Two steps forward one step back

Another day of challenging spanish study. Our teachers admonished us for not studying more over the weekend. I even went back in study to review some of the earlier lessons on beginner verbs. My teacher fell asleep while I was struggling with the conjugations. I am equally sorry for and relieved that tomorrow is the last day of language school (unless we choose to pick up some more classes elsewhere). We continue to try out and make mistakes with our conversations with others. We laugh with the other students over our mispronunciations and misuse of words. Many of the spanish words are like english ones but with an "ito" or "udo" or "ando" at the end of it. It can get you into trouble though when you make wild leaps. A fellow student asked at a restaurant for the "menudo"(menu) which actually means innards or gizzards!
Finally found the post office and found a place to put minutes on our travel phone. We asked a number of people where the correo (post office) was and each one said two blocks down on the right, even though we asked a person a block in between. This reminded us that often in central america people do not want to say that they don't know where something is so instead they give some random directions. Like "sure, it's two blocks down on the right". In this case though, the directions were correct if a little vague (or maybe our understanding was vague) and we made it there just fine. A fairly long wait behind a women helping her mother mail a package while keeping track of a little one. Change purses dropping, slow writing, kid putting his fingers in the wall socket....... I smiled inside as I know this to be a common reality across the world - including mine!

We visited a factory/shop for jade which was really fascinating. The founders of this modern jade commerce made a specific point of keeping the manufacturing and finishing of pieces in the country and with the local workers. The jade is only slightly softer than diamonds and so the cutting, carving, shaping is labor intensive. The use of jade goes back to Olmec times and the Mayans considered it more valuable than gold. The spanish conquistadores saw the human sacrifice tied to the jade and forbade it's use in trade. It's beauty and uniqueness gained popularity again in the 70's with discoveries of jade masks in mayan tombs. See National Geographic mags.

We all hope to have a good nights sleep to be fresh for our last full day in Antigua. Wednesday morning we will travel to Lake Atitlan. It is not too far from here and we plan on staying at a permaculture site located on the lake for a few days of learning, sharing, volunteering and bird watching. We are looking forward to being out of town and seeing a new place. The lake region has a wide variety of small towns and some mayan ruins not too far off. I am still in search of chili rellenos....

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