Maximón, etc.

On thursday we had the opportunity to go during Spanish class to visit Maximón (San Simón), a Mayan-Catholic psuedo-saint. He lives in San Andres Itzapa, just a bit outside of Antigua in the department of Chimaltenango. There is a church-type structure for him that is filled with tables of lit candles...so many that the temperature rises like 10 degrees when you walk in. He sits (a manequin) atop a shrine and people go up one by one to pour rum and beer on him and give offerings of food, money, cigarettes, etc. They pray or chant and slap themselves with bunches of branches with leaves. Outside there are witch doctors who smoke four cigars at a time to communicate with him while others burn patterns of sugar poured on the ground with mini fires of piles of candles. It was a fascinating place and one of those experiences where you walk away from scratching your head, not really sure what to think, but really glad you witnessed it.

Im starting to feel a little bit better about the lack of formal recycling programs here since i wince every time i throw away an aluminum can, or plastic bottle. But Ive started noticing trucks filled with used cardboard and men carrying gigantic bags of plastic bottles and hope that they are going to a good place. Houses are made out of scrap everything, so the informal recycling program is somewhat in place.

Thursday was also Elyse´s brithday, where we had the opportunity to be served a very "rica" carne asada meal by her family. We also ate a second chocolate cake. Its great to see all the different housing types and family dynamics that we encounter by visiting other people´s houses.

I continue to be surprised by funny little things....like a women changing her baby´s diaper right there on the bus, right next to me. There is no such thing as modesty when it comes to children. Other things like calling a taxi and having the driver motion us to cross four lanes of traffic to get in the car are seemingly becoming normal. Or for a completely full camioneta to stop at the gas station to fill up (without shutting off the motor) for 15 minutes while making 60 people wait. I sometimes just chuckle to myself and mutter, "this would never happen in the US." Thats the beauty of living here.

Im continuing to learn more and more about the complexity of the government structure and the process of decentralization following the Peace accords in 1996. We visited INFOM, an organization in the capital that exists to support municipalities with trainings and resources on administration, finances, and public participation. They are a great resource and have worked with Peace Corps a lot. Its good to know where to get the info when we need it.

We also had our second womens group meeting in Alotenango on Thursday (it was a very busy day...with torrential rain to boot). We did some fun activities like a relay race in teams passing a balloon and then popping it. They went nuts for it! It was great to see all these women, half with babies on their backs, laughing so hard and loving the chance to get to play themselves. We continued talking about how to get some weaving classes going and the mood was very positive and more energetic this time, although getting people to speak up in public remains to be a challenge.

Im getting very comfortable living with my family and they continue to be so welcoming and supportive. Its sometimes hard to completely submit to their schedule of meal times, locking the door at 9:00pm, and being called when its 7:00 and you havent come home yet, but the experience is totally worth it. They are so patient with me and we just laugh so much with each other. They tell wonderful stories, espeically the dad who grew up "when shoes didnt exist in Alotenango." My mom only has a third grade education and cant really read or write, but i am continually amazed at how she keeps all the prices of everything in the store in her head and can do mental arithmatic so much faster than I can. My sisters are so sweet and hilarious and help to explain and clarify things to me. Every time I come home its, "Hola Kah-ty!!!" with a hug and kiss.