I got the Harper's Weekly Review email today, so I'm going to try and write my day out in a similar fashion.
The paper cutter arrived at the stationary store and so Flor and I cut translated verses up and stapled them to letters to children's sponsors. Pablo hasn't shown up to school since telling Hector David on Thursday that he's going to come back. The principal says he's afraid of the strap. Picked up a check and delivered it to the school to pay for 75 sweaters, bank client assistant Alejandra dialed 4 times to get VISA approval for my cash withdrawal and I added 200 minutes to my cell phone. I left $6 at the school to buy a friend's mariachi band's CD, heard to Mexican worship music in the office, and didn't listen to my iPod once. Met Margarita at the appliance store and bought her family 2 beds, 50 lbs of corn, 12 lbs of black beans, 6 lbs of noodles, 2 lbs of salt, 4 lbs of sugar, 5 lbs of potatoes, 10 limes, 4 lbs of coffee, 6 lbs of tomatoes, 4 cucumbers, and a bag of cookies with remaining funds from a donation to the family. Another abandoned mom came asking for her money this morning.
Beerseba School was deworming the elementary this morning, I delivered hemorrhoidal suppositories to a friend who spends his entire working day sitting on a small wooden bench, and Blaise peed 4 times in the potty and still managed to wet his diaper 5 times. Amber made me oats for breakfast, meat sauce pasta for lunch, and pesto pasta with salted sweat peas for supper. Blaise wouldn't go to sleep for his nap, 5 letters to sponsors didn't come in, no one was home at the top of the mountain, I lost $1000 on my iPod Texas Hold 'em game, and the power went out at 2:10 PM for 45 minutes. I talked to Salomé, I got an email from Remy, 7 people added me as a friend in Facebook, and Mike still won't confirm that I am his father.
29.5.07
20.5.07
Face in the Book
Alright. OK. Fine.
I joined Facebook at the behest of numerous friends.
So far I've made 56 old friends.
I can't make friends when the internet is down though.
You too can be my friend - search for me by my full name after you join. And you will join. Even Amber joined.
I joined Facebook at the behest of numerous friends.
So far I've made 56 old friends.
I can't make friends when the internet is down though.
You too can be my friend - search for me by my full name after you join. And you will join. Even Amber joined.
19.5.07
kicking around the house
Got this monster in the market: 15cm long, 34 cm around it's widest girth and 40 cm around top-bottom. Yum.
Amber got me these. On the packaging it says "for ages 3 and up." This is ridiculous. Blaise loves playing with them and he's not even two yet! Who makes these executive decisions?
This is my 3 times a week morning ritual. Fresh beans ground and then pressed. The smell is often better than the taste; Though with fresh unpasteurized goat's milk and granulated cane sugar, it's pretty hard to beat the flavour.
12.5.07
All The Excitement
I just woke up to Blaise barking at stray dogs and Acadia sneezing repeatedly next to me in bed.
Let me offer you some highlights of yesterday though.
I picked up 4 classes worth of cards for sponsors from one of our schools. The students are writing their favorite Bible verse and either drawing a picture or writing about what the verse means to them. I'm enjoying this because most of the translating I do copy-paste from QuickVerse. I'll post some highlights of these translations another time when I have all of them done.
We get the call that our new personally designed piece of furniture is ready in Cobán and is going to be delivered in 30 minutes. I have all the money with me, so I come home to meet the guys from the carpentry shop. They've done a fine job and I spend the next hour setting it up - surround sound baby.
I call the dentist first to confirm that he'll be at the appointment before I take our sponsor child, Zoila, to her braces adjustment. Along the way, She tells me about an accident she witnessed the night before...
While Zoila is at the dentist, I go to the bank to make a withdrawal on my VISA. I'm in Coban, but when I walk into the bank, two of the workers are from my Tactic bank. They ask about my new baby.
The dentist never showed up. He had his secretary inspect the braces and tell him over the phone how they were.
I have the task of purchasing 2 electric keyboards and a guitar for the ministry that were purchased from the gift catalog I made last Christmas. It takes an hour to make the purchases because I have to test each item (store policy), negotiate the price, wait for them to pack everything up and then for them to write out a receipt. Mercy.
As I walk in the back door of my house, Blaise leaps out of my office and scares the tar out of me. Later as I'm in the bathroom, I notice that his diaper pattie has plugged the toilet (a real Robichaud! I'm so proud).
He's pushes Acadia around in the stroller. He says "no tikiktikitkittik" when he wants me to stop tickling him.
He has a new chore of lining up the cans (he came to me this morning wanting me to open a can of olives for him).
My final task for the day is to attend a dehydrated soup (donated by the Okanagan Gleaners) giveaway at a Nazarene church in Pansalche. The service started at 6, but the giveaway is scheduled for 8 pm so I leave home at 7:30 with my camera.
