So I´ve been making a point lately to learn more cultural things about Guatemala, since living in the orphanage sometimes hinders my connection with the outside world. I definately learn alot of new things innately just by living here, but I have wanted to pick up a few classes just to make sure I don´t miss out on anything. I´ve been learning to make the designs that the Mayan women wear on their clothes using a type of crosstitch and special patterns. I took a (very) introductory salsa class. Now that my Spanish is better, I´ve been attempting to read the local newspaper a couple times a week. I´ve been collecting more Latin music on my IPod from various sources. I´ve been trying to cook new dishes when the money isn´t too low to buy ingredients.
Last weekend, a Guatemalan friend who works with me invited me and another volunteer, Lauren, to her house to make tamales. I had no idea it was such an involved process. The ingredient list: Tomatoes, two types of dried chiles, red bell peppers, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cloves, whole pimentos, oil, corn flour, water, chicken, leaves from banana trees. It took about 8 hours to do the whole thing, in which time we hung out with her family- all four generations of it, in fact. It was probably the best day Ive had here yet!
