Halloween, etc.

We've been very busy.  I've taken lots of pictures (no surprises there) but will need to take time to sort through and post some.  Maybe I'll post some Halloween ones below.  Here's a little blurb that Warren wrote in an email that I thought would give you a bit of an idea of our activities:

Warren writes:

My Spanish is coming along and we are enjoying our time teaching math and English to 16 plus or minus students ranging in age from 6 to 18.  We never seem to have much free time, since it takes longer to do simple things like shopping and getting across town.  We'll travel to Panajachel next week (a town about 2 hours away, on Lake Atitlan) to check out some schools where there could be teaching opportunities.  We'll also spend a couple of days on a nature preserve (Los Tarrales)  for some time off. http://www.tarrales.com/

Since we arrived in September, we have been in the peak of the rainy season.  The rains are coming to an end now.  Flowers are blooming and butterflies are coming out, kind of like spring and winter combined.  Nights are getting colder with the absence of cloud cover and the sun moving further south.  Day time temperatures are still warm and will get warmer, but it cools off quickly and will drop close to freezing in December and January.  Not a big deal, but nobody here has heat (including our apartment), so mornings are a challenge to dislodge Anita from bed.

We will be returning to the U.S. sometime in the spring, depending how plans develop.  We have a Peace Corps assignment for Nicaragua that begins Aug.  12, but we will need to get physicals several months before.  I also need to do taxes and don't really feel up to the challenge of doing them here.  So, we're looking at a possible trip "home" in March.   We may also change our minds on Peace Corps if a teaching job looks likely here in Guatemala.  Lots of ifs and buts at this time, but we are getting used to being flexible.

Here are some images:

Panajachel, Lake Atitlan (images from the internet):

 


Here are some images from Halloween in Xela:

Couple of Baristas at &Cafe (good Chai Tea there)

Warren being bewitched by a barrista

Another friendly barista offering a bite with the Chai.....

&Cafe - kids hanging around

McDonalds crew

Halloween is not big in Guatemala, but there are "Gringo hangouts" where you're more likely to see something, and it seems to be catching on with some youth.