Pansalche is on the side of a mountain. At night it looks like a ski run the way the path is lit. I walk straight up for 12 minutes and arrive at the church, welcomed by my favorite student's father. They sit me down in the pastor's adjoining house and visit with me while the service rages on. I'm given a cup of coffee and a quarter of a cake. After a while, I suggest we go inside (it's 8:20 and I don't want to miss the soup giveaway).
The pastor is preaching in Poqomchí and I enjoy catching the occasional "Ruth" and "Noemí" and some Spanish words mixed in. After seeing me sit down though, he switches to Spanish, though only for 10 minutes, then back to Poqom. I'm asked to share a few words. I apparently am the one who has blessed them with all this soup - so I give credit to the Gleaners and say how it's a pleasure to be with them and see God's work done. I completely miss my opportunity to share the similarity of the gleaners and Ruth's story and to explain how this soup is brimming with vitamins.
Three people explain how this vegetable soup is prepared that the people are going to be given.
Next comes the Mother's Day service.
The band is loud. As in LOUD. Amazingly, the mixing on this occasion is quite good. There is a drummer, a scraper, 2 keyboardists (who also sing), and a bass guitarist. There is nothing like hearing a bass driven "How Great Thou Art." I was standing at the back of the church and I can see my clothing move to the beat. I also watch as an esperanza flies into the church and lands in a girl's hair. Honestly, it takes about 30 seconds to pry this insect away from her head. Very funny.
At 9:45, they are serving Kak'ic to everyone in the church - including tamalitos to use as spoons. I am not served though and I wonder whether it's because I didn't eat the cake served to me (it was a tenth of all the cake they had there).
Finally at 10:10, the soup is distributed at lightning speed. I have to pull the "after I take your picture you can see yourself in my camera" trick in order to get any photos. The people are shy, but desperate to see themselves in this magical device, so I get some nice photos.
This is Oliverio's family.
Believe me, she asked me for this photo.
I am then ushered back to the pastor's house and seated with the band and pastor to eat a heaping bowl of kak'ic and a tall mug of coffee (my second of the evening). They get me a spoon, bless them.
I visit with the pastor, Apolonario. He works full time at our building project in Purulhá as a mason's assistant. In the evenings he studies and has 3 services a week. On Saturdays, he works until noon then takes a bus to the capital where he takes seminary courses from 5-11 pm. Then he gets on a bus and comes back home (3 1/2 hours). On Sunday he preaches again.
It's 10:50 and I'm sent off with a topped up mini-pot of kak'ic (oh, it's a smoky, spicy, thick soup with a chunk of chicken in it - very tasty). I walk gingerly straight down the mountain without meeting a single soul. I drive the 4 minutes home. Lock the gate. Fall fast asleep until...
"A-Choo!" and "Woof woof woof woof woof."
Let me offer you some highlights of yesterday though.
I picked up 4 classes worth of cards for sponsors from one of our schools. The students are writing their favorite Bible verse and either drawing a picture or writing about what the verse means to them. I'm enjoying this because most of the translating I do copy-paste from QuickVerse. I'll post some highlights of these translations another time when I have all of them done.
We get the call that our new personally designed piece of furniture is ready in Cobán and is going to be delivered in 30 minutes. I have all the money with me, so I come home to meet the guys from the carpentry shop. They've done a fine job and I spend the next hour setting it up - surround sound baby.
I call the dentist first to confirm that he'll be at the appointment before I take our sponsor child, Zoila, to her braces adjustment. Along the way, She tells me about an accident she witnessed the night before...
the sun has set. a large truck is parked on the side of the highway, changing a tire of something, and has no lights on. The truck is also taking up half the lane. coming behind it is a pickup truck full of mangoes. coming towards it at the same time is a tractor trailer carrying logs. the pickup doesn't see the parked truck in time and has to choose whether to hit the oncoming logging truck or the parked truck. the parked truck gets hit. mangoes all over the road. two people dead.
While Zoila is at the dentist, I go to the bank to make a withdrawal on my VISA. I'm in Coban, but when I walk into the bank, two of the workers are from my Tactic bank. They ask about my new baby.
The dentist never showed up. He had his secretary inspect the braces and tell him over the phone how they were.
I have the task of purchasing 2 electric keyboards and a guitar for the ministry that were purchased from the gift catalog I made last Christmas. It takes an hour to make the purchases because I have to test each item (store policy), negotiate the price, wait for them to pack everything up and then for them to write out a receipt. Mercy.
As I walk in the back door of my house, Blaise leaps out of my office and scares the tar out of me. Later as I'm in the bathroom, I notice that his diaper pattie has plugged the toilet (a real Robichaud! I'm so proud).
He's pushes Acadia around in the stroller. He says "no tikiktikitkittik" when he wants me to stop tickling him.
He has a new chore of lining up the cans (he came to me this morning wanting me to open a can of olives for him).
My final task for the day is to attend a dehydrated soup (donated by the Okanagan Gleaners) giveaway at a Nazarene church in Pansalche. The service started at 6, but the giveaway is scheduled for 8 pm so I leave home at 7:30 with my camera.
