I wish every day was like today

Waking early again I struggled to open my eyes, ready to strangle the rooster and poison the dog I got myself ready well before the meeting time agreed with Flora. 

Where I found the energy to communicate that early in the morning I dont know but chat we did on the way to ‘work’. Today was much the same work as it had been on Tuesday except there were only a few old ladies and some of them didn’t do anything. The others painted the sheets of paper and my job was to give them fresh paper when they were done, taping them to the table so they didn’t move and making sure they didn’t paint their clothes as well. 

The work was similar but the atmosphere was not. I got kisses blown to me, hugs, winks and my hand stroked. Despite their handicaps they remembered me.  One toothless old soul kept winking and laughing each time I changed her page. Another kept making out she was painting on lipstick or eye shadow. I think she just liked to hear me scream NOOOOO. We did the hand movements to Macarena and sung Xmas carols. 

One lady told me she could speak English and Italian. She meant she could count to ten in English and to two in Italian. Another came along heavily made up, wearing beautiful traditional clothing. Instead of painting she spent the whole time grooming herself and adding makeup to the already overloaded face. 

Again it was physically hard going but I loved every minute of it. Tomorrow will be my last time and will be sad to say goodbye to them all. 

Work done, Flora and I caught another bone shaker bus back to the city and went into the first restaurant we could find for lunch. Hungry was not an appropriate descriptor for how we felt. Starving and dehydrated, hangry, light headed more appropriate. 

We walked into a place called Picadilly where immediately I sat down I ordered a coke!  Desperate for sweet sugary rubbish I consented to a Pepsi. I do NOT like Pepsi but for that moment even the Pepsi was ok if I skulled it quick. Lunch was a steak, about .5cm thick but at least not overcooked. It had been marinated and beautifully tender but didn’t hit the spot. But for around $15 with the Pepsi who am I to complain. 

Thirdt and hunger satisted we made our way to the last of our tea festival stops. This time a very posh hotel: The Camino Real.  It was gorgeous inside but we were ushered into a small side room ( possibly because I looked as though I had come out of a paint shop with multi coloured painted clothes and Flora was in scrubs) where we waited for our tea. 

The photo is not where we waited. 

And we waited.

A guy came along and set up a station with cups and an urn but the dick didn’t say that it was for us so we waited and eventually went and asked what happened to our tea. 

Oh! Its there waiting for you. Duh!  Well posh the place might have been, and free the tea might have been but one does not expect every single cup in the pile waiting for us to be grimy, stained or chipped. On top of that the Guatemalan Breakfast tea came out of the urn at turtle pace and was no different to a good old Dilmah at home. I scored it 0/10. 

We got our fifth stamp on the card and left hightailing it to the place we could get our gift. I was hoping for some tea but was really pleased with the cup they gave me. Perfect!  I have my electric jug with me now I don’t have to borrow a cup wherever I go. Perfecto!

Next stop MaximoNivel. I have hash tagged them a few times which meant I got a free MaximoNivel tshirt. Might come in handy and I was chuffed. 

I had some time to kill after finishing my homework so went wandering around town. It is such a pretty city, immaculately clean, people are divine and it is full of restaurants. 

There are literally thousands of students here, some learning English others learning Spanish, throngs of tourists both Spanish speaking and otherwise plus volunteers. There is no way most licals would be able to frequent most any of the restaurants. Although cheap for us they would be beyond the reach for most. 

A DOCTOR at the hospital I am at earns around 800 quetzales per MONTH. That is roughly 100USD per month. Even  a street food takeaway the other day was 25 quetzales (3USD). Go figure. But the people dont look poor, their housing is very basic and I guess expectations are low. 

Being in countries like this really makes you realise just how spoiled we are in our developed countries but I am not convinced that we are actually any better off. Sure our lives are easier with more opportunities but I don’t see smiles on faces when I walk round Wellington. I mainly see the tops of peoples heads as they walk round looking at their phones. I have seen more couples embracing or kissing in the street in my 5 days here than I would see in months back home. People move out of your way and vehicles all give way. It is unusual to hear a car horn and I have yet to hear a raised voice. 

A few pucs from my walk. Will post more next week when I will have more time hanging out. 

Spanish class was next and my hour with Kathy went by in a flash but again I got some of my questions answered and managed some multi part sentences. 
Dinner tonight was a very yummy pork steak with rice, beans, followed by fresh lycees and a delicious juice on the side. There were 7 of us tonight and with the encouragement of Mark, a Canadian guy staying just along from me, we all spent the whole time laughing. What about?  You name it we covered it!  Weta’s, laundry, crickets, WhatsApp, diving, Steve Irwin, Crocodile Dundee anything and everything. 
One of the things I have really enjoyed about this trip so far is the camaraderie. MaximoNivel have given us the opportunity to meet so many people and to be able to share stories with each other. I hope my future travellers are as much fun. Of course I have evenings after dinner to go out if I wanted but that is my me time so I can write and re-live my day. 
Tomorrow is my last work day. It will be sad to say goodbye. Hasta Mañana