Sep 2006

Time passes here differently but maybe it's also just me. I mean Elmer and I talked and I told him that I really like it here but I couldn’t do what I am doing right now all the time unless I would own a place. Why? It is a no brainier and if I ever have a family than I still won't be sitting at home all day. He was like I know that you want more and that is why you also work more hours than I do. He said that he wouldn't expect me to be sitting home with kiddos and not have a life anymore and especially not go out with male friends since that is just not done here. For the standard here I am cheating on him every time I have a drink with some guy other than him. We both just laugh at it. His buddies are really worried but he is like we are fine and there is nothing going on they are having a drink. Gosh, if I would have a fit every time some girl is clinging to him or drooling after him I would be really busy and wasting my time and energy. Our philosophy is they can all look but can't touch and we come home to each other and not to anyone else. Recently I had a nice compliment. I got told that I looked too young to ever have been married in my life. The guy was from Ireland and is buying ipod music from me and has lots of very different requests so he makes me work which I really appreciate since time passes more quickly for me. He told me that he has been thinking about me and than hastily added not that way but he feels like he should show his appreciation with something ... wonder if he was serious or just talking. He sure makes me laugh and I just love the Irish accent. His buddy is also pretty funny. We were chatting and trying to get the ipod which was Mac formatted to work on the Windows one by restoring it to factory settings but that just wasn't happening. Some guy wanted a disc burned with his pictures. The guys were like we will look for a shop that can do it and than come back and in the mean time you serve him and we will be back later. He was from Belgium and we chatted a bit while the discs were being burnt since he had 1 GB of pictures. It reminded me that I still have to take more pictures from Antigua and Jocotenango. I don't have any from Ema and her family or anything like that only a few from Jocotenango. I guess because it just is all so normal and I wonder what would be worth taking pictures off. Oh well, I better take some more before coming home. The week has been okay so far although the money hasn't really been great and Cesar is like a week late with paying me. I hope that he will pay me next week so that I can pay my rent.

Monday Elmer had swapped his shift against a Thursday one since he wanted to have a day off to chill. I took time off from work as well and had only to work from 12-16h. We had a nice breakfast after I came back from Funky Monkey. I had to buy some more disks and make some phone calls. Then it was time to see the guy for our rings. We sure had fun on the way talking on the way on which hand the ring would be. I told him for me it would be normal to wear it on the right and he told mar that for him the normal way is left. I must have lost weight since I can't remember since my size was that small. Oh well! I guess I should be grateful since a lot of Europeans and Americans who stay here for a while turn flabby and fat. After we stated what we wanted and the guy told us that he would make of Elmer's ring a silver sample and we could come back in like two weeks and have a look if that is what we want. We left smiling to ourselves that it all will be very real soon! He had the idea to invite his parents over for dinner. I was sure I only have to work for four hours and than could prepare dinner. He ran some errands while I was working and than we went shopping and got started with dinner. We made Spaghetti Bolognese and it was delicious. We had also bought some nice candles in the market and so it all looked very good. For after dinner we lighted some scented sticks and it was all very agreeable. His little brother was rather bored and I felt a bit sorry for him ... We all left together since we escorted them to the street so that they cold catch a tuc-tuc there to take them home. Of course when you need one not one to be seen so he called his buddy who makes his living by driving people around. He came by eventually and Elmer and me than went to Ricky’s for a drink. We bumped into some people we knew and I was greatly amused by some Swiss guys. Sometimes it is great that you can understand people and they think if at all you can barely speak English.

Tuesday I was working at Funky in the morning and at Flor at night. It was pretty dead. I wonder if I made more than 5Q in tips since it is really bad right now. Sandra and I had some parts to laugh about though. Francine who I didn't know until that night is actually Dutch showed up with a girl-friend for dinner. There is no love lost between Sandra and her and it was funny to observe. Sandra is as straight as can be and she said hello but did not go kiss-kiss. Francine greeted me as if we were best friends and I am polite to her and oblige her with the perfunctionary kiss but think by myself what an arrogant bitch. She is the type who needs to be center of attention whole time and you need to cater to her very whim otherwise she sulks and bitches all the time. At the moment in Flor we have during the week and for ladies only a 50% discount on the main meal. So what happened after she got told that she could choose between her regular discount and taking the special? She started bitching than of course in Dutch about the fact that poor little she got mistreated … Sandra and I just grinned inwards and the cooks were just smiling since they also can't stand her. I am still trying to understand the rules for the card game the cooks are playing and every time I think that I have got it they play a card and I am like why, someone won ... it is all very much fun ... I think they all like me since they treat all the waitresses in different manners but my favorite is the cook's daughter. I think she is like 15 or 16 and we laugh a lot together.

