Another photo...

A friend of mine took this one... It's rather self explanatory...

Photos of the kids...

Below are a few photos of some of the kids I helped take care of, during the after school program.




Believe it or not, the Basketball Sebastian is holding in his hands, is regular size...

North America and South America

I was speaking with someone the other day and mentioned how large South America was compared to the US. And, it occurred to me that, I’d never really written about sizes of various countries… So, here’s an interesting question… How large is the South American Continent? Is it larger than the US? How large is Brazil in comparison to North America………………

The answer…

Brazil is only slightly smaller then the whole of the US at 8,456,510 sq KM. If we weren’t to include Alaska (which actually wasn’t a state until 1956, though has been owned by the US since 1867) as part of the US landmass, Brazil would be larger then the total sum of the United States.

And, as for South America, it’s about twice the size of the United States. Pretty wild, huh?

North America and South America

I was speaking with someone the other day and mentioned how large South America was compared to the US. And, it occurred to me that, I’d never really written about sizes of various countries… So, here’s an interesting Question… How large is the South American Continent? Is it larger than the US? How large is Brazil in comparison to North America……………….

The answer…

Brazil is only slightly smaller then the whole of the US at 8,456,510 sq KM. If we weren’t to include Alaska (which actually wasn’t a state until 1956, though was owned by the US since 1867) as part of the US landmass, Brazil would be larger then the total sum of the United States.

And, as for South America, it’s about twice the size of the United States. Pretty wild, huh?

Back in the States...

After a long 28 hour stint of travel, I'm back in the states. The trip found me leaving Xela, on a 4 hour ride to Guatemala City. Staying in Guatemala City for several hours. Then, taking a Taxi to the airport. The Taxi driver was quite nice. Sadly, though, he lives in a rather dangerous barrio of Guatemala city (he told me two people had been shot the day earlier, in mid day). Then, flew to Miami, where I learned... more remembered... that it was Memorial Day weekend- A bad time to fly standby! And, that all the flights I was hoping to fly on, were booked. So, I took a flight to New Jersey, then, attempted to use their Skylink, which was having mechanical issues and set me back on time by 2 hours. Took a train into Manhattan, walked from Penn Station, to Port Authority, got the 3:30am Grey Hound bus into Boston- While in line, some random drunk guy threw-up in the terminal. At around 8:00am, arrived into Boston, headed to my friends, who's doorbell didn't work... so, he never heard me try and come in. Had, to run around town looking for a pay phone. Stopped by a gas station, they didn't have a pay phone, but kindly let me use their phone. Talked to the gas attendant about Guatemala for a little bit, thanked him, then headed back to the house, where Tu was waiting at the door... Slept for 3 hours, then went to the airport and retrieved my bag... Yes, the bag made it on the flight, that I wasn't able to get onto.

A game to forget

Last night was XelaJu´s first game against San Marcos. The teams are currently competing for the title of Guatemala's ¨best futbol team¨. A group of us got together at a bar called Tacun. Where, the Partido was played a projection screen... that kept falling every 8th minute. The general ambiance was rather over-populated, but made for excitement that couldn´t otherwise be matched only by car that won´t start... OK, so there was a little more excitement in the air, and the people continued throwing there fists in disgust everytime San Marcos Goal keeper would block a shot. Unfortunately, after a lively 90 minute game, Xela lost 0 - 1. There is one more game in San Marcos. Xela must make 2 points beyond that of the opposing team to be crowned champions.

Surprisingly, after the loss, people were quite mellow, and not a single brawl - that I know of- occurred. What was a funny scene, was watching two drunk men on a motor cycle, sing XelaJu songs, as they wobbled their way through the deserted cobble stone streets at 3:00 this morning.

Kids and Guat

For the past weeks, I´ve been volunteering at an after school program. The organization dedicates their time and energy to ensure that children 4 - 14 have a place to go, when their parents are at work (School closes at 1:30 in Guatemala). Of the house holds, 60% are run by single mothers and of the 40% that have fathers, 60 - 70 % are alcoholics. The kids are quite appreciative of the attention, and the volunteering is quite rewarding.

Two days ago, I helped a friend of my haul wood from one place, to another (it was about a 2 hour drive from either direction). In Guatemala, the transportation of wood is illegal. And, unless you receive prior permission from the tree administration, or something like that, you can get yourself in a lot of trouble. Though our wood was legal, the way we were transporting it, wasn`t (we never received the appropriate permissions).... and, of course, we were stopped by the cops. Who, gave my friend a really hard time. Threatened to make his life difficult, fine him, throw him in jail... etc. That was, until the cop finally said ¨but of course, this can all be avoided, as long as you´re willing to help me...¨. One hundred Quetzal bribe later, and we were sent on our way. The cop, being such a helpful guy, even radioed ahead and told other cops to leave us alone.

Camera Adapter

I really wish I`d brought my camera adapter. For a period close to one week, I`ve been volunteering with an after school children's program. The intention is to offer children a place to be while their parents are at work (80% of which, are living in a one parent house). The children are rather unique and, special, offering only insight into what it is like to be a child anywhere in the world. Really, the only difference between these and other children is that they don`t normally take baths, ad their teeth are pretty far gone.

Last Night

Last night, Sunday, I saw a man who was not only unfit for himself, he was also unfit to occupy the sidewalk on which he swayed. It was late, around 12:30 on what was now the crest of Monday. The man, well weathered, with a cap and a distinct smell of `muy burracho`. His desire seemed innocent, just get home before collapsing. Three of us were sitting contently, eating our street food on plastic seats, provided free of charge. (Actually, one was speaking to a Danish girl who desperately wanted to see our friend. But, our friend was not the least interested in seeing her... can someone say `crazy!`) The man stood towering over another of my friends for a while, staggering as he spoke nonsense to the chef. After a periods of minutes to use though certainly seconds to the drunkard, he left- walking in a Pong formation toward the next street corner. It was then that all at the dainty table had cause for gasp. Arriving at the corner, he pulled a key, unlocked a door, and proceed to enter his... his TAXI! Turned the `For Hire` sign to on, and proceeded to run the corner and smash into a trash bin.