Arriving at the Orphanage

From Panajachel to Huehuetenango. 

On Monday morning, we left the lake, and road up to higher elevations, arriving in one of the three largest cities in Guatemala. This city is about an hour from the border of Mexico, and the orphanage we will be staying at is just on the outskirts of town. Lucky ducks, we were, riding up in a private shuttle bus, instead of having to catch the "chicken buses" all the way up to Huehue. The trip was over windy, bumpy roads, and it took us a few hours to arrive here. 

We moved in to the orphanage, and unloaded our belongings. Brooklin, Brady's brother, gave us a tour around the place. All the little kids immediately could tell that Brady was Brooklin's brother, because they look alike :) The older girls were acting too cool to talk to us, and the little ones were so shy, but they will warm up to us soon! 

Marcos, the guy in charge around here, has given us a few days, to just settle in, adjust, and warm up to the 90 kids that live here. Which is so nice of him, because there really is a lot to take in! 

After getting a good night sleep, and eating a delicious breakfast of french toast (with the in-laws) Brady and I decorated our room, with whatever we could find. We hung pictures on the wall, with twine and clothespins (that mom brought in her suitcase), and hung some of my scarves from the ceiling. We also put up Christmas lights, just to brighten the room up. For tables, bookshelves, and closet space, we found some old wooden crates to prop up against the walls. The room which was once bare now looks homey and inviting. This will be home for us, for the next 2 months :)

We ate lunch with the kids today. What a fun time! Soup and bread was on the menu today, and half way through serving everyone, they ran out of spoons and forks. So, us adults were eating the soup with our hands, haha, don't ask me how we did it :) The kids are so cute, and all they want to do is play, play, play. Some of the girls are amazing at doing each other's hair. Maria, one of the "hairdressers" gave me quite a beautiful hairdo. My hair is different than the Guatemalan's beautiful long black hair. My hair, Maria said, is "too smooth". The boys love playing soccer and basketball with the volunteers (or "teachers" as they like to call us). 

Later in the afternoon, we caught a "chicken bus" into the center of town, to do some shopping in the market. Wow, shopping in America is going to be so boring, compared to what it is like here. You walk through a maze of table after table, selling fresh produce. You have your pick of so much fresh veggies and fruit. Heaping piles of avocados, oranges, mangos, strawberries, pineapple, and watermelon. If you like fruit, this is the place to come, you'll be in heaven! Before leaving town, we picked up some hot tamales and paches for dinner. 

Right now Brady is designing a "chicken coup" which he has been given the task of building for the orphanage's new chickens. They are going to put him to work here, doing lots of woodworking projects. He's in his element!