The story amazingly continues...

So now that I have been in Guatemala, at the Lake, for a fair amount of time, I feel like my purpose and help here is really coming into realization.

I have now been visiting the community of Tzununa on a regular basis and an Art, as well as Dance project really seem to be coming along.

In the village of Tzununa we discovered an old building, which, if renovated, could be perfect for a dance studio, where I would like to come back to and teach ballet and other types of Dance- maybe even theater!!

The women of Tzununa have now signed ( or actually gave us their thumb prints, due to the lack of women who can write in these villages) an agreement to cooperate with us in the education of their children about recycling and nutrition. We are preparing leaflets and presentations ( which entail me dressed up as a big garbage monster- slightly embarrassing), which we will use to teach the kids at all local schools.

We are starting on Monday in Sao Pablo and plan to travel around the Lake to make our impact bigger and more varied.

Aside from that we are doing health checks in the communities, where the Guatemalan government has not managed to get qualified nurses to visit yet. Our progress seems minimal at the time but when put in perspective- every change is a step closer to that greater good!

Ecolibri- our volunteer organization is now in full swing and we are working on a website, which should be ready by the end of the month. With only a hand-full of us, who are serious staff of this organization, it seems really hard but still very real and thus fully worth it.

I now live in a house on the hill of Sao Marco and around my volunteerism, I continue to work evenings at Fe, the restaurant, and do yoga and meditation. Doing yoga 3 times a week is really proving to be beneficial, and combined with meditation provides the ideal balance with my full-on and sometimes super emotional days in the communities.

Dita and I have now also seriously begun on a side project of fair trade fashion.

1000 faces - that is the name of our project/business.
We are making a collection of skirts, which are beneficial for the communities around the lake in ALL ways!!

each skirt is made from recycled clothes, from local 2nd-hand stores, therefore encouraging recycling and giving money back into the community. The skirts also provide locals with work, as we like to work with women in Tzununa to help us with delicate stitching and sowing!
And lastly, and VERY importantly, with every skirt you buy, 10% goes towards feeding a child in Tzununa with Ujuxte ( the highly nutritious mayan nut) for a MONTH!!!!

We have now made about 13 skirts and are looking at making 3 collections ( with 12 pieces each) in the next week.

Although fashion can be viewed as a superficial aspect of our modern lives, it is undeniable, that we all value fashion and use it as a staple for our life-style and personality.

These skirts say one thing: I use fashion to help others!!! If I am going to wear a skirt, I would like it to have another purpose than just quenching my hunger for fashion- I am PRO recycling, PRO support and PRO feeding the children of Tzununa!!

It´s funny. how when things are meant to be they just work out. Some people call it coincidence, i now believe it to be synchronization. I would not have thought that i would still be here ( almost 2 months later), that i would be setting up a volunteer organization and a business and that I would be this fortunate to really re-connect with nature, humanity and most importantly my inner self.

I now have to go and cook some cous-cous with shitake mushrooms and zuchini - after all, we have to take advantage of the riches of this country to its full extent!!

Will I ever leave? That is the question.

Why do people come here?
I am not sure.
Why dot they plan to stay a month and end up staying 6 months?
Because Lake Atitlan is magical and all the villages and people who get blessed with its power are therefore also magical!

The people are amazing and each day surprises you to an extent, where you just smile and say: c'est la vie!!

I have now been at the lake for about two weeks and apart from my spiritual journey, which I have been undertaking at the Lake, my opportunity for volunteerism has been never-ending. We, as a group. have now really established a relationship with the community of Tzununa and have been helping in any way possible.

Amongst meetings for women, nutrition talks and art projects for the children we have mainly been educating about recycling and healthy life-styles.

With a limited diet of tortillas, frijoles (beans) and sometimes huevos ( eggs) the children are malnutritioned, and the women lack in energy from numerous pregnancies and continuous breast-feeding.

We ventured into many communities around the volcano to compare diets, recipes and general health of the poeple.

Our main support is introducing OJUXTE!!!

Its magical stuff.

Made from a Mayan nut, this powder is not only full of nutrients and necessary vitamins but also good tasting and therefore appealing to the children!

How does the process of making Ujuxte look like?

Well why don´t we drive 3 hours, over to the other side of the Volcano, to Patulul, and find out!!

And so we did.

On Monday we loaded all our luggage onto the little boat and then onto the slightly bigger bus and off we went....

Imagine this: You arrive. hot, sweaty, and thirsty. you have to hike for an hour ( with your backpack of course) to get to the place, which is going to be your home for the next 5 days!

You imagining this??

Then you meet the most amazing people, who are poor ( in the eyes of a business man) but extremely rich in the eyes of anyone other. So you are happy again.

then they tell you that water only gets pumped up to the village every 2nd day- so at this point you might start being a bit scared again.

I could write pages just about my time in Patulul, but the most important thing that must be said, is that the people have spirit that can not be equaled my millions around the world.

What did I do?

Got up every morning at 4:30am to grind corn on a stone grinder and then make tortillas for the entire family. After then eating breakfast at about 6am- tortillas, atol and maybe huevos or frijoles we went to work. We walked 2miles to the coffee field and collected coffee for 3 hours approximately. It gets hot, ants are crawling up each of your body parts and the weight of a full basket tires you out BUT we all chatted, smiled and had fun and so the days went quickly. After then carrying about 100kg of coffee through the jungle we had to prepared lunch.
Important part of the day: siesta!!
But unfortunately if you are a woman apparently you don´t have those, because ou have to clean up after lunch. :(
In the afternoon we then did art projects with the children of the village: we painted, glued and played. We taught them English, they taught us Spanish.
The children of Patulul also made me realize that I am no longer in my youngest of years- when you get up at 4:30am and at 5pm you start playing football for an hour- there simply is NO energy left!

We would be in bed by about 7:30pm if we could BUT we still had to roast Ujuxte and coffee and cacao beans- so every night I fell into my bed at 10:30pm completely exhausted but more importantly fully satisfied with my actions that day!

We are now back in Sao Marco, we brought back some Ujuxte and have been giving nutrition talks around the local schools, which started on Monday. There was also a big ECO-event on Tuesday, where we built a whole new shop out of eco-bricks ( plastic bottles filled with plastic until rock hard used instead of bricks).
So now we are simply doing more good- our project regarding nutrition is going well- and I am actually speaking Spanish at a good level now.

More news:

I am now taking Spanish lessons, I am doing an Indian Head massage course ( so that I have a qualification as a masseuse), I have a job ( 5 days a week), I am doing health checks in schools around the lake and I got myself a house to move into.

Conclusion: for now I have suspended my flight out of Guatemala and am still on this beautiful journey through my own self.

I do not feel prepared to leave and there is nothing worse than leaving behind unfinished business when you don´t have to.
For the first time I feel like I am listening purely to my heart and not to my head.

One can go through life with your mind on a leash, or with a mind that has a leash on you!!!!

When there is so much positive energy and love; why leave.

Lago Magico is what they call it here. I now see why!

Lake Atitlan a magic place or what?

So let me start at the beginning, where I should start.

Ont he 4th at 1:20pm I boarded a plane to Panama. With a 4 hour lay-over, the journey wasn´t too bad and by 9:45 pm I was stepping out of the taxi in Antigua.
My hotel, Posada San Pedro. was cute and completely sufficient for my one-night stay. With my bags safely stored away behind locked doors I still headed out into the streets, to stretch my legs and discover some beautiful places in this small and secluded town.
But having had a long day I was soon enough ready to go to bed and so I did exactly that!

My next day was to be one of the toughest I have ever experienced in my life, but as I woke up at 6:30 am this still wasn´t clear to me. Completely at peace, and ready to start my journey to Lake Atitlan, I waited for my shuttle and hopped on at 8:30 am. Just over 2 hours later I was suddenly faced with a place most beautiful and tranquil. The vast mass of water, which now carries the name of Atitlan is surrounded by volcanoes, steep hillsides and villages, where traditional Mayan culture meets the international travel scene. Now, do not get confused with the term ¨lake¨. The deepest point is 350m, it spreads 8km from north to south and 18km from east to west. I got off the bus in the town of Panajachel and straight away I knew this place was going to be rich in anything one is looking for. All the kids ( and there were plenty) had huge smiles plastered across their faces and one could not resist but smile back constantly. Before I knew it I was on the first ¨barca¨( boat) to Tzununa. A 20min ride and several conversations with locals ( who spoke english) later, I climbed out of the boat at the dock. There I met Samantha, the other volunteer from the US and Dita, the supervisor of our project. Wasting no time, we headed into the mountains, to do some good!!

Tzununa is a village high in the mountains, where the women all wear beautiful traditional dresses and all have long, black, thick hair. It was unlike anything I had encountered before. The average woman had 5 or 6 children by the age of 28, where their oldest might be 14 or 13. Whilst the husbands might be out on the fields, earning little money, the women carry the hardship of all the other things necessary. They cook on stoves, which we might consider very simple, and yet they produce beans and tortillas unlike any other you will ever taste. The children can use a machetta at the age of 6 with a level ofexcellency, many in Europe do not acquire until their late twenties. Living in houses made out of twigs and anything found, their life-styles are completely basic, yet their humor and energy to work and care for children seems never-ending. My admiration for these women started high and continued to grow. It was however at about 3pm, when we faced the horrible consequences of seclusion and lack of education. Maria, a local woman, with a large family and a hard-working husband husrt her foot. It was not until we saw her lying on her cement bed in a clamy hut, that we realized the extent of her injury. Maria's foot got pierced through with a rebar 4 days ago!!! carrying wood on her head in the dark, she walked straight into it and it entered on one side and exited through the other. Not only did she pull it out herself, but due to her lack of knowledge, she then went into a bathing room, each house has, which very much resembles a sauna. Heat obviously only sped up the process of spreading bacteria and so by the time we got to her, her upper thing was THREE times the size of the other. She hadn´t eaten nor drunk anything in 4 days and we all feared that the infection might have spread to the rest of her weak body.
The public hospitals in Guatemala are places the locals fear to visit, as many enter and few leave alive. Maria was one of those people.
After 2 hours of cleaning the completely infected wound with only remotely appropriate gear, we managed to stabilize Maria. As if by a miracle, we got our hands on some anesthetics and penicillin, and so combined with some clean water, pain-killers ( I luckily carried around) and a lot of good spirit, we left Maria in a relatively 'good' state.
It is impossible to describe the situation to its full extent BUT I can say, without hesitation that it was shocking and magic at the same time. The people, who never even heard of penicillin ( let alone had it), still kept up their good spirits. Maria lay in her bed for 4 days in a state, where we considered amputating her leg, and yet she withstands it. It is incredibly impressive and my respect goes out to these women!

After this long day, we finally arrived home, which was the village of San Marco, at about 6pm. Not having eaten anything and absolutely knackered, we just about managed to eat some dinner at a local restaurant and by 7:45pm all of us were tucked into bed.

We all, Sam, Micheline ( the other volunteer) and me, share a bungalo. Surrounded by the jungle our accommodation, 'La Paz' is magical! Every morning at 8am there are yoga classes and then at 5pm mediation!!! San Marco generally being a bit of a hippie commune, I feel completely at home here! We all woke at 6am - Micheline and Sam went for a jog whilst I practiced an hour of yoga. After a freezing shower in an outside shower we headed for some breakfast of fruit and tea and by 8:30am, we were on a boat, once again heading for Tzununa.

Now I would gladly continue to praise this paradise for eternity BUT I have a meditation class in 5min and so I have to rush off...

Tomorrow I will try and write more, as my eyes open to this amazing place of lake Atitlan!

Feliz ano novo!

So my last night of 2009 was certainly one, I shall remember well. 

1. It rained continously and VERY heavely

2. We drank SO much champagne

3. Brazilians like to dance

4. Beautiful traditions

During the day we all just relaxed, ate and spent quality time together- the way it should be. In the early hours of the evening I went to the beach to offer my gift to the 'Sea goddess'.

As tradition, as I am a girl, I walked into the sea barefoot and waited for 7 waves - then I made a wish and threw a white blossom into the water. It is meant to keep you on the good side of the goddess and nature!

Then I went for a last swim in the year 2009. Speaking to the sea goddess made it somehow more magical and so i surfaced from the water, feeling refreshed fro the new year. Like the never ending rain around me, I also had washed away my last year's bad experiences and decisions and was ready to start anew.

As we all prepared for the evening a big decision stood before each one of us- as every colour of your clothing have very specific meaning in Brazil! Everybody wears white. That is a given. It represents peace!!! But everyone likes to add little colour to represent other things:

red- passion

pink-love

yellow-money

blue-protection

black-bad or good

I finally decided on a long white dress, with a red belt! I figured peace and passion were essential for me, but more importantly everyone :)

So it started out with civilized toasts to a better year and all seemed like back in Europe. BUT then the champagne started going down numerous throats rather speedily = FUNNY sight! Everyone was dancing, the young, the old, the sick, the fat, the happy, the drunk.....

meanwhile the rain provided a very dramatic background, with the downpour sometimes seeming almost apocalyptic!

At midnight, we all watched a beautiful firework display over the water and sang and wished each other a "Feliz ano novo!" As is tradition, we, the girls, all then ate 12 grapes. each represents one month and based ont he taste of each month ( bitter, especially sweet etc.) one is spposed ot be bale to predict what the nature of each month in the next year is going to be. Lastly a large bowl of lentils was thrown in the air and if any lentils stayed on your body ( hair for example, or clothes), you were supposed to keep it in your purse. This shall ensure that you face no financial issues in the next year. 

