believe it or not I'm still alive

hey there blogland, it's midnight and January has a few days left, my english has gotten too rusty I think since I don't have nearly a bit of the time I used to spend reading other blogs or whatever I found interesting in the web to practice, or even translate for my friends or just write blog entries here. It's all about working and trying to learn as much as I can at the hospital right now, my life made a 360° turn and though it was really hard to adjust at first I can't see myself doing something different. I have changed in many ways 'cause I actually entered the real world and reality slapped me in the face. I wish I could share so many experiences and stories, but time goes fast, tiredness is always present and most importantly, I don't own an iphone of whatever technologic device with internet connection that could help me share with you these things, so thanks for the ones (if you're out there) that still come around to check on posts. Keep the good attitude and the good vibes around you and you'll bring the positive to your life! ;)

This is a report on my... VACATION!

Exactly, I've been on vacation since last friday, and somehow I managed to stay away from the computer until last tuesday, a new record for me... WOOHOO! I came back to find a few post on my facebook wall asking where I was and if I was still alive or away on a trip hehe that is not a good sign... means I spend too much time there.... it's just so much fun! haha
Well.... though we had planned going to Petén or Panajachel (lake Atitlán), it hasn't happened yet! both places are probably full of people, but hey... you got to get out at least for a bit right? we all want to go to Pana though, we've been to Petén way to many times and just to imagine how hot it must be there makes me start sweating! ugh!
Anyway... we've been relaxing at home... cleaning (my mom freaks out because the puppy its messing with her clean floors... it drives her crazy... as you might have guessed he's not 'potty trained' yet and every morning there's poop and pee somewhere, exactly why I kept telling my sister a dog was not a good idea for this small apartment, we adore him anyway, he's just sooo cute and funny!) visiting grandma, having fun with my little cousins Diego and Mariana, speaking of them, they are both such big kids, they look older than what they are and incredibly intelligent! it's amazing.
We haven't gone to see any procesions, maybe this weekend, every time we try to leave the house it's like hell because most of the streets and avenues are closed, either because of the procesion or people making rugs! a drive that usually takes about 20 min or less can take about an hour if you're lucky.
I haven't read anything for school... I really don't want to right now... hehe
We got an email from Angelina's mom saying my baby girl has been asking for us! How sweet is that???? AND my mom had just had a dream about Angelina that same day, she was very emotional about it. We think about her and her family everyday but it's hard now to get on the computer on time for the skype call with school and all! We'll figure out a way to talk to her this week!
Weather has been great, a little bit too HOT, but still nice, blue skies and flowers everywhere, what a nice time!
If we do leave, I promise I'll take a lot of pictures!

Meet the new babies in the family!

Hey! so.. I'm still alive! hehe it's been very busy as you can imagine, but... I think it was about time to write a post and even add some pics!
As I mentioned in the previous post, baby Marianna joined the family last January and she is now 2 months old! she's a big and precious curly girl, seriously, it might be that I have weak arms again since I haven't hold a baby for quite a while now, but Man! she is heavy!
And now... for a big surprise, we now have a new and furry baby! It's a puppy! Well, it's my sister's puppy... her boyfriend brought it home during one of his visits. I have to say that I am not a pet lover, I mean it's not that I don't like pets... it's just that I know they are a big responsability and I realize we live in a small apartment and spent most of our time out!
Anyway... my sister kept making comments about how she wanted one, of course... she got one.
Goodness, the puppy is so cute and tiny!! I am now drooling for him, he's our new baby now. I guess we needed something like that. Though is a lot of work because he needs to be potty trained, and meanwhile that happens we have to clean all of his messes (you know what I mean :s ) and try not to spoil him too much. He's already a brat, a lovely one by the way!
In other news... there were several protest today, bus drivers around the city joined to close most of the roads and obviously very few busses were working... meaning that.... We all had a day off! and that... violence is becoming too much to bear and things can get wild. This fear we live with is turning people into savages. At least that's how I see it.

Let's see how the coming Holy Week goes... concerning me... I can't wait for some vacation and family time, not to mention all the hours of sleep I will recover! And I will actually have decent breakfasts, no more chips, cookies and peanuts because I didn't have time to eat cereal or fix anything to eat later! That diet is not helping at all, even if I have to climb four flights of stairs both to get home or to our classrooms.

