Posts Tagged: Guatemala

What do you do after a long day of concrete-making?

October 20, 2012

…You learn that a machete is actually much harder to work with than it appears–pick axes, too, are much harder than I’d ever imagined. The ancient supervisor who was guiding us, showed the teens how to use machetes: to watch him work them, you would think that machetes were simplistic yet sharp.  When I finally put my hand to the machete, I was stymied.  It was awkward and the bending over to swish it as you flicked your arm/wrist quickly …

read post
1 comment

Concrete- el final

October 18, 2012

To wrap up the never-ending concrete story, let me begin by sharing, that as long as this concrete story feels, our day felt longer. After we returned from lunch, the kids huddled and decided whether or not we would proceed and finish with the project: clothes were torn, arms were dry and peeling, construction boots were close to being sucked off of our feet. My hands, albeit bandaged, had none of the damage that some of the other kids did …

read post
no comments

Mas Concrete

October 17, 2012

Here’s a picture of Rigoberto, whom I mentioned at the end of the last concrete email: Rigoberto shared his glove with me, so that I could cover my bandaged hand and avoid any further injury or infection. I mentioned my herniated disc  here  and here : there were several pieces to that story, though.  I would take breaks from our work so that my back could rest for a few moments.  Although I aimed for discretion, it wasn’t always a success.  Case …

read post
no comments

Sometimes, it takes a volcano

October 11, 2012

“The choice to love is a choice to connect, to find ourselves in the other.” bell hooks Three months ago, I was beginning to think about my trip to Guatemala and how to prepare for it. Two months ago I had just returned from Guatemala and knew that my life was uniquely transformed. One month ago I fumbled about in the ramp up of clients that accompanies the beginning of the school year.  Today, I return to writing here, certain that …

read post
2 comments

More rockin women

August 29, 2012

To continue from yesterday’s story about the ladies of Casa de Retiros Claret, my second foray into conversation was a byproduct of a shower I took. We had been warned not to drink the water while we showered– not that difficult for me, especially given the trickle that was our shower.  It took me several tries to figure out the hot water (the spigots were reversed) and then I made a mess.  What craziness.  This epic shower happened the day …

read post
no comments