Email journal: June 21, 2005, Guatemala Buenas tardes. It has been an intense three days here, and I am getting used to life in Spanish and in a third world country. The trip into Xela was an adventure in and of itself, as a taxi driver was tipped extra to make the twenty minute drive in less than ten. A four hour trip by first class bus landed us in Xela, and we spent a tired first evening in a nice hostel. The country is beautiful. Our trip in took us between a series of mountains and most farming and homes outside of the city are cut into hills. It was hard to see the conditions that people live in, and as my time in Xela extends, I am realizing just how lucky, and perhaps naive people in the Estados Unidos are. My mama de Guatemala is Dona Ana. She keeps a very clean and nice home about twenty steps from the door of the school. Her family is scattered all over Xela. On Sunday night she took me to meet her daughters and grandchildren. Andre, who is twelve, was perhaps my favorite part of the trip so far. We connected quickly about our appreciation and love of soccer, and went into the front street to start playing. He kicked my butt at 8,000 ft, but I had a height advantage. I have been working to set up the soccer program here. I will work two days a week at the cultural school adjacent to my school. There is a school which works in partner with Projecto Lingustico and the children were eager to play. The second organization is called la esquela de calle, a school for street children. I will play the remaining two days a week with kids living in a resident dormitory because they lack homes or families of their own. I am excited about both of those organizations in Xela, and when I leave for the mountains in two weeks there will be a different group. My Spanish is improving everyday. I am impressed with my ability to communicate and get what I need, though I am frustrated at some missing vocabulary. I go to bed exhausted and with my head spinning from trying to retain an entirely different language. I will write again soon, Rebecca