So, this is my short story...

Ok, so afer about 2 weeks of not seeing a computer (pretty relaxing, but also frustrating since I^ve been wondering what^s been passing me by), I haver found a place in San Felipe that works for me. Quaint, on a 2nd story, over looking the park this morning (which will no doubt be half convered in trash of all shapes and sizes by the afternoon) with classical music playing in the background.

Anyways, so far so good. My finca is superrequete-tranquilo. Get this, during Semana Santa, the holiest of holy weeks here, basically 96% of the people WENT HOME. Well, I guess that means they went to see their relatives and all, but I was always told that they went home somewhere by the other folks who stuck around. So, Easter was quite.

Did a couple hikes during that week closer to the volcano, spot about 2km from the crater. For reference, the observatory is about 6.5km. But it was really sweet. You really get a good view of the explosions, avalanches and gas exhalations. Worth the 1.5-2 hour hikes. We left the obsv. around 5 each time. Another day we went into one of the rivers, Nima I, where on March 25 there was a sizable lahar. So we took some measurements, waiting for the next one to come and knock down a few wall and all. During the rainy season, I am told, they occurr all the time. I hope to be a lahar expert, and they say all I need is one rainy season, and maybe another Stan.

The schools will be working with are small. There are 2 schools, each having one teacher and multiple grades. The school in Finca Patzulin has 9 students in the am, and 9 in the pm. Last Friday we took a class field trip around the finca (macadamia) and now I know where a mineral water spring is. Rather tasty.

More to come on schools later when I actually to real work...

So, all is well. I^m just chillin right now, waiting to go back to El Faro, where I^ll finally be playing some fútbol this afternoon. I^ll be playing in sneakers since my kleats (tacos) are in the Guate-office right now. Whatever.

In conclusion, things are very low key and tranquilo. My only beef with this place is that since I live right near the volcano, there have been several instances where after doing the dishes or my laundry, I come back to find they are dirty again... due to the ash clouds that come south, over the obsv. and fincas.

Well then. Best wishes to everybody, hope you didn^t miss me since I^ve been gone. I^ll get back again when things get more interesting.

Adiós.