Living in Antigua, Guatemala

It is nearly the end of our first week in Antigua, Guatemala. I cannot believe how much we have done in just this week. There are no words to perfectly describe the city of Antigua. Antigua's buildings are  so beautiful, a perfect juxtaposition of old and new. The people we have met have been so kind. Tonight we went to a little restaurant on the next block, it was so delicious. Their tamales were exceptional. The family who served us were so kind and so accomodating. They absolutely love Barbara! My mom always says "it tastes like more", and these tamales certainly do. So far, I have been assigned to work in Casa Jackson. It will break your heart when you see the sweet babies who we find out are sometimes in abusive homes, just left abandoned on the street, or have mothers who do not want to take care of them. Our responsibilites vary each day but I like to think the most important job when we are there is to love the children. The sign outside Casa Jackson says, "El amor es para el nino lo que el sol es para las flores... no le basta pan. Necicita caricias para ser bueno y fuerte". My interpretation is that all they need is love. There is no doubt in my mind that we are making a difference here. In the Afternoons we all go to Spanish class at Maximo Nivel. Mara and I are in a small class with Sandra. We spend too much time talking about boyfriends and drinking sangria mostly. My stomach typically aches from laughing so hard and for so long. It is a wonderful thing when even with misunderstandings and mispronunciations we can communicate with our friends in Antigua. Although, I cannot stres the importance of context and gestures enough. Everyday has been an adventure, there is something magical about Antigua that we just wont be able to express through pictures and words alone. You just have to be here.  There must be something about Antigua, because they say no one ever leaves!