A quick note about spring term

Spring term, you never fail to surprise me.

My plot to get maxium play time out of spring term worked fantastically: 2 jobs at odd hours and one class that ended early in the term. I missed having Marie around, but there was still fun to be had!

For example:

-NCAA mens volleyball championship in the Smith Fieldhouse, where we started by cheering for UC Irvine, but ended up cheering for USC because the UCI fans were annoying.

-Our MTC district reunion, where we ended up getting Mexican food and TP-ing Whetten's room because he forgot that we were getting togther.

-the time when Stephanie and I went running out of my apartment in hopes of catching "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," only to find out it was sold out. Again. And when we went to see the matinee for half the price, and there were only like, 2 other people in the entire theater. Oh, and the time we went to Tucanos and our server insisted Santa Claus (Santa? or someone else famous?) was sitting at a table in the corner. Remember that???

-catching lunch or dinner or whatever time we had with Fabi and Pesi

-eating out. all the time.

-being guided by the best life coaches I've ever had!

-late nights and fun conversation

-June 16.

That's all.

June 30

YAY we made it out of Honduras! It was a long wait, but we made it through and landed in San Salvador. Un-yay, we missed our flight to LA. It was actually pretty ridiculous, like they didn't notice there was a whole group of people missing and like they didn't notice the connecting flight from Tegucigalpa was late...right. So we had another long wait in the airport. It was admittedly a nicer airport and at least clean, and Jenna met a very nice boy there. Haha.

We finally made it out and we landed in LA without a problem.

WAHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a good trip. Fun. Exciting. We were extremely lucky and blessed to have gotten out of Honduras when we did. I don't know if I'll ever do that again. But it was good, and I made it home a-ok.

June 29

Back to the city! We stopped by the Salgados and I made a couple of phone calls...I got to see Darci and Javier, Elky and Hector, and Grindis! Que alegria. I don't know if I can adequately describe how much I love those people. We visited and well, Gretel was having a great day that Monday, so we played a lot with her.


We had to wait a bit to go to lunch, but we went to the Pizza Hut by the airport. We were thatclose. Oh, and I wanted to get a piece of tres leches cake since like the beginning of the trip, so we went all around trying to get some.


We then went and did a little something for the poor missionaries, who had been indoors since Sunday. We emailed their families and got them a bunch of goodies from the pulperia...those pulperia girls were awfully nice about that. Later on, Glenda and Edita came by, but we didn't hear them knocking!!! I was extremely sad about that, but got to talk to them later. Oh Glenda and Edita, another success story from Tiloarque.


Jenna fought with the car rental people about leaving the car, since we had planned to stay in the airport overnight to ensure our boarding the next day. We should've known that would've been too easy, since apparently the airport was closed! We drove there and the security guards kicked us out. Wonderful. We were ready for our overnight stay in the airport...semitas, phone cards, fully charged ipods. But it was not meant to be. We stayed one more night with the Salgados and prayed for the best the next morning, starting at 6 sharp.

June 28

We awoke to a nation falling apart. Mel was exiled that morning to Costa Rica and the electricity was turned off. Wonderful. Fortunately, we had charged the cell phone and we at least had that. We went driving to find some place to eat and get information. It was crazy, and kinda spooky. We called the American Embassy and the lady told us what was going on, and registered us so that we could get information via email. I wondered if she knew that the power was out and there was no internet access.



We went to visit people, but oddly enough, no one was home. It was weird. We went back to the hotel and they gave us a better room at no extra charge because we were being bitten by bed bugs or something. It was a nice room. There, we met up with Krissi and her crew, on their way to the beach in San Pedro. Que en el mundo???



We stuck around in Siguat and finally found our family at home. There was a curfew put in place, and we needed to be indoors by 9. Just like the missionaries, haha. We made plans to head back to the city first thing in the morning. Oh, and the electricity was back on, and Honduras was beating Panama 2-0 the last time I checked.

