How to Mop Like a Local

When we first moved into our apartment it needed a good cleaning. The supplies were available but there were a few items that seemed to be missing. Primarily, a mop. 

We had a broom. And lots of random towels and rags and scrubbers and even a toilet bowl brush. But no mop, and our tile floors were filthy. 

One morning during those first couple days, one of the staff from MCC stopped by. We asked him where we might buy a mop, or if there was a mop somewhere in the apartment. He seemed confused, and since he doesn't speak any English and we hadn't started Spanish classes yet, our conversation was limited. 

He pointed to the broom. Then he found a (seemingly) random, ratty bath towel with three holes cut out of the middle. 

He demonstrated how this goes over the broom and voila (or maybe more like DUH!!) we have a mop. 

I believed him, but also didn't. I didn't believe that this was the only method of mopping. I mean, the person living here prior to us was a gringa. Surely she used a mop. I've since learned that this is the Guatemalan mop.

Now, everywhere we go, I see this form of mopping. At Wal-mart, at restaurants, at schools. I've been searching for someone, somewhere, to use an actual mop. A few days ago we were at a grocery store and I noticed a big, colorful full-page ad for cleaning supplies. It had everything necessary to clean: a broom, scrub brushes, chemicals, sponges, buckets…but no mop. 

Today Michael and I had a breakfast date while the girls were at school and we were running errands to prepare for our trip to Pennsylvania tomorrow. There in the mall, right next to us, was a woman mopping. With a REAL MOP.  It's the first mop sighting we've had. Of course, it was in the humungous, hoity-toity fancy mall. 

Needless to say, we've adapted to this method and mop with our broom and our ratty towel. It gets the job done. When in Rome, right?

Fighting Carrots and Purple Sugar

Michael and I have been keeping track of a few of our language "mishaps."  Because today was our last day of classes I thought I'd share a few of our favorites. Just like in English, at times there are words in Spanish whose meanings change with only one letter, or even more difficult, the same word can have different meanings depending on how the word is pronounced or the context.

Here are a few of our best (or worst) language slips:

1. When we were first here Michael went to the local tienda (small store on the street) to buy some saltine crackers because he had an upset stomach: 

"Tienes calcetines?"

In English this would have sounded like, "Do you have socks?"

Saltine. Calcetine. So close. Yet so far.

2. One day we saw the cook at our school peeling carrots really well with just a knife, producing thin, long peels. In awe, Michael said,

"Tu peleas la zanahoria muy bien con la cuchilla."

[Insert blank stare.]

The word for peel [pelar] and for fight [pelear] are separated by one measly "e." Therefore, Michael informed our wonderful cook that,

"You fight carrots really well with a knife." 

In the conversation we also informed her that we normally use a special tool for peeling carrots. This must have come out sounding like we have a special tool for fighting carrots.

3. At a Father's Day party at our girls' school we were talking with another couple. They live near a place we had visited and we were trying to tell them we had stayed in a Catholic retreat center there. Michael told them we stayed in a "retrete." They insisted that that couldn't be the right word and we didn't know how else to say it. Later, Michael looked up retrete in the dictionary. Apparently,

it's the polite way to say toilet. I'm not sure how that couple kept a straight face, but they did.

4. I was translating a scones recipe for my teacher and didn't know how to explain the action of patting the dough into a ball to cut into triangles. The verb "to pat" that I looked up actually meant something more like "to caress" or "to stroke." It turns out there isn't really a good verb to use here. Now the recipe just says "form a ball with the dough."

5. In many Spanish speaking countries the word coche means car. Michael was talking with his teacher about how there are so many coches in the city, and that the coches are loud and keep us awake at night. She seemed confused and tried to explain that she had never heard of any coches existing in the city. Finally, we realized that in Guatemala, coche is another word for pig, and it's true, there aren't pigs in the city. 

A few other words we've inverted:

1. I wanted to say viaje (trip) to talk about our recent visit to Honduras. Instead I used viejo, so instead I was talking about our "old" Honduras. 
2. Moreno (brown) and morado (purple). Once Michael went to the market and was searching and searching and was surprised to find that no one carries purple sugar. 
3. Cansado (tired) and casado (married)...maybe these are similar for a reason? 

We're thankful for the two months we spent studying Spanish. I definitely think I can communicate so much better than I could before. I may get the opportunity to study a little more after our job training is finished. Now we need to practice, practice, practice!! 

This Post Could Have Several Titles: "Things I Haven't Blogged About", or, "I'm Tired," or, "Why I Haven't Emailed You"

Somehow, language classes are almost done. We fly to Pennsylvania next weekend for a 2-week leadership training with MCC.

