Guate Days

High time I updated my blogs...I am still unsure of how to go about writing about Guate after moving back. The Congo is still quite present in my everyday life, though. I am trying to familiarize myself with the environment crowd again and I keep drawing examples from Congo and Central Africa all the time. It has been fun (and helpful!) to be able to compare gossip on the BINGOs and the general conservation situation and mostly to feel like I can work in my own country on subjects that I care and see some change (if minor) happen in my lifetime.

I do and will miss the vastness of the Congo Basin forests. The pressure on Guate's resources is immense and the little forest left seems to be under serious siege by the usual, scary suspects. I do enjoy being a national again. I never got used to being an ex-pat, specially an obviously white one. I love blending and speaking Spanish and working with colleagues that care as much as I do about the environment, economic development, health, etc. etc. etc. I have so many plans I'll have to take good care of my health because I might need to work well into my 80s to do what I want to do.



I will miss Africa. I am disappointed that the trip I had planned for this year will not happen and hope I'll get to go back in the near future. I miss AB, Martin, TGV, Jack, Nina, Hugette and the rest of the crowd, gossiping with the girls and discovering the globalization of crash diets :) I miss aquagym and not having to wear a sweater in the evening.


I had missed Guate. I am glad I caught the last days of the rainy season and am loving every single November day with its random kites in the sky. I got to walk in the mud and wear my field boots (¿vio Manolo?) hear Q'eqchi' spoken again. I thought I could still say a few words but soon realized all that was coming out was either Lingala or French...


I can't wait to have friends and family visit next year and be, once more, the insufferable Chapina that believes that even if not all is well here, it is always better to be "in my country."

P.S. Congrats to all my friends on Obama's win. We have been shameless supporters of Barack Obama and are thrilled to share the excitement with all the peoples of the United States. Another great November!