Wednesday I had the morning off so I got to sleep slightly longer than usually. Elmer had to get up early for a change and had a reunion. I got dressed and than went to a travel agency to find out what the process would-be if would book my flight back from here. It is kind of funny all the prices like for flights, overland buses and jewelry get quoted in USD while all the little day to day things get quote in Q. The guy took forever and that the electricity has constantly spikes didn’t really help to access the reservation system. Elmer called me while I was waiting for them and told me that he would go for a drink with his buddies from Monoloco since they were all mad. I was like okay tell me later what has happened. Once I was done with that I stopped by Funky Monkey to check the going rates online for flights. The first quote the agency gave me was return ticket for 1.800 USD via the States which is a no go since when I return to Europe with him he can't go via US. I found something but it wasn't great! I spend that day and the next hunting for a good price since all the cheap fares where already gone I ended up with a one way flight BUT it only cost like 615EUR including insurance so that wasn’t a bad deal all round.

Thursday called the German embassy first to clarify something and later tried the Spanish embassy. They score in my book really bad as one of the most unprofessional embassies that I had to deal with yet. Not only unhelpful but don't seem to know what they are talking about either in English or Spanish ... So we decided to go to Guate and sort it out in person.

As or the rest nothing special to report all same old same old ... and too much work...

Monoloco fired Elmer on in my opinion flimsy excuse that wouldn’t stand up for anything in our system. I thought it was really bad for him especially since he always got told that he is a good and hard worker and keep up the good work etc. He has gotten a lot better at being on time for work as well – his fines have been a lot lower lately. Than they use an incident as the reason to give him his papers … I was furious because I thought it was so unfair. The first day he was basically in shock and close to crying – being a mixture of being mad and thinking of now what … I told him not too worry too much about the money we will be fine and can manage. What interested me more was if Victor would write him a recommendation or not … I guess I am getting more practical. However the whole incident and politics behind it reminded me of Dresdner. I tried to cheer him up a bit once I got off work. I spoke to Cesar and told him about it. He was like sorry buddy but yes that is how they run their business if for some reason they don’t want you anymore or prefer to hire someone else than you are quicker out than you can imagine. I told him that is unfair where is the law that protects the worker. All I got was a smirk like laws are there to be bent. I don’t think that I could be happy to work like that here …

Anyway he kept busy with household, seeing his son and when I had time off we would spend it together. He has gotten over the shock and is looking now for other work. I guess I worked too many hours lately because I am lately always tired so I decided to call it quits a week earlier than planned. The good part is that we will get to spend more time together and might even go away for a few days. I guess it will all depend a bit on how Monday will be … What am I referring to? Here is my idea of what I want to do the next few months. I will return we will get married 06.11.2006, we will celebrate Christmas and New Year’s here than we will make our way to Colombia start January and come back to Europe mid February. I therefore have to think in terms of what shall I buy now and take with me so that I won’t be burdened later on with too much stuff … and in case something gets stolen that I won’t be like if only I had … So we have both got some planning and thinking to do of what to take on my trip home already - especially considering that things here are cheaper. I bought the other day handmade boots for a great price compared to at home. It is now shopping time and spending money time I guess. On the other hand I hardly spent big money so far so it is more a toss up between what to purchase here if it is good quality and what to buy new at home for myself. GRIN!

So what has been going on last week since this week is almost up.

Monday worked during the day and did grocery shopping after work. We both wanted to have fish but once I got in the market I was really like well I don't want to buy THAT and be sick. I asked if they had some refrigerated shrimps and of course they did and they did look fresh so I bought them. I had before looked at recipes online for a proper sauce. So I got started on that at night once we had both relaxed a little bit ... Elmer had a little accident when adding spices since the cap fell off and we ended up with lots of ginger in the sauce. I just thought it was funny! We had a romantic candle light dinner and that was partly forced since electricity died on us for a while though not very long. I was home the week before too much for my taste so I wanted to go out for drinks. We didn't bump into Fernando and Hiroko but instead he found an old friend. That guy was buying us a round of good rum but on the rocks just isn't my style of drinking it. I was feeling slightly drunk after that! It was an entertaining evening and we got home early.

Tuesday I was working a double shift and Wednesday as well. Result> all I wanted to do was basically sleep!!!