I didn't expect a lot of things during these last two months. I didn't expect to feel so tired and mentally exhausted. School is hard with kids, but learning another language is draining in a unique way. 

I've had little motivation to blog or do much "keeping in touch."  I post a lot of pictures on Facebook and Instagram, but it takes little effort to push a few buttons. I know there are friends and family not connected to us there. Sometimes I get overwhelmed just scrolling through status updates on Facebook. Emotionally, I'm unsure how to relate or correspond with people back in the States.

We're here for five years. I want to make an effort but I've stalled. I can't decide if it's the idea of trying to relate my emotions and experiences here, or if it's more simply that I'm tired and still "transitioning." Or both. Or neither. Or not sure how to keep in touch. Or just envious that I can't go pick berries and do fun American summer pasttimes like all my Facebook Friends talk about, or enjoy a BBQ and pool with friends because we have neither a BBQ nor a pool nor friends. In time. In time. 

Last week I felt inundated by so many things that I couldn't organize my thinking. Some of my thoughts are common "Mom" and "Wife" worries, accentuated by being in a new country:

-I haven't started Hazel's first year scrapbook and she turns one next week. 

- Hazel's birthday is coming up. I put so much effort into Ellie's first birthday and this time we'll be lucky if Hazel has a cake on her birthday.

-Until last weekend I hadn't exercised since we got here. I can't go running and I miss my double jogging stroller. I still have weight to lose to get to my pre-pregnancy weight, and Hazel's about to turn one. Frustrating. 

-I should blog and share about some interesting facets of life here in Guatemala. I have several blog posts started in my head. With lots of fun pictures. But I can't seem to get the motivation to turn the computer on and start typing. 

-I'm happy with how my Spanish has improved but simultaneously frustrated with how little I can understand quick-speakers. Slow down, mumblers!

-My floors always feel like they need to be mopped. I have a crawler. I should clean them more often.

-I don't feel like I have energy to spend with my girls when we're all home together, and I find myself impatient when I want to just enjoy time together. 

-Our record for staying healthy as a family since we arrived here is 2-3 weeks. This week Ellie got strep throat and now Hazel and I have some kind of cold, and I had a flu-bug at the same time. 

-Our original vaccination records for our girls have been misplaced. My guess is they got sent to the immigration office with our visa applications, but no one seems to know where they went. Hazel hasn't been in to the dr. since we were in Fresno and we need to take her. 

-I keep finding myself missing "things," mostly, toys for the girls. I am trying to be thankful for what we have and trying to be creative with the girls. But I sure miss our play kitchen. And table and chairs. And easel. And several books. The original idea was to replace those when we got here. But we haven't. Yet. 

I read a lot. Yesterday I read a whole book. There are books sitting around our apartment from previous tenants. I've read several Oprah Book Club selections. Usually I start a book and read it over the weekend. How do I have time to read books yet still feel burdened in so many other areas? It's my outlet. It's my quick, easy, let-me-turn-my-brain-off and not feel overwhelmed escape. And so I pick up a book and I read. Usually during naps and after the girls are in bed. It's the fastest, easiest way for me to unwind. And to shut out the Spanish running through my head constantly. 

So, instead of emailing family or friends or being intentional with people back home, I sit on the couch and zone out. And read. And think about the blog post I could write or the email I should write, and then read some more. 

When we return from PA we will immediately begin three weeks of training for our job here. These two months of language school have been unique. Never again will we have months of time together at home, every afternoon, with the girls. At the beginning of September we will move to a house around the corner. I couldn't be more excited about having a yard and outside space for the girls to play. I think we are a little stir-crazy in a second floor apartment without a yard. We will have 4 bedrooms which means space for guests (hint! hint!) and will be on a quieter spot. These are things to look forward to, with more transitions as well. (We will live in that house for one year before we have to move again). 

As I write this my daughters have just woken up from their naps. They always greet each other with huge smiles after their nap time separation. Talk about joy-filled moments. They are literally dancing and singing and playing together. Though it's been a hard couple of months, there are so many positives. My girls are happy and have transitioned so well to their school. They both are learning Spanish and growing so fast. How is Hazel one next week? And Ellie almost three? 

I'm blessed. I know it.  After writing this post of honest processing with traces of complaining, it has helped me realize I have so much to be thankful for. I need to keep that perspective. This has been an interesting few months and we are gearing up for the next phase. We are excited to finally start working, the whole reason we started this journey in the first place. 

And, right now, it's time to go play blocks with my sweet girls. 