Now, on to the pics... (it's late and I need to get as much sleep as possible and a mosquito has eaten most of my leg!)

Meet Toby, the puppy!! isn't he adorable??

Me and my mom holding Mariana, I think she was 1.5 months then

This is a birthday party, from last saturday, here I am with four of my bff's!
Monica and Ana Jose in the sides and Ana Lucia and me in the middle

This is a cute pic of Diego (age 5) and his baby sister Mariana (2months old) they both look alike and they are both big!

This is Diego holding the puppy, we named him Toby, though everybody seems lo call him different names!!

This is me, holding Mariana, it's hard to notice her curly hair in this one.

By the way, school is going great! ;) Oh and I can't forget to mention that we haven't seen Angelina and her family for a little while now and that kills me but really free time is really narrow these days. I have to figure out a way to see her SOON! I miss her!

yep... school has kept me THAT busy

Well, it's been... many weeks? I have no idea, but one thing I know for sure, it's been BUSY!
I have the biggest dark circles under my eyes, and almost every day I get a comment like... "you've been really busy don't you?" or "you sure didn't get much sleep last night", it's a little annoying but then I think of the time when I have to stay for 36 hours in the hospital (next year!) and wonder what will the patients think when they look at my pretty face lol!

I have learned a lot, done and touched so many new things. Every day I marvel at how perfect we are made, there is a God out there and he loves us SO MUCH! and man! there are some nasty diseases out there, so lets keep everything clean, lets have a healthy lifestyle and hope for the best. So far so good, grades are good, in fact, I have one of the best grades of my group in the last Pathology test! Woohoo! Now, I have a Microbiology test next Friday so I'm working on that, though it makes me nervious to know that it's one of the most difficult ones according to the teachers!

We have a new member of the family, little Marianna was born January 20th. She is just the cutest baby girl and she has curly hair! Diego is now a big brother and loves his sister to death, he's so protective of "his baby girl". She is one month old now and getting prettier by the day!
Speaking of months... that's how long it has been since the last time we skyped with Angelina and her family. I miss her so much!! sometimes I think I am over the fact that she is gone but we all miss her so much. She marked our lives in a big way, specially for me and my mom, and it's not easy to let go of the strong feelings towards that little girl, 'cause she is no longer the baby we took care of. School has kept me busy even on the weekends, that or we just use that free time to go out together as a family, or simply rest! The girls are so beautiful, and I just wish I could hold them in my arms and kiss their chicks and tell them how much I love them in person, but that just seems so far away... I keep thinking that I won't have much free time as the years go by and this dream is not looking any closer to reality :'(

Ok, it's late and I better go to bed, I might not sleep at all tomorrow, to end up this post... we had two earthquakes on Tuesday, one at 5:00 am and the other one around 10:00am, the second one was the most scary, it was 5.7 degrees in the Richter scale, how I hate earthquakes... I freak out everytime and it's just awful, specially after what happened in Haiti, we had one like that in 1976 and it was just as terrible. Anyway... I'll try to post more often... won't make any promises but next time I'll try to post pictures as well!

back to school!

so everything is going back to the routine, let's say the weather is almost back to normal... it's still a little chilly for my taste hehe though it's sunny now, traffic jams, early wake ups, spending most of our days out, oh and I must not forget.... the earthquakes!
it was my first day at school today as well as my sister's and we were all welcomed by a 6 degree earthquake in the Richter scale! Man! that was scary! specially since I was in a crowded class in the fourth floor of the building!
As I see it I will have less and less time to write here because of school and just living life, I don't want to stop though I wish I could write about so many things going on here. But I need to set all my energy into becoming a doctor, a very good one.

My little cousin Marianna will be born on wednesday, my aunt has a c-section programed for that day. We are so excited, in my mom's side of the family me and my sister, we've been the only girls for sooo long!

There is and unbelievable twist to the Rosenberg case, aparently he planned his own death!! What in the world?? That's what the CICIG found out after about a year of investigations.
Plus... the awful earthquake in Haiti... the images are heart breaking, this is the time when we have to show our brothers our support in every way.
Lot's to say about these subjects but not enough time... need to read an article about innate inmunity... see ya next time!

