Many things have given me pause while being here.

I am in awe of the natural beauty amongst which these people live and call their home. I revel in the simplicity of the life I am experiencing here, and fully acknowledge this is a false sense of life in comparison to most of the women born here.

Today, walking through the Mercado, feeling grumpy with little sleep, an achy lump on my foot and without my morning coffee made a friend from works “first world problems” statement that he often says come to mind.

Here, there is no room for complaints. No room for ailments. No room for lamenting. No room for laziness. No room for mental health days.

Here, if you are not industrious, you are nothing.

Children peddle fruits and vegetables, candy and homemade jewelry to feed their families.

Elderly men and women tend meat, produce and supply stands, all day, without easy access to running water and restrooms.

Men and women deliver crates of produce on their heads, or atop their shoulders without so much as a grimace.

Here, people work. Sun up, to sun down.

And, they do it politely and with a smile.

So much effort is made in our current day to account for people’s internal struggles. And while I am not discrediting the importance of having sound mental health, I do feel that our current vantage point for many Americans could use a healthy dose of this “suck it up and push forward” attitude.

I know that pushing forward too hard, without pause for self reflection is damaging. The majority of the world does not recognize mental health as a priority. Talk therapy and psychiatric medications are not seen as valid necessities. Michele struggles with this on a daily basis with her kids from immigrant families.

First world problems allow us to lament our achy foot lump and lack of coffee. Third world problems, do not.

Somehow, I hope I can find balance. For myself, and for Luca.

I am grateful my parents instilled in me a good work ethic. Neither of them complain, ever. They have busted their asses for myself and my siblings and I will forever be grateful.

I hope I can do the same for Luca. I try to do what my parents have taught me and help him reframe when he has a self doubt or disappointment. To redirect his thinking by remembering his blessings; a body that is strong, a mind that is healthy, a roof over his head, food in his belly, and being surrounded by people that love and support him.

I hope that this learning, combined with him being exposed to different ways of life helps him to become a man that is somewhere in the middle; aware and protective of his mental health, but with a strong work ethic and a gratitude for his blessings.

I read an article recently about not complaining, ever. About reframing every thought and statement from a place of directly asking for what you truly need and from a place of gratitude.

I have tried in my adult life (however difficult and unsuccessfully) to not outright complain. I make light of my complaints, turn them into jokes thinking that they are in some way less negative.

I want to change that, and walking through the Mercado today solidified that desire.

So, here’s to self growth. One walk through the Mercado at a time.

Do you now there’s a difference between blind snakes and earth worms… well there is and I am still trying to figure out what it is. Luca said there is and I believe him.  This quote tonight made me think of Luca and all the great that fades as children age.  How these moments of looking at rocks, worms, and rolly pollies with wonder, awe, and excitement won’t last forever.  That soon they will make way for harder less simple things in life.  My hope, though, remains that he will be exposed to so much goodness in life that the hard stuff simply makes him appreciate the good and simple things even more. 

Monday was a recovery day and we were back to our normal routine of school and afternoon activities.  Today was filled with school and salsa lessons at Selina hostel where even Luca participated.  Nicole and I then  stole Elissa and Kianna away to experience our favorite secret bar for a drink before bed.  No one is a stranger for long in Antigua and it’s easy to become part of the community. I love that about being here.  It’s like being at “Cheers” everywhere you go everyone knows your name.  It’s familiar and comfortable. People here are just so kind.  That’s probably the hardest thing to express about being here.  I have zero issues going to the tienda and practicing my bad Spanish without embarrassment. My favorite people include the mango lady on the corner of our street who smiles (without teeth) so big when she sees us every day and having conversations with strangers from all over the world. You never know the people you will meet. 

Our first week in Antigua flew by and there hasn’t been much time for pause. So let me catch you all up.  Cheryl arrived on Thursday with a friend,  her daughter,  and her friend’s coworker. I think it is very special that Cheryl was able to come to the school and see where the girls have been learning. Also it was a special bonus that she happened to be here during our presentations, and she was able to see the girls progress. It was a fast and full weekend. Volcanos, horses,  ruins, cerro, etc.  My favorite was the dinner and a show put on by the kids,  a glimpse into the best parts of being in Antigua. 

Dearest Reader,

I write to you today to tell you a riveting story. It’s a story of a day that begins how most days begin- with awaking in the morning. This wasn’t any ordinary morning, however. It was TEN AM. Three hours later than our usual call time. Awaking at this time made me feel refreshed, vibrant and alive, like a flower sprayed with Febreeze and washed with Fabuloso. I would like to thank the members of the household for allowing us to enjoy this wonderus moment and prepare us for the week.

Heres a photo of the bed I slept in, in case anyone is confused:

Then, we went out and got to see some ruins from the colonial era of Guatemala. We saw a cathedral and a cloister. Unfortunately my body hurt and I couldn’t climb around too crazy, but I enjoyed watching Kayla and Luca crawl up into this rock cave.

Until next time!!

