The beginning of the end: nostalgia

Lately, I find myself thinking a lot about all the things I'm going to miss about Guatemala after I leave. It's a natural reaction, I suppose, considering I have less than five weeks left. I keep trying to imagine not living here anymore, but I can't get my head around it. Anyway, I just thought I'd share the list.

What I'll miss about GuateChula:

• Being constantly surrounded by natural beauty
• Chuchitos in the park
• Showing up at someone's house for a quick errand and getting served a feast for no particular reason
• Daring the vuelta
• Cheap, quality, plentiful mangos
• Cheap, quality, pentiful avocados
• Walking down the street and knowing just about everyone I pass
• Waking up to the camarones guy walking up and down the street selling shrimp: "Haaaay CamarOnes!"
• Making an old lady smile when I greet her in Popti'
• Speaking Spanish
• Speaking Spanglish
• Things never going as planned
• Beans
• Tortillas with every meal
• Pepita. on. EVERYTHING.
• Huehue
• Rio Azul
• Juan Jo and Sara
• All my friends
• Jacal dinner parties
• Chiantla dinner parties
• Walking into school and having all the kids shout out my name and run up to hug me
• Ferias
• Rosa de Jamaica
• Ponche
• The late-night taco lady
• Having so much free time
• The view of Mexico on the way out to the aldeas
• The PC Fourth of July BBQ
• Traveling in Guatemala and Mexico
• Jacal

There's also plenty I'm not going to miss. Although, I will probably miss being able to complain about these things.

What I won't miss:

• Things never, EVER going as planned
• Going to the Internet café and having a group of patojos stand directly behind you and stare at your computer screen, while the muchachas in the corner stare at you and giggle for some unknown reason
• Waaaaaay too much free time
• Going through all the trouble to wash my clothes by hand, only to have them end up smelling like burning garbage after they dry on the line
• Very little work ever getting done because of all the ferias
• Sitting in the hoyito next to the only window that doesn't open in a micro stuffed with 20 other sweaty, unwashed people and a crying baby
• Machismo
• Not having a car and it taking at least four hours to get anywhere by bus
• Electric water heaters on the shower head that shock you if you get too close while bathing (I know, I should definitely not be complaining about having hot water in Peace Corps, but still. It's annoying)
• Not having a grocery store nearby that sells every ingredient/food item known to man
• Sticking out no matter where I am (unless I'm in Antigua)
• Announcements and advertisements on loud speakers in cars at all hours (i.e. Zero noise control)

I'm sure there's plenty that I've left off of both lists, but you get the idea. It's going to be tough to leave behind the food, people and natural beauty. The lack of reliable transportation, lack of amenities and sexism, not so much.

I know this has been kind of a sappy post, but it's where I'm at right now. I hope everyone is doing well and I'm so excited to see everyone when I get back. Take care and see you soon!

Peace out,
Kristina