nannaiverden

After 8 days in Toronto, Canada, we have done a lot of fun stuff, but now it's time to move on. And of course by moving on, I mean leaving the country and visit a NEW country. We had a lot of fun watching me almost freezing to death, visiting the Niagra Falls, museums, etc. Anyway, here are the pictures!

At "The Beaches" - I am COLD!!

We also went to Toronto ZOO!

Toronto seen by night from CN Tower - 342 meters above the ground!

Niagra Falls!

Some of the most important persons in my life.

Out eating dinner with a friend from my work in Norway - yummy!

So much fun seeing you again Linn!! Good luck with the rest of your school year!

My flight got cancelled today, so we were sent outside San Jose, Costa Rica, and enjoying free wifi, a whole room just for me! Costa Rica is a very beautiful country, and even tough I have visited it this time, will definitevely come back again. But here is my beautiful hotel FAR AWAY from the airport. Will fly to Canada tomorrow EARLY (07.00).

So soon Andrea and I going out for dinner, free dinner actually! Thanks to the flight company!!

Last weekend I went to Patzún with my friend, Raul, to visit the village and his family. It really turned out to be a great trip. Friday we took the chicken buses from Antigua to Patzún and enjoyed lunch with his family. Later we wandered around... Saturday we woke up early and went to hang out with the Scouts, also Ingvild and her new class visited the Scouts this day. And later took pictures and said goodbye to all of the girls from Norway. We ate lunch and went to a Scout-meeting at Damaris´s house (I stayed with this family last year) and I picked up a few Spanish words. Later we went to a small "church" and had a great time with a lot of young people there. After that we visited our mutual friend Justo in the radio, where he´s working. After 30 minutes there, went home and had dinner with the family (after 2 days in a family, it´s really YOUR family). And simply fell asleep just after that...! Sunday we went to the supermarket, visited Justo at his other work, made tamalitos (I don´t remember the other name!!!) - I tried at least, practised English-Spanish-Spanish-English and I had a really nice time playing with all of the kids in the house!! NOW, time for pictures!!!

At least I gave it a try! But after, it was enough! We would love to eat TODAY!!

Raul doing his homework and his nephew paying a lot of attention!

Playing around - I will catch you SOON!

My lovely family!

We played a lot of games, but the family laughed a lot when it first ran one small kid through the kitchen and after the crazy Norwegian trying to catch this little kid!!

This happens when the kids are trying to take photos for you!

Me and my hermanito :))

I just wanted to tell my blog that I met my former teacher in Antigua last week and went with them and did canoopy. It was awesome and I am really proud that the new class managed to gather around 120.000.- NOK for the projects here in Guatemala!! But sorry girls, you didn't beat our record from the last year!! Or else than that I send my deepest regards to Linn (Gunn) who had to cancel her au-pair-thing-ish in London, sorry love, not all guys are good and the world is desperate for money now!! A thousands of hugs to you and remember that I love you and that you are welcome anytime when I am in Norway!! (Or in Guatemala for that matter!!) For the rest of you guys, I had a blast going out with my two friends, Raul and Justo, last week! Unfortunately no pics, because my camera is TOO big to carry inside a club. But after a light salsa (so many people dance so different, so who do I really wanna and CAN dance with?) and some dirty regueton, the guys walked me home and slept like a kid. Then need to play some better music in Norway in the clubs!! Sorry Natalie, I really dont like trance, dubstep, etc. anymore.

The new "DLA"-class, Ingvild and Marte!!

Marte looks very happy about the canoopy-stuff!! (She's going to be the new teacher of DLA!! GOOD LUCK AND I WILL FOR SURE SEE YOU GUYS NEXT YEAR!!!)

Carina and Erick (one of the guides that recognized me from last year, jajajaja!)

Full speed forward!!



Have you ever felt so in love with a country? Or been so damn amazed by the culture that you would give anything to stay? That's my relationship with Guatemala. Beside, even some universities here are approved by the Norwegian government, so what's the difference? On Friday, I'll go and speak with 1 or 2 of the universities here in Antigua, because I would like to study in one of these private ones. But then maybe you ask yourself, why don't she go to Spain? For some simple reasons: the Spanish in Spain is more "messy" than the Spanish here in Guatemala. The flight ticket is so expensive, but what do I pay to live here, almost nothing in compare with Spain. The flight tickets to Spain are cheap, but it's a lot more expensive living there. The Spanish culture is a western-europe one and don't give me a lot back as a human. Here people are happy about the small things, they worship the small things. And do you still think that Guatemala is dangerous? Oh no, don't think so. All you have to remember is to stay inside after 10 o'clock in the evening, that's everything.

Oh by the way, I met my old fhs-teacher here in Antigua!! And of course her new class. Was really nice to meet you again Ingvild and I am looking forward to next time as well!! Sure that we are going for a coffe or something one day!

All of this companies and of course, many more, makes all together the wonderful city Antigua! I only got 5 weeks left here, that is possible going to pass way too fast for me. But, since I know that I coming back in August, I think that my life here will survive! By the way, I have this very funny question for you: "I left Norway with 17 kilos and going to leave some clothes here in Antigua. How many kilos do you think I return with?"