I woke up at about 7:00 o clock in the morning and I was feeling so good and I had cereal for breakfast. Then the girls woke up at 10:00 o clock so that’s late. Meanwhile… the 7 of us walked to eat breakfast and I had eggs and bacon for breakfast. It took so long to just get our food. It felt like a hour to get the food ready. Then we walked back to our mansion house. About 4 hours later… and it is time for the fun part of the day. We go to the ruins!!! but first, we went to a different ruins,the cathedral ruins so we went to that one first and here is some pictures.

then we walked to the second ruins and it was the best because I got to climb up the biggest rocks.

Here’s some pictures of the second ruins.

I couldn’t find the rest but here’s one of them 😄. When we got back home, we relaxed and I looked for bugs. Then, we ate dinner with everyone and it was delicious 😋. Then the girls were on their phones so I had nothing to do but watch them look on their phones 📱. Then it was chill for the rest of the evening. Then I got in the shower and went to bed 🛏️.

That’s the end

I woke up at 6:30 in the morning and we ate breakfast and I had eggs for breakfast. So we went in the car so we can go to the volcano called Pacaya. When we got there I had my horse named Muñeco and we rode up the volcano 🌋. When we got there, I played with the volcano rocks and I threw them all around.

Here’s some pictures from the volcano.

When we rode back, Elissa and Tia’s horses were running so fast that Elissa’s stuff in her backpack fell out on the ground where all the horses poop 💩 eww 😷. I had the best time riding my horse. When we got down from the volcano we got down the horse, we went in the car and rode back. The girls went to the market and mom took a nap while Me Tia and Kayla went to a coffee place called Fat Cat and we played cards together. When the girls got back from the market, me and Tia and Kayla walked home. I found 4 blind snakes and 3 of them were babies and one was a adult. Then Tia made what aunt Laura and grandma makes, spaghetti and hamburger meat sauce. It was so good in fact that I ate 4 small bowls of it. And then the best thing of the evening was a instrument dinner show

Here’s some pictures and videos from the dinner show

Then we tried to get ice cream for me but they had sorbet flavors I didn’t like.

But then there was a light show on the castle!

Then we all walked home and I had to go in the shower and go to bed because it was 10:00 o clock here but in Florida, it’s midnight so I was very tired.

That’s the end

If you know about Bob (first horse I ever rode who was specifically trained for the blind), then you know. But today, Bob was left in the dust like all the other horses (and friends) literally. Pepe was a pistel. He took off running the minute I got on.  I was miles ahead of the entire pack on the climb up the mountain…. and on the way down, thankfully, my horse found a competitor in Elissa’s horse, so I had a friend to go down the mountain with.  Our 🐎 horses didn’t let up, causing my newly dawned hat to fly off and Elissa’s water bottles to fly out of her backpack.  Let’s just say we made it down the mountain in record time and long before the others. As Elissa mentioned in her blog, prayers for my butt are welcomed.  Circling back to my amazing hat. So this is my 3rd time doing Pizza 🍕  on Pacaya and when we arrived, the owner of the business asked my group where I was by name, and so I went over to say hello.  He gave me a free hat and said how happy he was to see us.  It’s kinda nice to know people everywhere you go.  I am sure you’re wondering if going up the same volcano 3x is worth it,  well I can tell you it’s a whole new experience going up one with a Geologist (be jealous). Elissa is a Geologists so it was very cool to have her with us explaining the rocks that we were walking on and what we were seeing and how things happen.  It definitely shed a whole new light on the experience for me.  At the volcano there’s a little shop where local artisans take the volcanic rock and create jewelry with it. Here’s a “did you know” fact about Pacaya: In 2021, the Pacaya volcano in Guatemala erupted in a series of explosive and effusive events that began in February and continued into March. The eruption also occurred during Tropical Storm Agatha, which brought heavy rainfall that caused landslides, lahars, and widespread flooding. They called it the perfect storm in the ring of fire. I am not one for buying souvenirs but at the lava store Nicole and I both drawn to purchase earrings made from the lava during that storm and eruption and coconut shells.

Our first year in the house Nicole named our house Encanto, and every year since, the moment I walk through the door, it feels like coming home. We oddly all have naturally fallen into our roles in the house, and I couldn’t love my role any more than I do.  Doña Sed had returned to her kitchen.

The first week of being in Antigua has flown by and school came to an end for me before I even realized it began.  This year I had Kianna’s teacher from last year.  She was a stark contrast to my last teacher.  I have loved all my teachers for different reasons, but my teacher this year was so kind and so sweet and so patient.  She’s exactly what I needed this year and I am grateful.  La Unión also feels like home.  Everyone remembers us and our stories and we pick up right where we left off a year ago.  I  promised Luca that if he presented on presentation day i I too would present…. so he made me make good on my promise.  I was so proud to watch him on last day of school present for the first time. He’s always been too shy to present and I always opt out. So in the end, I guess we’ve both grown.  I made/presented on Pina and made licuados. I made the ones for the adults with rum. They were obviously a hit to say the least.  I love that the “kids” have favorite things to do at school. I love that learning can be so fun. Thankful for another year….. and now it’s time to play.