ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA
ON Monday, October 6, 2008 11:54
Life is dangerous here and hangs by a thread! People are armed with machetes and evening to go when you're a lonely girl, you better find a guy armed to go with you! It's like a taxi, but instead he walks with you to your house and you pay. So when you station your car, there are guys walking around and suggest you keep your car while you're busy. Nobody leaves his car parked on the street for very long. There are parking lots closed and guards to open the door. So when
you walk at night by car, there is something we must be careful. In addition to numerous landslides due to heavy rains, and how to drive like crazy by overruns in simple ways, there are guys driving drunk! You should drive in order to avoid them, and hurrying to be removed from their path, if you watch it ...
Monday evening last, at 18h, as night fell, I went to the capital (to see a very good show of Miss K, a French singer of way) alone on public transport, the hubbub total ( at least three people working in the Bus driver, a fact that traffic outside the bus and calling people to assemble, and another to collect the money, oh yes and another to put people on the bus crowded with music in background!) attacks are frequent buses ... Attacks to steal money from the driver and passengers.
guagua After I had taken a taxi and it scared me because here is common to ask his way three times, just to verify information from each other and to average! So he stopped to refuel I could not understand, it was long, but at least you negotiate your fare before. I did not have, but I was hot, I did not understand he does not know where I went, but he seems tt-that drivers are unaware that their "zone" (because the city is divided into zones) and when I got off the bus (I'm not down where it was expected) I was three blocks from the most criminalized region of Central America!
Last Friday I attended a pinata. You know the dolls bearing the likeness of any character which you type with a stick until candy fall time. This is my English teacher who invited me to his family celebration. My teacher has 38 years. She did not seem so much more, but in her head she seems to feel old. She has 3 children, the oldest is 15. Here it is not uncommon to see women of 33 years with 9 children! No contraception because men would be afraid that their wives découchent. And domestic violence is common. Well machismo ... long way to do it again.
This week is the Social Forum of the Americas in the capital. There assos of Quebec present among others. Try to make you a few minutes account if I learn of new initiatives.
I am aware of what goes on in Bolivia's political crisis. I read a very interesting blog that I summarizes the situation. Here is the address for those interested http://mabb.blogspot.com/
Here the other day I conducted interviews with vendors of used clothing. My teacher was with me, the luxury! Except that people do not want to talk about their business ... Secret, I knew, but it looks difficult, especially with the newly introduced legislation in Bolivia. But I always learn a little more, then it is not lost!
I appreciate learning with Norma, she very nice. We talk about all sorts of social issues, about life here on the attitudes, habits, etc.. It is the owner (her husband instead) the apartment of my friend Elizabeth. She lives just down with his family and I go down stairs to 14 pm, often late, because Guatemala is in or you do not! Here we say "I see you in 10 minutes but 10 minutes is an hour's time chapin!" (Guatemalan means), one speaks of a time! You get used, but it diffile with our sense of efficacy much more than is taught .... I often infuriates me, everything takes so much time (and who is often pressed me! )
Together we work at the kitchen table. It also keeps it that sometimes when Esther goes out with his friends Eli and me! There are two bars, among other restaurants in Antigua where it's nice to go because they were friends of my friends who keep them. One belongs to a Swiss and the other at a French (pancake). Foreigners come here often with male Guatemalans and foreigners like to Guatemalans (even if it does not work all the time). Often, the guys get married as soon as the girl Tombre pregnant unintentionally. It's very "religious", yes religious, but mostly conservative.
There is also the phenomenon of evangelical churches is very interesting to watch. And the fences that grow! Will talk about all this, I promise. And also my walk to the market Maya of Chichicastenango. Tengo
that estudiar ahora mi espanol, porque no voy a estar una buena estudiante no if the hare! Adios
