Return to Guatemala

Lorena, my teacher before and now. From single to married with 2 daughters in the intervening 7 years. Way to go!

Before graduate school, I studied Spanish in Antigua Guatemala. Seven years later, I returned to round out my year of travel. These are some images (Photos above are from 2007, below are from 2014).

Before, my humble desk at the small school. Now there are up to 30 students at a time studying in a new garden!

Going to coffee museum, La Azotea. Then, I went with my great friend Marie-Eve. This time I went with Ayumi and Bruce, and with a greater appreciation of coffee 🙂

El Arco, then and now. Really no changes at all! Colonial zoning restrictions.

Women carrying. Traditional wear is still very common, and women are strong.

My traditional wear. With my cousin Stephanie 7 years ago, and this time with Sabrina at a traditional wedding with our cabbage patch baby 🙂

Volcán Pacaya. Before lots of red lava at our feet. This time none, but there were some major devastating eruptions a few years ago.

The same blue shirt. I'm cheap, and I cling onto shirts. This one was from about 10 years ago, and it's in top notch condition still! That's tour operator, Sandra from before, couldn't find her this time.

Selfies. It used to be harder with a point and shoot. This time it's all about front facing cameras on mobile devices.

Festivals. I was so lucky to see processions last time, and this time we saw all the kites on Dia de los santos.

Sapa, Vietnam

Sapa is a terrace farming mecca near the Chinese border, also home to various indigenous people, including the Hmong, whom I became slightly familiar with in the book The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. I enjoyed the book but the few medical students I’ve conversed with were indifferent.

Rice paddies during sunset.

Little guy.

The new skull cap.. All the rage in Paris.

Cooking at 500 degrees.

Trekking through a bamboo forest.

It's difficult to sleep on the sleeper train from Hanoi to Sapa. Better than the sleeper bus, I'd bet!

My Kathmandu host family portrait

I can’t remember the last time I witnessed better family dynamics than at my Kathmandu host family. The relationships between the parents and three kids are relaxed and playful, and everyone picks up the slack; no lip. To me they are immensely caring and helpful. I completely owe it to Winnie for our immediate immersion into local Nepal, as she stayed with this family last year while volunteering at an orphanage.
Shanti makes everything work. She is the strong housewife that sacrificed opportunities and talents in her youth to support a family. She carries herself with pride and dignity. Her cooking is other worldly, too! Raam is the reserved, beaten down yet persevering husband, who spent a number of years doing manual labor in western Europe to save and provide a better family life. In the midst of a disappointing restaurant venture, he’s looking toward greener pastures. The eldest son Rosan is quiet and responsible, seeking opportunities in Malaysia and beyond in hospitality.

Rohit, the second son, is an athletic cowboy, imaginative and handy. I anticipate him becoming a buccaneering jack of all trades.

Rojina, the youngest, is soft spoken, dutiful and thoughtful, enduring of constant teasing by her brothers. The whole gang is close-knit, yet allowing of proper space.

We made momo’s one night – a dish that originated from Chinese dumplings, with a masala twist. What a great family activity! Everyone poked fun at each other’s failed momo making techniques, and hearty laughter permeated throughout the building. Such warmth in this family!
The family has enjoyed hosting volunteers who have come to help at the orphanage. However, they became disillusioned by the “orphanage business.” The whole family has come together to put together their next family venture, an organization that supports the disadvantaged elderly – those with no children, no spouse, or disability. I hope they find their niche here.

This is one of 8 classes we will be interacting with in rural Nepal. What a wonderful, inquisitive, and well-behaved group of kids. In the first day we passed out candy canes, erasers, pencils, pens, notebooks, toothpaste, and delivered soccer balls, basketballs, and some medicine. Many more updates to come!