Forever Paisley

Break time!! The kids were off the wall today, to bad for you that I didnt have my camera with me because they gave me some pretty hot pony tails!!! Later in the morning they had them sand down this bench. I am not really sure why, I think it was just to keep them busy. They had class again today, guatemalan geography was the topic. I learned a few things myself. I brought my spanish-english dictionary and me and one of the women there were attempting to give each other language lessons. Beyond the wealthy that get to attend private schools and those that learn from their family it is very rare for people to learn English here.

When I got home from work today there was a Mayan woman working at my house. At first I asked my housing sister if it was her friend, but apparently she just works there. I was a bit surprised because I didnt think my family was very well off, however my friend informed me that the cost of having a Mayan houseworker is so inexpensive that even lower income families can afford it. She looks about 17 and is probably from a neighboring village, she is pretty quiet so I havent learned too much about her.

Most of the retail stores around here are resale shops who recieve all their merchandise from Goodwill stores in the US and other developed countires. Whatever doesnt sell in the states is shipped here and sold (retailers only pay the cost of shipping). I guess it allows them to recieve clothes at a cheap price along with providing income to the store owners. It is crazy the way economy is here, there is not much of a middle class. Many locals are actually against volunteers like myself coming in and working because they claim in disrupts the job market for them. Way to make me feel bad about trying to do a good thing lol.

I am feeling a little better today, took a long hot shower, and dropped my clothes off at the laundromat because today I got my last clean sweater dirty sanding that bench. All in all it is only going to cost me one American dollar – a fair price if you ask me!!! It is so beautiful outside to I am going to roam around town before my class at 2:00. We are going to the salsa club tonight … it is free on Wednesdays.