Halfway and Bittersweet

Hello Folks!
    It has been a month, so sorry!!  Things have been very eventful and busy as we dove into intense spanish courses with tons of work, and not to mention all of the time living with our host families.  It has been such a wonderful experience!  We have spent about 6 weeks here in Guatemala City with only two more until we leave for free travel and Chiapas, Mexico.  These past six weeks have been so fulfilling in the city.  I never thought that I would enjoy a city so much, but I lvoe the culture that ignites this city day by day.
    All is well, but there are always challenges that are hard to grasp and process along the way.  It has conitued to be overwhelming to be the one white American on the bus every single day and get comments that people automatically think that I do not understand.  It has been so frustrating to still not comprehend everything that my family says to me and to over and over again ask them to repeat things.  My host family has been an outstanding addition to this trip.  Their patience with me is by far one of the most humbling parts of my experience here.  I can not explain the gratitude that I have for them as they drive me to school everyday, get me to where I need to be, embraced me into their family, give me shelter and way too much food, reached out with guidance, love and acceptance when they barely know anything about me. I still find it tough to live in such a fortunate home.  The city proves to be on of the parts where I have been shown a lot of upscale complexes and ´colonias´ and people sporting hollister and nicer clothes than I wear.  But this past weekend we were fortunate to visit an area that, although is still beaming with tourism, struggles more than most people in the city.  Our hotel had an unfinished roof and a lot of us would like to go up and sit.  From this roof we had a spectacular view of a volcano, and the sunset.  We could also see the majority of the town around us, and all of the lighted towns across Lake Atitlan.  Amidst this magnificent scenery, shackles and unfinished and rusted buildings took up the rest of our view.  It was hard to realize that many of these people may not even have what I brought in my backpack.
   But no matter where I went in this village, there were smiling venders, playing children, families working, and even a coffeeshop (which of course I had to go into!).  I walked into this woman´s coffeeshop and she had many various drinks and snacks available.  As I bought a small cup of hot chocolate, I sat and observed all of the people walking by.  It was amazing to see the amount of people carrying large amounts of wood and tortilla dough on their backs.  We also got to see a cooperative that has been set up in the next town.  This was a wonderful sight.  About 20 women and their families have worked to set up new found freedom for their surroundings; as this village area was struck by a devastating mudslide 6 years ago and struggle to stay afloat.  It is beyond remarkable that these women and their families have been able to succeed to provide a sense of security for their people in this hardship.
   In the past month we have also visited Tikal, Peten in the north of Guatemala, MCC offices in the city, a forensic lab where thousands of indigenous bodies are finally being identified from the war, coffee fincas (yes Dad this does mean MORE FAIR TRADE coffee:)), and many conversations with human rights activists and political professors on what makes Guatemala Guatemalteca, the word for the Guatemalan culture.
As we wind down the last two weeks here, it is bittersweet.  I have fallen in love with this culture, and with the people who make it brillant.  I admire the dedication of the many inspiring people I have encountered that devote their lives to making a better tomorrow for thier country.  Not only Guatemalas, but my group as well.  My group has been such an excellent part of my journey here and getting to know them and their stories has been incredibly fulfulling.  I look forward to what is to come, and to the challenges that are still to arise.
I thank each and everyone of you for fallowing me and taking the time to read my thoughts.  I ask for prayer while I continue to journey along in these forgein lands, and I do tremendously feel the support that you all are giving me from miles away.
Take Care and God Bless,
Kiersten
PS- If any of you heard about the potential tsunami that was scheduled to hit Guatemala, and the Central American Pacific coast, in result of the earthquake in Japan...it did not occur and we were never in danger.  The whole country is in celebration that God kept this away from their people.