Apr 2006

Last night turned out differently than planned I can tell you. The concert wasn´t as good as we thought it might be actually. Plus Chelsea hadn´t planned on staying out at night at all and she didn´t have a sweater with her. In the end she borrowed mine since I had taken my longsleeve with me. However the group of Sjors and Robert moved on to the next bar but we were both so tired that we decided to call it a night. We just walked with them part of the way since the area wasn´t exactly the safest and police was out patrolling; made us feel a bit safer. We walked past Monoloco and had a quick look around since Chelsea was hoping to see Enzo around since he hadn´t returned her phone call. I had a brief chat with Elmer since work was slow. I was getting really tired and cranky by than. Enzo called and was goling to meet her downstairs. I got left with Alejandro who was annoying me with his dumb questions. Suddenly some guy showed up and did the handshake with the guys and chatted me up. He left since he saw that I wasn´t really paying any attention. Once he had left I asked Alejandro and Elmer who the hell that was. They both went he was just polite to say hello but actually he wanted to speak to you. Great way to go is all I can think off! Later on it dawned on me hat I had seen him before once or twice. I was getting cold and Chelsea didn´t return as promised so I went looking for her but no luck. Elmer told me anyway to go home before I would get sick again. Followed his advice and was home at a reasonable time!

Slept long and only woke up because Ema was hammering on the door because she had forgotten her keys. Milton had the music really loud and hadn´t heard her, Chelsea was under the shower and I was just waking up. I went back to sleep and emerged to have breakfast around 11am. Afterwards I was writing a letter and watching ¨The Incredibles¨ with Milton. We had lunch and I took a shower and got ready to go to Antigua. I checked real quick my mail in Jocotenango in the Internet cafe there. Camilla showed up and asked what had happened last night ... Suddenly Chelsea showed up as well and I told her that I was a bit annoyed with her. We went to Antigua together. She went off to play Trivia with the others while all I wanted was peace and quiet. I bought myself a cake and tea and sat in parque central reading my Lonely Planet and watching people. Elmer showed up briefly before work and he is getting better with coming on time (only 20 minutes late). I don´t know yet what I will be doing tonight but I don´t want to go back to Jocotenango just yet. I think that I will stay out and grab a bite here and see who shows up later for going out. I think that I might just find a nice quiet place and read some more. Tomorrow I want to sleep in and find a quiet place as well so that I can actually study my grammar because I am constantly making mistakes as far as I can tell. Elmer corrects me but I feel as if nothing is sticking in my brain at all today. I don´t know what is going on because there are times when I feel that it is going well and than I draw blanks for the correct tense. At least when I am with Elmer I can understand him without a problem and he is really nice about correcting my mistakes. I might actually learn something if I spend two weeks with him o)) and have to speak Spanish day and night!
The girls just called and I will go find them in a second and than we will see what we will do tonight.

As usual things work out differently here. Ema was out and gave us a late dinner. Camilla and me went to The Black Cat to meet her friends there. The owner remembered my name to my surprise and we had a nice chat. The group was pretty big and at the end of the table one guy was sittignby himself. I decided to chat with him for a while. He is Swedish and once he got a bit animated fun to talk with (Gato Negro he reminded me of you)!!! Around 10pm we went off to La Sala. The live music hadn´t started yet but it didn´t take long. Elmer showed up two minutes after us so that was perfect timing. We danced the whole time and it was such fun. I just love dancing here so much! Camilla was getting rather impatient because her guy didn´t show and at the end was pushing to go home. Quite annoying considering that I only get to see him so infrequently.

