Dreams/Nightmares

Last night I had a dream that I was in a big hotel or convention center that was going to have some sort of large event the next day. They needed help and were hiring, but they didn't really know how many people they needed. So, they brought a bunch of us in and were training us just in case. The training consisted of (literally) running through the hotel for a tour - I was going as fast as I could to keep up and kept losing sight of the people in front of me in line and the tour guide. Then when I finally caught up, they were showing everyone how to carry plates of food. They handed me three plates to balance on my arm and then kept piling more and more on...plus cutlery and napkins and I was worried I was going to drop everything but also intent on holding onto it all so I would get hired for the event the next day.

Okay, any guesses what I'm worrying about after 2 weeks of school? Is this dream transparent, or what? You guessed it, the work load in this accelerated program is crazy to say the least. We have 16 hours of class a week, hundreds of pages of texts to read, plus lab skills practice. And oh, by the way, in your free time, don't forget to do the independent math class, the OSHA/HIPPA exam, and the Cultural Competency self-guided study. Still not enough? Well here's some recorded lectures to listen to from the day of class you all missed on MLK day. Argh - I was literally in tears on Friday, overwhelmed by the sense that there was no human way possible to get it all done. But, I'm getting really good at skimming the reading, prioritizing, and just taking one step at a time. And they promise us that after the first 10 weeks are over, things will get better. I hope so because I don't know how long I can keep juggling all these plates of food!

Adventures of the Academic Kind

As I sat down to write this evening, I let loose a heavy sign without even thinking about it. Nursing school starts next Monday and I am filled with a sense of impending doom! Not knowing exactly what to expect, my anxious little brain immediately goes to the worst possible case for the next year: I won't read any books except textbooks, I'll never have time to workout, I will do nothing but go to class, do homework, and otherwise try to survive. In this spirit, I have been scrambling this week, trying to finish every possible errand I can think of because I'm just certain I won't even have time to go to the pet store to buy cat food once school starts!

Okay, I know it's a little nuts, but I've been so spoiled this year with fun travels that I am reluctant to trade all this in for the classroom....even if it is for just a year! Having said that, I know this year holds promise for adventures of a different sort, and I look forward to new challenges and explorations into Pharmacology, Foundations of Nursing, Research, etc. And I already have learned a few tips to pass on:

1. Visit campus a few days before orientation to get an ID, parking pass, and buy books. Lines are nonexistent.

2. As much as possible, try to avoid buying books in the bookstore. Given the constantly updating scam that textbook writers seem to love, this isn't always possible. I would have spent nearly $1000 in textbooks in the bookstore, but was able to save $140 by buying some of them on Half.com.

3. Fill the freezer with as much food as possible so no cooking will be necessary. (That's kinda just me being a mom....I will feel a little bit better if my "babies" at least are eating right!)

4. Cram lots of fun into the last few weeks before school; just in case life as we know it really does come to an end!

On that note, I'll post a few pictures of adventures for the past few weeks. We spent Solstice up in Yellowstone staying in the snow lodge and cross country skiing around the Old Faithful area during the day. I highly recommend this mode of seeing Yellowstone - fewer crowds, no cars, brilliant snow, lots of wildlife (bison, elk, coyotes, bald eagles, swans), and a beautiful contrast between the hot bubbling geysers and the cold snow and ice. Very very nice.

The rest of our holiday break was spent in Driggs, ID where we went nordic skiing, visited friends, and hung out reading. The temps were actually a bit on the warm side for Driggs this time of year (mid to upper 20s), but good enough for skiing up the Teton Canyon. One day, we broke trail up into the South Teton Creek where we saw a bunch of tracks that we thought we moose. After skiing a little bit more, I suddenly spotted movement across the creek where I saw 2 bull moose. I quickly shot this picture (a little too far away)

and then threw my ski poles to Ben so I could stalk the moose with my camera. Even with skis on, I was sinking into the snow down to my thighs so I was really thrashing around. I was able to get a little closer together and had a really good view of the two moose so started shooting again:

Unfortunately, my timing was terrible and I barely caught the moose's antlers as he emerged from one tree...and then got his hind leg as he ducked behind the next tree.