I'll leave you with a pic... just because I love my brother and sister

C O L D !!!!

we broke a record today, it's incredibly cold here! I mean, it even snowed in the top of the Tajumulco Volcanoe, one of the highest of the continent. We are hitting the 39ºF this morning at 8am in Guate City!! and they said the temps could get lower tonight and tomorrow!
Man! this is not my type of weather.... It's hard to move my fingers! I mean... we could have snow!! something I would never even dream of.
And just to cope with it all... we had an earthquake! It wasn't very strong though.
My brother starts school tomorrow, I'm going to miss him :( my days of glory are almost gone, I start school on Monday, I'm excited though.

brrrrr! that's all for today... I need to warm my hands!!

Holiday Pics, as promised

Ok, they are not in a chronological order but anyway... this is from a little trip to the coast, where my grandpa works, he couldn't be with us to celebrate the new year so we brought the party to him hehe

New Year's Cuties, we had an awesome time

ROCKIN' 2010

Can you tell we were having fun? Peace everyone! haha

Me and my daddy, I look so much like him!!

The boys enjoying the fireworks on New Year's, it was not as big a display as Christmas but it was still cool

Happy New Year mommy!! We love you so much!

Lil' bro

Family!!!!

Bro and cousin before San Silvestre race, Dec 31st, this is a big tradition for us, my grandpa and uncle have run it since they were really young, this was the first year grandpa couldn't be there but he was real proud to see his grandsons running it

Molly's bday, Dec 29, she had chocolate and cheese cake and grandma did some delicious empanadas! Happy Bday Sisi!

Sibling's Love

Mommy recieving her present from grandma, you can feel the love in this one haha

The boys, Christmas day

This one's from Christmas celebration with my dad's family, here we are with most of the girls, including the newest adition, my niece (!) Ariela.

My little sweetie, Diego, he's not into picture taking but I managed to get him to pose to "show his new Optimus Prime action figure"

And last but now least, Christmas cuties, check out the bag full of karaoke cd's!

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

I think I have written several posts all with differentholiday titles and I never get to finish writting them!
Well, we had a very nice celebration at both Christmas and New Year's Eve. We always have such fun together, the food was delicious, my grandma cooked for Christmas and my mom did all the New Year's menu. Now it is definitely time to start a diet but we still have Diego's 5th birthday, which was last monday (they are having a bday party on Sat)! and then my mom's bday, which was yesterday, Jan 6th. We had pizza and a delicious tres leches cake, yumm!

see? now diet is a necessity.

I can't believe 2009 is over, it was a good year overall, I am thankful for all the blessings upon me and my family, for Guate... let's say we opened our eyes to many things and there were a few steps forward, though there are many others to regret and be sad for. Hope 2010 has some good things for us, but so far so good. I'm confident there are great things ahead.
I am excited for this new year at school, I have to work very hard to move forward and make that light at the end of the tunnel look brighter than ever!

Now, for you to have a better picture of how much fun we had celebrating the start of 2010, I'll leave you with some pics

here I am with my sisi

ok, for some reason blogger won't let me upload more pics so I'll try again tomorrow!

Luces Campero

Well, again I'm way late on my posts, there is just so much to do these days... shopping, shopping, oh and more shopping. I think I haven't gained any extra pounds because of all the walking in the malls! We are almost done with presents, thank goodness, and we also bought a 20lb turkey for Christmas dinner, the thing is huge!
Holidays in Guate start with La Quema del Diablo, I didn't post anything because I was working and spent pretty much all day there, when my mom picked me up after work it was all over. Plus this year a youth organization started a program to recycle paper instead of burning, I really like this idea because the planet doesn't need thousands of people burning stuff right now and also because they were going to sell everything they gathered to a recycling company and use the money to buy food for families in need.

Well, on the 12th we had the infamous Luces Campero, it has been this way since I have memory. Family comes to my grandma's house, which is like having honor seats to watch the show. So many people comes to watch them that the traffic police has to close the streets, all for a half hour firework and music show.
Little Diego (almost 5yo) really enjoyed it this time, in the past he was too scared of all the noise and the exploitions. I have some video of the highlights of the show, you can hear him in the back squealing with joy haha. The show is called La Noche de los Deseos (the night of wishes) so he thought every firework was a chance for a wish, wanna know what he asked for? "MUCHO DINERO!" (LOTS OF MONEY!) haha he can crack us up. We had a great time.
Like many other countries, it has gotten cold here, very cold, it rained for a couple of days but we are having sunshine again which is great, otherwise all the fireworks joy at midnight would have been ruined!