June 27

La Paz!!! Love this place. However, I have to admit, I was a bit disoriented when I got there. I had a relatively short time in this area, and we had to park and walk around in order for me to get it. They re-did their central park, too, and it was very nice. We went to see the Riveras, but they weren't home. No biggie, we'd return. Then we went to see Francis, oh, sweet Francis. She was just wonderful. The only thing that saddened me there was that Dayanara was pregnant. 7 months. I had such high hopes for Dayanara, really I did. Well, we ran into the elders there for the first (and not last) time, Elders Hansen and Merrill. I remember Elder Hansen because he started in my zone...and Elder Merrill because he started in my area after I left. They were a riot. I should explain that the missionaries were only allowed to visit the members that day, which was why we kept running into them.


We went to see the Guzmans and had lunch with them. They're so great. Hermana Fanny took us around because everybody moved houses. Silvia wasn't home like I was hoping, but Wendy was. She seemed kinda out of it, which was weird, but ok. We went to hang out with the Arevalos, and the bishop is still trying to hook me up. Wonderful. Ran into the missionaries again.


Off to the Riveras! Sonia had returned and so had Rafa. Haha good times. We went to get atol with them, at Rafa's insistence. I should've said no, but I didn't have the heart. We weren't hungry at all because we had been eating all day, but it was nice of him.

One quick stop at Francis' again to see if her husband and father in law had returned, turns out we just missed them. Curse my bones! Off to Lejamani. Hermana Dania had just left for La Paz, and Dunia was in classes. I left a little less than broken hearted. I really wanted to see Dunia. The positive side was that the missionaries had let us know coming from her house, so I know that they are visiting her. That is a relief to me. Oh boo that reminds me I need to pass email addresses along.


We went back to Siguatepeque and hung out with the family again. We had dinner and I was positively stuffed. Good day.

June 26

We started the day doing some visits we didn't have time for the night before. This one lady insisted we stay longer with her since we had stayed the night at this other family's house. Hmm. Ok. Lots of tortillas that morning :) But it was good.

They finished the central park, and it was lovely. Before leaving, we took a few moments just to sit. Unfortunately, it rained the night before so the benches were a little wet. Oops. Oh, and before I forget, we were sort of awakened that morning by our neighbor in the hotel blasting his music...I say sort of awakened only because we promptly fell back asleep.



On our way out of Campamento, we ran over something somewhere between Talanga and Tegucigalpa, and got a flat tire. Oh no! I am completely useless when it comes to cars. Fortunately, we stopped in front of a road-side stand, and a gentleman and his son came to help us. It was already so hot, and the poor guy was sweating. A lot. But he was nice and we went on our way.



Once again, in my head, getting back to Tiloarque was going to be a cinch. But I always did have trouble getting out of Mayoreo and back to Tiloarque, and this time was no different...we got all the way to the stadium! The stadium isn't even in our mission anymore. So while technically we weren't lost, it would just take a bit to get back to our side. Oops. Papa Salgado talked us through it and we met up at Metro Mall. I don't know how many times they've bailed us out!

We wanted McFlurries, so it was back to Mayoreo. Oh, Mayoreo, the entertainment mecca of my mission. We couldn't resist going to Pizza Hut, for old times sake, and I had some good horchata. While it was good, I maintain that the Pizza Hut in La Granja made it better. Well, we were full from our lunch so we never did get those McFlurries. Boo.


Then it was off to Siguatepeque. That was easy. The drive was pleasant enough, and we listented to Michael Jackson the whole time.

Once In Siguat, we found a hotel and went to use internet. Haha of course we did. By the time we left, it was already dak and we went to see Hermana Betty and her family. That was fun. We ate Chinese food! We were getting the complete Honduran experience.

June 25

Off to Campamento! In my head, getting out of the city was easy enough. However, we took a wrong turn and started off for La Paz instead of Olancho. Oops. So we backtracked and took the correct turn, and we were off. I hadn't been back to that side of the mission...ever...since I had left. Our little car chugged along and we passed Talanga, eventually Guaimaca, where I was "born," and reached Campamento. It was all vaguely familiar as it had been 2 years since being there, and even Jenna had to double check to see if everything was where it used to be, haha.

