Wow, what an amazing first few days we've had! We were lucky to be part of a group who traveled down to Guatemala a couple days ahead of the full group and got to visit Lake Atitilan and the Pacaya Volcano (both a short trip outside of Antigua). The sites were amazingly beautiful, the people gracious and friendly and both well worth the visit and extra travel time. I can't imagine we'll ever get the chance again to roast marshmallows on an active field of lava rocks!

Both today and yesterday morning, while the kids and chaperones were teaching in the public elementary schools, most of the parents got to partake in Spanish lessons. Our maestra told us that Antigua is famous for it's Spanish schools because Antiguans speak a very "clean" dialect of Spanish with "concise grammar" that is universally understood. Students come from all over the world often for weeks or months at a time to learn or brush up on their Spanish for travel, their jobs or just for fun. The school's setting is a gorgeous courtyard with gardens in full bloom and small tables set up among the plants, flowers and terraces.  Teachers and students (1 teacher with a 1 or 2 students) were scattered throughout, hunched over books and worksheets and engaged in lessons and lively discussions. Our teacher Delores was friendly, patient and energetic and it was a great experience. She even took us out to tour a museum of pre-Colombian music and a Guatemalan coffee plantation. Make sure to ask me the difference between Arabica and Robusto coffee beans! We also learned (in Spanish) that coffee originated in Ethiopia and is to be credited for the European industrial revolution. Prior to it's introduction Europeans primarily drank beer for their daily fluid intake and not a lot of work got done. ;)  The general consensus from parents was that we now know why our kids are so completely exhausted after school (especially kindergarten!), learning a new language takes a TREMENDOUS amount of energy and concentration!

The afternoon was Parker's and my turn to visit some Common Hope families with a social worker for their monthly unannounced in-home visits. We were able to visit 3 families living in very close proximity to each other. Our Common Hope social worker was kind, caring and professional and the families were all friendly and welcoming. Discussions ranged from how the kids were doing in school, healthcare issues (one young girl was recovering from a serious burn injury), family planning, pregnancy, prenatal care, drinking water, and needed home improvements. The home site conditions were sad to say the least. Mud, dirt floors, chickens, flea infested dogs and cats, rodents, trash, and all variety of bugs and insects were the norm. The stark reality of their incredibly poor living conditions was a lot to take in. The work that Common Hope does is incredible and so important if they are to have any kind of a chance of breaking the cycle of poverty. A day later we are both still processing what we saw and heard and trying to figure out how we can have a positive impact. I think Parker summed it up well when his sole, quiet comment immediately following the visit was simply that "We take too much for granted, what can we do to help?"

Allison