Guatemala_Flight

I got to fly with Ludin the other day. Small planes are nothing like a commercial airliner. You get tossed more, it’s louder, and the wind plays a much larger factor. We were going to pick some folks up from a village about 45 mins. light time away. Driving it’s about 8 hours do the road conditions. The landing strip at the village is gravel and on a uphill grade, so landing is no easy task. However, Ludin made it as easy as pie (where ever that saying comes from). Some of the villages are out there, and they farm land that is extremely steep. When I got out of the plane at the village every little kids eye was starring back at me. The whole village came to see the plane. Sorry, in a hurray to got to dinner and the Oscars, then soccer. But enjoy the pics. 

La Perla  

Guatemala City 

Guatemala_ Last Week of February

Chicken Buses as they are called here is the main mode of transpiration (other then walking) for a large majority of the Guatemalan population. They are essentially public transit all over Guatemala. Each bus has it's own flare, and special name. Basically they are pimped out. I remember my first day in Guatemala seeing these buses roaring down the roads just packed with people. Like two the three people hanging out the front door packed. And even if they weren't prone to robberies and theft, I still don't think I would ride one based on the way I have seem them driven. Let's just say most of these drives think they're Richard Petty (for you older folks) or Jimmy Johnson (for you younger peeps).  

So the riddle was this:
7 kids are on a bus. Each kid has 7 back packs. Each backpack has 7 big cats. Each big cat has 7 smaller cats. How many legs are on the bus? 
After working the problem out I arrive at the correct answer. However, not being satisfied with the jumbled mess of numbers on my page, I thought their must be a formula for this. It was interesting because Ludin (Sam's Dad) found the answer differently then the rest of us did. The equation on the right is my method, the left was his. He fond the number of legs per kid. I found the number of legs be kids, big cats, and small cats. Ok, I know boring, skip to the next picture. Or you can try to figure out the answer. 

 I have been trying to convince Sam to buy one of these since we arrived. Needless to say he has not yet warmed up to the idea. It's kinda like a Smart Car, but the van size.

Rained really hard this afternoon. It was really refreshing. I enjoyed it a lot. 

McDonalds

McDonalds usually means many things to many different people. For me it was a place you liked as a kid. But after, oh say, your sophomore year of high school you start to grow out of desiring The Golden Arches. Or at least that is my story. The last time I recall eating a meal at McDonald's was, well I honestly can't remember, but I can tell you it was at least 7 years ago. I went through the drive-through in Oakhurst with my friend Daniel, either last year to two years ago, but that was only to get fries and I was not the one who really wanted them. I think I ate two or  seven fries, really.
In the States McDonald's reputation is no five star eating establishment, at least in my opinion. Guatemala, however is a different story. First, you won't find high schoolers, or people behind the counter who seem to treat you as though they could really care less if you were there or not. Know their are those who really do enjoy there jobs at fast food restaurants, and offer a very pleasant dinning experience. Nevertheless, you don't get a job at McDonald's in the states because you want to, you do it because you have to. In Guatemala workers at McDonald's know they have a steady income, and in a 3rd world country, a job at McDonald's is a good thing. Actually it's a desirable thing. And it shows in their attitude. I recall a experience in Antigua (side note: the McDonald's in Antigua is awesome. It has a sweet court yard with lots of space, clean bathrooms, and is aesthetically super neat. Mc Café looks like something you would find in a upscale coffee shop in downtown Chicago. Google image search:
- Mcdonalds Antigua Guatemala pics -
and you'll see just a glimps of it). So I had just finished my McFlurry and was about to through it away, when a man politely swooped the tray from my hands to take care if it. Not out of any motivation for money, solely because that was his job and he took pride in it. Jobs a McDonald's here are like working a 9 to 5 in the states, paying a livable salary. Furthermore, and perhaps coolest of all, is that they deliver. They deliver to your front door. HOW SWEET IS THAT. So tonight we did just that. Called and ordered, paid, then ate at the house. Did I mention I got a picture. The man would not take a picture with me, branding stuff I guess, but he let Hannah and I take one with his bike. Needless to say I really enjoyed my first true meal at, or should I say from McDonald's in over seven years. Everything was as I remember it to be. The 6 piece nugget was the same dipped in honey, the fries identical to those I've had in the past leaving your finger salty and, the 1/4 pounder just at fatting as ever. But I figure McDonald's once every seven years it ok. 

Guatemala_Aleatorio

Just some random posts for today. First is this lovely food man. With all main features composed of pickles. However, I do enjoy the mac and cheese neck thingy he has going on. The second items is the musical instrument. I don't know the the proper name of it, so if someone does, by all means please let me know. It's like a harp hammered dulcimer hybrid. I tuned it like a piano, so I can know play the two Cold Play song I know. And Finally is the sky from a top out balcony here in Guatemala. The big clouds remind me of the skys in the Midwest. Tonight were having some BBQ chicken with Sam's brother and his wife, as well as his father (his mom and brother or gone for the evening).

Guatemala_Zoológico

Spent the week studying my Spanish and working on a business plan to open a Soft Serve shop in California. Since being here I have renewed my vows with Ice Cream. I really do love it. And when every I think of Ice Cream I thing of Grandpa saying, "I scream you scream well all scream for ice cream." Hannah and I will be taking another week off school. But will return for another week or two starting Feb. 21st. Yesterday we were in Guatemala for 5 weeks. I do have to say my Spanish has improved. It's still no where near where I want it to be, but is getting better. We have also been exercising pretty much every day. The roof of your house provides a great space for stretching, pushups and the like. In this post is a picture of the door at Pizza Hut where we ate lunch today. Just a friendly reminder to leave your guns in the car, and your dogs. We also went to the Zoo last weeks. So the rest of the pics are from that little outing. 

 I saw Harry Potter Talking with this snake. 

  

Guatemala_Tres

I think they should start making this model of the Mini again. This thing actually is really mini, the roof comes up to my hip.  

Painting a wall of the house. Most of the walls were painted this purple, so Sam and Hannah put an end to that really quick. I will hopefully have more pics of the house coming soon.  

The family I stayed with in Guatemala. It was a great experience staying with them, super nice, excellent food, and just over all a good experience. 

 Even in Guatemala I found myself changing out light fixtures. 

 A small free painting Sam and Hannah got for buy so much furniture. 

Some candles to bring some color to the house. 

We had these left over drawers from the kitchen. We got pretty creative and decided to use them has wall art and shelves. We just need to find something other then sunglass to put in them.  

Hiiii Mooooom. 


Sorry for the long time between posts. I hope to up date more once we get internet in the house. Hannah and I and I are taking a break from spanish class for a week, and will start up again next week. We need to start utilizing what we have learned.