Days 10 and 11 (Fiesta and Volcano)

Name: Hope Sexton Date: June 20

I forgot to report this yesterday: we have a friend here named Melvin. We were sitting with him after lunch yesterday and he had a stack of around 20 tortillas. He was very protective of his plate and wouldn’t share for anything. Then we were going to play somewhere but he wasn’t done with his food or with his chores. So he threw his broom that he was in charge of in a tree. Then he walked to a bush right next to the tree and stuck his plate in it to save it for later. Right before dinner it started to rain and we said “Melvin tus tortillas!” so he ran back to his bush and took his tortillas back out and started eating them. It might not sound funny now, but it was very entertaining at the time. But today we had a birthday party for everyone who had their b-day in June. We blew up balloons and were throwing them around for a long time, then we colored and ate lunch. There was this weird ice cream in a packet and they were teaching me how to open and eat it. It was gross but interesting. And they all put ketchup on their pizza. But it was rainy today so I haven’t been outside much, but for the past few nights we have been playing basketball so that’s the plan for esta noche. I want to take Jonathan home with me, so Cindy if you don’t mind, there is room in my suitcase. But he has one brother and two sisters so…I guess you have a lot to think about. Ok this was a really random blog with no order but those were the things I had to say. Oh! Guzy just told us yesterday that our casa was the only one without hot water! So everyone else, including her, had nice showers while we woke up and froze our butts off. So I’ll be making trips over to casa 2 from now on. Ok I’ll see you in 4 days. Hasta la vista


Name: Kelsey Jacobson Date: June 20

Hola mis amigas y familia!!! Ok, so I know that my other blogs are really long so ill try to keep this short. So, today we had a fiesta!!!! It was so much fun! I danced with some of the boys (they are all really good dancers) and jump roped/colored with the girls. After, some of us girls (well…just Melissa and I) played hair salon in our casa. Kathleen was the judge. I took a nap too J Then, we watched the older boys (18-22) play a soccer game. It was so cool. They did every type of move known to man (ok maybe that’s an exaggeration, but It was still really cool). Oh, wait side note: at the fiesta, the boys Melissa, Erin, and I sat by were so funny. They were 11 years old, so it was clear that they had just hit puberty. HAHA. After dinner, us girls went out to hang out with the pequenos. It was so much fun because Melissa, Brittni, Kathleen, and I went to the older boys house to get them to play futbol with us. We got the most intense game going ever!!!! I mean the footskils, the shots, the men, and the magic all together created the most memorable night of my lifeJ BUT then…everything came to a dramatic halt!!! Dun dun dun…..I fell. I fell hard. I rolled my ankle landing from a shot, and I had to go to the clinica. They did absolutely squat! O, well. The woman started mumbling Spanish and almost didn’t let me into the clinica. The plus side was some of the boys we played against helped carry me to the clinic, and then Jason carried me on his back all the way back to mi casa! Ya-hoo! So, all in all, I’m ok. It’s just undecided whether or not I can hike the volcano tomorrowL Alritey, Buenos noches!!!! JJJJJJJJ
P.S. For the past few days, Brittni and I have entertained this kid Alexander with our singing and dancing “abilities”. Basically, we serenade him. It kinda gets awkward at some times considering he stares at us……but o well Brittni and I have fun doing it and will continue to do it hehe


Name: Melissa Plooster Date: June 20

I was woken up today by a swarm of disgusting, black, buzzing flies that I personally want to murder; I’ve never felt so much rage in my life. I shouldn’t even say “woken up”.. I should say kept up by all of them because I wasn’t able to even fall asleep with their constant buzzing. But on another note, yesterday we worked clearing another field. I made a fatal error. I woke up in the morning… the sky was completely overcast. And I thought that I didn’t need to put on sunscreen. Falso. I guess Guatemala sun can blast through clouds, and I got sunburned. Surprise, surprise. Today we had a fiesta for los ninos to celebrate their birthdays; it happens once a year to celebrate everyone’s together. We had pizza and pastel (cake) and helado (ice cream). But Kelsey, Erin, and I were sitting with 11 year old boys. Their bodies were full of pubescent hormones, and they couldn’t seem to keep their thoughts in their heads. Awkward… oh well, it was still funny. Then later at night we went to the young boys’ dorm, but when we went inside, they all were running around without shirts on. And we couldn’t find the tio (the adult in charge of them).. so we stood around awkwardly until he explained they were all going to shower. So we left and went upstairs to the older boys home and we joked around with them for a while, until we got a group of guys to go play futbol with us on the field. It split up the teams and my team was winning 4-0 for quite a while with like 3 less people. The boys here have some SERIOUS soccer skills (jugadas), they could dribble circles around the guys in America. Not to mention that the boys playing with us were pretty good looking (one was actually taller than me for a change!). But then Kelsey rolled her ankle, and the person in the clinic had no idea what she was doing. But tomorrow we’re going to an active volcano and we’re going to roast marshmallows over the burning lava. I’m pumped, not gonna lie.


Name: Devon FitzGerald Date: June 20

Today was crazy! We had a fiesta for the kids with Domino pizza, cake, and “ice cream” (I don’t think you could really call it that!). The kids went crazy with all the balloons—they loved playing futbal with them. Another nice thing about today is that we didn’t have to work!! I think yesterday was our last day working, as the next few days will be spent at the VOLCANO, Antigua again, and just a day cleaning and playing with the kids. YAY!


