I've arrived..

...and if one thing is for certain it's this: I am over my "pee stage fright." You know when someone else is in the room and you are too nervous to pee? I'm over it. My host mom, Duly, has a curtain to block the door, and when you've got to go, you've got to go. It took me about 48 hours to get over this "fear" that has built up for 23 years. I've already accomplished so much!!
I arrived last Wedensday and moved in with a 34 year old woman (Duly) and her 7 year old son (Carlos). Duly is an entrepreneur - she owns a beauty salon across the street, she weaves, and she makes and sells ice-cream out of the house. Her husband lives in the US, but I don't think they have a relationship currently.
From now until July 16, I'm a PCT (Peace Corps Trainee). I wake up around 6:30am, and have 4-6 hours of Spanish 6 days a week, as well as 2-4 hours of technical training. I live in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, and it is a beautiful little town. We travel by bus once a week to the Peace Corps HQ in Santa Lucia, where we have more training. I live in the same town as 5 other PCTs, and we all get along great.
The things I thought I might have a hard time getting used to are the ones I've seemingly almost forgotten about: the toilet paper goes in the trash can, NOT the toilet; the water needs to be purified before drinking; I have to be home by dark; etc. There are certainly things that will take some getting used to, including the fireworks going off during ALL hours of the night, the 4am masses that last 2 hours, the rabid dogs, the machismo, and the conservative nature of the people.
I'm excited to learn what the people here have to teach me, including the many interesting aspects of the Mayan culture. I would love to work with some of the midwives here, but I won't know my real assignment until the middle of July. I have learned a few things from my language teacher, who is also a Mayan spiritualist: if you're in a room with a baby and you don't touch it, you and the baby have a bad connection and the baby will get sick; chewing three orange seeds will cure a fever; if you are stung by a bee, place a small stick behind each ear and the pain will go away; pineapple will get rid of kidney stones; if a scorpion bites you, you are to suck on a sugar cube and bite a machete; and pomegranates cure cancer. The Mayan midwives have the real secrets, but these are some common ones that Guatemalans know and use.
I had my first experience on a 'chicken bus' the other day. I suggest you Google that, because I don't think it's possible to describe the ridiculousness of these buses!! We're taking the bus again to Antigua on Saturday to get phones. If you'd like my number feel free to email me (megangokey@gmail.com) and I'll give it to you!
I've been pretty lucky thus far, I'm one of the only PCTs that has yet to get sick. After my lunch today, however, I might not make it.
The house that I'm living in is very nice - I have my own room that opens up to a courtyard. The kitchen is very open, as well as the bathroom and shower. I am lucky to have a real toilet and a (sometimes) hot shower. Some of my fellow PCTs have dirt floors and bucket baths, so needless to say I am easing in to the Guatemalan way of life rather than being slapped with it.

That's all for now folks, hope all is well will you all!!!