April 26-28, 2013

We love mango season!

Ava sits at the front of the lancha on the way to San Marcos.

Mateo, Marcos, Manuel, and Andrés come to visit before going out for ice cream.

Our apartment is a circle of a few small rooms.  Here are the views from each room.

View from the kitchen

View from the kitchen 2

View from Ava's room

View from Lissa's room

View from Amanda's room

View from tiny living room

These are the 5-inch heels Amanda bought at a paca (thrift store).  She knew she wouldn't be allowed to wear them!

A slightly more appropriate heel for Ava

This beautiful flower is blooming on a pitaya cactus, which produces an edible fruit (pitaya, or dragon fruit).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pitaya

Walmart, cleverly disguised as "Despensa Familiar," is really just a small grocery store.

The girls practice violin in Ava's room.

Market purchases: mangoes, plums (the red fruits that look like large cherries), apples, strawberries, and peaches

April 22-25, 2013

The best coffee in Panajachel is made by two Korean brothers who own Café Loco on Calle Santander.

Martín (adopted local name) makes a cold coffee drink.

The height difference between the two girls is increasing as Ava continues with a growth spurt.

The kids enjoy double-scoop waffle cones at La Nevería.

This beautiful moth is bigger than my hand and sounds like a large bird flapping around the apartment at night.

Ava lifts her heavy bag for the PCI school trip to Monterrico.

The largest street near our apartment is Calle del Frutal.

Diego from Café Loco makes a bear in Amanda's hot chocolate.

School night sleepover at our place while Ava is out of town

April 20-21, 2013

Natural loofas are for sale in the market.

Ava heads off to take a practice PSAT at school

Life School is holding a luau fundraiser on Saturday night.

Pig roast

Life School teachers work the bar.

Jay's mom made her own costume.

Dave, a physical therapist, and Leiann, a nurse, take a break from all their volunteer work at Mayan Families to go Hawaiian.
www.mayanfamilies.org

We are participating in a nutrition student's research project.  Dr. Louis from Mayan Families gets a fingerstick glucose check as part of the study.

Amanda agrees to the study when she finds out she may be randomized to the sugar drink group.

Ava is glad she doesn't have to have a needle blood draw, but she's still not thrilled about the fingerstick.

Walking home from the study.

After a market trip, I have a mini-freezer full of bananas, mangos, strawberries, and blackberries to make licuados (smoothies).

Street dog of the day

April 19, 2013: Sports all day

Today marks the end of two weeks of school sports competitions in Panajachel.  Ava has participated in girls' basketball (2nd place), running (1st place in girls' 80 meter), and balomano.

PCI runners pose.

PCI students support each other.

Ava gets ready to run the 80 meter race.

Ava focuses and wins the girls' 80 meter race!

Piper and Megan enjoy chocobananos.

PCI students wait for the next event.

Dennis (on the right) competes in the 80 meter race.

Students sit with English teacher, Nancy.

Ava ends up doing the 800 meter race as well.

I notice this traditional corte fabric with a non-traditional skirt design on the way back to the apartment between Ava's events.

Ava waits for the balomano game to start.

Ava, Manuel, and Lui goof around before the game.

Balomano begins.

Amanda frequently finds items she likes in the thrift stores.

Amanda wants a picture of the pretty dinner plate she designed.

Street dog of the day