Name: Erin K and Kelsey H Date: June 21

It’s hard to keep track of days here but I surprisingly know that today is Fathers Day! So…happy father’s day, Dad!!! Today was the best day here in Guatemala for me…even though I haven’t seen much of the kids today. We took an hour and half bus ride (extremely bumpy and cold) to a town outside of Antigua for our long anticipated hike up Volcan Pacaya. It was the most intense five hour hike of my life (the first five hour hike of my life) and it felt like I was a part of a documentary for the Discovery Channel. We hiked through a rainforest-like area with the rain and after getting to the end of that and getting use to the high altitude, we thought the beautiful scenic view (of the two other volcanoes, “Agua” and “Fuego”, and the other cities and green hills below) told us that our hike was over – we were dead wrong! Looking even more up the mountain, where the volcano actually was, were small dots of colors, which we realized were people. No way did any of us actually think we were allowed to go up the mountain of black molten rock, let alone equipped or physically prepared for what was ahead of us. Sorry for the novel (again…) but it’s so hard to describe the scary trek up and all of the bruises and cuts we got from the coral-like rocks surrounding us. I thought all of the rock climbing walls I use to climb when I was younger would help me in this situation, but I was wrong…again. I don’t know how we made it to the top but it was the most rewarding feeling! REAL LAVA was flowing through the crevices and the intense heat would randomly sting out legs as we walked around roasting our hundreds of marshmallows on our walking sticks. Surreal may be the best way to describe today and I hope the pictures on my disposable camera turn out. We realized that we didn’t need the sun out for us to have an unforgettable experience above the clouds on a volcano.


Name: Mariah Morris Date: 6/21/09

Today we climbed the volcano Pacaya which was amazing and I will tell in great detail later because it was way cooler than mount Vesuvius. Also if dad reads this HAPPY FATERS DAY I am sorry I had to miss it. Love you tones and miss you and will se you soon


Name: Meredith Lawlor Date: June 21, 2009

Hi everyone!! As you have already read today we climbed up volcano Pacaya, which we believe to have been 12000-13000 ft. I think we were all very surprised to find that it was not a leisurely day hike along a paved walkway but rather an intense hike up loose rocks that covered the “trail”. When we all successfully reached the top and caught our breath we looked up to see an amazing view. It stretched for miles making every scrape and bead of sweat well worth it. This post is for you dad, I know you and mom wanted me to blog. It’s the best/only gift I can really give you today. Hope you had a great one. HAPPY FATHERS DAY! Love mimi
P.S. Say hi to g-man and paiger for me.


Name: Kelsey Hennen Date: June 21

Happy Father’s Day Dad! I climbed the volcano in celebration for having such a great dad!


Name: Maura Kelly Date: 21 June 2009

Today was FLIPPING AWESOME! Honestly one of the best days of my life J We hiked thru a rainforest, up the side of a volcano, and roasted marshmallows over flowing lava!!! Amazing. I cant wait to tell u all about it when I get home! Happy Father’s Day DAD! I miss u all and I will see u in 3 days! O and say hi to grampa for me and tell him I love him J…and gramma too! And hi Meg and Mom and Carol
<3 MK

Name: Melissa Plooster Date: June 21

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, PADRE!!!! I love you! Today we went to Volcan Pacaya, which will remain one of the most memorable days of my life. I loved it! It is Maura’s and I’s new goal in life to climb five volcanoes and then get a fire tattoo on our ankle. It might take a while… I really want to describe in detail what happened at our awesome excursion, but it seems like everyone before me already said it, and I think it will be some much better to tell you in person. Words don’t describe. But later tonight we hung out at the guy’s house again, but we didn’t play soccer because Kelsey is a cripple. L We did set a time for tomorrow’s soccer match: tomorrow at 7pm. I’m pumped. We’re going to Antigua tomorrow. It will be a great day. I love you dad, and I’m missing you! Sorry I couldn’t be there for Father’s Day.


Name: Devon FitzGerald Date: 6-21

Post: Happy Fathers Day, Dad!!


Name: Hope Sexton Date: june 21

Happy father’s day Dave!!!!!!!!! There is so much to say about today but it’s super late and I’m really exhausted. But basically I climbed up a volcano and roasted marshmallows over the lava. The rocks were like coral so if you fell, it hurt SO bad. But basically I’m a skilled climber now haha. But really, I love you both and Happy Father’s day!!!


Name: Kelsey Jacobson Date: June 21

Happy Father’s Day Daddy!!! I miss you and love you! I’m so sorry I couldn’t be in Minnesota with you on your special day! Ok, so my day was different than everyone else’s. I stayed home with Maria, Chris (Mr. Pohlen’s wife), and Olivia (Pohlen’s daughter). Maria, Olivia, and I were not in adequate condition to climb a volcano todayL So we went to Antigua and drove around the town. Es muy bonita! Then we watched a movie- Marley and Me. We had quite the tear fest. After Maria and I went to go watch some of the boys play soccer, and we bonded with them. They are all so niceJ Then the rest of the girls came back to the casa! Thank the lordy! We ate a muy bueno dinner. After dinner, Melissa, Devon, Brittni, Kathleen, Hope, and I headed over to the older boys house. It was hilarious. We were showing them American dance moves, and they were showing us Guatemalan dance moves. We also taught them a bunch of English words, and they wrote them down. So all in all, it was another awesome dia en Guatemala!!! I still miss all you Minnesotans and can’t wait to see you on Thursday! Buenos noches mis amigas y familia!


Name: Natalie LeSage Date: June 21

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY DAD!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!