Cross-dressing, Floats, and Possible Alcohol Poisoning

So what celebration allows usually homophobic men to get trashed while strutting around the streets of a town in short skirts and dresses? Give up? It's the Convite! (-Insert sarcastic hoot of joy here-)

Okay, I'll begrudgingly admit that it is a little more than that. 

At the essence of the holiday, a town celebrates their  Patron Saint with a town-wide parade, a dance, and lots of other activities.

Sara and I decided to watch the main event, the town parade, from my roof with a wide-array of snacks and mugs filled to the brim with tea. And while we were the only ones who chose to watch from above, I have to say, we had the best seats in the house.

Here we begin with men making fun of the same ol' Mother in Law/Suegra trope (really, again?)

Apparently we were also a part of that Antonio Banderas movie, 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico'

The Cast of Harry Potter showed up with pretty cute costumes!

And finally the Homoeroticism/Bro-Love was out of control, but it's okay... they were drunk so it doesn't count (sarcasm).

So it wasn't too bad. Although I was biting my tongue the whole time during the drunk homoeroticism, I did have fun watching the dances, floats, and costumes. Well done. Just next year, can we stop with the mockery towards women (including, and I joke you not, Rigoberta Menchu). Thanks.

Stuffing, Vacation Vacations, Pyrotechnic Specialists and Hugh Hefner

Oh the holidays!

The themed, Christmas-centric, commercials (Santa proposing with diamonds, polar bear Santa treating the cubs to a Coke, Santa saving the day with a tampon [oh wait, I just made up that one up---apologies], etc.), the holiday decorations flooding the stores, and the smell of pumpkin, turkey, and pine in the air.
Let's take a minute to enjoy those things, shall we because I did not get to experience any of those---well, except the pine smell but that is the visual marker that a party is happening here and now so get your butt in here, stranger! But despite my pumpkin latte withdrawals and the lack of commercialism in my life, I have had a great holiday season.

Thanksgiving was surprisingly traditional with overeating, board games, and unbuttoning pants (and no, I'm not talking about that kind of unbuttoning). The day was filled with cooking, laughing, and making Guatemalans confused with our ability to eat and eat in a slightly competitive manner. I have never seen so many confused faces as ten or so of us PCVs would stuff our faces with turkey, mashed potatoes, and mac and cheese then hurry off to the buffet table to snag another plate-full of food. Unlike us, the Guatemalan guests had half a plate of food and skipped the pumpkin pie desert! And to the wonderful American restaurant owner who took us, poor souls, in for the sacred holiday, thank you! Thanks for the space and the mouth watering stuffing! Why yes, Oliver, you may have some 'mo (If you fail to understand that reference, I officially disown you---joking)!

And speaking of 'mo, my holiday spirit wanted to crank this vacation into hyper mode, so it, and I, went up north for a little while---to Mexico! Seriously, Peace Corps Washington, if you're reading this: please create a volunteer exchange program in which I trade places with a volunteer in Mexico for a few days! I will love you forever. But let me step away from the groveling for a minute to just tell you that the places I visited (San Cristobal de las Casas, Puerto Escondido, Palenque to name a few) were beyond my wildest dreams. There was so much to do, so much to see and I was conveniently there during the celebration of La Virgen de la Guadalupe, the largest holiday in Mexico! Oh and if you are ever in San Cristobal, you have to eat at El Caldero, especialy if you are a huge Caldo fan like me! I am in love. San Cristobal de las Casas is now listed under one of the cities I would love to live in (right below London and Marseilles)! Who wants to go with me next?

Well, while many people aren't jumping to travel to Mexico nowadays, I was as happy as my thirteen year old self with a new Tiger Beat during the Christmas season because my lovely Mother and sister came to visit! We travelled, we bickered, we hung out with my lovely PCV/local friends and all in all, I hope they enjoyed their stay. I know it was a drastic transition from Los Angeles, but hope it wasn't too boring for them (though I can hear my sister reading this and giving a sarcastic retort).