Do I need a haircut soon?

This is the view from the roof of my house.

My hallway. Last room on the right side is mine.

Yes, I have a lemontree just outside my room!

Mitt nydelige land, min nydelige by.

Got really nice shoes from Cobán.

Loooooove it!



And today we are all gathered 'round the HOLY food. Well, right now I got a private chef!! Some friends of me and Rudy are coming over for dinner today and one of them are cooking for us. I also bought this BIG cake. Cannot wait to eat it!!! Yesterday, me and Rudy went out for dinner (after EVERYONE denied delevering the food) and ate japanese! He had something like.... meat, soup, rice and green stuff. Me, I of course had SUSHI! YUMMY!!!

But the real thing about this post, is to tell about my small holiday in El Salvador! Me and my friend Damiët (girl from Holland, we're working in the same project) went to the beach named "El Zonte". So after some trouble with finding an ATM, we were finally checked in and ready for lunch. Most of the days we only enjoyed relaxing in a hammock, tanning or eating. But we also took surfing lessons, which was incredible fun!! I also have to tell you a funny story from the trip. In the hotel that we were staying, lived one parrot (named Olas = waves) and one iguana (named Paco). I taught the parrot to say my name and most of the time, the iguana was relaxing by the pool or in the garden. We also noticed that the house-maid was slightly afraid of this iguana and we quite did not understand why. She ALWAYS took the long walk around the iguana, than walking close to it. Of course we thought she was joking when she told us that Paco enjoyed "stalking" girls. Until the last day. We just had our last surfing lesson and had to go to the shower to get ready for leaving back to Antigua. I took all of my stuff and walked the way I always walked to the shower, passed the iguana with a distance of 3 meters and suddenly, when I passed the corner, I heard a sound that I thought something fell. And I looked again and saw the iguana following me. So I just ran around the house and on the other side of the hedge, I saw my friend a little freaked out! She had been watching what the iguana was doing! "Are you okay?! Did you SEE THAT?!" So we ended up showering outside in the shower beside the pool. Puh.

The view from our favorite restaurant!

My boyfriend in El Zonte. He kept coming EVERY TIME we ate.

To be a good surfer, you HAVE to fall.



Finally came Christmas and so fast it passed. I really had a great Christmas this time. We arrived to Cobán on the 23rd of December in the afternoon (after 6 1/2 hours drive, woho!!). Just relaxing, eating really nice, but simple food. And the world's best tortillas!! Sorry Antigua, you cannot deal with the best tortillas from the Mayans!! The next morning we went to the city to buy food. Like chicken, chicken feets (looks "yummy"(!)) and fruits. And later me and Rudy went to the cinema to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks 3! I really recommend that movie if you like Alvin & CO. Funny, especially when you are with your other childish friend!! After that we walked around in the mall asking for my iPhone, that no one has. Impossible to get it her without a plan. So, when I get to Norway, finally, hello iPhone! So after that we went home and just relaxed, watched some movies and also watched how they made the Christmas food, "tamales".

First, find all of the ingredients.

Then you do like this.

And here you got tamales! Just need to boil them now.

And wow! Feliz navidad!

All you need now is a nice boyfriend and his nice family.

The 25th, we went to the big brother of my boyfriend where we ate, guess what (!), tamales, grapes and a piece of cake. I also met a parrot or two. After that we went on seeking my iPhone, but without luck. But I bought my boyfriend a nice pair of jeans and some underwear. Also bought my mother-in-law the most basics. Like eggs, sugar, spaghetti, etc. So I hope that was I good thing to do. Oh, and I also bought myself a nice pair of shoes to 70 NOK, because mines were falling apart.

"What are we having? Oh, tamales again. But this time, tamales with a potato-base! WILD!"

"CAAAAAAAKE!! Rudy, can we eat now? And we can take some more photos later....."

Nakatinra

And news for all of you. When you dont have enough money for a lawn mover, buy goats!



HAPPY CHRISTMAS!! FELIZ NAVIDAD!! GOD JUL!! to all of you, whereever you are in the world!!

Oh, so many days has passed without writing here, too bad. But the days are running to fast and I can not believe that it is almost Christmas. Me and my friend Verina went to a Children's Art Festival where different organization performed different things. All from Magic to more thoughtfull entertainment. It was a fun experience to watch all the organizations and how many there actually are. It is also very sad to say that my best friend here in Guatemala is leaving very soon. It will be very lonely here, because she has been there all of my stay and how many chocolate cakes pieces we have eaten is not even possible to count. And so much talk we talked about guys. WOW! So me, Rudy and Verina had a good-bye-dinner in a very nice restaurant with extremly nice food.

These girls are deaf, but did a really good job dancing flamenco!!

Kids with "disabilities" performing "The Ugly Duckling".

Me and my mum. Going to miss you ma'!

Its really fun when a little kid actually asked me: "Es tu perro?" (Is this your dog?).