I am now a real Peace Corps Volunteer! The swearing-in was held at the ambassador's lovely residence in Guatemala City, and it was a formal and pleasant ceremony for everyone. I don't have as much to reflect about it, because it was really just pure happiness and gratitude to be here as well as the triumphant feeling of having completed an extensive training/job interview, but I will include a picture of me being sworn in by the ambassador!
Now, on to the less formal aspects of beginning my life as a real Peace Corps volunteer. So here I am, sitting in my new home at site (with internet, hooray!). Since our work is only just beginning and the first order of business is moving in to our brand new homes, I'd love to share a bit about our town and housing situation before writing my next entry about our work.
Our tiny aldea has 900 people, many of whom are spread out among 9 parajes (tiny tiny towns), many of which have no electricity or water. Ours, however, has a pretty reliable source of both power and water. It is a pretty tiny town, with a school, church, three small stores (basically in people's houses), a football field, and some beautiful mountain views. The main road's descent into our town presents a lovely sight of mountains stretching out into the distance, which you can also see from my house. The town is incredibly tranquil - cars don't often enter, as the main (dirt) road only loops through the entrance of town. The only noises are those of lots of animals and the very occasional motorcycle. Animals are such a part of daily life here - dogs, turkeys, bulls, chickens, pigs, horses, and anything else you can imagine. There is a gorgeous and gigantic white bull that wanders freely grazing outside my house during the day - I will be taking care to avoid its horns, though it seems gentle. The people are unusually tall for Guatemalans, a few are light-skinned and light-haired. They are generous and welcoming, although obviously we look completely alien to them. I have been dubbed "canchita" ("blondie") and my partner Cat, who is Filipina, has been called "Chinita" ("from China"). We are strange, but interesting and welcome in this land of cowboys and their animals. It feels like a land of light, especially at night. The sky is so large and the mountains extend so far that if there is a storm or heat lightning anywhere remotely nearby, the lightning lights up our sky. There are so many fireflies at night and they fly so high, that they look like shooting stars.
For those interested in foliage: I live in a strange place of pine trees and coconut trees, bananas and roses, bougainvillea and cactus. Everything is lush and growing, and it is often pretty hot. Considering it is "winter" (the rainy season), I can't imagine how hot it will get during the dry season. I can't wait to start growing a vegetable and flower garden in pots in front of my house.
My house is a haven. I have a lot of privacy, and my host mother lives right next door but not too close. She has a guard dog that mistook me for an intruder and chased me, barking manically, back to the safety of my room. However, it's been tied up and now recognizes me as a resident. I have obtained a tabletop stove (four burners, very fancy), a table, stools, a bed, and many dishes and household items - and this all only in two days! Two trips to Uspantan were needed, but now I can survive the week. The most important task was to be able to boil my water - the water's not safe to drink here so it is necessary to either boil it or add bleach, which is not ideal. I also have a plancha - wood burning stove- right in my kitchen. I was so proud of myself on the first night here, cooking fried plantains with cinnamon and tortillas on my stove! I'm full of dreams for my new home, especially since it's the first in my life that is completely mine alone.
With that, I must be off to bed but I am contented and feeling at home already in this place. It has its discomforts (I have never seen this variety or number of insects in my life) but the people have been wonderful, receptive and generous with us, particularly our new host mothers. I am feeling optimistic to the extreme, ready to begin my work, and grateful to be here.
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