And beyond enjoying my town and one specific restaurant in general, I know they enjoyed the fact that Christmas Night, every house in town has as many pyrotechnics as a KISS concert! I mean, we feared for my house since there were huge bomb-like fireworks shaking my thin walls, Fourth of July-esque fireworks that seemed too far from the skyline and too close to my roof and people yelling and screaming until about two A.M.. On second thought, I think KISS can't afford the pyrotechnic specialists that flooded the Christmas air with explosives! But overall, miss you guys! And I know I'm not alone on that sentiment since Frijolita, after heavily bonding with you guys for a few days, sat by the door for hours waiting for you guys to come back. Somehow, I managed to pry her away from the waiting with a few kitty treats---thanks for those too Mom/Sis!

And finally there came New Years Eve! Overall, it was a pretty fun holiday! Fireworks, sparklers, tamales (some even made by Sara), BBQ, dancing and a Block Party that lasted until 4am. It was definitely a fun way to ring in the New Year! And since most of the available/attractive folks were over an appropriate age to kiss, I decided to skip out on that one pesky tradition (though many tried and failed that night---huzzah). After all, Hugh Hefner would be the only grossly older gentleman that I might take advantage of and he recently became engaged to his 24 year old girlfriend (ah, we're the same age), Crystal Harris, in which he proposed with a Little Mermaid ring box*. And fun fact for you guys out there, Mr. Hefner was already 63 when the Little Mermaid was out in theaters for the first time! So keep that in mind, Mrs. Future Hefner. If you were able to keep your food down and are back with me... Happy 2011 ya'll! I wish you all peace, harmony, and love to you and yours! And hope you didn't have to kiss anyone who was old enough to be your grandparent when you watched your favorite childhood movie in theaters!

P.S. If you still haven't checked it out, and have made a resolution that has to do with blogs/art/etc., check out AntiRetrograde today!

*Oh and seeing as how Hugh Hefner's 'romantic practices' have been leaked (pun intended) on the internet--- I feel no desire to actually be with such a man. Here's a few hints: kleenex, baby oil, and a lot of mimicking of a dead fish. Blegh!

Many Moons Ago...

Fijense que... (when someone uses this in Guatemala, you know an excuse is coming, so get ready) I have been very busy being an official Peace Corps Guatemala Volunteer and I haven't had time to 'tend' to the online world. So, sorry internetz.

But let's play a little game of 'catch-up' to keep you all in the loop, shall we:

• 45 trainees were officially sworn-in as VOLUNTEERS by the Deputy Chief of Mission on March 25th 2010 in Atigua, Guatemala; that is every single person who flew from Washington D.C. to Guatemala with me!
• I moved out of my training town (woo hoo) and am living in my own little, charming town. My town has an excellent mercado twice a week and has a reputation for having the 'friendliest people in Guatemala'. I swear. It even says it on my 'Welcome to [Insert name of town]' package.
• The week I moved out of my training town was Semana Santa or Holy Week (the biggest Guatemalan holiday). This holiday consists of reliving Jesus' suffering through Mass, Processions, Alfombras (rugs made out of flowers, saw dust, fruit), and acting out the Stations of the Cross. I participated in EVERY SINGLE ACTIVITY (*+100 Confianza points)
• As of right now, my large room consists of an inflatable bed, a tiny table, a stovetop and some stools creating a faux kitchen area to hold that stovetop.
• Volunteering has been a blast with my companera de trabajo! Although many sage volunteers of the past have advised to 'observe' in the first several months, Abra and I have been making meetings and travelling across our department! We're on a roll.
• While away from work, I visit friends in the community, help my site-mate with G.A.D. (Gender and Development) talleres and even try to explore my turf.

So far, I have to say (even despite the occasional 'lows'), life as a volunteer is a blast.

 

*P.S. Just so you know, I treat 'gaining confianza' as a video game. I give myself 'fake' confianza points whenever I successfully integrate into the community. Ex: Eat Iguana Soup---true story by the way--- (+50 Confianza points), Attend mass with host family (+25 Confianza points). It's more 'fun' that way.