Moving on...

The coffee harvest is finally finished, thank goodness! We ended up selling more than we had originally thought which is wonderful but we still have lot of work to do! The biggest problem is that people need money right now, they have to buy food, clothing, and have other expenses, so they end selling to the coyotes for a lower price because the Co-op does not pay until the end of the season.

There was an article in the national newspaper recently describing how bad the economy is getting here (I know this is happening all over)! The price of bread, tortillas, rice and corn has almost doubled in the last two years while most families’ incomes have not. I know that this is happening in the United States too, but in Guatemala there are not government agencies to help the low income families or banks to give loans to those who can afford them! When people don’t have the money, they don’t eat! Even though this years coffee prices were the highest they have been in years, many people sold at lower prices because they needed the money, just one obstacle of working in a developing country!

This past week I have what the Peace Corps calls reconnect. It general it is pretty boring, lots of talking, sitting and listening but all that aside it was nice to see that I am not the only that has thought about going home, who has good days and bad ones, and who is sometimes so frustrated that I don’t think I can handle it anymore! I also thought that I was the only one who had to deal with “harassment” (not necessarily the kind that happens in the states). Here in Guatemala is the more the constant “shhhh shhh” that you get from guys on the streets or the dirty jokes that men make to one another that really starts to get under your skin! But I also had another 3 days of Spanish which was wonderful since I feel like my Spanish has been getting worse since I came to site, which is I didn’t think was possible!

It was funny though because I was so excited to see everyone but by the end of the week I was ready to get back to San Martin. I never realized how use to being alone I had gotten but I felt like I was on overload being around that many people for that long, it was weird! Also, San Martin has become where I am comfortable! It is kind of like when you take a vacation and it is wonderful but you also so glad to get home; that is what it was like!

I am moving this week to a real house! It has three rooms and a bathroom, cute little porch, and is with a great family! I am really excited I will try to upload pictures as soon as I get everything settled!