The feel of Charchá

The feel of Charchá

Bean juice on my fingers: First it is warm and runny, then, since I don´t have a napkin, it is just a little sticky. I eat beans all the time, and they slip out of the tortillas with which I grab them all the time.

Mud skiing: I was advised to pretend like I am skiing when going down the steep hill leading to my house on a wet and muddy day. It is especially advisable to do this when I am stubborn and wear my slick sandals instead of my rubber boots. The other day I had no other option than to let myself slide about five feet before I found a post to hold. I did this successfully. Anyways, I have become accostumed to the feel of soft mud under my shoes and deceptively slippery ground.

MY FIRST THREE WEEKS HERE

1. It was really cold and I got used to continually wearing the same shirt/shirts 24/7. I didn´t want to take it off for bed, I didn´t want to take it off in the morning, I didn´t want to take a bucket shower outside in the cold every day( I showered about once ever three days during this period). It was actually never very uncomfortable and my long sleeve shirts came to feel like a protective armor I couldn´t live without… sort of like Frodo and his shirt of Mithril.

2. Without heaters, living with the cold was a constant battle. I never really felt like I was just terribly cold, was simply in a constant state of coldness. My “core temperature” as Kramer would say, was simply always low, and could not be raised. I just lived without the pleasure of being warm. I still sometimes sleep in a 40 plus degree room.

3. My feet were always wet. No matter how hard I tried, they were never dry. It felt like they were water logged or something. My MCC friend David, who dealt with the same weather, reports the same struggles with wet feet. Weird.

The Sun: After 3.5 weeks here the sun finally came out. I remember looking at it and hardly being able to take my eyes off of it as I had not seen it in a long time. Now, I oftentimes get up, receive my hot glass of atol, and then bask in the sun as I wait for my breakfast. This is the best way to raise ones core temperature. In the cold air, it feels kind of like God is hugging you.

The Wind: The wind comes slowly over the mountains, but arrives at our almost hill top home uncontaminated by the smells of the town below. When it comes it always reminds me of the fresh ocean air. Sometimes I feel like a kid again.

Chairs: In my experience in Guatemala, one sits on plastic chairs. It is no cushioned chair, but it is better than a wood or metal, but not really uncomfortable. One gets used to it. I rarely think about the comfort of sitting down on a comfortable couch. More than anything I miss a comfortable chair on which to sit and read. The best chair ever is currently located near Wichita Kansas. Don´t be deceived by its appearance.

Shaking hands: my host dad walks in the evening and shakes my hand and puts his other hand caringly on my shoulder. He has a hard and calloused hands from working construction most of his life. Unlike most Kekchi people, he actually gives me a strong handshake, which is very nice. We hold hands for an awkward amount of time and sometimes I am not sure what to say, but I always feel good about it.

Jordan

ps. recently I have eaten: pineapples, watermelon, oranges, bananos, strawberries. All very good.