Today I went to school and learned some more tenses but being Friday no one was really motivated and we decided to play scrabble once again. At home we had lunch which was a big one today. Ema had cooked for Mario, her daughter and kids and Heidi as well. It was so much food and I ate a bit too much on the other hand that means I can do without dinner because I am so stuffed. I had my siesta and than Camilla came by to pick me up. We went to Antigua. Terry came by and they walked off. I was chattign with Heda, Heidi, Chelsea ... for a while but since I always see them it is kind of boring. I decided to write the first post card and read a bit. Elmer was running late of course what else is new but I guess I have to get used to that ... We were chatting for over an hour in the park but today the weather is really strange. It wasn´t hot during lunch hours and it is starting smell as if rain is in the air. The vulcanos are covered in clouds and it is all very misty and grey. I am glad that I have my longsleeve on over my top and a fleece with me. He is off to work now and I am quickly updating my blog because I´ll meet the others around 6.30pm. Tonight there is a benefiz concert here and almost everyone I know is going except for those who are sick ;( Tomorrow I don´t know yet what I will do we might go shopping and chill and of course go out tomorrow night. Elmer might be able to change his shifts around and work daytime; that would be great because than we could go dancing at night. On Sunday is Hannah´s birthday and we will meet for that. Further I will be Mike´s good luck charm for Sundays poker game. Otherwise everything is open still!

Tuesday continued: After dinner we all headed out to Monoloco. Our group is getting bigger and bigger the more people you get to know so by now we occupy two tables. Since it was Hannah's last night and Mattheos almost last night I was hopping between groups. However when one group got started on drinking games I made myself scare wasn't interested in getting drunk. I met Mike again from poker and he found a place and is working now. We will meet again Sunday and I will be his good luck charm again for poker. He managed to embarrass me nicely in front of Elmer. By stopping him and asking him if I wasn't beautiful etc. He is impossible and he can't plead drunkenness because he can handle a lot more. Next week maybe I'll hang with his group and go for an after-party and crash at his since the after parties last until 5am. I had a really fun night out! Elmer was smiling at me and said right away that we had talk later when it would quiet down a bit. Pretty lame excuse he came up with! He promised to call me the next day at 6pm.

Wednesday: School was same old same old. During the day nothing special was happening except that I have gotten used to now listening to my ipod and holding a siesta. In the afternoon we were in Antigua and did some shopping, looking around, meeting people etc. I don't know if I had mentioned yet that the banks are always guarded with security with rifles. The bus drivers for the shuttles usually carry as well. Oh yes and don't forget the Coca Cola trucks they also have guys running around with rifles guarding them. Lately lots of people that I kind of know have been robbed at gun or knife point and no not only tourists. However we got told that Antigua is more safe than Los Llanos were we live. Go figure! We usually just try to stay in groups and watch if people are around. So please no need to panic; we are always careful and don't take extra risks! When we got home I had my shower (moved my shower time because the water is almost warm than and I can sleep longer; feel refreshed before going out). As far as Elmer was concerned I had basically decided if he doesn't call to move on. I was in for a surprise though at 7.45pm the mobile was ringing and I was really proud of myself to manage a 15 minute conversation on the phone (at the moment still dread phone conversations). We had a date for 9pm and guess who did not show. We were in La Sala and started playing Trivia and eventually he showed up with a friend. I left my group and we wen in search of a place to dance. The place we found was rather empty but it was perfect. It was ladies night and the dance floor was almost empty! The couples that were dancing were professional Salsa dancers and it was great to watch them. In the end I was dancing first with Elmer than with his friend. I can't say that I am the greatest dancer ever especially not when you see it professionally done but we built up a sweat and had lots of fun. Thank God tomorrow (today) is Thursday and they have live music in La Sala and we will be there again for dancing the night through. Time was flying and I had to find Chelsea in the parque to go home together. She was with Enzo. We all didn't feel like leaving so instead some cabbie had the music really loud on and we could hear it. So we started dancing in the park, chatting for a while longer and than headed home. Had another very nice phone call from my Sweety - thanks that was just what I needed o

Thursday: Today we read an article with lots of new vocabulary and even once I understood it I just thought that it was all a bit pointless what it was about. We talked again for 2 hours. The best thing was that Mario one of the teachers asked me to help him with his German homework. He is one of the younger one's and is host brother to one of the Swiss girls so we als go out with him which is kind of strange o)) Had my siesta again and than went with Camilla to Antigua. I decided that I feel a bit naked without a necklace so had to purchase one today. I bought some postcards and when I get around to it will write you one Mum o) Now that I have updated my blog I think that I will go on home and have a shower, study a bit, listen to my ipod ... and around 19h we will have dinner and around 19.45h we will be off to La Sala for dancing. I think that will be my sport to keep in shape since you really sweat like mad in there!

