an adventure of a lifetime...: 2009

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Halloween and Kite Festival

This year for Halloween my friend Kristen and I were "Black Eyed Peas." It was really fun, but people here did not quite understand... at least the Gringos did not!

This year I went to Sumpango Guatemala to see the kite festival. It was a bit different than last year's trip, but it was steal incredible. The cemetery was much larger and there were more people out decorating the graves. The weather was nice and we made it out just before the rain clouds started rolling in. The kites were so unique. They were all different shapes (last year's were all round) and the detail was INCREDIBLE!! i really do love this holiday!

My favorite... ELOTE!!! Grilled corn with salt and lime! It tastes like popcorn.

My favorite kite... Look at that face!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Monterrico October 2009

For el dia de la revolucion, some friends from school and i went to the beach for 3 days. The weather was perfect... HOT, but great! Here are some pictures from our great weekend.

The sunset on the first night! I love the beach!

Our hotel room... no a/c but we did have mosquito nets. I slept great.... but others disagreed!

The group! Michelle, Mark, Tracy, Elaine, and Melissa. I was taking the picture!

Here comes the rain! I love this foto!

Our hotel had a beautiful pool! that is where we spent our days.

IT was SOOOOOO hot!!! I could stand the black sand from 8-9:30 a.m. and that was all!

YEAH TEDDY!!! I love setting turtles free!

One of my former students was there so he and I got to let Teddy free! It was fun to watch how excited he got to see the turtle go to the sea.

Go TEDDY!! You can make it to the ocean! I know you can!

Sunset on our last night

Driving along the road you see pashte... or loofa! It is incredible to see it hanging to dry. We had to stop and by some... now what am I to do with it?

My favorite restaurant near the beach is called El Capitan. I love the atmosphere and food! It is right on the inlet on the ocean. They have a delicious fish sandwich for just at $5! You can't beat it! and you get a popsicle for dessert! We stopped on the way down and the way back.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Why have I not blogged....

I know, I know. I have become quite a terrible blogger. I guess after starting my third year here, things have just started to feel so much more normal. I have a great class this year. I have a new teaching partner and she is doing great (although I miss Susana because she is awesome too!). I was able to go home and meet Burke which was awesome. I spent a weekend at Lake Atitlan with some lovely ladies. And tomorrow I leave for the beach for 4 days for our long weekend. NO COMPLAINTS here! So, I will just do a quick picture montage of what I have been up to...

Chili's with Alison and Kristen

Sweet Burke time at the UGA game

On the boat on the way to San Pedro La Laguna

My crazy class! :-)

Sunday, August 30, 2009

So it took a long time.... but finally.... ALASKA!

Alaska was incredible! I had a student teacher (far right in the picture below) who was from Alaska and so I was able to spend a week with her and her family. Laura lives just north of Anchorage and we were able to visit that town, Fairbanks, Seward and other stops along the way. It was so great to see the state from the land rather than the water (though I am still interested in cruising one day). We hiked mountains, kayaked lakes, searched for moose, played frisbee in daylight at 9:30 p.m., ate muskox, moose, and salmon killed by her cousin, stayed in a "dry cabin", searched for icebergs through the clouds, and saw a whale, moose, puffins, sea lions, sea otters, bald eagles, and many other animals. What an adventure!