March 16

Trip Home: Well the trip home (well not quite home, Illinois for a wedding and Florida to visit the parents) was great. Got to see family, friends, and eat a lot of food! I think I definitley gained some weight. It was a sensory overload and now it is a little hard to readjust back to Guatemala. But it is definitley good to be back as I missed my house and my friends here also.

Soccer Update: Well I began my career the day before heading back to the states. I was a little intimidated as this is the best non-professional league in the country and if your team wins the department title, they can actually move up to second division professional soccer. I told the coach I would rather not play as I was extremely out of game shape. But lucky for me, they only had one sub so they told me I needed to play the whole game. I was glad I was forced to play as this took off some of the pressure. I played fairly decent. I had a great pass that would have been an assist but the goalie made a great save. I also just missed a game winning goal. One of my teammates crosssed the ball in the center and I went up for a header, but the goalie jumped up and got the ball a split second before I arrived. We collided and he held onto the ball, so we ended up tying 1-1. Now my second game, we had plenty of people so since I am probably the worst player on the team, I didn't expect to play. Also, each team can only make five player exchanges a game. I got in close to the beginning of the second half. We were up 4-1 and within a couple minutes after entering I scored my first goal! It wasn't the most amazing goal, but it was a goal. It felt great as when I got in a lot of people that were watching would chant my name everytime we made an offensive attack and call for me to score a goal. So when I did they went crazy. It was cool! Then about 5 minutes later I almost scored my second goal. I stole the ball and took a shot that went off the post. I followed my shot and was going to put it back in the goal, but the rebound came off on an angle and as I was adjusting I fell in a hole and hurt my arm pretty bad. I stayed in the game though but was really disappointed that I didn't get that goal. No matter though as we won 9-1. Another funny thing was we were playing against the mayor. One thing I don't think I mentioned was the condition of the fields we play on. They are all dirt with rocks (big and small) glass and other garbage mixed in. And the sun bakes them so they are extremely hard. But it is definitely all worth it.

Work: Nothing much new here, still trying to get on the cooperative about better record keeping and organization. Currently since they got their computer (really really slow) back I am inputing all of their financial data into Excel Spreadsheets. Just started in the schools this week with the business program but since they take all next week off for Easter week, that will go on hold for a week.

Chacho: Well Chacho is growing like crazy. Whenever I get back he always wants to help me carry something to my house and now he is even visiting me. I will be reading or watching TV and he will open my door or if its shut he will knock. After weaving through the mess he will watch tv with me, look through photos or color. He also has a crazy new dance routine down that is the funniest thing I have ever seen. He is definitely the boss of the family. Ariel, his dad, picked me up from the airport upon my return to Guatemala and told me how Chacho had been asking for a "Chivo" (baby cow) for awhile. He told me that I should come with them later that night as he was going to buy him one. So he picked out his chivo and I asked him what he was going to name it. He said "Chiky" we all laughed as that was the name of the owner of the chivo. For those who are curious a chivo costs Q400 or about $50. So I got into the back of the pickup with the chivo and of course Chaco refused to ride up front with his dad so I got to hold onto the Chivo and Chacho as we headed home through rough terrain. It was both a fun and interesting experience.