So. I really love Guatemala. I like being there and doing stuff. I like the languages. I like the people. I like (most of) the food. I like the landscape and scenery: mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, ocean. I like the Mayan culture and ruins from ancient Mayan cities. I like the lifestyle. I like market days. I like the exchange rate....hahaha... I like crazy, hair-raising chicken bus rides up and down the mountains around dangerous blind curves (sometimes). I like lots of other stuff about Guatemala, too.
I found an organization, Ajb'atz' Enlace Quiche, that is an NGO based in Santa Cruz del Quiche. They do stuff. Good stuff. You can check them out at http://enlacequiche.org/volunteer/. I will most likely be doing a 6 month internship with them starting January 2011. I will be teaching English classes. It's something I've never done before and so I need to start preparing for that. My K'iche' language skills will be a big help, as many people there speak it along with Spanish. This looks like the best organization so far, because they pay for rent and give you a small stipend for food, as well as being in an area where I can use and improve my Spanish and K'iche'. And it Guatemala!
Before then, I'll be technically graduating in April, but I'll be attending the ceremonies in August so my folks can come out here to Utah. So I'm looking for a summer job or jobs out here. Maybe something in the hotel industry, since that's where I have the most experience. Then after August graduation, I'll probably be moving home until I go to Guatemala. That way I'll be able to save money quicker by not having so many costs, like rent. And I'll get some good time to spend with the family back in Wisconsin.
I hope things all work out for me. Then, using my experience with Enlace Quiche, I hope to be able to get a decent job in an international development organization. Maybe later that year (2011) I'll look into going to grad school somewhere. We'll see how that all plays out....
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