Feb 27^th

We went to the market today and got the proper buckets for the water walk. Again, there was meat in the open covered in flies. I bought 3 sling-shots for 5$.

Feb 28^th

Didn't do much today except a load of rocks.

March 1^st  

Today we went the orphanage again.

March 2^nd

Today the new group arrived from a high school.

I’m having a hard time remembering all there names and nicknames.

March 3^rd

Today the 2^nd group left at 7:15 in the morning.

We did a load of rocks at this one house; you have to walk 200 meters with a bag of rocks on your back up a hill. It was hard.

NEW PET

WHEN I was in bed last night, I thought I saw a shadow coming down the wall towards me, but it wasn't a shadow!!

My dad caught it for me, then went and told all the students here that it was in his bed.  I think some of them didn't sleep last night.

Today I helped my dad work on Miriam's truck.  It's just like ours at home.  My dad had problems welding a truck back together, but said it was like riding a bike??  something you never forget, you just have to remember how.

The trip to Guatemala

We had 2 flights, one from Toronto to Washington and the other one from Washington to Guatemala City. We were planning one waking up at 3 in the morning (killer) and going to the airport in Toronto. Our flight to Guatemala City was cancelled and our other flight to Washington DC was delayed by 12 hours. So we spent the day in the airport:(  We got to Washington dc at 7 and went to bed. We had to wake up at 5 to catch our flight at 9. We got to the airport at 7 and got on our plane at 9. Plane ride was boring and 4 hours long. Then we got picked and driven to the camp. The trip was 2 1/2 hours long.

Sunday Feb. 16th

These are the front gates of the compound. “Esperanza” means hope.

We went for a drive around Jalapa.

Here are some pictures of their houses/property

(there hydro is everywhere)

February 17, 18,19th

Normal days. Doing homework in the morning, helping with rocks for foundations of houses.  (Not bricks there too heavy)  

Visiting houses, schools and people.

 that is there taxi, it’s called a tuk-tuk

Feb 19^th

I did the water walk today. It’s where you walk a mile with water on your head. The guide, Susanna ran up the mountain like a horse. It was hard but at the end she sprinkled some confetti into my hair. Apparently they put confetti in eggs and smack them on people’s heads on the day before Ash Wednesday.

In the after noon we went to the market. It was crowded and busy. They had raw meat hanging out in the open with flies on it. It made me gag.

Feb 20^th                 

Today we went to an orphanage for girls ages 1-18, and played with them. The orphanage is funded so it’s nice. There is a hairdressing place, a computer lab, sewing class and sleeping dorms. We played soccer with them and they won 4-1.

Feb 21^st

We went to a water fall today. To get there you had to walk on a trail that’s on the side of a mountain. If you fall you break a leg or neck. Luckily no one fell.

The waterfall was very pretty but the water was freezing.

Feb 22^nd

Today the first group left at 7 in the morning.

Stayed home all day doing home work L

Feb 23^rd

Today was church. We went and the church was full so we sat in the back. Did not understand a thing at all. I had to wear a dress (L) but I got these 4¢ lollipops that are amazing.

Feb 24^th

The new group came today. Went out for a tour.

Feb 25th

People burning their crops across the street to make fertilizer because they cant afford to buy fertilizer.

Feb 26th

This is the school that we are painting today

I wasn't much help but I was entertaining the kids with my camera. They loved to take pictures of everything they could find. Some of them were OK.  (I had 150 pictures and now I only have 20)

The Start of my 2014 Guatemala Trip

My Dad and I leave on Saturday, Feb 15th, 2014

by Monique Dulong