1. Volcanoes. Sure, I know there are some volcanoes quite close to Mexico City, but I certainly can’t see them. In fact, I can’t even see the surrounding mountains, only a yellow haze on the horizon. I grew quite attached to some of Guatemala’s volcanoes, even though I didn’t climb any of them (besides Pacaya, [...]
I don’t tend to get homesick. Really. I make friends easily wherever I am, and while I will always miss specific people who are important to me, I don’t get homesick or lonely very often.
I guess I am a bit out of my element right now, because I am too busy in my course [...]
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Posted 24 January 2010
† Caitlin
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While adjusting to my new home, I am not forgetting to miss Guatemala.
Mayan women and girls in Pujujil, Solola:
Teenagers hanging out in Xela’s central park:
The view of Xela from El Baul:
The beach at Champerico:
Beautiful Lake Atitlan, sadly contaminated by cyanobacteria algae:
Xela’s cemetery, with a view of Volcano Santa Maria:
“The sad part of living overseas is that people come and go all the time,” I said.
“There’s a solution to that,” my friend replied. “Only make friends with locals, not foreigners.”
That’s easier said than done.
Any person living abroad presumably wants to form and strengthen meaningful friendships with local people in their adopted country. [...]
There are many Guatemalan chains. There’s Sarita, a cheap ice cream shop that can be found every couple blocks. In Quetzaltenango there’s Xelapan, a great place to fatten yourself with danishes, sausage rolls or cupcakes.
But no chain is as quintessentially Guatemalan as Pollo Campero.
Shhhhh. Don’t tell a Guatemalan this, but Pollo Campero is [...]
I never suffer from culture shock. Seriously. Well, maybe I’ve had an hour or two here and there when I get irritated at a certain aspect of my adopted country, but that’s about it.
I always suffer from reverse culture shock. Sometimes quite badly. When I came back from three months from Burkina Faso in [...]
Going home for a while can have its perks.
Now that I’m back in Guatemala I am seeing the country with fresh eyes.
I was driving from Guatemala City to Xela yesterday, and I couldn’t help but thinking, over and over again: This is such a beautiful country. How did I ever take it for granted? [...]
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Posted 04 January 2010
† Caitlin
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Pop Stand #1: Guatemala
Maybe I am actually more of a big-city girl.
Or maybe I have a short attention span.
There are a number of possible reasons, but whatever the real one is, I’m starting to think that it might be time to move on.
Today, a friend asked me whether I prefer Guatemala or Mexico. [...]
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Posted 01 December 2009
† Caitlin
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As of today, I’ve been living in Guatemala for five months. I have learned so much about this country, and certainly understand a lot more than I did when I arrived in June.
However, there are still some things that confuse the hell out of me.
These aren’t bad things. They are just things that [...]
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Posted 17 November 2009
† Caitlin
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I know, I know, I know.
I was in Mexico the last five days. It was a “stamp my passport to avoid being an illegal immigrant” trip, and ended up being extended because my traveling companion fell ill.
I didn’t bring my laptop or a camera.
It was beautiful.
My friend and I went to San [...]