Thursday once I got off work we met up. All I wanted to do was sleep instead we had to go to the laundry place since washing the clothes by hand is okay but after doing that for like 2 times it needs a proper machine wash. Although here there is nothing to be had like a hot wash like 90 degrees C so by now I try to wash the white clothes by cooking them on the stove since I refuse to use bleach. We had so much to wash that afterwards our room looked like a drying room. It smelled very clean and good though! At night for dinner he had bought fish. I was starving and already had some potatoes before we actually got started on the dinner. I wanted to go dancing later on that night. He was like okay but this time we are going to Toreros close to the market. Well, there was lots of space but the floor was tiles and rather slippery. I danced also with Fernando and he flipped me over (he is like up to my chin but boy the flip worked well enough) and when I landed on my feet I was trying to find sure footing but no luck. It must have looked really funny like in the movies! It was the first time that I danced with him but he is really good dancer and it was easy to follow what he wanted me to do. They closed early though since there were hardly people there. We all went for drinks in another place. Fernando and Hiroko told us that they will go traveling together and depending on how that will work out he might come back or maybe he will go with her to Japan for a visit. Beats me though how since he has hardly got any money and doesn't want to get a better paid job since that might be work. Elmer and me were just shaking or heads afterwards and saying that she must be a bit silly but hey not our problem.

Friday was my day off completely and I had a dinner date with Sonja - ex-colleague from Flor. Elmer had to get up like 05.30am and he was of with Miguel to Esquintla to get his papers for the wedding. They went by motorbike and one way is like 90km so the boys showed up again shortly before 11pm. Elmer was rather nervous for the photo shoot in the spa. In the end it was a lot less exciting and all than he had originally thought. He said hat it was actually rather boring ... since they didn’t pay him for it he got a voucher for a free massage. I wonder when they will publish the photos on the web. By the time he showed up at home I was dressed and had done some housework. We didn't have much time left together but we were both hungry so we went to a cheap place to eat and afterwards to Cafe Condessa for a hot chocolate and cake. Sweet tooth and it was cold! All I did afterwards was basically napped and than he went off to work and I was like I have to check my mail ... Sonja called me though and canceled our dinner date since she was sick. I chatted with Marcela instead, Chad had to go to some party, Elmer was working and that left us girls alone. I felt like getting a pizza and she was all for it. We girls had pizza and I got a margarita from Monoloco. They are trying to transfer money from here to Canada and it isn't really working because the word service here doesn't exist in banks. They basically got the standard form for a SWIFT payment and got told fill it out 100% correctly and than come back. They had questions like what is a Swift code and fed wire ... The girl just said ask your bank. Poor babies they were like no idea what to do or what questions to ask... I told Marcela that I would help her since she is always holding my hand for everything. The last time was when I had to go to police and I played dumb tourist and I needed a translator since my Spanish is so bad ... I was more than glad to help out. Also next week I will go with her to Guate by car and we want to hunting for a dress to wear for the wedding. This time I will have the one that I have always wanted – RED one! We will also look for other things as well that I want to take back home. After work she went to a party and I went home and cleaned up the kitchen and watched bit of TV and dropped off to sleep. I woke up when he got home.

Saturday usually is my day off but since it is kind of boring being all by myself I thought what the hell and put myself down for the nightshift in Funky. Elmer and I both almost feel out of our bed this morning though. Someone was calling his cell at around 07.30am and it made so much noise and I couldn’t place it at first and was thinking we don't have a fire alarm. His Dad needed some help with something. So we went back to sleep for a bit than I got up and made breakfast. I cleaned the whole house and especially the floors this time with detergent so it smelled really nice and fresh. I had my shower and waited for him to return. I had packed my things together so that we cold leave right away. We went to the market and bought lots of gifts and now almost everyone is covered. This year I already have to get my Christmas gifts with me when I return since they will be left at home. I guess this year I will be working and making hopefully some good money. Being on a shopping spree made him hungry and me sleepy. The last thing on the list was basically looking for wedding rings. We had found a design on the web that we liked but in the shops they only sell silver rings. So we asked if they are able to manufacture what we want here in Antigua since we aren't all that keen to go to Guate. They said that they could do it for us so that was great. Once we had agreed all the details since we needed to discuss the little details. The guy had disappeared of to an appointment and the lady couldn't quote us a price. Useless! We will set up an appointment with them for next week and than we have the next part sorted out. Yesterday he got hold of a friend who recommended a notary so that means that we can hopefully also set up an appointment there soon. I am so glad that things are looking so much better than we both thought at the beginning. By the looks of it I would say the wedding will take place in November. After all that I managed to sleep for about an hour than shower and off to work. Right now I am at Funky and am really tired. It is getting really chilly now at night and I am always wearing now my sweater.

