Inside I thought, haven't they seen a white person before? There are very few tourists in these parts, and they were curious. Even though we are strangers, everyone is sure to say hello. This is a traditional Mayan area, many people speak Mum and wear brightly colored clothing. It is a very friendly culture.
We made our way to Todd's booth, where he was selling things outside of his father in law's store. We stood awkwardly for some time as we watched the buyings and sellings that went on. Todd gave us directions to the "comedor". He said "I don't think there's a sign, but it's a green building with an entrance".
The restaurant owner seemed surprised to see us. It was 9:30AM, and Chris asked "tiene usted desayuno?" (do you have breakfast?) The restaurant owner answered, "tenemos sopa de gallina" (we have chicken soup). Sure, okay! We were hungry. There were only two tables in the restaurant. The floor was dirty, and there was a dog at our feet. The soup was delicous, the tortillas hot and fresh. The coffee tasted like sugar water, but you can't win them all.
Coffee is a cash crop here. Since it is so valuable, most everyone drinks instant coffee. We will look for the real thing, but we haven't found it yet.
We have spoken more Spanish in the past week than we have in the past few years. I am frustrated at how little we know, but I will admit it has gotten easier as the days go by. I have been sleeping much more. My brain needs a lot of breaks!
I am grateful for this slow introduction to the culture. While we have spoken a lot of Spanish, Todd is a bilingual American and it is nice to be able to ask him questions and hear about his life in Guatemala.
Todd Bauer truly has an alternative lifestyle. In his 20's, he traveled all over the country working in various farms and sustainability jobs. He strongly believes that he was called to Guatemala - something just told him that was where he should be. He has taken a bus all the way down through Mexico, to Guatemala, and back, multiple times. He wanted to truly experience the culture and the people, not skip over it on a plane. He served for 5 years in BVS in this area of Guatemala, working on reforestation and being with the people in the community.
Todd married a sweet Guatemalan named Katy, and has lived here for 12 years now. He makes his living growing various plants and trees to sell (and eat), helping his father in law at the store, and being the coordinator of BVS volunteers in Central America.
Part of our experience here has been being with their daughter Marcella. She speaks 3 languages (Mum, Spanish and English), and often mixes them together so she is sometimes hard to understand. She is incredibly bright and has a (seemingly) neverending amount of energy. She wants to play with us all the time, and we have a hard time saying no to her. Even if we do say no, she may follow us anyway. There is definetely an expectation that everyone pitches in in the raising of children... even the stranger on the street! Yet another difference in our cultures.
It has been a learning experience so far, learning how to do things slowly, learning patience.
"Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and...
try to love the questions themselves like locked rooms
and like books that are written in a very foreign tongue."
-Rilke
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