Now, on to the video and pics! It's a bit long but it's worth it

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

p.s. This is post # 100! finally!!

had a crappy fist day at work

yes, it was awful! I had NO IDEA of what I was doing!! I kept getting calls I didn't know what to do, I was in panic, I wrote down everything and said I was going to send their money back, redelivery, whatever the system told me to, but have no idea if I actually did!?
I scored a 100 in all the training tests, but those where nothing compared to actually taking calls!
I left the place horrified, I felt like a big failure, and the worst part is that I am dreading the time to go back for another 5 hours of hell!!
I might be exaggerating , but I feel like I dont need to go thru all that but I don't want to be a quitter though by this thoughts I already am!! It never crossed my mind that it would be so hard!
Jesus!!! Help me!!!!!

Ok, I took a little time while writing this post, and decided I'm going to face my fears, at least for today, maybe it will be better right? (please God make it better!!). I don't want to feel like a loser and regret the fact that I didn't try. (big sigh...) Let's do this.

And for a personal record... Silvia Navarro my fav actress inspired me not to give up on this kind of issues.

This blog neglecting girl has a job

Yes, this was my 3rd day. I am on training for 1-800-flowers.com, did my interview last wednesday, another interview on the phone with a new yorker (that went very well, I had compliments on my english!) and I was hired on friday. They are offering temporary positions since it's a high season for sales and costumer service, so instead of the 3 week training we are going to have 1 week and they we are thrown to the "platform" to recieve calls from all over the world, especially the US.
I will probably work there for 3 weeks, at least I can earn some money to buy my books for next year, and maybe, just maybe some clothes and shoes?
I am not aware of many things happening outside since I will sit for 8 hours (2 to 10pm) in front of a computer and talking on the phone, but we are having very nice weather, traffic is starting to be a problem with the holidays getting closer and we set our tree and Chirstmas stuff until today, it looks really pretty...
I feel bad because my mom has to stay up until 10pm to pick me up, I will have to work even on sundays and probably Christmas day or New Year's Eve! :s

Happy Thanksgiving day

To all my american friends reading this blog, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Guate but what better day to be thankful for friendship and all the blessings in our lives?! Of course we have to be thankful everyday.
Well, the days when we stuff ourselves with delicious food are coming so I'm just going to be patient... I already have a few more pounds on me so...

We had another earthquake today... God! It was soooo scary!! I know I always say that but this one was really terrible! My mom was so close to a panic attack, I was on the verge of tears and we were about to run down stairs and out of the building when it stopped.
According to the news it was 6 degrees in the Richter scale and happened in El Salvador, though we could feel it in many places here.
There were reports of material damages in houses and buildings but no one got hurt, thank goodness.

My grandma is back from her trip, she's very happy, had a great time and came back with lots of funny stories to tell, believe me they are all very special. It's great that she got to be with her brothers and sisters, she hardly ever sees them, specially sinces my great-grandma passed a couple of years ago. We've got to make this kind of reunions more often!


We got to skype with "sweetpea" (Angelina decided that is her new name) and her family. We got to meet her aunt and uncle, her grandma and our dear friend Joan were there too. Andrea and Angelina are so cute! Andrea showed us her pink skates and Angelina just wanted to sing the "monkey's song" and jump in her trampolin. Truly adorable.
I am thankful for Angelina, for her wonderful family, for getting to see her grow up and just know how loved she is and how happy she is with her family. We sure miss her a lot, and think about her everyday, but we know she is doing great. And that brings peace to our minds and hearts.

holiday season!

Yes, holiday season has officialy started in Guate, Christmas decorations everywhere, the Arbol Gallo lights up every night and Avenida Reforma too, it has been like that for 24 years now, its a tradition that started in Guate City and now is done all around the country. We even have a Chirstmas parade today, not that we are going to watch it, it's a little bit far from home.



