Asociacion Integral de la Juventud Q'Anil

Pictures: Overlooking Q'anil, Jenna and I with (L-R) Pedro and Cristobal

Hi! We just got done eatting lunch at a fantastic little place, and I have some time, so here is more information! I get up at 7 every morning, eat breakfast at 7:30 am, we leave at 8, and walk to the Association. We have been walking everywhere, which is great, but I'm exhausted! We work at the Association in the morning, which is currently under construction, so not many people are around. The work has been really frustrating, but that's kind of what we were assuming. They say to be there at 8, which means between 8:15 and 8:30, and our lunch break ends around 2:00. The time is so laid back, and I have had a hard time adapting to this, since I get really stressed out when I'm late. Anyways, so far we've dusted books in the library for 2 mornings, then 2 of the 3 paid workers at the Association: Esteban and Pedro, reorganized them on the shelves. We now are doing book inventory, which literally means writing the name of every book down, it's author, quantity of the book, and cost which they right inside the cover. It seems like such busy work, especially since the guys tell us different things every time we ask, or our Spanish understanding is just that bad. We are supposed to inventory by section, but there are math books on multiple shelves, which doesn't really make sense. Anyways, we just sort of plug a long and try our best. It definitley feels like we're more work for them by actually being there, which is frustrating, and not really helping out. We then have a 2 hour lunch break to go walk around Nebaj and find different lunch spots everyday. We return around 2 and in the afternoon we usually go to the school that the Association supports, however we were expecting to work with the students and teachers, but so far they haven't had classes in the afternoon to celebrate the 5th year anniversary of the school, so we've just sat and watched talent shows and soccer competitions. Interesting, but really boring and uncomfortable just sitting there being stared at. The first afternoon we got up in front of everyone, but 50 students, and had to introduce ourselves over the microphone, in Spanish of course, oh man. Apparently next week in the afternoons we are going into surrounding communities with the teachers at the Association, Esteban, Pedro, and Kristobal is the other, to work with children? Then I guess there are 10 students from Canda coming next week to help with tree planting and reforestation in the mountains, so we'll work with them? It's kind of frustrating not really knowing what you'll be doing in the next hour or day of your life, and makes the days go by pretty slow. We leave the school or Association around 4 or 5, then usually go back to either Ben's house (my other friend with us) or our house and play games and hang out with the families. Yesterday we taught Ben's little siblings and aunt how to play Uno. It was great Spanish practice and really fun. Dinner is around 6:30. The food has been amazing, Anna and Casinta are amazing cooks. Last night I had the best vegetable soup I have ever had. We also have tea with every meal and bread that is a specialty to Nebaj, also amazing. There is rarely any fruit or vegetables in their diet, so that might be interesting. We then usually go up to our rooms, get ready for bed, journal and read, and hit the foam strips by 9:00. Ha. So there is rough day in Nebaj! Everything is different everyday since we never really know what we're doing. I hope that time goes quickly and we enjoy our time here for the next 3 weeks. It's hard because I feel like I'm so close to being home, but also need to fully put myself here and appreciate this oh so different, amazing experience. The Association works with youth in the communities, and through the school which they founded which provides education at a cheaper cost for parents that can't afford the education here, in four areas: education, health education, development and conflict resolution, and cultural values and traditions. The Association is struggling to find money to support the school, and Kristobal said that the school will close next year if more supporters are not found. Well, lunch break is over! I'll probably write again sometime next week. Hope everyone is doing well! Thanks for all the prayers and thoughts. I miss you all!

Much love,
Rachel