I´m Here!

So I made it safely ~ leaving Edmonton International at 12:30 on September 10 and ultimately arriving in Xela at 1:00 pm September 12th.  YES!

In Guatemala City (September 11), I stayed with Gilda and her two daughters at their Bed and Breakfast.  It must have been about 2:00 when I arrived at their place and slept until 6 and then off and on again until 10, at which time I went to bed and slept until 5:15.  I suppose that this must not be very interesting, but I think my mother will be pleased that I took so many naps!  I also slept on and off on the bus, when I arrived at my host family´s house in Xela, and then again from 9:00 to 6:45. 

Today was my first day of classes, and I feel like sleeping again!  I think that exhaustion of the brain is stronger than I give it credit!  I understand some, but people speak so quickly, some with accents, that mostly it sounds like jibberish. I hope that will change!  I had classes from 8:00 to 1:00 (with a break at 10:30, at which time I tried to figure out how to use the computer´s keyboard.  I still haven´t found the dash.)  My classes are one on one.  My maestro for this week is Carlos...we had broken conversations about alcohisim, coffee plantations and exploitation of workers, crops and fruit.  It sounds more impressive than it was.  I feel so incompetent, and and unsure that I will learn as much as I want to, but at the same time, was encouraged by the sentences that I could understand.  Right now, 20 minutes before our afternoon activity (watching some sort of musical demonstration), I am quietly overwhelmed.  I am not scared, I am sure that customs and familiarity will come in time, but I am simply uncertain of when.  I wish that I had someone to explore the city with, to figure out laundry, and to buy a electrical converter ... it would be nice...but I am not worried, just uncertain.  I´ll let you know when I figure some of it out...they are victory of sorts! 
(Today I figured out how to open the front door, and how to find the @ sign on the computer.  Good things :)

My host family lives three doors down from the school (thank you, Jesus!).  We had beans and eggs for supper last night...pancakes this morning...and rice and chicken for lunch - (hey!  dash!)  good food!  (I expressed concerns to some of you that we would be eating pancakes and pasta all the time...not so far!)
Oh, and the little girl in my house, Luisa, was playing with my hair and got a comb dreadfully stuck my  first day!  Her mother was NOT impressed.  oops!  I honestly thought we might have to cut it out, but her madre, Marla, got it out.  Good times. 

Words I learned today:

arroz - rice
subir - to ascend (a volcano for instance)
trigo - wheat
finca - farm
ambos - both

Aren´t you glad that you know that as well now!

Anyway.  I will keep you posted.  Thank you for your emails, prayers, and letters.  I appreciate it so much!  Keep letting me know what you are up to!