Watch out, Casa (pics)

Pues, llegamos! Last Saturday after a surprisingly uneventful bus ride we got dropped off in Rio Dulce at Hotel Backpacker. We met up with Michael, a rather strange and drunk Canadian who gave us the lay of the land. Sort of he showed us our room (dormitory style, right above the kitchen), told us our hours (6pm-1am), and told us that we would be busy that night because Saturday is one of the nights the volunteers come over from the orphanage. Baptism by fire, he said.

I spent most of the first evening washing dishes with El Chef in the kitchen. Not so bad, but tiring. It was then out to the bar where 20 or so drunk volunteers painted a rather bleak picture of Casa Guatemala, our soon to be home. Based on that evening and conversations with vols heading out on descanso (vacation), it really sounded like a retched place. It was all about unflushed toilets and pig smelling quarters and lice. By Monday, I was about ready to get a ticket home. But yesterday we finally visited the orphanage, and it was great! Yes, the water is only on in the morning and the afternoon, so toilets don’t always get flushed. Yes, the volunteer house is right next to the pig house, but it doesn’t smell so bad.
And yes, all of the big girls do have lice. But it seems like a nice place. It’s right on the water, the kids get three meals a day, they’re laundry is cleaned, and they’re getting an education. It’s not like anything you would ever see in the United States by any means. There is far less supervision, rules don’t seem to be that tight, and even the little ones have a lot of independence. But this isn’t the United States. It’s Guatemala.


We start working there on Sunday, or Phoebe and I do (Cheka’s joining us later because she has friends coming who are traveling). This is good because working at Hotel Backpacker is bleak. We’re either being yelled at for not understanding what’s going on when it’s busy, or bored to tears, sitting at an empty bar watching the clock. I can’t wait to get out of here.

Once we’re there, Cheka will be an orientador for the Ninas Grandes, which means she gets them up, keeps them fed, keeps them clean and puts them to bed. Phoebe is in charge of an adorable baby, 16 month old Dulce Maria, and I’m going to be teaching Kindergarten. I watched the class for a little bit the other day when I visited, and the kids are cute, but crazy. I think I’m going to have to go in there and raise some hell.

Today we took a crazy clattery chicken bus, complete with chickens, to Finca Paraiso. It’s a cold river with a hot, hot, waterfall. I’m looking forward to more of that…What I’m not looking forward to is work tonight. It’s Wednesday night, and the Vols are coming. Wish me luck.