Challenges and Celebrations

Hello Everyone!
    It has been about two weeks since my last post and they have been two busy weeks at that.  Getting settled into my host family and spanish class has been challenging but such a great experience.  I am really starting to adapt to the life down here, which I find to be not so different than city life in the US.  My host family is wonderful.  They are patient with me when I have no idea what I am saying and are willing to help me when I am completely stuck, which is most of the time.  My brothers and sister speak english and they like to practice their english as well.  Most evenings consist of reading my assignments, asking my brothers for help with spanish, playing games, laughing (a lot), and talking with my family about everything.
     Scheduling has been a bit of an adjustment.  Every morning I wake up around 5 am and get ready for the day.  My brothers´schools start around 7:30, so we leave at 6:50 to go to school.  I go with them because my Mom offers me a ride, which means I do not have to take the bus to school.  (Although I take the bus home and it is not that bad. It usually only takes me about 15-20 minutes everyday.)   My classes do not start until 8:30, so I get to CASAS extra early and finish homework, check my email, read ect. 
    Spanish class is also challenging at points because it is a class of 3 students, so me and 2 others.  My teacher is very patient and willing to assist us, ut certainly pushes us hard.  All in all I am able to practice speaking quite frequently and keep butchering everything, but I guess its part of the experience! haha
    Adjusting to the lifestyle has been so neat.  Yes, challenges are always lerking, but I seem to have a good grip on being able to be flexible.  I have been having slight problems with my joints for some reason.  It started in my knees and back and has switched back and forth throughout my body such as my fingers and toes and elbow.  Deanna, on of my professors say that it might be my body adjusting to the high altitude here.  It comes and goes and has not been too much of a problem, but has continued to be a small challenge.
   I have also been challenged with too much technology.  We have access to the internet everyday and my host family has a lot of access to TV and other technological devices.  It is hard not to want to use them all the time.  But I do feel like it is important to distance myself enough to be fully in the experience.  I have been thinking a lot about truly being present in the times that I am given.  Being fully present means taking time to fully be in conversation with the people around me and struggle with how to be a forgeiner in a land where I stick out quite a bit.  But, so far so good.
     Although I have been challenged and pushed to my limits at points, there have been numerous things to celebrate along the way.  After being immersed in a culture where spanish thrives, I  have gained a new appreciation for the english language.  One speaker that we listened to said that your native language will always be yours.  It is the way you express yourselve in the most passionate and difficult times.  English is my language, and forever will be, but I pray that this willnot hinder my desire to learn more Spanish in the future.  I celebrate the fact that I am able to have running water and a warm shower every other day, an a room all to myself.  I also appreciate my fellow travelers and the things that they are teaching me about themselves and even about me. 
   To conclude I have really had a great time so far.  I continue to be pushed and strive to keep going although  am too frustrated or tired.  May God conitue to show me his vision for my life and that I will be ever blessed with his grace and mercy.

Take Care and God Belss to all,
Kiersten

New Home, New Classes, New Lessons

I am finally in the Land of Eternal Spring, Guatemala.  It is one of the most amazing places ever.  Last week my group finally arrived in Guatemala a week ago today and we have spent some time at CASAS, Central America Study and Service, and getting settled into spanish classes and our host families.  My host family is awesome!  I have thre younger siblings, Maria who is 18, Jorge who is 16 and Juancho who is 15.  It is so awesome to finally have brothers.  It is such an interesting experience being in a country that does not speak my language and being disoriented when I can't figure out what my host mother is trying to tell me.  Every night so far we have not gone more than 10 minutes without some form of laughter.  I am quickly realizing that learning a new language is not easy.  Yes, I have been in spanish classes for 5 and a half years but really have not had much practice with speaking actual spanish.  It gets better and worse everyday in multiple ways.  I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me here in this wonderful place!