Guatemalan Dessert: Rellenitos

Yesterday during my Spanish lessons my teacher taught me how to make a typical Guatemalan dessert. I googled them and found this recipe, and many others, although my recipe is slightly different because it includes chocolate. 

They are called rellenitos and are mashed plantains stuffed with refried black beans and rolled in sugar. Most of the recipes I found online don't include chocolate but that's how my teacher made them and who doesn't like chocolate? 

I've never been a plantain lover, and I was skeptical of a dessert that used black beans, so the combination didn't sound appealing. I must admit, I was surprised at how tasty these were. The plantains we used were more like bananas than potatoes, thus being sweet. I hadn't realized there were different types of plantains. This would be a fun dish to make with young kids because they could help mash the plantains and make patties, but the adult would need to do the frying. 

Ingredients:

3-4 large plantains (can be adjusted as needed)

About half a can of refried black beans 

(We bought pre-made refried black beans but you can use whole black beans and mash them up really good and add some salt and/or sugar.)

Hershey's chocolate bar

sugar or powdered sugar

oil

First, cut the ends off the plantains and then cut into thirds (or halves, depending on the size). Boil in water for about 20 minutes, until the peel falls off with a slight tug of a fork. Remove from heat, drain water, and put in the freezer for a few minutes to cool them down. Set aside until cool.

When the plantains are cool, put the black beans in a pan with some tabs of Hershey's chocolate bars. (How much you use depends on how sweet you want them. We used most of the bar).  If you don't have chocolate you could just add some sugar. Heat until chocolate is melted and the bean mixtures is smooth and pliable but not a liquid. 

(The picture is right after I put it all in the pan and not yet to the correct consistency.)

Next, mash the plantains with a fork in a bowl until smooth. Wet your hands to prevent plantains from sticking to them. Put about 1/4 cup of mashed plantains in your palm and make a thick patty. This part really depends on the size you want. I didn't get a picture of the thick patty because my hands were messy, but the patty basically covered my palm. 

Spoon about a teaspoon of the bean mixture onto the patty and fold the edges and seal to make an egg-shaped ball. I was making perfectly round ones but they fry better as an egg shape. Be sure to close all the edges so no beans can escape. Add a bit more plantain if needed to ensure they are closed. 

Heat some oil in a skillet and carefully place the rellenito into the hot oil. Continue to make rellenitos to add to the oil and be sure to flip them and cook on both sides. 

My teacher, Edna.

When the rellenitos are cooked and brown on both sides, carefully remove them from the oil with a fork or slated spoon and place on a plate lined with a paper towel to drain the excess oil. 

Sprinkle with sugar or powdered sugar. We only had granulated sugar but I think powdered sugar would be delicious. 

Time to eat! Buen provecho! 

Surprisingly tasty.

If you make these, let me know how they turn out!

And, happy 11 months to our sweet Hazel Jane!

Why I'm Exhausted

We are entrenched in a busy schedule and it exhausts me in a way I can't remember since I had a newborn waking me up every few hours all night long.

Both girls caught a cold last week at school. Ellie's didn't do much, but Hazel had more days of fevers and waking up in the night, something I'm not used to (she usually sleeps 12 hours uninterrupted). Today was her first day without a high fever, and her energy seems to be back, so we're hoping the sickness is finally gone.

Our Beautiful Girls

Then we have our stubborn 2 1/2 year old. I remember the days when she used to wake up no earlier than 7AM. EVER. In the last few months she started waking earlier, and since moving to Guatemala gets up anywhere from 5-6:30AM, most often around 5:30.  We finally accepted it because she shares a room with Hazel and forcing her to stay in her room only woke up her sister and created a lot of stress for us trying to "encourage" our very wide awake girl to go back to sleep. Now, we usually prepare the coffee pot the night before so we can gulp down the caffeine at the bright and early crack of dawn.

After taking the girls to school Michael and I take a bus to our school, an Anabaptist Seminary in town. We each have our own teacher and sit in a classroom for 4 hours (minus a 30 minute break) one-on-one with our maestras. My brain and tongue usually feel like I've been doing some kind of marathon training with them for 4 hours. 

We get home, grab ourselves lunch, get the girls to bed for naps, and either try to nap ourselves (yeah right), do dishes from breakfast and lunch, or work on our Spanish homework. Then it's dinner, bedtime for the girls, and more Spanish homework until I fall asleep studying. I have dreams of Spanish. Not IN Spanish, but ABOUT Spanish, as in, conjugating and conversing and trying to remember vocabulary even in my sleep.