Pansalche is on the side of a mountain. At night it looks like a ski run the way the path is lit. I walk straight up for 12 minutes and arrive at the church, welcomed by my favorite student's father. They sit me down in the pastor's adjoining house and visit with me while the service rages on. I'm given a cup of coffee and a quarter of a cake. After a while, I suggest we go inside (it's 8:20 and I don't want to miss the soup giveaway).
The pastor is preaching in Poqomchí and I enjoy catching the occasional "Ruth" and "Noemí" and some Spanish words mixed in. After seeing me sit down though, he switches to Spanish, though only for 10 minutes, then back to Poqom. I'm asked to share a few words. I apparently am the one who has blessed them with all this soup - so I give credit to the Gleaners and say how it's a pleasure to be with them and see God's work done. I completely miss my opportunity to share the similarity of the gleaners and Ruth's story and to explain how this soup is brimming with vitamins.
Three people explain how this vegetable soup is prepared that the people are going to be given.
Next comes the Mother's Day service.
The band is loud. As in LOUD. Amazingly, the mixing on this occasion is quite good. There is a drummer, a scraper, 2 keyboardists (who also sing), and a bass guitarist. There is nothing like hearing a bass driven "How Great Thou Art." I was standing at the back of the church and I can see my clothing move to the beat. I also watch as an esperanza flies into the church and lands in a girl's hair. Honestly, it takes about 30 seconds to pry this insect away from her head. Very funny.
At 9:45, they are serving Kak'ic to everyone in the church - including tamalitos to use as spoons. I am not served though and I wonder whether it's because I didn't eat the cake served to me (it was a tenth of all the cake they had there).
Finally at 10:10, the soup is distributed at lightning speed. I have to pull the "after I take your picture you can see yourself in my camera" trick in order to get any photos. The people are shy, but desperate to see themselves in this magical device, so I get some nice photos.
This is Oliverio's family.
Believe me, she asked me for this photo.
I am then ushered back to the pastor's house and seated with the band and pastor to eat a heaping bowl of kak'ic and a tall mug of coffee (my second of the evening). They get me a spoon, bless them.
I visit with the pastor, Apolonario. He works full time at our building project in Purulhá as a mason's assistant. In the evenings he studies and has 3 services a week. On Saturdays, he works until noon then takes a bus to the capital where he takes seminary courses from 5-11 pm. Then he gets on a bus and comes back home (3 1/2 hours). On Sunday he preaches again.
It's 10:50 and I'm sent off with a topped up mini-pot of kak'ic (oh, it's a smoky, spicy, thick soup with a chunk of chicken in it - very tasty). I walk gingerly straight down the mountain without meeting a single soul. I drive the 4 minutes home. Lock the gate. Fall fast asleep until...
"A-Choo!" and "Woof woof woof woof woof."
8.5.07
Fixture
You can't have a moustache for just a day. Apparently.
Moustache Men seem to be required to wear a moustache for years in order to be accepted. I remember seeing a band of misfits at a music festival in Stony Plain, all 20-somethings, all with moustaches. It really seemed out of place.
My papa had a moustache for years (after he cut his beard off). I never really felt like he looked like papa unless he had a moustache. Now he has a goatee and it's just not the same.
So, I guess that's my reason for not keeping a moustache: I haven't had one for years. It certainly has nothing to do with Amber telling me that I am not allowed to have a moustache.
I wonder if things would be different if I could wax the tips and twirl.
Moustache.
7.5.07
The Season is Mango
From March to May, we enjoy mangoes. As many as we can eat. They usually cost between 15-23¢ each. The eat them green here too, which isn't bad with some salt and seasoning. We whip them up with milk. We cook them up in crisps. We stir them into pudding. We dice them into waldorf salad. We bake them on top of chicken.
But mostly we just slice, dice, invert, and chomp.
Then we wash our faces.
But mostly we just slice, dice, invert, and chomp.
Then we wash our faces.
Might
The sheer size of Acadia overwhelms me. And she's strong too! All 8 lbs of her.
This picture reminds me of those tiny monkeys that clutch to a pinky finger that makes into nearly every edition of those hologram Guiness Book of World Records.
5.5.07
Growing Fast
Two things this morning blew me away.
First, at breakfast, Blaise was saying thank you to Mamá for something she put in his dish, but he began saying it in a deeper and deeper voice, over and over. Amber would respond "You're welcome" in just as deep a voice. Blaise continued to push his chin into his chest and get as low as he possibly could, until it was just a whisper. We couldn't contain ourselves. He wasn't copying anything he had seen before.
Second, he took 5 colourful plastic cups from the cupboard and began playing with them on the kitchen floor. I was on the computer and Amber was in the shower, so he just played by himself, quietly. What intrigued me was that he began spinning them and attempting to keep as many spinning at the same time as possible - exactly how I used to do with coins when I was a boy. Genius!
First, at breakfast, Blaise was saying thank you to Mamá for something she put in his dish, but he began saying it in a deeper and deeper voice, over and over. Amber would respond "You're welcome" in just as deep a voice. Blaise continued to push his chin into his chest and get as low as he possibly could, until it was just a whisper. We couldn't contain ourselves. He wasn't copying anything he had seen before.