Oh well, it was still a treat to see them! And it was a great way to end our trip....

I have to say goodbye to our Driggs playground until at least next August when we have our fall break. I took a picture of my favorite rocks to gaze upon until I can return:

May

Did I really skip blogging for the entire month of April?  It's true - I've been a little grumpy since returning from Guatemala to the U.S.  I think part of the difficulty is returning to the realities of life such as oil changes and house hunting and school registration and haggling about school registration, etc.   Another, bigger part is that I miss the adventures and the exploring and new sights and people in Guatemala.  I could wander around Antigua every day noticing interesting details, taking photos of faces with character, and eating new foods.  I really enjoyed the ongoing challenge of trying to communicate in Spanish and meeting interesting new people.  Since returning to Boulder, I've been in a bit of a cranky rut with the same daily workout on the elliptical machine in the hotel fitness room, the same breakfast at the hotel breakfast buffet, and even sliding into an addiction with watching "House" every night.  This is NOT okay.  Then this morning while walking along the South Boulder Creek, I remembered that there is nothing stopping me from exploring Boulder with the eyes of a tourist; I can bring an adventurous fresh approach even to a place where I've lived for more than ten years.   When I lived in Colorado Springs, we mocked people who drove half way across the country to spend their week's vacation camping on the street where we lived all year.  It wasn't until I had moved away for years and then visited with Kelsey & Larissa that I appreciated all the fun touristy things Colorado Springs had to offer.  We had a blast visiting the zoo, Cave of the Winds, the USAFA, Garden of the Gods and camping at nearby Rampart Reservoir.   I never appreciated what was in my own backyard and am sincerely sorry for mocking those tourists who could see and value what I couldn't.  

Boulder was gorgeous this morning - the air was fresh and clean after a few days of rain and things are just starting to green up.  I saw some wild iris just about to bloom and the wild cows that inhabit the Boulder Mountain Parks & Open Space have been busily augmenting their population.  There was also a beautiful red tail hawk that had an impressive chunk missing from one of its wings....and seemed to be soaring without any difficulties.   I'm going to start carrying my camera around on my walks again, so I can continue the travels.  Bon voyage!

Little Girls & Flowers

At the procession yesterday, I was more interested in watching these little Mayan girls than anything else. They were completely focused on the creating of the alfombras (the flower carpets) and eventually, I learned what they were up to.

Before the procession, they sat at the edge of the design, watching while all the flowers were straightened and sprinkled with water:

During the procession they stood on the sidewalk to watch:

Or, sat during breaks in the excitement:

After the procession the girls ran skipping over the carpet, dancing on the design and collecting flower blooms:



Arranging her "stash":

Trading and organizing the goodies:

Playing dress up with the littlest one:

And finally....it's over. This is the expression on her face when she saw the remnants of the flowers being swept up and dumped in the trash. The street cleaners follow the procession so quickly, I think she was stunned (and horrified) and the sudden disappearance and utter waste of the remaining flowers!

Disenchantment

Ah, it’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: my unenamoration? Debesottedness? Disenrapture? Unsmiting? Wow there are lots of good words to define infatuation….but not too many to express the opposite! Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that my disenchantment with Guatemala has finally come. I think it comes eventually to all travelers who spend enough time in a place and who are not completely clueless. Just as the initial thrill of passion fades from a new romance as one’s paramour’s blemishes or crooked teeth or stomach paunch begin to emerge from the fog of lust, so too does the glossy glow of enchantment dull when the new country disappoints, breaks one heart or cruelly deceives. Sigh, I know that that means I’ll eventually develop a healthier, less idealized relationship with Guatemala but right now I’m feeling more than thoroughly fed up with the place! I also realize that our misadventures make some of the best and most memorable stories and I do acknowledge the value of that as well. But on to the whining! My “issues” with the country are:

1. For the second time during our visit here, I got a really bad intestinal problem just as I was embarking on a long journey. This meant that for 4 days, when I really wanted to be home, no further than 5 feet from the nearest bathroom, tucked into a cozy bed with lots of tea, good books, juice and crackers, I was instead bouncing around on a chicken bus or minivan pumping myself full of Immodium and wondering desperately whether I’d make it to the next bathroom stop. Not to mention the problem of actually having to use said next bathroom stop.