Weekends we have go to the market and make trips to the supermercardo (Wal-Mart), do laundry, and if we have time, more homework. It feels like we spend the weekend preparing for the week ahead. 

Today a co-worker took us to a huge park with running trails and a humungous stadium and one of the largest kids play areas at a park I've ever seen. It was fun for Ellie to play and to see another part of the city. I felt very daring today and snuck my IPhone in my pocket so I could snap a few pictures.

The right side of the stadium

The left side of the stadium with some kind of "mural"

On the way home we walked past Ellie's school and I finally took a picture of her in front of it.

Yes, this is the front door to the school. We love the mural.

So, that's what we've been doing. Today marks one month of being in Guatemala. Wow. This will be our routine for several more weeks. I better go start my homework. 

Hazel is pulling herself up on everything and is more brave every day. She could be walking before we know it. 

From Our Balcony

We live on the second story of our apartment building on a very busy road, right near the corner of a major intersection. From early in the morning until maybe 10:30 or 11:00 at night the buses and cars are  extremely noisy. Right next to us, on the corner, is a panaderia which emits a sweet bread smell all day long. Michael's new addiction is pan dulce, a slightly sweet bread that pairs well with coffee.

Yesterday I snapped a few pictures to share. All of these are from our balcony or right inside.

The man on the left stands on this corner every morning and sells flowers.  Today I noticed a security guard holding his gun. He was with the van parked in front of where they're standing. It's common to see guards with guns everywhere. The bus line we take to school every morning employs a guard with a gun to sit on each bus to help cut down on crime and robberies. 

Looking out to the right. The building on the left is a futsal arena. We can hear the players playing and yelling when they score well into the night.

Looking out to the left. The stop sign is directly in front of the panaderia with another one right across the street. 

Daddy and Ellie coming back from a walk to the tienda.

And a few bonus pictures of our family: 

Ellie telling Daddy her Spanish words. She calls this book the "El Bebe" book. 

Our little ten-month old. She's standing and cruising and my guess is we'll blink and she'll be walking. 

Chau!

First Day of School

Yesterday was the big day. I laid out outfits and packed lunches the night before, just like I used to do with anticipation before all my first days of school.

Ellie wanted to take a picture with her backpack on to send to her older cousin Isabelle.

We took the classic first-day-of-school photo, and since we were all heading to school we took a family photo, too.

Needless to say, I've been nervous and anxious about this process. We like the proximity of the school to our apartment and office, and the colegio seems like a place we can trust to leave our children. The teachers are warm and friendly and sweet.

Sisters' first day of school together.

I was most nervous about leaving the girls for five hours, through a nap for Hazel and lunchtime. I hoped Hazel would nap in a new place, but know she's been stubborn about the going to sleep process.

Nevertheless, we set off yesterday morning to walk the two blocks to school. Ellie was excited about walking to school wearing her backpack. We handed off the kiddos to the teachers while we signed papers. When we were leaving, Ellie began to cry but we gave quick hugs and left, hoping to tear the band-aid off quickly.

The door closed and we hurried away towards our bus stop. I grabbed Michael's hand and started to cry. It was inevitable. I'm a mom separated from my ninos.

Our Spanish lessons flew by quickly and before we knew it we were standing in front of the school ringing the bell. They don't let us inside but bring the girls to the door when we arrive. The report of day one? They both cried a little, but overall did great. Hazel didn't take a nap, which I was bummed about, but not entirely surprised.

All the way home Ellie told us all about school. I found myself asking her questions and probing responses out of her all night. I wanted as many details as I could. She was smiling and happy and proud of the little card she had colored, excited about her snack and eating lunch at school, using the stool in the bano (and having no accidents!) and playing with new toys.

Ellie colored this at school.

It's an invitation for me to join the girls on Friday at school for a Mother's Day celebration.
I love that a teacher wrote "Aldi." I'm assuming that was an attempt to spell Ellie phonetically with a Spanish accent. 

The school has little notebooks where they write notes from the day and where we can respond if needed.

Today Hazel took a great nap at school. Ellie was excited about going to school. Though she started crying when we first left, she had another great day. It's fun to ask her about her day and to hear about her singing songs and playing with new friends and coloring. I'm thankful she's had no accidents and really seems to be adjusting well. I wish I could be a fly on the wall to observe what's going on, but I guess this is part of parenting, not getting to be around every second and learning to release my girls to become a little independent. I just didn't think I'd have to start that so soon.

I am feeling blessed and thankful for this school and praying that the girls continue to adjust and enjoy their mornings there. Michael and I have had fun experiencing riding the bus and and limiting ourselves to speaking Spanish all morning. Time to study!