Second, he took 5 colourful plastic cups from the cupboard and began playing with them on the kitchen floor. I was on the computer and Amber was in the shower, so he just played by himself, quietly. What intrigued me was that he began spinning them and attempting to keep as many spinning at the same time as possible - exactly how I used to do with coins when I was a boy. Genius!
29.4.07
Moneda Guatemalteca
Perhaps more for my own sake in remembering these fun (yet nearly valueless) coins, I'm recording them here. And for those who like to learn trivial facts about other countries... I present to you the coins in circulation in the Republic of Guatemala:
TAILS.
All of the coins feature basically the same thing on the tails side. It's the coat of arms. It consists of two bayonette rifles crossed and two sword crossed representing the fight for independence, the declaration of independence 15 Sept, 1821, and the quetzal (national bird). They have a lifesize coat of arms in the national palace in Guatemala City that I've seen several times. I've never been in the country on Independence Day (arrived 23rd Sept, then we were in eastern Canada late August until the 16th of Sept last year. I've neither seen a living quetzal, though I've walked through the quetzal reserve 30 minutes away.
HEADS.
One cent. This is Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. He's the Spanish monk who defended the Mayans against atrocity and wrote several books about them 450 years ago. From what I've heard, he also taught them to read. There's a town 4 hours away that is named after him - it's very hot there and there are snakes.
The five cent coin says "Free Grow Fertile." Pictured is the ceiba, the national tree.
The dime carries the picture of the Quirigua Monolith, an obelisk ruin situated about 2 1/2 hours away from where I live. I haven't been yet, but when I head up that road, I'll stop for a visit. Apparently the ruins are pretty cool there too.
I don't know who this is on the quarter, but I think it's just one of the indigenous people of Guatemala to recognize them.
The monja blanca (white nun) is on the half-quetzal. It's the national flower, but it's actually an orchid. It's also the name of a bus line here, and a heap of restaurants, stores, and other touristy stuff. It's against the law to pick or sell them, but I've been offered them quite a few times. They ask Q100 ($15), but what am I going to do with a white nun?
The Quetzal coin commemorates the signing of the peace accord between the army and the guerillas on December 29, 1996. This marked the end of a 36-year civil war in which more than 200,000 people (mostly civilians) were killed (93% of the killing was done by the army). Across the top of the coin is says "Peace, firm and lasting." The word Paz (meaning Peace) is written again in the shape of a quetzal.
The Quetzal was on par with the $US until 1987. Something happened. What?
TAILS.
All of the coins feature basically the same thing on the tails side. It's the coat of arms. It consists of two bayonette rifles crossed and two sword crossed representing the fight for independence, the declaration of independence 15 Sept, 1821, and the quetzal (national bird). They have a lifesize coat of arms in the national palace in Guatemala City that I've seen several times. I've never been in the country on Independence Day (arrived 23rd Sept, then we were in eastern Canada late August until the 16th of Sept last year. I've neither seen a living quetzal, though I've walked through the quetzal reserve 30 minutes away.
HEADS.
One cent. This is Fray Bartolomé de las Casas. He's the Spanish monk who defended the Mayans against atrocity and wrote several books about them 450 years ago. From what I've heard, he also taught them to read. There's a town 4 hours away that is named after him - it's very hot there and there are snakes.
The five cent coin says "Free Grow Fertile." Pictured is the ceiba, the national tree.
The dime carries the picture of the Quirigua Monolith, an obelisk ruin situated about 2 1/2 hours away from where I live. I haven't been yet, but when I head up that road, I'll stop for a visit. Apparently the ruins are pretty cool there too.
I don't know who this is on the quarter, but I think it's just one of the indigenous people of Guatemala to recognize them.
The monja blanca (white nun) is on the half-quetzal. It's the national flower, but it's actually an orchid. It's also the name of a bus line here, and a heap of restaurants, stores, and other touristy stuff. It's against the law to pick or sell them, but I've been offered them quite a few times. They ask Q100 ($15), but what am I going to do with a white nun?
The Quetzal coin commemorates the signing of the peace accord between the army and the guerillas on December 29, 1996. This marked the end of a 36-year civil war in which more than 200,000 people (mostly civilians) were killed (93% of the killing was done by the army). Across the top of the coin is says "Peace, firm and lasting." The word Paz (meaning Peace) is written again in the shape of a quetzal.
| Guatemalan Centavos | Canadian Cents |
| 1 | 0.16¢ |
| 5 | 0.78¢ |
| 10 | 1.56¢ |
| 25 | 3.89¢ |
| 50 | 7.78¢ |
| 100 or Q1 | 15.56¢ |
The Quetzal was on par with the $US until 1987. Something happened. What?
28.4.07
Some Blog Updates
For those faithful readers, I thought I would go back a few posts and provide an up-to-date report on some recent events (rather than post comments on 2-month-old posts):
Frutas Extranjeras: Found out that the jocote is also known as the spondias mombin, the gully plum, the Spanish plum, the hog plum, the Ashanti plum, the true yellow mombin, the golden apple or the Java plum. Still nothing on the others.
Goat Milk Man: Bought more milk this morning. It was yummy. Rene visited me this morning and among the topics of conversation, we talked about goats. We're going to try and get a couple goats together for milking. It means a trip to Salamá (about 75 minutes) and knocking off life goal #94
Zaak Watches Movies: Five entries so far. I'll watch another movie tonight: The Illusionist.
Q/kWh: Not one person gave me the price of electricity per kWh. I'm still in the dark.
Shackles: Well, I still don't feel absolutely free to share all that was burdening me, BUT... I was able to clear up a few things and so the burden is lighter. I was under a lot of stress, so things seemed more intense.
Backyardigans: Those white birds were snowy egrets - thanks Sirdar and Carole.
A little puzzle for you: No one has even tried. I guess this one will just have to go to the grave with me!
Baby's Name: We did come up with a beautiful boy's name in the end. In the end we also didn't need it - yet. Acadia's name on her birth certificate ended up being Robichaud Reding as Guatemalan law prevented me from giving her just one last name. On her Canadian documents it will be just Robichaud.
Switzerland invades Liechtenstein: In case you didn't read the article, the errant Swiss soldiers retreated to Switzerland. Liechtenstein remains a free and sovereign state (unlike many out there).
Pee in the Potty: Blaise is officially NOT potty trained exactly 2 months after the exciting beginning. My mom said I was well beyond 2 when I learned to use a pot. She says I would spend hours with poop in my pants and not care. This doesn't bode well for Blaise.
If the coughing fits: I spent 3 full weeks sleeping on a foam in my office. The cough lasted a little over 4 weeks and finally quit me mid-March. There was a time during the cough that I couldn't remember what it was like not to cough. The cough was viral in nature. I developed a minor sore throat and a doctor said it was a bacterial infection - I'm sure it wasn't in afterthought - and had me on antibiotics for 5 days.
Interweb Woes: I phoned AppleCare 3 times and got nearly nowhere. My ISP came by several times and I got nearly nowhere. I had to rely on my own computing sense... The internet connection would usually work for the first 5 minutes the computer was on and then lose recognition of the wireless access point and therefore produce an erroneous IP address. A fixed IP address didn't help either. What I finally figured out about 3 days ago was to add my router between the access point and the computer. The internet has virtually been uninterrupted since then. I even uploaded a 50MB file yesterday. I'm so happy.
Microtrials: 6. My paperwork arrived after 6 days (5 days later than expected). I paid the guy with nickels and dimes. 7. The rest of my 18 songs finally downloaded five days later. 8. The fax got through. Twice. I managed to contribute to my RRSPs before the end of March. Actually it got contributed twice by accident. Then fixed.
Frutas Extranjeras: Found out that the jocote is also known as the spondias mombin, the gully plum, the Spanish plum, the hog plum, the Ashanti plum, the true yellow mombin, the golden apple or the Java plum. Still nothing on the others.
Goat Milk Man: Bought more milk this morning. It was yummy. Rene visited me this morning and among the topics of conversation, we talked about goats. We're going to try and get a couple goats together for milking. It means a trip to Salamá (about 75 minutes) and knocking off life goal #94
Zaak Watches Movies: Five entries so far. I'll watch another movie tonight: The Illusionist.
Q/kWh: Not one person gave me the price of electricity per kWh. I'm still in the dark.
Shackles: Well, I still don't feel absolutely free to share all that was burdening me, BUT... I was able to clear up a few things and so the burden is lighter. I was under a lot of stress, so things seemed more intense.
Backyardigans: Those white birds were snowy egrets - thanks Sirdar and Carole.
A little puzzle for you: No one has even tried. I guess this one will just have to go to the grave with me!
Baby's Name: We did come up with a beautiful boy's name in the end. In the end we also didn't need it - yet. Acadia's name on her birth certificate ended up being Robichaud Reding as Guatemalan law prevented me from giving her just one last name. On her Canadian documents it will be just Robichaud.
Switzerland invades Liechtenstein: In case you didn't read the article, the errant Swiss soldiers retreated to Switzerland. Liechtenstein remains a free and sovereign state (unlike many out there).
Pee in the Potty: Blaise is officially NOT potty trained exactly 2 months after the exciting beginning. My mom said I was well beyond 2 when I learned to use a pot. She says I would spend hours with poop in my pants and not care. This doesn't bode well for Blaise.
If the coughing fits: I spent 3 full weeks sleeping on a foam in my office. The cough lasted a little over 4 weeks and finally quit me mid-March. There was a time during the cough that I couldn't remember what it was like not to cough. The cough was viral in nature. I developed a minor sore throat and a doctor said it was a bacterial infection - I'm sure it wasn't in afterthought - and had me on antibiotics for 5 days.
