"Como Asi"

Creature update: There was a dead gecko next to my bed last night, and today during a craft project with the third graders, I had to reprimand a kid for throwing a scorpion skeleton on another kid's back... using limited Spanish skills. I think I basically said, "Out! Please!" in my best stern voice (which probably isn't very stern at all) but I gave him "the look" and pointed to the classroom door.

I'm feeling pretty thankful that "the look" translates pretty well in all languages. Annnd I'm also thankful for other nonverbal cues and words like "Como asi," which means "like this."

Yep, words like "como asi" and hand motions helped me to be able to explain and orchestrate today's craft project, a parrot shaped card to be mailed to sponsors in the children's charity program. While the language barrier is sometimes difficult, I love art and it was really fun to share this time with the kids. :)

Smiling for the camera- this little girl is also named Angela.

But this kid was obviously my favorite... I mean, he has a mohawk, annnd he drew a cat.

The tabano fly is small but mean!

Ahhh yes, the tabano fly. I despise him though he seems to love me.

Friends, I've been bitten twice already by this thing about a week apart... on the same foot. Since I'm allergic to it, my entire foot swells up for several days, sometimes oozes fluid, and itches terribly. It affects my mobility, ability to participate in team events such as choreography, and in this way, it attacks my spirit. :(

Please pray with me or send positive thoughts that the tabano would stay away!

* You can find a picture of the evil fly and more information about it on this website: http://www.flickr.com/photos/shuttersparks/3599277576/

Sometimes Spelling and Vocab Errors are Funny

Hmmm it's been just over 2 weeks that I've been living and working in Guatemala, and I have of course made some language blunders. Please enjoy the highlights.

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Example 1)

I needed to stop at an ATM on the way home from church, and here is the conversation that followed:

Fredy: Necesitas comprar algo? Translation: Do you need to buy anything?
Me: No. Solomente necesito pegar Adrea para mi telefono. Translation: No. I only need to hit Adrea for my phone.

* Laughter followed, and I learned that PEGAR (pronounced "peh-gar," meaning to hit), though it sounds closely to PAGAR (pronounced "pah-gar," meaning to pay), has a slightly different meaning.

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Example 2)

Me (to Nineth): Te gustas?

I meant to ask her if she liked the pancakes that Anna and Xaume made with M&Ms in them... but I actually asked her very sweetly, "Do you like yourself?" or something like "Do you please yourself?" instead. Annnd... everyone at the table laughed.

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Woops?!

"Cooking with Ang!"

Some things are best said with pictures...

I hope you enjoy this little story called, "Cooking with Ang!"

Hmmm... I need to feed 14 people. What should I make for lunch today?

I really didn't know...

Someone had set out a few of these weird looking things... Since I didn't know what they were... I decided they made good mustaches.

Mustaches are funny!

Apparently these are called yucca roots... Annnnd I guess the ones set out were bad on the inside, so I still have no idea how one should use these in cooking?! Maybe next time.

Annnd thanks to God (and possibly my obvious need), I received some help in the kitchen, and 3 hours later we served some sort of beef stew, rice, corn on the cob, hot chili, and handmade tortillas with freshly squeezed orange juice. It must have tasted ok because after the meal, one teammate told me I could get married now?! Haha!

The end.

Tonito vs. Juanita the Iguana

So I'm encountering all kinds of creatures here in Guatemala that you probably won't find walking around in Ohio. Iguanas are just one of them. I used pretty poor, broken Spanish... but please enjoy this video of Tonito removing an iguana from the towel closet in the women's mission house. Annnd please ignore the fact that I spoke Antonio's name kind of strangely ( Whoops?! I couldn't remember if I should call him Antonio or Tonito and I think I sort of combined the two names here. Awesome.)

Rain on the front porch

It's the rainy season in the jungle...

Mi casa on a sunny day: