Bienvenido a Guatemala.

Just a quick note to let you all know I have finally arrived in Guatemala and am safe and sound! It feels so great to finally be here - I´ve been talking about it for so long it just seems crazy that this amazing journey I´ve been dreaming about for months is finally happening.

I had a wonderful last night in the States with Bob and Evan who drove me to St. Louis. We went to Dave and Buster´s for dinner and games. If you´re from Columbia and remember that place, Pocket Change, that used to be in the mall, you know what I´m talking about. It´s a massive room full of video games and we got some sweet prizes with the tickets we collected. It was a good night and I appreciate their driving me there and dropping me off at the airport the next morning - I know they were both super exhausted from the hours they´ve been keeping the past few days so THANK YOU!!

My flight got in around 2 pm Guatemalan time yesterday. I got through customs and baggage claim fast and wouldn´t you know it, but someone stole my black yoga pants of all things in my pack. They were really comfy too, dammit. Yesterday was a long day for me, but I made up for it by sleeping 11 hours last night...I went to bed at 7and Francesco told me this morning that I am a grandma. Oh well, if I have to come all the way to Guatemala to finally relax then a grandma is what I´ll be!

In my short time here I have had my first cold shower of many more to come. Yep...it still sucks. Surprisingly, I can still take 2 minute showers here. What´s the military time shower? 1 minute? I will try it sometime. I have also spent 4 fantastic hours at Ixchel with my good friend Lesli and shared some great laughs with her. Ixchel is quite different this time. There aren´t as many students and the atmosphere seems slower and more relaxed. I still love it, just a different pace. Slower is good - I´ve been so used to fast paced the past few weeks it feels kinda nice to slow the mind a bit. I have also eaten the biggest meal of my life today at lunch. I swear, Silvia is bound and determined to fatten me up in one week and I will let her. She still calls me her little china (Chinese girl) because I´m obsessed with rice - I could seriously live off of it I love it that much. I also ask for it with every meal...even breakfast.

Well, I just wanted to let you guys know I made it safely. I will write again later in the week. Miss you guys and thank you so much for the kind words and messages I´ve received the past few days. I appreciate you all very much!