Interweb Woes: I phoned AppleCare 3 times and got nearly nowhere. My ISP came by several times and I got nearly nowhere. I had to rely on my own computing sense... The internet connection would usually work for the first 5 minutes the computer was on and then lose recognition of the wireless access point and therefore produce an erroneous IP address. A fixed IP address didn't help either. What I finally figured out about 3 days ago was to add my router between the access point and the computer. The internet has virtually been uninterrupted since then. I even uploaded a 50MB file yesterday. I'm so happy.
Microtrials: 6. My paperwork arrived after 6 days (5 days later than expected). I paid the guy with nickels and dimes. 7. The rest of my 18 songs finally downloaded five days later. 8. The fax got through. Twice. I managed to contribute to my RRSPs before the end of March. Actually it got contributed twice by accident. Then fixed.
25.4.07
"No Papa Cheese* Baby"
This is what Blaise said when I had the video camera out during Acadia's first bath. Jealous or Concerned?
He also commented "Big cheese!"
* Cheese /tʃi:z/ n (a) camera, video camera (b) a food papa gives me when he's cooking vt (a) to take pictures, to shoot video (b) to be photographed
He also commented "Big cheese!"
* Cheese /tʃi:z/ n (a) camera, video camera (b) a food papa gives me when he's cooking vt (a) to take pictures, to shoot video (b) to be photographed
22.4.07
Frutas Extranjeras
I've been meaning to share some of the curious fruits I've found in the market. As usual, there are bananas, papayas, mangos, oranges, limes, lemons, pineapples, apples, berries, coconuts, apricots, melons, etc... all of which were recognizable to me, coming from Canada Then there are the alien fruits that for some reason are not marketed so much in Canada. I wonder why?
The ladies in the market called these nanzis. I don't know if that is Spanish or Poqomchí. All I do know is that these miniature apple things are not very tasty. Think mealy, semi-rotten, but not slimy rotten, apple. I think they cook them.
I present you with the zapote! This fruit has a brilliant pit in the middle and is very easy to eat. The peel comes off easily and the meat is soft. It tastes like cooked yams.
Caña de azúcar or sugar cane. Everybody has heard of it, but I tried it for the first time in Guatemala. It's actually pretty refreshing, juicy and sweet, naturally. The problem is that it's quite fibrous, so you can spend a great deal of time chomping on one bit of cane and then spend even more time with the dental floss.
This is by far my favorite of the bunch: jocote (pronounced ho-co-tay). This fruit is very juicy, slightly tart, and very sweet. The skin is edible. The pit however is rather large (most of the fruit) and you end up sucking on it to get the last bit of meat off it. Blaise is a master at this. The green jocotes can be boiled and are very tasty too.
The tasty tamarindo, or tamarind in English, is usually boiled, strained, sweetened and drank. You can buy syrups or powdered juice mixes of it. I prefer to suck the sweet and sour fruit off the amber-coloured pit. When you get this in the market, most of them are crushed and very messy - these ones are intact.
Today was the first time I've seen the ijerto (I'm guessing at the spelling). It looks a little like a shriveled orange, but is nothing like one. The meat is bright orange and tastes quite a bit like the zapote, but fruitier. There is a familiar taste to it that is familiar to me. I quite enjoyed it.
There are a few others that I'd like to introduce you to, but they aren't in season right now. Another time.
Aside from the tamarind and sugar cane, can anyone tell me what these are in English?
Goat Milk Man
Meet Juan. He bikes to our house, knocks on our door every morning between 7:15 and 7:45. He is trilingual (Spanish, Poqomchí, & Q'eqchí). He has been delivering fresh, unpasteurized, creamy goat's milk to us for nearly a year now. He comes from Tampo, 1 km west of us. He doesn't own the goats, he just milks and delivers for the owner. The milk has always been delicious and I have yet to find the slightest hair in the milk.
When Juan pours the milk into the cup to pour into our container, he pours it to almost overflowing; you can see the arch of the cohesive fluid. If there's no arch, he splashes a bit into my container to be fair.
1 cup of milk costs Q3 (CAD$0.47) and it's worth every centavo!
19.4.07
Zaak Watches Movies
I've started a second blog. This blog deals exclusively with films that I watch. It gives me a way to debrief myself and hopefully introduce new films to people.
The new blog is called
The new blog is called
George Bush and the price of corn
About a month ago, Guatemala (and many other Latin American democratic, free nations), was graced with the presence of G.W. Bush. President Bush was here to make deals for purchasing Guatemala's corn to make ethanol.
In the days after Bush flew home, the price of corn increased by 20-25%. "Wonderful!" you may think, "Guatemalan's will be able to make more money."
Problem. This is what Guatemalan's eat, what they fill their stomachs with. From the Washington Post:
The ancient Mayans believed they were created by gods who mixed their blood with ground corn. They called themselves "Children of the Corn,"Thanks to the US ethanol market, corn will be turned into a cash crop like sugar, coffee, tobacco, leatherleaf, and other non-essential products.
The same thing is happening in Mexico right now.
