What I, Linda, have learned in a year of Peace Corps service in Guatemala:
- Malaria, Going Deaf, Bleeding from the Inner Ear, and Gastrointestinal Amoebas are not just diseases/illnesses/afflictions you study in High School Biology: they happen.
- A huge percentage of the towns/cities/municipalities/etc. are named after saints: Santa Apolonia, San Francisco La Union, San Andres Xecul, San Juan Comalapa
- Holidays play a huge role in Guatemala---and despite the name, Mother's Day is a month of motherly love.
- Know the bus drivers and have them know you. If the bus picks up a pervy, drunk or simply annoying drifter, the driver and the ayudante will have your back.
- Sexism is everywhere---you have to learn how to defend yourself against it.
- When it comes to your project, gain the trust of everyone you're working with by being approachable and honest. And it doesn't hurt to throw some humor into the mix.
- Everyone, and yeah... I do mean everyone, will poop their pants during their service.
- If an horchata (rice drink) tastes fishy, make your work partner/sitemate try it because if you know you're going to Diarrhea-ville, take them with you!
- Make connections at your site, sometimes they can lend you a hand when you're in need.
- Dating in a machista society? Yeah... no.
- Your first aid/med kit will become your greatest ally.
- Your emotions are cranked up---be honest with yourself about them and you will survive.
- Do not miss 'snack hour' no matter the circumstances. This is prime 'connection building time'.
- You don't need TV to survive, but if your internet is as slow as mine... stock up on DVDs for your laptop.
- Your phone will FAIL 80% of the time.
- If you're a woman, your community friend base will be made of girls younger than 18 and women older than 35.
- Sing while you do your own laundry, by the time Party in the U.S.A. has been on repeat for an hour, you would have done a load.
- Since you'll be behind on pop culture, you will have certain guilty pleasures (ex: Baby by J. Beiber or Party in the USA by M. Cyrus) because those songs will be used in all advertising attempts.
- Advertising in Guatemala means blasting music across the whole town and announcing the 2 for 5Q chicken pieces at the local Chicken Little fried chicken stand.
- Love your sitemate, they'll be there when you're most vulnerable.
And finally,
- Although it's been a year, you will probably feel like you've only just arrived. Time flies, so enjoy it.
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In other news, since there has been a Military Siege in the Department of Alta Verapaz due to Narco Trafficking (yeah, I won't really get into that because I'm still confused and partially afraid of what that means to Peace Corps as a whole), I have had the pleasure of hanging out with a fourth 'faux' sitemate: Whitney! Check her out (as well as Sara and I). We're all tired and halfway into PJs, but hope you appreciate the pictures I forced them to take!