Hey everyone,
Though long over due, here is my post for Rocj Pomtila:
There are some benefits to having a 20 degree sleeping bag. The first of which is the rare instance when Guatemalan weather decides to be cool. There are a myriad of survival tips that solely rely on a sleeping bag. Be it braving the mountains of Lake Atitlan or hiding in Helena`s abnormally tall bag (I am about 5´4 while she is 6`) the sleeping bag may be the most essential tool on this trip. However, there are times in which the 20 degree bag becomes bothersome.
I, similar to others, awoke the first night in a dark abyss to an ensemble of cicadas and gallos. Even though the blackness of a 3am morning hindered my sight, the sense of touch told of an epoxy resin held to my face a polyester cocoon of a sleeping bag. As I clawed at the amorphous mixture of sweat and drool from my face, I quickly became aware of the mosquito net that ensnared me. Trapped, similar to the mosquitoes outside my bug-free haven, I stumbled to the only source of light, a tiny glimmer under a door. I tore open the door only to be faced with another anomaly not found in suburban Buffalo , NY, a tree with orange coconuts. Thus, began our community service project in the rural village of Rocj Pomtila.
After a 4-5 hour car ride from San Marcos, we found ourselves watching the van
pull away along with our driver Edgar´s advice, ¨Bug spray?¨ As the only sign
of technology pulled away from our new home the hands of tiny children invaded
our hair. This type of greeting was of no surprise, neither was the calls of
¨Gringos, Culocho,¨ or ¨Chino.¨ The guide explained, with the help of Alex´s
translations, that we would be laying foundation for a school to be and building
a shower for tourists. The guide forgot to mention, however, the type of climate we would be
working in. From the hottest of days, which produced the same slimy mixture that
plagued me at night, to the downpours that forced us to wear the red clay we
shoveled as face paint, we continued to work. To condense four days of work, us
little worker bees pick axed, hoed, shoveled, and wheelbarrowed earth with a
wooden sign we conveniently named the plow. Rain or shine we continued to work
only to pause for the 10 o´clock snack or the noontime lunch break. Our only
retreat from the sweltering heat and insets was our communal bath time in the river.
As suds from the clothing being washed by the local women floated
down the river beside us, we soaked the stress, aches, and pains away. Fish would nibble
at our already sore red legs that were covered in fire ant and insect bites.
Once the waters numbed our bodies, we left only to congregate again in a feast of
1Q bags of chips and 50c bonbon bums, a type of lollipop. We laughed as we
attempted to toast our bagged water. A side note, all the water in the village
is boiled, but it somehow acquires a smokey flavor, thus earning the name of bbq
water. Gluttonously, some of us ate mangoes because dinner at home only meant a
cup-o-noodles. It was at home, where various dinners were served, that the daily
restart button was hit and each day we awoke to the same situation, me being
stuck to my sleeping bag, some a chicken in their room, and for others the same
rooster that cursed us all. We would awake to these noises, work all afternoon,
and then fall asleep to the church music that blared through the town. As I
write this, ironically, the voices of two group members, Vita and Devon, have come over the loud speakers of the church. Looking back, as I listen to the Carpe Diem version of Jason
Mraz, I take notice of what we have accomplished in 4 days–We built a shower and
moved a mountain of dirt, only to make smaller hill, so that the school had
enough room. To top off our work we were able to visit El Corazon del Rio to see
where all the water we bathed in comes from. With Semuc Champey and
language school in San Andres ahead, we ended our time in the village by skipping
the middle man, jumping into to the fresh water and bathing in waterfalls.
To conclude, hello to everyone at home and others reading this post. Please
excuse the tardiness of this post and for not saying my greetings earlier. Also,
hello to all the Parkies and friends–I miss you all. I hope school is going
well and will see you soon for graduation. To my friends outside of school, the
same for you as well. Most importantly, to my parents, I miss you and hope the cold
weather of Buffalo isn´t as bad as you are telling me. I love you mommy and dad.
Peace and Love,
Lukas Eng
