There's a cowboy in the Jungle

The great singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett starts one of his most well known songs out with the all too true line

"Livin on sponge cake, watching the sun the bake."

  However, more relevent to my situtuation is the song that begins

"There's a cowboy in the jungle and he looks so out of place."

 Now I'm not saying I wear flanel shirts, jeans, boots, and a wicked sweet mustache (or am I? Seriously I haven't seen a mirror in a few days and there isn't one sight.) I do stand out quite a bit down here ( as evidenced by the little kids who yell "Gringo, gringo" every time I walk out of my room).  I think the adverage hight in Guatemala is somewhere between my bellybutton and arm pits, which puts the fourth graders I teach at about my waist.  I stood out like a cowboy in the jungle when I traveled to the village.  (As a side note, in Guatemala the road lines are more suggestions than anything else, and I think bus drivers get the brake and the horn confused.  The problem is applified by the fact that the horn seems to be connected to the accelerator. Usually the situation is remedied by swerving in the left lane as we go around a blind corner. ) The combination of bad driving and sticking out like a sore thum, and my sub-par spanish, made for a nervous trip.  I have been able to calm down a little though since arriving in San Jose el Teroso, and I'm enjoying getting to know the kids I teach, as well as a few other brave souls to yell "Gringo ven aqui."

In general everyday has been abit of a dream.  I can't believe I'm actually down here. Nor can I believe I'm going be down here unitl mid August! But its also a lot of fun. I got completely soaked in mud my first soccer game (which my team won by the way).  I think first day I taught I was just saying the first spanish words that came to mind.  Today was better, but I never prepared for the challenge that is teaching shy fourth graders.  Sometimes I think I would get a louder response from my echo if I taught a wall. 

Its crazy how living out of your comfort zone gives you a more honest view of yourself.  There are no comforts or even things I'm familiar with to hide behind.  Just me, and talk is cheap. The town runs on rain water, and my toilet doesn't flush.  I have to use a buckett of water to wash everything down.  How does that work you ask? Well its a crap shoot. (oooh see what I did there).  Well I should probably get some work done before my spanish soap starts.  I don't understand much of the talk, but the cheap camera work and dramatic facial expressions are captavating! I'll try to update this a couple times a week. Keep me in your prayers!