Week 5

Monday 2nd

After the big event 10 days ago, this morning more policemen and soldiers deck our street. It's a search operation, which goes on for a couple of hours, so we can still see them from the school windows, though we try to keep the students away, more to keep them focused than anything else, as nothing special happens, apart from a very rare appearance of photographers and cameramen, here to record the numerous arrests; they say they've taken away over 70 people, some part of the extended family of students, but we don't know much more and actually in the school the topic is not encouraged at all.

After school, our integration hero Michele goes to his best friend Estiben's house, to do some Kachikel homework (Mayan language they've got in their curriculum, sort of) and really enjoy spending time with him, before our useful football match, which this time is just playing time on the street for the little ones and more competitive games for the others, which is fine as well.

Tuesday 3rd

It's the last full day for Fernanda, so Mattia can't help going down with her for the last kick-around with our kids, while Michele&Sam stay home to help Mum with the cooking, as we've got a special dinner to celebrate Evelyn's birthday (from Belgium, she teaches 2nd and 5th), Mattia's (a little in advance), Fernanda's leaving and Carlin's mother's arrival from the States for a visit. Elena's cake is a big success, of course!

Wednesday 4th

Sadness abounds in our family, as our dear Fernanda is leaving at lunch time: we'll miss her terribly, as a teacher (Sam), lovely sort-of-aunt (M&S), very dear friend (M&E) and a special person with whom to laugh aplenty and most of all share a lot, from world vision (anti-war, anti-death penalty, Bernie's fan, equality and justice fighter...) to Christian faith, from specific work in school to what really matters around here and what we could/should do about it (gang violence, rubbish, what future fort the kids, sport as a great tool, re-appropiation of community spaces). 

Why is she leaving if she cares so much about all this and was so devoted to these people? Other volunteers unfortunately didn't get it, but we do: the US is not an easy place either and when your mother and your younger brother, whom you've been supporting for years, call you to say they've lost their jobs and now they've got no money to pay rent, what would you do, knowing you can go back to your previous jobs and help them? Hopefully, one day we'll meet again (she even left PR, her "teddy bunny" with the boys, so...)

Thursday 5th

It's Michele's time to feel sick, luckily not as badly as daddy, though he's definitely worried about that; other visit to the doctor and once again the medicines do their job and he's soon OK, even for afternoon football.

But the day is Mattia's, with his 39th birthday, celebrated with a rejuvenating shave ("where are you last 10 years gone?"), plenty of singing and hugs at school (and even a couple of birthday cards and small gifts) and pizza&custard by Elena!

Friday 6th

After a normal sport morning, "integration hero" dares even further, going after school to Seño Keila (his teacher)'s house to help her with some crafts for next week's Mother's Day celebration and then to stay there for dinner and even sleeping! He gives up after dinner, citing stomach issues, but it was already a great feat, after such a short time!

Saturday 7th

The Guatemalan birthday present: one year more, one tooth less! Mattia's birthday week had been plagued by quite a bad toothache, which prevented him from enjoying food and drink much, and after days of surviving thanks to painkillers, he finally took the time to go to a dentist and... dig to the root of the problem!
While Michele&Sam play with the others, Mattia gets a good long conversation with one of his student's father: nothing special, but it helps feeling more real, more inside the community rather than just teaching in class.

In the evening, we realise it's already been a month here: it definitely flew by and it's been good!

Sunday 8th
Integration progresses well, even for Mattia, invited to play one of the several matches which take place every Sunday in the sand field, with Michele & Sam among the spectators: despite his poor technique not having improved with age or with the over-a-decade absence from the game, a shoe breaking apart mid-game and the unhelpful conditions of the very rough pitch, the old man is still passable and even appreciated for the long throw-ins, so they'll want him again.
In the afternoon, M&M&S abandon football to accept an impromptu invitation to Ricardo's birthday party (he's one of Michele's classmates and therefore Mattia's students): just pastel (cake - plus tostadas con frijoles, as beans cannot fail to appear), a couple of presents and some small talk with the family, but much appreciated and again helping us integrate!

N.B. With the first month gone, we can delight you with the news that the weekly format stops here, as you should have got a decent insight in our Guatemalan lives, so we'll post only significant events or comments.