Shedding goodbye tears through the airport security line made me good and sleepy for my flight to Houston, and then to Guatemala City. A few minutes after I walked out of the aeropuerto, I was met by two Transitions employees. Hugo and Edwin apologized for being late, they explained that the traffic was bad. Traffic at 10pm? As we drove through the airport gates, I understood why – hundreds of people were running through the streets, torches in hand! But before I began panicking, my hosts explained it was the eve of the Día de Independencia. ¡Gracias a Dios!
My first full day in Guatemala just happened to be Independence Day. ¡Que suerte! At 8am, my host mother knocked for breakfast. The moment I opened my door I realized the beauty that is Antigua – a big blue sky, with big white clouds, and what isn’t blue or white is green. Lush mountains, including 3 volcanoes, tower over Antigua. And the city seems to love its greenery. There are more public parks here than in Berkeley, and the majority of houses here have courtyards in the center. My door opens out to an array of tropical potted plants.
With a full stomach from Breakfast, I ventured into town to see the “Bandas de Guerra” (bands of war) my host mom told me about during breakfast. To celebrate independence, there were over 30 high school marching bands parading through Antigua’s small cobblestone streets. To be honest, my attention started to fade after the 12th band, but the baton girls (with some added Latin flavor) never failed to entertain.
I spent the afternoon playing with my 5-year-old host sister, Gabi, and unpacking. At 4:30, I walked 100 ft. down the street to the Transiciones office, as we had a presentation to make at a nearby café at 5. More about Trancisiones to come.
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