We dropped our stuff off and when to see her gente. Admittedly, Campamento had that pueblito feel that, while much safer than Tegucigalpa, bored me to tears. No wonder my first transfer in the mission was so rough. Jenna and I kept laughing at how different our missions were.

We never did get to eat those baleadas from the street that we were dreaming about, but we did eat homemade baleadas and also had dinner from another sister. Delicious.

June 24

LA QUEZADA!!!!!!!!! The one area I never got to go back to. We parked the car in front of the Zepeda's house, and I got to visit with Andrea for a bit. What a good looking family. I went straight to see my kids, Bryan, Michelle, and Fabiola Ponce...they didn't answer their door :( sadness! We ran into the missionaries, who informed me that Elder Fong had just finished his mission there in La Quezada. I didn't even know he was done with the mission, haha. Good thing I'm here in Hawaii anyway! Well, then we ran into one of Jenna's mission buddies! Then I went to see Hna Celia. Love that little old lady.


We were low on time because we were meeing up with the Salgados for lunch, so we skipped over tons of members...sadness. We did stop one more time at the Ponce's, but they were not home :( So I got me a banana soda, Jenna got a mora paleta, and we went over to Laureles to see my peeps, Edna and her family, Veronica, Karla, Johnny, Nicole, and Roxana. LOVE those kids!!!

Had lunch with the Salgados at the Cascades Mall, I always did like that mall. Then we went to use internet and shop a little at the mall next to the old mission office because the Salgados needed to go to Price Mart. We were getting excited for our dinner with President Gomez and his family!

And rightly so. It was so great hanging out with the Gomez'! President asked us the inevitable question about our marital status. President Salgado suggested I talk about la seleccion de Argentina to distract President Gomez, so I gave it a try:

President Gomez: Entonces, hermanas, que tal de novios?
Jenna: Nada!
Yo: Oh, Presidente, como esta la seleccion de Argentina?
Presdiente: No! No vamos a cambiar de tema!

Haha. So then we chilled in the hotel lobby and waited for the Salgados to pick us up. When they did, they informed us of the beginnings of the civil unrest concerning Mel Zelaya and the military. It got us a bit nervous, and we decided to cancel our trip to San Pedro. Yikes!

June 23

We woke up early to get to the airport, a mere walk away from our hotel. We ran into missionaries going home and going to the mission, even met a couple going to Comayaguela...chee hooo! We took off for Costa Rica in first class, oh yeah baby! But that meant nothing when we landed, because they wouldn't let us out of the airport while we were waiting for our flight to Tegucigalpa. Sadness.

We landed in Honduras and it was just as hot as I remembered. Holy macro. We went to get the car, and the lady proceeded to rip us off and charge Jenna an extra 100 something dollars. Boo. But we made it out and actually, Hermana Cristy came to the airport with Josue! That was a pleasant surprise!



We went to Loarque to visit some people Jenna knew, then went in the search for baleadas. We went to Big Baleadas in La Pradera and it was indeed as delicious as we remembered. Whew! Thank you, Big Baleadas.


Then we got lost trying to get to Tiloarque. Actually, I should re-phrase that, we did NOT get lost, because I knew exactly where we were the whole time. I just didn't know how to cross the street to get on the other side of the highway to enter Tiloarque. So we drove through La Granja, we drove around the mall, we even drove through Country and there we ran into the hermanas. In Country??? Seriously? Yeah.


Well, we finally made it to Tiloarque (no biggie, we just drove on the highway til we could turn around...down by Carrizal...) and to Hermana Cristy's house. We ate more baleadas, went to internet, hung out with the Salgados, of course! Went back and hung out with Kelly, Carol, Manrique, and Larson. Haha good times.