Sweety so good to hear from you! So my morning started off with an especially good mood and breakfast was also very much to my liking: watery cinnament outmeal with apple and bread to go with it! I can tell you guys the bread is better than in NL and GB but it still sucks because it is only white bread in different forms. I really want to have proper German bread one of the things that I am already looking forward to.
I went off to school and Carmen was already sitting there grinning at me. I had one of my good days and picked things up quickly. It is since yesterday very humid here and it constantly looks as if it will rain but nothing is happening. The whole school was very quiet and even very subdued during break. The Germans are such a boring bunch; honestly sometimes they are most boring people I come across here at least the rest of people mingle or address other nationalities but these guys no.
Chelsea and me sat down for a fun lunch since Ema was being very funny afterwards we watched a bit TV and than I went off to knock on Camillas door. We both decided to stay put in Jocotenango today since we are getting a bit tired of going back and fourth and spending money more or less ONLY on transportation. We went in search of an ice cream than we sat in the central park here. I had taken a book with me and paper and pen but actually what I did most was watch live go by. The church bells were ringing for a funeral. Old people were playing chess. Old women were selling fruit. Kids were playing in the dirt. Church service was over and the whole procession took over the street and all the cars started taking different routes and the buses went to stand still. People chatting and milling around and glancing at us. It is so different but also so nice to just sit there and watch ... Now I am updating my blog. Once I am home I want a refreshing shower, wash my hair and do my homework ... later on after dinner we will go to Monoloco.

I have finally gotten around to figure out how to use my ipod and I can charge it up while being in the net which is very handy I must say

Thursday: School and I wasn´t up to my usual things so we did lots of talking and played scrabble for the second part - I won against the teachers!!! After lunch we went to Antigua to hang out again ... at night we went to La Sala and were there for a while. I met Robert who is from Germany and we chatted for a while; saw him at the exercusion but thought he was Dutch since he was hanging with George. I spoke to Elmer at work and he was a bit mad that I hadn´t called him but than again he hadn´t called me either ... anyway we agreed to meet later on. He showed up at 2am in La Sala with his colleagues. The funny part is Elmer is about my height while his colleagues are partly smaller than me and that is strange looking down on people. I got to meet them and all but the music was all wrong and we didn´t dance. Like I said I can´t wait that this town goes back to normal because they usally have a live band that plays Salsa, merengue ... so much better! I can´t even remember how long we stayed there. In the end we left and walked around the city, watching people making carpets and we started being really hungry. In the end we found a place to have food and bumped into Isaak and later on into Erik and his group. He is mad because I don´t call him but right now I just can´t be asked. I still have to work out things with Elmer first. So by something like 5am or so we called it quits because we were so cold and than had to pay a horrendous sum for gettign a tuc-tuc home. I went to bed in my thermal underwear because I was so cold and that of course didn´t really help my cold. Anything though to get a real taste of what Eastern is here. I got explained that for certain days the purple robes are in and when Christ has died they change to black robes. There are tons of processions going on and incense is in the air and just made me cough.

Friday: I was sleeping in for a change which was really nice ... no school!!! We took it very easy that day and only emerged from the house around lunch time. The processions etc. were starting to annoy everyone here since that means lots of people, prices skyrocket etc. just too much all around! I took some pictures of that and some of a normal day and it is amazing to see the difference. We were just hanging and enjoying the day off. Further we had decided to stay in at night since it was a really bad night for being out since we were pretty dead ... Alex and Nicky said that nothing was going on in the City and wanted us to come out to Antigua. Not only did they let us know way too late because they were no tuc-tucs to be had ... and basically we feel asleep texting back. So althoug we felt bad that they had come from the City we just feel into our beds.

