Sik' = cold
Wal sik' al = It's really cold
nap' = rain
Wal nap' oj = It's raining a lot
A'ej = water
Maqun a'ej = lots of water
Si' = firewood
Q'a = fire
Tx'i = dog (we have a nice German shepherd named Doki guarding our house)
Watx = good
Watx mi akul = Are you well?
Yuwal Tiox = Thank you
Chach lo wi = To your health
Chajin = Good day
Tx'utx' = Ma'am
Mam = Sir
Chikay = Grandmother
Kape = Coffee
Tzaloji = Happy
Chach tzaloji = Are you happy?
Chi tzaloji = yes, I'm happy.
(I taught the family I'm living with how to say "happy" with a little help from Pharrell Williams)
Pictures: Arriving in Santa Eulalia . . .
My friends from Los Angeles, Ana and Juanatano, drove the 3 hours from Sta. Eulalia to Huehuetenango (the capital of the department of the same name) to pick me up. Amazing friends!
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| "El Mirador," (the overlook) - cresting the top of the mountain as we head up from Huehuetenango. |
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| Ana in her warm down jacket as the cold sets in |
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| Juanatano enjoying the view |
First day in Santa Eulalia: Luckily a sunny day! Hike to a waterfall with Juanatano's brother, José, and then lunch at their house in the village of Paiconob, a bit east of Santa Eulalia.
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| José at the top of the waterfall |
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| José's nephew (also José) on the road back to Paiconob |
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| José had to usher this cow off of the road with caution: The rope around its horns apparently signals that this cow is not docile. |
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| Juanatano's sister, Eulalia, braiding my hair. |
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| They really go all out with the braids here--five pieces in this one! |
Santa Eulalia Dwellings: My humble abode for the next 6 months, and my wonderful host family
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| Entrance to my room - has anyone ever seen my desk this messy? |
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| My comfortable bed with about 6 blankets to keep warm |
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| View from the roof looking south up the hill toward the center of town |
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| My own personal kitchen! The mother of my host father (Doña Isabela) lives with me in the house next door to theirs. She is the domestic wiz cooking everything on the plancha, the firewood stove. She only speaks Q'anjob'al, so we have a fun time trying to communicate. |
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| View looking north from the kitchen window |
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| Host family's house (Ashley and Haiden hiding under the tree, Kevin and Elvis washing dishes at the pila). |
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| Haiden and Ashley Pascual García |
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| Haiden and Dokie, our guard dog! |
