Overdue update

Sorry we haven't posted for a long time. You may have seen the pictures that we posted on facebook recently.  Over Thanksgiving we spent time at the hotel of a school board member in Santa Cruz.  It's just a fifteen minute boat ride.  It's absolutely beautiful.  Having Thanksgiving dinner with the expats of Lake Atitlan was great.  Generally the people who gravitate to this area are here for one of two reasons.  If you ask questions about their life and they start giving you evasive answers or cold stares they fall into the group of people who are here to not be found elsewhere. In other words they are hiding from someone - don't get out a camera when they are around.  Other people are here to help with humanitarian efforts.  There are a ton of people here trying to get aid to the Maya people.  (I was told Mayan is a westernization). Also, there are people who have relocated here because it's a beautiful place to be and the cost of living is low.  I think there are some who retire here for that reason. 

I've been teaching art at the school - which is ironic since my brothers are the ones who took all the art classes.  We are having fun though.  It takes a hunk out of my week so getting the laundry all done by hand has been more challenging.  A couple people have told me that I could hire a Maya girl to come in a do it for 10 Q an hour.  So for three dollars for two hours.......quite a dilemma.

We're trying to decide what to do for Christmas.  We may visit more towns around the lake or visit Maya ruins.  We probably won't venture too far.  Cian is still pretty young for long bus rides and hikes.  He will turn four on December 27th.  We found a new playground this week.  There are about sixteen things to play on. I'm pretty sure they are from the 1950's. When we walked in, he just stood staring for a long time.  Then he said he wanted to stay all day and play.  A little girl about nine years old played with him.  Older kids here are so protective of younger kids.  It doesn't even have to be siblings.  They take Cian in and he is included in their community.  He is something of a legend around town.  Where ever we go kids are calling out "hola Cian" or the other nicknames they have given him.  One two year old loves to see Cian.  He says, "hola coche" (bondie).  We'll try to update sooner next time! Jill