December 31, 2010

December 31, 2010

I started a new day today, my first full day as a resident of Guatemala.  I am so excited!  We went into Antigua planning to have breakfast and go to the grocery store.  We also wanted to price the much needed furniture and other items for our home.  After breakfast we started to go to the bank, and of course they were closed for the holiday, New Years Eve.  On the way we found the “amigos” that Danny met in October while he was getting the house rented and set up for us.  What a wonderful experience!  We were able to visit their home and meet the family and neighbors.  I felt so welcomed into their little home and so loved.  This family is so special.  We spent over an hour in this family’s house visiting and trying to speak Spanish (which is the children’s second language to Quiche).  Danny does very well, so mostly, I just listen.  Then we walked back to the park where the children work selling ice cream, gum, and shining shoes.  We will see them again when they come to visit the kids on Monday or Tuesday.  Our next visit was to our American neighbors, Gary and Ann.  They have lived here for 4 ½ years and are such lovely people.  Ann answered some of the many questions that I have about living here.  And they gave us turkey soup for our dinner!  That was wonderful!  Then we had a visit to our home from our Guatemalan neighbors that live behind us.  That was a wonderful surprise and a nice visit.  They have 2 children ages 8 and 4 and they played well with Brayden and Brianna.  Carlos speaks some English so our visit was mostly Spanglish, ha ha!  It was such a wonderful first day.  These neighbors invited us over for lunch tomorrow.  We look forward to another great visit with them.

Kim