June 22

Headed back to the city. We had plans to meet up with some old comps from the mission at 10 at Tikal Futuro. We got to the city, found a hotel close to the airport (Hotel Aeropuerto), and went to the mall. One hour later, we met up with the girls. In the meanwhile, we tried to entertain ourselves by playing cards, but that only lasted until the security guard told us that card-playing was prohibited. Que en el mundo???


We met up with the girls and went to have lunch. It was fun. They took us back to the hotel and we went to internet for the entire afternoon. Heh heh.


Back at the hotel, we waited for Raul to pick us up to go to Guillermo's place for the evening. I was SO excited to see everyone there! We got there late, but we got there. Guillermo and Alexandria were there waiting, of course, and there was my San Juan! Que alegria! First thing we did, we got into a fight because we didn't get together earlier; he accusing me of not letting him know, me accusing him of not remembering. Fortunately, we querer each other too much to let that get in the way of enjoying the evening.


A little later, e. Cruz and Pablo (Leiva) arrived, and the party was in full swing. We chatted, ate, danced the night away. The time flew and it was already time to leave.


Our time in Guatemala flew by! I couldn't believe how fast it went, but we definitely left on a high note...Monday night was fantastic, just fantastic.

June 21

Yes, indeed I was feeling better on Sunday. We took the bus to Chimaltenango to find Hermana Enriquez. We hoped for the best. Upon arriving to Chimaltenango, we went to the nearest church. Turns out that wasn't wear she congregated. It was a great adventure getting to the chapel where she does attend, but alas, with a lot of luck, we got there and got to see her. And, it was her birthday. It was a joyous occassion.


She and her husband took us back to Antigua and we had lunch.



Internet. Happy Father's Day.

That evening was when I snapped. Juan decided not to answer his phone. Guillermo said he wouldn't be able to see us until Monday evening. That cursed pay phone was eating all my quetzales, and the lady didnt' have any coins for me. I was in a bad, bad mood. I even snapped at the guy at the hostel. My bad. Well, got back on the internet and Guillermo told me he was coming up, right then. Bless his heart. After all this time, he still knows. He told me to meet in front of the main cathedral and to bring phone numbers because he was bringing his cell so we could plan to see people on Monday. It was, of course, raining, but there we were and I saw him for the first time since the mission. He introduced us to his wife, Alexandria, and we visited for a bit. We called Juan and agreed for Monday evening. It was a great night, and I was so excited for the next day!

June 20

I'm going to warn you, this will not be a fun post.

So I woke up feeling fine, figured I was cured of the bug I had the night before. OH, I was so wrong. We made it out of the hotel and I needed to go back in a matter of minutes. Bad news. Jenna went alone on the tour of Lake Atitlan and the surrounding pueblos, I headed back to the hotel and spent Saturday sleeping and staying very near to our bathroom. But bless those two little boys that were running the hotel, for letting me stay and not bugging me.



It rained hard that day. The streets were flooded. It was cold. I was glad I was indoors, but inevitably I'd have to leave because we were due back in Antigua that evening. I was hoping with all my heart (and stomach) that I'd be able to make the drive back. The drive back was fine, actually, resting for the day helped a TON. Well, I did fine on the trip back, but the van we took did not do so fine in the beginning. We were going up some mountains and the poor thing couldn't handle the steepness (is that even a word?) so half of the people in the van had to get out to lighten the load. Haha.

We got back to Antigua in the night time, dropped off our stuff at the same hostel, and went for dinner at the safe-looking American cafe.

I think on Saturday all my sicknesses just caught up with me and my body demanded rest. Sorry for the lack of pictures, Jenna has the good ones from Saturday and Sunday :/

June 19

We left early from Antigua to go to Panajachel. We had originally planned to go to Monterrico, but I heard a ton of good things about Lake Atitlan, so away we went. It was my turn to don the pity headband. We had about a 2 hour drive and we got to see a bit more of Guatemala...we got to drive through a few towns and see people in their traditional wear. We also stopped at a look-out point on the way, Lake Atitlan really is beautiful.