Slightly different cause in El Salvador. When I was there a year ago, they told me that when the country adopted the US Dollar as its official currency, the price of tortillas basically quadrupled. The equivalent of a dollar, before the currency switch, could buy about 35 tortillas; it now buys 9. In neighbouring Guatemala a year ago, a US Dollar could buy 45 tortillas; now it can buy 34-37 of them.
A Fraud Story
Internet banking is very handy. I have been using it for 5 years to pay bills and track expenses. What's really great though is that I can live in Guatemala and maintain an account in Canada without having to walk into a bank.
For two weeks, I went without internet at my home because a part was broken on my ISP's satellite dish. It didn't matter too much because I was busy working with short term teams and I didn't have enough energy to watch a movie in the evenings, let alone do banking.
I did manage to get onto the internet at one point to pay off my credit card balance in mid-March. I have no recollection as to where I did this, though it was probably done at the office. On the same day, an $850 email money transfer was performed on my chequing account without my authorization.
I continued on my whirlwind work weeks without a clue as to the transfer. Finally, once my internet was restored and some personal time too, I sat down to do some banking. I realized that my password didn't work, but I thought that was because I had waited too long to use a special code that my mom had gotten in the mail a while back. I had the code, but I didn't know where to put it, so I phoned my bank.
Password reset, I discovered that there was less money than I had anticipated and I started browsing the transactions in my chequing account and discovered this mysterious email transfer. I was still on the phone with the bank agent and had him investigate.
The agent interrogated me. He gave me the email address the transfer was sent to (something@rogers.com) and it wasn't recognizable. He said the bank would look into it and the investigation could take up to 10 business days.
My online access was denied since then as the bank looked into the transfer. I called them today to see if they had made any progress and they had. I gained access to my account. The $850 was returned to my account last week along with the $1.50 service charge.
That was a flat story, wasn't it? Was there any doubt I would get it back? Bank error in your favour, get your money back. I didn't lose any sleep over it. I didn't call everyday to see how it was going. I just waited for the story to go flat. Maybe I just knew it would all be resolved.
For two weeks, I went without internet at my home because a part was broken on my ISP's satellite dish. It didn't matter too much because I was busy working with short term teams and I didn't have enough energy to watch a movie in the evenings, let alone do banking.
I did manage to get onto the internet at one point to pay off my credit card balance in mid-March. I have no recollection as to where I did this, though it was probably done at the office. On the same day, an $850 email money transfer was performed on my chequing account without my authorization.
I continued on my whirlwind work weeks without a clue as to the transfer. Finally, once my internet was restored and some personal time too, I sat down to do some banking. I realized that my password didn't work, but I thought that was because I had waited too long to use a special code that my mom had gotten in the mail a while back. I had the code, but I didn't know where to put it, so I phoned my bank.
Password reset, I discovered that there was less money than I had anticipated and I started browsing the transactions in my chequing account and discovered this mysterious email transfer. I was still on the phone with the bank agent and had him investigate.
The agent interrogated me. He gave me the email address the transfer was sent to (something@rogers.com) and it wasn't recognizable. He said the bank would look into it and the investigation could take up to 10 business days.
My online access was denied since then as the bank looked into the transfer. I called them today to see if they had made any progress and they had. I gained access to my account. The $850 was returned to my account last week along with the $1.50 service charge.
That was a flat story, wasn't it? Was there any doubt I would get it back? Bank error in your favour, get your money back. I didn't lose any sleep over it. I didn't call everyday to see how it was going. I just waited for the story to go flat. Maybe I just knew it would all be resolved.
17.4.07
Set Straight
Yesterday morning, I got up put the garbage out, changed, dress and fed Blaise. I let Lidia, our housekeeper, in at around 8 am and introduced her to our new baby and then continued to tidy up the house while Amber was continued to rest in bed.
As I rushed around the kitchen, eager to get things in order before I left for the day, I casually mentioned to Lidia that now I had to work harder with the baby here.
She replied, "No, you don't work hard. I work hard. When I'm done working, I go home and do laundry, I sweep, I go to the mill, I make tortillas, I feed my kids."
As I rushed around the kitchen, eager to get things in order before I left for the day, I casually mentioned to Lidia that now I had to work harder with the baby here.
She replied, "No, you don't work hard. I work hard. When I'm done working, I go home and do laundry, I sweep, I go to the mill, I make tortillas, I feed my kids."
14.4.07
meeting my daughter
Yesterday was fun!
When I woke up, Amber told me not to get my hopes up, but that she was having contractions every 10-15 minutes. We read up on false labour and deduced that this is what was happening. Sure enough, but 8 AM, things had subsided. I worked at the office for part of the day, went to the bank.
I got home at 4:30 to take my family to the hairdresser where Blaise would get his 3rd haircut of his life. He behaved very well. My ulterior motive though was to get Amber out of the house so her friends could decorate for a baby shower. Amber's contractions had started up again at 3 PM. The haircut lasted 10 minutes. I was supposed to keep Amber away until 6 PM. I said we should take Blaise out for ice cream as this could be his last day being an only child. The ice cream parlour was closed, so I just drove around Tactic for 15 minutes until we got to Doña Lucia's bakery. We bought some pastries and walked around the block. Amber decided it was time to tell her midwife about the contractions and I was game for a pit stop at Doña Marta's for a checkup as I still had to stall for 30 minutes.
