Time Management

My days here in language school are incredibly busy. Class lasts for five hours, from 8 am – 1 pm, or in other weeks when more students are around, 2-7 pm. Every day, I have lots of homework and memorizing of vocabulary, grammar rules, and verbs. After class, I walk home for lunch, which is the biggest meal of the day, something that takes getting used to. In the afternoon, I study, or go to a presentation at the school, a lecture, a movie, or other activity.

The school sponsors short trips to places of interest, especially to Mayan culture. I have found that it is impossible to get everything done that the school offers. I finally decided that I cannot take the field trips, but I can make the lectures. I go to Pollo Campero mid-afternoon to talk with Rachel and Grace on Skype, as often as possible. We can email at the school, but not Skype. After talking, I go back home and study more, sometimes until midnight.

Some days, I have a lot to do with running errands. Everything takes much longer to do because I have to walk everywhere. This is actually good, because I need the exercise and diversion after the intensity of class. But, it does take longer. And, everything I need cannot be found in one place, very often I have to make several stops in widely distributed places. There are short cuts, like laundry. I can get my clothes laundered, dried, and folded for about 4US dollars. Gloria has offered for me to use her machine, and hang my clothes to dry, but for the cost of the detergent, and the time taken out of the study schedule, I can afford very well to have it done. That is a wealthy person´s choice.

Today is Saturday, a bit more relaxed, and a good day to run some errands. Tomorrow is market day in Parque Central, first Sunday of the month. I am looking forward to that. Taken out of context, Guatemalan styles of weaving, the colors, the intricacy of the weaving, these make no sense. It helps to know that every pueblo of Mayan people has its own patterns and colors of cloth, and styles of dress. Considering that the majority of the population lives in pueblos, and there are thousands of pueblos in the country, there are just as many styles of “traje Guatemalteco.”

Many Mayans living in the city wear the traje of their pueblo of origin on a daily basis, mostly the women. The men tend to dress in Western clothing, suits, or pants and shirts. Market day is great for seeing more colorful cultures come together in one place. This market is far smaller than others, such as San Francisco, Chichicastenango, or Huehuetenango, but I am told the artisanship is very fine. Maybe some lucky relatives will receive some nice gifts at home .