At 1 o'clock, we, the youngsters, then headed onwards to a New Year's Eve party nearby. As the driver dropped us off relatively far, we all consequently had to walk ( more run) through the rain. What did this mean?? Well not much, apart from the fact, that I looked like I just took a shower in my clothes before going to the party!! As annoyed as I was, I forgot all about it, as soon as we arrived! The atmosphere was 'banging'!!

On the beach we all danced like mad and partied 'til the early morn. The bar was layed out with fresh fruit, which they squeezed into coctails and carpirinhas of all sorts.

As much as we all enoyed ourselves we had to leave however and so at 3:30 am I found myself tucked into bed and in blissful oblivion.

2010!!!!!

No hangover - great!

The rain stopped -even better!!

A boat trip around the islands scheduled for the day -super!!!

And so that is what we did. We all boarded the beautiful and elegant white space of 'piruete' and cruized along! from island to island, beach to beach -clear sky, clear water, fresh fruits and cold drinks...all assured a successful day!

To be ohnoust that was the routine for our next days. each morning we woke up to better weather than the day before ( if even possible), we ate delicious and big breakfasts and headed out. Equiped with LOTS of sun-cream, all different sorts of snacks, bikinis and sun glasses - we were ready to enjoy our day! 

We dashed through the perfectly azur waters until we found just the right spot. With idylic scenery, rich in lush tropical rainforest, and clear waters, we then stopped to dip our over-heated bodies in the sea and attempted to reach varied tones of brown on each limb equally.

When we had enough of this ( which was generally never) and the sun was starting to set, it was time to head back!! Back, in the retreats of the cool house, we ate like kings and queens on seafood and other until full. The rest of the evenings were then spent in a leisurely manner, with coffee, dessert and games.

Now, the 3rd of January drawing to an end, we all obediently sit in the car, on its way to Rio.

Tomorrow we all part. And I? Well of that you shall hear later.....BUT

Guatemala HERE I COME!!!

Once in a blue moon...

Once in a blue moon is it that we actually HAVE a blue moon on New Year's Eve.

Once in a blue moon do I spent my New Year's Eve in Brazil.

Once in a blue moon does the state of Rio de Janeiro experience such torrential rain, that more water falls from the sky in 12 hours than in 2 weeks of rain.

I think you  get the message. Everything about my last few days, including New Year's Eve, has been unusual.

BUT in a magical way!!!

The days of the 25th, 26th, and 27th all went smoothly. We had a slight routine of waking up late, eating delicious fruits of all sorts from breakfast until we wanted to burst and then heading to the beach. We rented a 'boogie'( a little cart with a cloth roof, the size of a pillow case) and explored the island. We ate wonderful foods in lovely restaurants- small, famous, new, old, beach, in town......

All the beaches were different but good to see and all in all we had a nice relaxing few days. 

In the evenings we always headed into town, looked round shops, sat in coffee shops, sipping cafe com leche and eating ridiculously sweet dolce de leche cakes ( but omg they are good).

On the 28th it happened. I, unfortunately, woke up with a fever and bad stomach and so my worst nightmare of lying in bed, whilst others swim in the ocean, came true!

But it was okay ( mainly because the weather wasn't too great- selfish I know).

The 29th was a transition day. Or a simpler way of saying that same sentence: we sat in a car for about 6 hours, whilst we drove to Angra ( outside Rio but on the other side than Buzios).

There is possibly nothing worse than sitting in a car, frezing your a** off and watching the temperature outside rise to near boiling point. How do I know this? because as i sat in the car with insane air-conditioning, i had to watch others enjoy the heat whilst i was wrapping myself in all possible pieces of clothes!!

Anyway...after numerous bumps and turns and naps etc....we arrived!!!!

I knew that this place was one of the most beautiful I had seen so far BUT i knew this due to the pictures i looked at in a book about Angra - NOT because i saw it. The rain was coming down in masses previously unknon to me ( and everyone else it seemed).

It was almost scary to see that the sky could drown me on the spot if it wished to!

So that afternoon, the whole of the next day , AND the one after that it rained!! The newspapers and all TV stations were obsessed with the topic of 'rain', and so we saw it everywhere: on paper, on TV, outside the window....

As previously stated, more water dropped down in 12 hours than it usually does in 2 weeks, so just try ( really try) to imagine how massive each raindrop was :)

And now: Feliz ano novo ( yep I am slowly taking in some portuguese)!!!!

This New Year's Eve was certainly a happy one!

But I am afraid that of that I shall write a bit more in my next message, because right now I must ( i am sorry to you all) put my bikini on and venture out on a private boat, to circle around the islands of Angra.

It really is hard labour you know - getting tanned, making sure i am properly hydrated, spreading sun lotion :)