El campo

Well, due to some unfortunate incident that involves getting my laptop stolen by a team of five crooks in Antigua, I am very behind on my blogs. However, I still want to blog about the two weeks because it was incredible. I will add picture to the blogs later although that is really the coolest part. 

We spent last last week (yes, two weeks ago) out in a rural village where we used outdoor latrines and cooked on a wood stove. It was incredible. We staying in pairs with a host family. Jalicia and I stayed in a house that is home to three generations of family members. Our host mom, Estela, is a beautiful, beautiful women and called us her daughters. We have an open invitation to stay there anytime we are passing through the campo! Her husband, like many in the community, are woking in the US in order to sustain the family. It was quite an experience to get to share in their lives and understand the way families work in this extremely remote place in the Guatemalan highlands. One of Estela's daughters is 15. She taught me so much about the country and their lives. What a wise young woman. She made us many of our meals and told us all about her fiance!!!

These pics are in a random order, but I'm just pumped I have enough internet connection to post them!!

Jillian and Carolyn and their adorable siblings! Since it is an indigenous community, most of the women dress in traditional Mayan outfits.

Laundry day!!

We took a cooking class

We made fresh chamomile tea

and attempted to make tortillas... its much more difficult than they make it look.

Awesomely detailed carrot chopping

Alas, the envuelto! Egg white covered and fried veggies, a new idea to me and it was delicious.

Our house

One of the many fields on the campo

We had a casualty. How does that even happen? 

It was simply gorgeous, it is unfortunate that pictures will never do justice.

The community's church

We drove up into the clouds to go to some volcano heated spas.

That folks, is Santa Maria! You'll find me at the top in the next blog!

This is Max!

These are my host brothers, Juanito and Kevin. They were shy at first, but they came around.

And the brown dog is Scooby-Doo :)

Definitely one of my favorite pics from the trip.

La fogata! Campfire with the whole community. I got attacked by all the boys for the s'more supplies!

Most of our host family. Okay so like half of them really! It was hard to get everyone in the same place at once.

Chaco tan+ dirt from a day of tea parties in the field, futbol with the local boys, and tag with Juanito.

Sunset on the campo. This is also Santa Maria.

Our host sisters! They even drew us pictures. It made me miss my real-life sister! :)