pluggin along

hi family, still in xela, still studying spanish, still living the life.  i went to the mayan festival in a neighboring pueblo on saturday.  the dancing was over but the played marimba outside of a really old church (300 years old?) and it was pretty incredible.  i then proceeded to drink too much rum with a friend, which resulted in me feeling quite crappy yesterday and today.  i have my standard post-cold cough, and hopefully i can avoid antibiotics with mucho miel and limon (honey and lime .. they dont have lemons).  today we went to the oldest church in central america with my class (i believe 436 years old).  we also visited a home where they make traditional fabrics.  you guys wouldn´t believe these traditions materials and clothes.  they are so colorful and intricate, and all of the traditional mayan women where these elaborate outfits.  many of them have babies strapped to their backs with clothes and baskets of clothing and food on their heads.  it´s beautiful.  if i get pìctures i´ll post them, but i need to take care to be respectful to the people.  speaking of pictures, i havent taken many, but i have some.  i´ll try to remember to bring the cord for my camera next time i use the internet and i´ll post some pictures.

neil gets here tomorrow!  i´m pretty damn excited, let me tell you.  we´ll be here for a few more days, maybe take a trip to some rivers outside of xela with my friend on saturday, then take off for other places.  luke advises me to stay guatemala for a while longer because it is so culturally rich, so i might look for another language program elsewhere in the country before i move on. 

as far as spanish goes, it´s getting better.  a man from japan has moved into our house, and by some crazy turn of tables, i am now translating for him.  it´s pretty cool .. buen ondo as they say here.  okay then, adios!