Saturday: We slept very long and constantly missed Camilla to catch up on the news. Mattheo being a player seems to have a crush on her and she is like sorry not interested. He does not want to get the message and we just all try to help her out if this mess - without much luck though! You see here someone is always dating someone and someone is hitting on someone. It is actully not much different than at home in the sense of "meat market" but the biggest difference here is that if you say you have a local boy-friend they basically leave you alone. Improvement as far as I am concerned since at home that still means nothing. I was supposed to meet Elmer at 3pm and waited for a while since Guatemaltecen time is not European time but no show. Chelsea showed up and said that she had no lucks with her phone calls so we decided in the end to make our way to Cafe Fernando. The Wednesday night we were 3. in Trivia and had won free coffee there. Heidi and me are non coffee drinkers and were made to drink. YYUUUKKK! Our coffee was more chocolate and sugar than anything else but we put on a brave face. We made it in time to join the 4pm Trivia in that location with 5 of us. Luis and Diego joined us later but were of no real help for getting is more points The biggest surprise was that we made it to be 2. the best group is like never to be beaten since we usually loose points in sports, science and questions about Latin America. We won a free breakfast which came in very handy for the next day since that is when we do not get meals provided. After that we just hung around a bit and went for the internet as usual. I saw Elmer briefly and he aplogized that he had overslept which is understandable with double shifts but no phone call ... When we went out at night we bumped into Luis and Diego who took us home and we had dinner and got changed. That is the only annoying part of living here that you always to go back and forth. At night we went to Reds and Chelsea found out that it was Enzos birthday. It seems that people do not mention it here. She was completely surprised and he was already pretty drunk. It was funny! George was there as well and his shoulder was killing him and was bruised. He got to carry one of those Jesus things with a group. He said that the coordination was not very good so the front dropped it and he got all the weight on the shoulder but it was an experience he said. Robert showed up as well and we chatted a bit. I had spotted Walter so Erik could not be far and I fled with Robert to the other table full with Germans and Canadians. I had made my escape just in time because Erik asked Chelsea where I was and she could honestly say no idea. He did not belive her but tough luck! The desk was done soon so I joined the others again. Enzo and his friends were pretty drunk so Chelsea had not much success in having a conversation. Camilla and me were tired and just wanted to go home. We started walking past Monoloco and Elmer appeared. We talked for a bit than we got escorted to a cab to take us home.

Sunday:

HAPPY EASTERN EVERYONE!!!

Not much of a lie in since we had to be in Antigua at 1am to meet Hedda. The breakfast was not enough to satisfy our hunger so we went to McDonalds afterwards. Where in the park for a while than decided that we needed to internet for a while. I was done and got lucky Elmer was on lunch break but Jose thought it really funny to join in the conversation since he knew by the smirk on his face that he was interferring. I left since the girls wanted to continue. Actually Hannah and Chelsea were left. Chelsea got a long phone call from her boy-friend but they agreed on time out for now. Hannah and me though it all takes too long and went for drinks and food upstairs. Elmer must think that I am nuts. Oh well! After that we went to watch a movie Having fun with Dick adn Jane with Jim Carry. Not the best thing ever in my book and not even particulary funny. I was cold and decided to leave the girls and go home and change. We meet for dinner in Enzos restaurant. The food was expensive and bad. Elmer and me were supposed to see each other after work but he never showed up. Chelsea and me were in La Sala where they were playing poker. I started chatting with Franz (he left Dortmund in the eighties and has not been back since, he asked like hoq does a Euro look like I ended up being the good luck charm for Michael (English guy). When the boys called it quits he had doubled his input. Chelsea and Enzo wanted time to themselves so Mike and me chatted a while longer and will meet again next week Tuesday in Monoloco. We were home pretty early and I felt a bit weird.

Monday: I woke up and felt spaced out. I got up and went to bathroom feeling all woozy and decided to stay in bed. Ema was worried but I told her I will just gt back to bed. I had a very late lunch in the end consisting of cornflakes. Went back to my room, tried to read without much success same goes for writing and before dinner Camilla showed up. That was great to hear some more gossip and see her smile all over the face since she is really happy with Terry and her Spanisch is improving We had a sandwich for dinner and sweet bread afterwards. I just had to get some fresh air and Chelsea and me said hello to Heidi and Hannah and to hear what they were up to. Well, they are going out to Reds tonight but I will take it easy today and will see if I go to school tomorrow but I hope to be okay again for going out tomorrow night. I really want to meet Michael again since I usually do not hang out at the poker tables and he has no cell. I just better get a hold of Elmer before the meeting though otherwise it could get even more complicated. Time to go home now and read maybe a bit before going of to sleep.

Finally up to speed again with my diary and lots of things for you all to read!