Gringoes

Its weird to think that already one week of classes has gone by. We feel that we have already been here for at least one month, probably because we do so many different things each day and visit new places. To get a feel for our daily routine...we wake up early in the morning (between 530 and 630) and head to school by bus, car, or walking. At school we attend Spanish class in the morning, eat lunch at 1230, and then either have a lecture in the afternoon or an excursion into the city. Some of the places we visited last week were an interactive museum about discrimination in Guatemala, the National Palace, the National Cemetery, and the city landfill. It was overwhelming viewing the hundreds of people searching through the trash at the landfill, which is their only source of income in most cases. Every day we see striking contrasts of poverty and wealth throughout the city. We especially enjoyed being together as a group on our afternoon trips, because time together feels limited. However, this will hopefully change as we anticipate weekend trips starting this week. aka Chichicastenango!!!

Friday evening Taylor spent the night at my home with me and my host family, and the next morning we met Laura to head to the city of Antigua. Antigua is filled with beautiful Spanish architecture and cobblestone streets. It felt touristy, but at the same time it was fun being with other "gringoes". While in Antigua, we shopped and were given a lesson on how to barter from my host dad. We got some good deals! Overlooking the city is a mountain top lookout with a large cross, and we were able to drive up there to see the gorgeous view. Today we begin our first salsa lesson! It is sure to be interesting to say the least. Love you all and please continue to keep us in your prayers! 
p.s. you can check out the emu website for more details about what our group is up to!