Tomorrow I will work in the morning in Funky and than I will be off to Flor and than the weekend will be over.

Next week 15.09. will be a great fiesta here since it is their Independence Day. I will work and will get paid double so that will be worth it I hope for Funky and if I can get a shift lined up at Flor than I should also be making decent tips. The problem right now is that the season is very slow and works on the highway from Guate to Antigua and vice versa doesn’t really help that people want to come here and spend money since it means being underway something like 2hrs instead of 45 minutes if the traffic isn't too bad.

and I am starting to dread to pack my bag, buy goodies for everyone and all BUT on the other hand it will be nice to see everyone back ... I guess it is kind of strange especially going back to NL to take care of business. I mean it won’t be the last time of course that I will be there since my friends are still there but this time will be very different. I guess it is in a way a closing chapter to all that has been going on. By now I have had enough distance to it all and all the angry and hurt feelings that were there have been replaced with a different way of thinking. More now into let it go and take all the good that I have learnt from it with me and remember all the good things. I mean a new chapter of my life has already started here in Guatemala and I am sure that my future is with Elmer either here, Spain or some other country but together which is more important than anything else.

Carino, thank you already for letting me stay with you for about a week or so - who knows if you will be glad to see the last of me afterwards or if you hardly want to let me go o,)))

As for taking care of business I must say that right now it is a big *uck-up. Pim has got the power-of-attorney from Menno and I but the bloody notary won’t return his phone calls and won’t answer our emails either. So instead of everything being sorted out by now and the transfer having taken place ... nothing has happened so far and that is really bad! I hope that it will be sorted out by Monday so that we are done and dusted with it all! Right now though it makes me nuts that I can’t walk over there and tell them to better get their act together or else.

Today was great! I was awake before the alarm and felt very active so I made pancakes. We both left around 10am him off to work and I was off to Jocotenango. I got a haircut there since the prices in Antigua are ridiculous high. The joke though was that the girl who usually cuts my hair wasn’t in so I got a young guy. He was like 19 years old and started hitting on me and wanted my phone number etc. It was in a way funny but also rather irritating! I than went by Ema’s but she wasn’t in instead I chatted with Julie a bit. She is from Germany as well and is staying again with Ema. She had a bit of a horror story to tell since she and her friend got mugged like 50m away from home. So much for it being safer in Los Llanos than Antigua! I basically don’t dwell on the possibility of getting robbed, mugged etc. although so far I have been lucky I guess - better knock on wood for that one! I took the bus back to Antigua and it started to drizzle by the time I was in Cafe Flor it was pouring. The temperature dropped and before when I was running around in my tank top and short skirt I was now sitting there and was so cold. I was glad when I got off work and was actually able to take a shower. Due to the power outages our freezer had decided to leak all the water into the fridge and that of course leaked onto the floor. Typical men! He saw it happening and put some Tupperware jar under the dripping part in the fridge and took the big ice cubes out of the freezer. However he didn’t mention it with one word to me or move the stuff in the fridge to the sides so not everything would be contaminated. Gee! I cleaned the fridge today and the bathroom and the kitchen needed some cleaning as well. The day before we were like really lazy and did nothing except sleep, eat, talk and go to work. He made a wonderful brunch and it was really delicious. Anne my friend from Cafe Flor told me that he is like an exception. She has by now almost given up on her boy-friend who will hardly do anything or will hardly pick up on the little things and do something about it. Must really be the mentality here or how they are raised I don’t know. Anyway, I am happy with my baby and he is getting to be more like me in some ways which is good and he does help when asked o,)))

I don’t know if it this weather or just the fact that there are hardly people around but I am pretty quickly tired since it is so boring. The weather doesn’t really help either since it is now raining more again. So far I have managed to keep my shoes dry - hhuuhhhuu! That is an accomplishment and wet shoes really do not have a pleasant odor!

By now I should be looking into what presents to buy and if it all fits into my backpack and what to take with me like clothes, what I have to buy in the States better ... I have already got ideas but not quiet sure yet if it really the right thing for everyone etc.

The days pass by very quickly and although work is really boring it is fun in a way. The time we spend together means so much more now since although we do nap together even gettign bored makes you sleepy but take more time to cook and sit at the table eat and chat so that is good. We wanted to go last Friday to the pool but in the end we were to lazy and enjoyed doing nothing together. Upcoming week my schedule looks very different and that means therefore that we might get more day time together than night time when we are both tired anyway.

My time in Funky is almost up and than it is off to Cafe Flor but of course before the pit-stop in Monoloco o,))