So it has been a little over a week since my last entry... We completed out first week of spanish classes and I am really impressed with how much James has learned in only one week. He has a couple of phrases for those who have asked for a demonstration (stephen - that's you).

"A mi me gusta pescar" (I like to fish), "me gusta cocinar pescado" (I like to cook fish), y "Yo como pescado." (I eat fish)

That is his favorite topic in english so why not in spanish?

So the highlights of this past week were going to San Antonio, a local mayan village near Antigua, going to the food and artisan markets on Saturday and hiking the active Pacaya volcano on Sunday. More on those below...

San Antonio is a local Mayan village about 20 minutes away from Antigua. We got there by chicken bus which was an experience in itself but not as bad as I thought it would be. You do have to be careful though as a pedestrian on the street. These buses stop for no one and I don't think there is any regard for speed limits.

When we arrived in San Antonio we were greeted by the Mayan women in "typical" attire, which are the huipiles (the very colorful blouses they wear) and the colorful skirts as well. We learned that it takes about 6-8 months for them to make just one huipile. It was really amazing to see the process for making these blouses and how much care goes into making each one. Little girls at the age of 6 start to learn how to make the huipiles. It was really incredible.

We then participated in a recreation of a "mayan wedding ceremony". James and I played the part of the "Suegra and Suegro" or the mother in law and father in law of the bride. We dressed in the typical clothing which was funny in itself because guatemalan men are not the tallest individuals so the pants that James had to wear looked more like a speedo on him than anything else.

I realized very quickly that I would not have made a very good "mayan" bride. from the time that the groom proposes (which entails asking the the bride's parents for her hand and then giving the bride a sum of money to pay for her to make her clothing for the wedding such as, the huipile, a new skirt and then a shawl for her mother in law) all this takes about 1 year to make. then during the wedding ceremony the mother in law gives the bride a present (an apron) and the bride is then dismissed to go make tortillas while the rest of the guests enjoy the party. As many of you know, I am quite the cook and the seamstress, just kidding, so this would not have worked out for me so well. I am glad I played the part of the mother in law. It was very impressive though to see just how hard these women work each day and the dedication they have to their heritage as well.

have to run but will write more later...