2. On too many occasions to count, the transportation promised during the reservation is not the transportation that shows up. And of course, once the vehicle appears, it’s much too late to do anything. No amount of questioning or probing seems to get around the smiling affirming faces promising whatever it is we seem to want….and eventually not delivering. The latest instance was our overnight bus from Tikal to Guatemala City (8 hour trip). We reserved a “first class” seat on a “premier” bus with the “most popular” bus line that even shows movies. When I probed about the bathrooms (see #1!!!!), I was assured, “Yes, yes, not to worry, everything will be functioning.” And what did we end up on? A rundown old greyhound type bus with worn upholstery, dirty floors, seats that may or may not recline, and a disgusting bathroom. The bathroom was basically a toilet with no water or flush mechanism. We were instructed to only urinate in the toilet and inform the “pilot” if we needed to “do anything else”. Okay, I guess this sort of qualifies as “functioning” as long as one doesn’t ponder the destination of the urine too long. Oh, and no light or TP either (but being a good girl scout, I was prepared with my headlamp and extra roll of TP) The movies were scratchy Spanish B&W films from the 50’s that might have been funny if the volume had been loud enough to hear. Furthermore, although it was direct service, it was not non-stop and we made multiple stop to load additional passengers along the way. What’s worst is that we know a better bus actually does exist! And not just for tourist groups! K&L and I were mistakenly loaded on an earlier bus from the same company that was quite impressive with clean cushy seats that reclined luxuriously, capacious leg room, and even a “hostess”. Unfortunately, we were unloaded at the next stop and told to wait for the next bus while we sadly watched other random Guatemalans board. Now we’re wondering whether we have to order “platinum class deluxe” service or “diamond studded titanium” class or “gold plated ambassador “service to get those cush buses. As it turned out, all of the gringos coming from Tikal to Guatemala City were on the 2^nd bus (complaining). We were pretty sure that was intentional.

3. Kelsey unintentionally made a very generous charitable contribution to some unknown resident of Guatemala. She is definitely a great kid and has a service oriented heart, but when I tell you that she was sobbing after this “donation”, you’ll realize that her laptop was stolen. We left 3 larger pieces of luggage in a locked room at our hotel in Antigua. And yes, we know that leaving a computer is not a good idea, but taking laptop on a 4 day sailing trip and then toting it around Guatemala for a week seemed like an even worse idea. Weighing the risks, we all packed up our laptops and left them in our luggage in Antigua. When we returned this morning, Kelsey’s beautiful new red Dell that she just received for Christmas from her grandparents (with ALL of her photos!) was missing. I spent most of the day hoofing back & forth to the Tourist Police to create an “announcement” and speaking very carefully to make sure I didn’t come out swinging with any inaccurate allegations. I don’t harbor any illusions about any of this really helping to solve the “crime” and I’m afraid we’ll never see the machine again, but I do think the hotel will tighten up their security after being chewed out by the police, and perhaps some other tourist won’t be required to make an involuntary charitable contribution.

So, I’m not feeling too wild about Guatemala at the moment. I realize it’s all part of the travel/learning experience and perhaps four days on a Gatorade diet combined with 36+ hours without sleep may possibly be coloring my perspective just a tad. So, I’ll write about my latest adventures tomorrow after I’ve slept, eaten, and had a chance to sort through all the fun photos we took. We really did have a grand tour, saw many incredible sights, and met a number of lovely people!

Tikal

This post is a tad bit out of date....just catching up with some photos!  

