Bienvenida 2020

Hello, January. Hello, 2020. I’ve always loved the changing of the year to a new one. I like its mark of a new beginning, of fresh starts, and of the possibilities that lie ahead. Yes, most people will make resolutions and then fall back into their old habits soon after. But there’s hope that lies within the breath of a second when the clock switches from 11:59 to 12:00 and everyone is happy again. We jump and shriek and dance and drink. We rejoice in the unknown future that is coming, allowing ourselves to believe that it is good.

The weeks leading up to my New Years Eve were wonderful. And I think partially I haven’t been updating my blog in the last three weeks because I’ve been so genuinely happy. I’ve been experiencing Guatemala, too busy to take a moment to reflect much. I’m convinced that Guatemala has some of the best people I have ever met. And the best views I’ve ever seen. As my beloved family and friends are back in Oregon and Washington living in 50 degree weather (which I do miss occasionally), I’m here averaging 75 a day in “winter.” Which has done wonders for my mental health.

In mid-December I visited the famous lake here in country, and was blown away by the beauty. The combination of the mountains hovering over the glossy water with the clouds painting patterns in the blue sky and the heat radiating off of my skin made me want to stay there forever and ever.

However, even close to home there are many wonderful places to visit that I don’t need to travel very far to reach. I step outside my door and the volcanoes welcome me. The forests call to me. The sound of chicken buses whizzing by my house remind me of where I am. I go to the market and see my community members and meet a new face every day. I’m grateful to be here surrounded by beauty.

A fun December work-related activity that I did was help run a girls camp called “Future Girls.” The camp was created by another Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), Aimee, who invited several other PCV’s to help out and contribute. I was the designated photographer of the three day camp and the leader of one group of girls, facilitating discussion time. It was a great intro to working with Guatemalan teen girls and inspired me to make this work good and true and real. My group of girls were wonderful and we had so much fun.

Christmas time rolled around, and with it, an array of mixed feelings. I missed home. I missed Oregon and the cold and the feel that it was really Christmas with hot chocolate and Christmas music and my family. And at the same time, I was happy to be here in Guatemala sharing culture with my host family and some new incredible people that I have met. I was happy having dinner with my family, sharing gifts with them, drinking sangria, and getting to know them better. Christmas Eve consisted of tamales and ponche, and lots of laughter. Here, the main holiday is Christmas Eve. This is when families spend time together, eat, and shoot off fireworks at midnight. The morning of Christmas Eve I was invited to celebrate the holiday with my friend José and his family. I was able to see how close their beautiful family is, and how important this holiday is to them. Their kindness and openness to me made the holiday not only more bearable, but enjoyable and comfortable. On Christmas day it was pretty silent here in Guatemala, but a fellow PCV and I went out and ate lunch together to celebrate the holiday together and to not feel alone.

Then came New Years Eve. A few days before I was able to visit my old host family from training. It was so good to see them and see the house and room where I spent so many hours studying and reading and learning. We were able to catch up, share a meal, and share our goals for the upcoming year together. I’m thankful to be close enough to them to visit and keep our relationship strong. New Years Eve, similar to Christmas Eve, I drank, shared food, and shot off fireworks. But this time I danced and I danced and I danced, feeling like I belonged here, ready to start 2020 in my new home.

And now its January 8th. I’ve set up my office in the primary school in my town. I’ve met some directors of the schools and I’ve set up meetings. I already have several presentations lined up on my calendar and a full schedule. And I’m ready. I know I’m capable and I deserve to be here and that I can do this. Because I can. I’ve done hard things before. And even though every single day I face uncomfortability, I am able to talk myself into going through with it anyway. Because this work is worth the effort. This country is worth the effort. These people, my god, they are worth it all. So here’s to a new year of triumphs and learning and failures and growth and love. We deserve at least that.