Hello everyone.

I thought some of you may be curious to know how our travels thus far are going (or not, in which case feel free to delete now, it´s long. I won´t be offended...friend Spam!)

Stephen and I had a very easy flight experience getting to Guatemala City. As of now, we highly recommend TACA airlines. We had a super brief layover in San Salvador where Steve got some intensely limey corn chips. And then, we landed in Guatemala City. We have heard a lot of very negative things, and I´m sure there are areas which aren´t great. But our experience was pretty easy, and enjoyable. The bed and breakfast-hostel we were staying at had someone there to meet us at the airport (always exciting to get off the plane in a strange city, and have someone waiting with a sign with your name on it!). The place was run by a really nice couple, and the rooms were basic (to say the least) but private and clean (all one can hope for in a hostel really!) Plus they had a super nice garden,. with lemon trees, and an absolute CHORUS of birds (for those of you who know him- Slimer´s got NOTHING on these guys´s lungs).

We went off into the main part of town for some drinks and dinner with a really nice American couple who were also staying with us. I guess the hostel folks told us to go there because it would be safe, and interesting, but it was pretty hilarious. The closest comparison I can make is to Cancun. Except we were the ONLY tourists. It was all locals. Endless bars playing REALLY loud music (at 5p mind you) and folks dancing on the bar (excellent- and risque dancers). We were all kind of in a daze having just arrived, and were just trying to soak it all in. We got a bucket of Gallo beer (the Guatemalan Budweiser) and a plate of nachos with guacamole. The rest of them also ordered "a pound of carne". The menu was all in Spanish obviously, but luckily for us the couple we were with was miles better then us!

So, bright and early the next morning we leave for Xela the mountain town we are studying Spanish in. We found the school no problem...and just as we started getting situated, the woman announced'- Steve and Alaina your family is here to get you! (for those of you who don´t know, part of the school is that you live with a family). So, mildly nerve racking as we still speak almost no Spanish. However, Steve totally shocks me by somehow managing to communicate with the family on basically everything. I was pretty impressed. The family is super nice. Headed by two grandparents, and an ever revolving door of relatives. Some who live there, and some who just eat there. It is a very jolly house. Plus they have ¨Bruno" the dog (el Perro). Which, obviously makes me happy.

Steve spent the evening last night entertaining Diego with his Ukulele. Totally captivating the 6 month old to no end. They have been feeding us well, and despite the fact that our communication can´t get beyond the very basic, we are getting along great.

The house is sort of buried in the mountain, and, we are also greeted by loud birds, although this time roosters in the very early morning.

Xela is really nice. It is a somewhat large, but easy to navigate city. And there is a great center square where everyone congregates in the evening. It is poor, and the homes are basic, but the people have been really nice, and welcoming so far. It is surrounded by volcanoes (some still active, so keep your fingers crossed!) which are really beautiful. And everything surrounding the town is green and beautiful. We went to the market in town, and were inundated with delicious smells, and sounds... tortillas, and nachos and corn and plantains, and lots of boot legged CD´s. I have (already) gotten a pair of cool earings!

We started school this morning. The school we are at is SUPER political, and really intent on teaching us the (totally insane, brutal, and horrific) history of Guatemala. I won´t get too into here, but if you are in the mood to get depressed about some American policies abroad, and some inhuman totalitarian brutality, then I highly suggest your reading about the history here. It is really interesting...and still going on). Essentially there is a ton of repression of the native people here (by the Spanish descendants), and so the largest part of the population has virtually no rights, or power. But anyway!

We each get our own teacher for the full week. My teacher is Miguel, and he is really nice (although he might be a bit bored with me seeing as I somehow have a total block for retaining vocabulary, and literally no ability to comprehend grammar) but I´m trying! I even did my homework already!!!

So, that is life for the week. There are lots of activities planned, tomorrow we go to a hot springs...and all our meals are with the family. It is Sunny during the day, and pretty darned cold at night. On Sunday we leave for the Mountain School, which I understand will be a totally different experience all together. (I think we can-will help on a coffee plantation)

There will be NO Internet next week, so I´ll try and inundate you this week!!

And then off to Peru and Bolivia- hopefully to practice our, by then expert- Spanish.

Love to hear from you all. And hope life is going well there.

Love,
Alaina and Stephen