We are having GORGEOUS weather, and I can't believe how fast time passes! It's my grandma's birthday today but she went away in a trip to her home town, to celebrate with her twin sister, more sisters, nephews and nieces who live there and we hardly ever see. It's hard for her to leave like this, she doesn't like to leave her house and the students living there are still going to school and she doesn't have a rest until they are gone. Anyway, I will have to stay at her house until she comes back, that's next wednesday, I am the only one who doesn't have anything better to do :s haha Oh well... I am armed with my laptop and books and TV and that will have to do.
Oh and cousin Brandon's 14th birthday was yesterday, we didn't see him all day but we sent him his present and they (his brother and my brother) headed to the mall to buy more Yu-gi-oh! (or however that is spelled?) cards for their collection.
We had pizza and ice cream cake last night, it was yummie and we had a good time. I have no picture since my sister took the camera :(

BUT... we got pictures from Angie's mom a few days ago, their 09 Christmas pics, both girls looked beautiful in their dresses and hair bows! Goodness I love them to death! I'm leaving you with my fav pic of the bunch!

I LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!

p.s. I have a new nephew! he was born on wednesday o thursday, not sure :s he's name is Javier (everyone calls him Javi!) he's really big and and beautiful! When did I stop having cousins and start having nieces and nephews??!! (sigh...)

feeling the winter

winter is showing its face around here. It's been a few days now with rain, cold, clouds, you know, that kind of day when all you want is to stay in bed all warm and cozy. Not my kind of weather really, this year has been pretty hot, the rainy season is coming waayy late. It means we are using sweaters, scarf, boots or sneakers, I even wore gloves yesterday... GLOVES!! and I am Miss I.Always.wear.Sandals for Christ sake!
Anyway, we did have a couple of hours of sunshine today, then the rain came back :( , this is all because of a hurricane near Nicaragua that is now heading north. They said in the news the rain will be over by the 10th and then we can expect more cold. Great! ¬¬

I got a call from the call center I was trying to work for, they wanted to hire me!! too bad the schedules they were offering were way different from the times my mom can drive me. And as dangerous as it has been around lately, I rather stay home with no money but safe. I mean seriously, there have been attacks to police cars and 17 to 20 people are killed every day due to violence. I had to say no.


News from the US, little Angie, my sweet girl, it's going to school now with her sister. Her mommy told us that according to her teacher, Miss Megan (she has mentioned her on skype talks), she is the smartest in her group and is really good paying attention in class and follows instructions very well! Believe me she is sooo smart, I mean she had words at 9 months old! and at age 2 she has 4 and 5 words sentences! God I love this child to pieces.
We get to see both babies every friday now, which is great, though within a week there is not much to talk about, our life is not that exciting. lol!

Have a great week!

xoxo

the pics... finally

I am so sorry it took me so long to upload the pics, I've been using the laptop lately and I have no pics or anything there yet.

I'll let the pics do all the talking and show the fun. I'm doing a double post and I'm adding pics from my night out last week and some from November 1st, when we celebrate "Dia de todos los Santos". Families gather, visit the graveyards to put flowers to their gone loved ones and eat Fiambre a delicious dish with all kinds of ingredients and it's yummie!!
For some reason some pics are a little grainy but I think they do the job...


Now, here are some pics of November 1st at my grandma's. I have no pics of the graveyard because my sister took the camera, we went there on the 31st because it gets way too crowded on the 1st, even if it was a day before the holiday there was a lot of peoples and flowers where everywhere, pretty nice! Abuelita Mary made a beautiful flower arrangement for my uncle's grave.

we had a little photoshoot right before eating, we are all so grown up! He looks so proud!

Abuelito Tuti ROCKS!!

Grandchildren

a close-up to the Fiambree! DELICIOUS!

we really enjoyed the time together, we bought this Fiambre from my uncle's mother in law. My grandma used to make it herself but it takes time and money to accomplish this.

with our bellies FULL!


NIGHT OUT WITH FRIENDS!!!

"little" Max being funny ¬¬

sipping some "playa azul" - those were good!

MARGARITAS!!

I don't know about you but I think the waiters shirt's were AWFUL!!!

I think we look cute in this one, I love the blouse I was wearing (thanks daddy!)

Can you tell we were having fun??!!

cute gurls!! Those drinks are "sex in the beach"... what a name!

After four rounds of drinks and food, we headed (well not all of us, just me and 3 more girls) to Ana Lucia's house for a sleep-over night. I wont post any pics of that since all the glamour was gone and we just chatted until 3 am. My mom showed up at 8:30 am when we were just waking up... the woman can live without me lol... we are inseparable.


Hope you liked them!


xoxo