The tourist bus we took up dropped us off right in front of a decent-looking hotel, so we went in and the kid at the front desk gave us a good room at a discount. We had our own bathroom and a balcony with a view. That bathroom was to become my best friend that night and Saturday, but more on that later. We dropped off our things and went straight to internet, haha. Then we walked around a bit and this one guy told us about a butterfly observatory thing, so we took our first tuk-tuk (hehe) to the Atitlan Reserva. Our tuk-tuk driver, Pablo, told us fabulous stories of his experiences at Lake Atitlan and took us in to the front desk, where I was pursuaded to try the canopy cables. At first I thought we were tarzaning it across the wilderness, but when I learned that we'd be harnessed in and everything, it seemed legit and for a mere 200 something quetzales, we were in for a big treat! Pablo told us he'd be back in a couple of hours to take us back to Panajachel proper and tell us more stories.



Well we got harnessed in and took off with two guides. I can't remember their names, but we were pals quick. They told us that Spanish was actually their second language and they taught us a few phrases in Kachiquel. One of them included "Do you have a boyfriend" we promptly answered that we sure did, and they were jealous and strong and on their way to Guatemala. One of the best lies I ever told.

Well Pablo came back to get us and told us more fun stories. Upon returning to Panajachel, we asked him to take us to a good place to eat. We passed by the nightclub where he works at night, and he invited us that evening and gave us his number. Of course. We didn't go, but we did enjoy lunch at the restaurant he suggested. Then we went back to internet where we talked to a few people from the mission to coordinate plans for the upcoming Monday. We had originally planned to go to Antigua on Saturday to hang out with people from the mission, but we liked Pana so much, we decided to push that back to Sunday. Well, I got to talk to Guillermo (Barrios) and Raul (Lopez) and that was great, we decided for Monday.


Then we walked around more, paid for a tour of Lake Atitlan, and had paletas. They weren't as good as Honduran paletas, but it was cool. We felt much safer in Pana, and even got to chill in the street as we ate our paletas. Cool.



That night...I got flashbacks of one very sore part of my mission. I woke up with these sharp pains in my stomach and soon realized that I had eaten something bad and my body was revolting. I collapsed on my way out of the bathroom and I think I freaked Jenna out, sorry about that, Jenna. She told me to get back into bed, so I did, and when I woke up in the morning, I felt fine.

June 18

Landed in Guatemala City without any problems :) Exchanged money, got a taxi straight to the temple in Zona 15. Once off, one of the members from Siguatepeque recognized Jenna and helped us to get settled to go to the temple. I saw Hna Dania from La Paz and her daughter, Nency, in the bathroom as we were getting ready to get to the session, haha. It was great!




We made it to the session and realized how small this temple was! They make it look so big in the posters, but it's quite cozy inside. Well. We did the session in Spanish, then had lunch and hung out with some members from Siguatepeque. Eventually we made it out of the capital and though it was still early in the afternoon, it was getting dark because of the cloudy weather. We decided to over-pay the taxi driver to take us straight to Antigua. Wonderful. But he did recommend a good hostel and we got there safely. He name was...Marvin? Maybe? And he gave us his number. The first of several numbers we collected throughout our trip ;) We took a walk around Antigua, had dinner, and went back to internet. Haha. Getting ready for our day in Panajachel!

June 17

School and work ended, vacation started! Made it out of Provo on the 17th to LA, where our trip to Central America began. I got a cold the night before (I think) and despite the fact that I was in warm California, I was freezing and had quite a cough. Jenna and I went to WalMart and I got some medicine! We had quite the adventure trying to find a JoAnn's so that Jenna could buy some fabric...to this day, I doubt if it really exists.

Jenna's sister, Anne, dropped us off at the airport, and we were off! They made us check in our bags, but fortunately they don't charge for international flights. Once on the plane, Jenna discovered that her seat was wet and covered with protective plastic...eeeewwww! She had them change the cushion and the man in front of us gave us almonds and trail mix, and she got him an extra pillow. The trip was starting great.


This is Jenna, getting everything ready to go!