First of all, I was relieved to find that our hotel in Tikal was really really nice.  I was still sick, mostly just wanted to be home, and definitely didn't have it in me to stay in any roach motel.  We had booked a night at the Tikal Inn before we left Antigua because we wanted to stay close to the park.  Although this hotel was pricier than some of the other nearby options, it included breakfast & dinner, was super clean, and had a great pool.  I was really grateful for all of this because Kelsey and Larissa were basically on their own.  The first afternoon, I couldn't even get myself out of bed to go see the park, but they easily and safely walked around until sunset.  And at dinner, they were able to go to the hotel restaurant and eat without while I moaned and read novels in my bed.  

As an aside, I was really proud of both of the girls by this point in our travels.  They both seemed so much more confident and poised than when we began.  I attribute some of this to the lack of teen interaction.  That may sound surprising, and while they weren't thrilled to be without friends and peers, I really think that being away from the self obsessed teen culture of middle school and having to interact with young adults, older travelers, and even little kids helped them to mature significantly.  They both coped very well when I was sick, learned to make good judgement calls, and behaved all in all in a way that made me proud.  Looking back, if we had accomplished nothing else during our travels, I am satisfied with this achievement.  And of course, we also got to see a lot of fun sites, learn some Spanish, do some volunteer work....and get all of the "normal" school work done also.   I can appreciate why some people home school their children - so much time is wasted at regular school that if one is even slightly motivated, a lot more can be done at home!  Okay, so enough of that tangent.  Here's a pic of the pool at the Tikal Inn:

Some critters near the pool:

The second day, I managed to get myself out of bed long enough for a couple of short walks in the park.  There was no way I was going to travel all that way and NOT see the ruins!  And I was very very glad that I did.  Tikal impressed me more than I thought it would.  I'm fgenerally not a huge fan of ruins, but these were definitely special and worth seeing.

Tikal was most definitely not tidy or organized or informative with respect to its signage or anything else about it. And that´s  what I really enjoyed about it. Its twisting paths through the jungle were somewhat difficult to navigate but that was part of the charm for me. Wandering through the jungle, we listened to exotic bird calls, monkeys rustling in the branches above, and weird insect chirps. It smelled musty and the hot tropical air weighed upon us. Suddenly, we turned a corner and rising above the jungle canopy was the top of a 2700 year old temple, still covered with trees and vines and moss. It seems as if the excavation crews here must spend as much time keeping the ruins excavated as they spent excavating them in the first place. I imagine it`s a constant battle! It all felt so alive to me - I could really imagine how Mayans hundreds and thousands of years ago may have felt in this same place. Actually, I think I can imagine that, but then I remember that archeologists think Tikal had up to 90,000 inhabitants at one time so I´m pretty sure my experience among the ruins on a weekday was much more relaxing than theirs in the middle of the bustling city was! I loved how it felt wild and mystical; not like the sterile feeling that most museums evoke.

Mayan God of Chocolate

I'm doing some reading in preparation for our visit to Tikal, (800 B.C. - 900 A.D.), the largest excavated Mayan site in the Americas. Just discovered they had a god of chocolate "Chokola'j". Suddenly I'm intrigued with the Mayan culture....they must have been quite advanced to be smart enough to have a god of chocolate! And, apparently they knew and used the notion of 'zero' long before other cultures of the world.


I also learned a couple of other interesting facts. The Mayan calendar is more accurate than our modern calendar, "In our Gregorian calendar -- making due allowance for leap years -- the year has 365.2425 days, results in an error of 3.02 days in 10,000 years, while the year of the ancient Mayans numbered 365.242129 days!!!. This results in an error of 1.98 days for every 10,000 years." (From http://www.authenticmaya.com/calendar.htm) Not that most of us would notice that kind of error, but it's pretty impressive precision!

In addition, the pyramid that is being excavated at Mirador is the largest one in the world, larger even than any pyramid in Egypt. A professor from Idaho State recently announced the discovery of an impressive stucco panel dated 300 B.C. that depicts the Mayan Creation Myth.


Finally, the Mayan language was one of three "original" written languages in the world along with Sumerian and Chinese. They wrote books on handmade paper around the same time the Sumerians were writing on papyrus. Unfortunately, many of the books were destroyed by overzealous Spaniards threatened by the potential heresy contained within.