointed hahah.

This past week was the festival of San Antonio, which is the celebration of the saint of the town Saint Anthony.  There were festivities and things happening all week long and it was such a blessing to get to be a part of such an important cultural experience.  As I was walking through the crowds of the events on various nights with my brother and sister I realized how much taller I was than most of the people here haha...pretty funny :).  On Monday evening, my family and I attended a pageant of some sort where they choose the queen of San Antonio for that year.  There was lots of traditional dancing, a man lip sang a Spanish song with a really big sombrero on haha, and some beautiful traditional outfits.  My host sister sat on my lap and explained to me all the different things that were happening and the music was wonderful.  Last night, one of my friends from the program came to my town and spent the night so we were able to go to some more of the festivities together.  One of the things included some men playing marimba and other instruments and it was so fantastic!  They are very talented here and the inner band geek in me came out as I watched them play haha.  After we watched the marimba players, my brother and sister said it was time to go down in front of the church and watch the "castle" of fireworks.  Little did Elizabeth and I know that it would be THE most terrifying and exciting experience hahah.  Needless to say there was not a parking garage between us and the fireworks like at home.....made for quite an adventure.  

It was so so wonderful to have Elizabeth with me last night.  Like I said we got to spend time at the festival and seeing things around the town, but we also were able to talk and watch Forest Gump.  We also went to the little park in front of the lake where there was swings and had ourselves a grand old time swinging.  For those you who know about my love of swings, it pretty much made my night :).  Gotta love how sleepovers are still fun even at 23 haha.  It was such an amazing blessing to have her spend time at my homestay and to have someone to relax and hang out with and simply just watch a movie.  Sometimes down time with friends can be the best medicine.   

Today we traveled to Antigua, another city in Guatemala and are staying here until Sunday.   It is four days of absolute relaxation and having very few plans.  I am so thankful for the time to rest and recharge after kind of going full speed ahead for the past two and a half weeks here.  Tonight a few of us went out to lunch, dessert, and then dinner later on in the night, broken up by a Pretty Little Liars marathon....Maddie would be so proud :).  

A huge blessing today was that I was able to talk with Jimmy.  Since he's in France and I'm in Guatemala, we're eight hours apart and have not been able to talk much.  It was only about fifteen minutes but it was so nice to hear his voice.  I am so glad that we're studying abroad at the same time and can come back with amazing stories and adventures that we've been blessed with.  One thing I would ask for prayer for is for my mamma.  She'll probably get so embarrassed that I wrote about her haha but when I skyped her today she told me she had the flu which is never fun.  I pray that she can have time to rest and feel better very very soon.  Alrighty folks well its off to bed for this little Guatemalan adventurer...a week of busy busy busy and a day of nothing can make a girl tired haha.  Thanks always for reading.  Hug your loved ones :), count your blessings :), and have a fantastic evening :).