Doña Marta agreed to meet us at our house.
A gang of women with gift bags descended upon our house as Amber had contractions every 10 minutes. They ate snacks and desserts. They played games. Amber opened gifts. I stayed in my office and started a movie and put Blaise to bed.
An hour after the party left, Amber told me the contractions were much stronger. I started timing them with my iPod stopwatch, which also records the time the timer was used which gave us intervals for the contractions: Every 2-6 minutes for 45-90 seconds. Amber is tough. I had to persuade her that this was when the midwife comes over and then she should start pushing shortly thereafter.
Amber gave in. Finally. I went and picked up Doña Marta and Mariah and upon first examination, Amber was dilated to about 8 cm which was sufficient according to the midwife because the baby's head wasn't very big.
So then it was a RUSH. We had to heat water on the stove for the pool. Six big pots of water. By the time the water was at a desirable level and temperature, the midwife had broken the water and Amber was ready to push. She got into the pool just after 11 PM. I was busy setting up the video camera, preparing stuff for the baby, playing games on my iPod (just kidding), and encouraging Amber.
Then there she was! 11:15 PM. I didn't get to see her appear, but moments later I was able to see her. Doña Marta's instruments fell into the pool and so with Mariah's help, we hurriedly disinfected them and I went and cut the little one's umbilical cord.
We managed to get Amber and the baby dry, dressed and resting in our bedroom. We breathed for a bit together and we named the sweet girl: Acadia Juliette Robichaud. Then I drove Doña Marta and Seño Mariah home at around 12:15 AM.
When I got back, I was able to spend a little time with my daughter.
We prayed and then went to sleep, a family of 4.
This morning was very exciting too.
I set up the video camera on a tripod and we introduced Blaise to his new sister. He squealed and exclaimed over and over.
We sat together on the couch and I let him hold his baby sister
and kiss his baby sister.
The midwife didn't laugh when I joked about feeding the placenta to the stray dogs. So this morning I planted it in our backyard underneath our orange tree.
I wish to thank and acknowledge all the well wishers from the phone calls and visits to the 30 emails we received. I wish to acknowledge all the wonderful women who brought me treats last night at the shower (I have jello to last me a couple weeks!) and bless with with so many great baby things. I also wish to acknowledge Mariah's huge help last night and also her help this morning - she cleaned our house while we zoned. I also wish to acknowledge Walter and Ruth, our wonderful neighbours, who cared for Blaise this morning and made us a sumptuous meal for lunch (we had enough leftovers for supper).
Congratulations to all Acadia's grandparents, aunties, and uncle Dean.
When I woke up, Amber told me not to get my hopes up, but that she was having contractions every 10-15 minutes. We read up on false labour and deduced that this is what was happening. Sure enough, but 8 AM, things had subsided. I worked at the office for part of the day, went to the bank.
I got home at 4:30 to take my family to the hairdresser where Blaise would get his 3rd haircut of his life. He behaved very well. My ulterior motive though was to get Amber out of the house so her friends could decorate for a baby shower. Amber's contractions had started up again at 3 PM. The haircut lasted 10 minutes. I was supposed to keep Amber away until 6 PM. I said we should take Blaise out for ice cream as this could be his last day being an only child. The ice cream parlour was closed, so I just drove around Tactic for 15 minutes until we got to Doña Lucia's bakery. We bought some pastries and walked around the block. Amber decided it was time to tell her midwife about the contractions and I was game for a pit stop at Doña Marta's for a checkup as I still had to stall for 30 minutes.
Doña Marta agreed to meet us at our house.
A gang of women with gift bags descended upon our house as Amber had contractions every 10 minutes. They ate snacks and desserts. They played games. Amber opened gifts. I stayed in my office and started a movie and put Blaise to bed.
An hour after the party left, Amber told me the contractions were much stronger. I started timing them with my iPod stopwatch, which also records the time the timer was used which gave us intervals for the contractions: Every 2-6 minutes for 45-90 seconds. Amber is tough. I had to persuade her that this was when the midwife comes over and then she should start pushing shortly thereafter.
Amber gave in. Finally. I went and picked up Doña Marta and Mariah and upon first examination, Amber was dilated to about 8 cm which was sufficient according to the midwife because the baby's head wasn't very big.
So then it was a RUSH. We had to heat water on the stove for the pool. Six big pots of water. By the time the water was at a desirable level and temperature, the midwife had broken the water and Amber was ready to push. She got into the pool just after 11 PM. I was busy setting up the video camera, preparing stuff for the baby, playing games on my iPod (just kidding), and encouraging Amber.
Then there she was! 11:15 PM. I didn't get to see her appear, but moments later I was able to see her. Doña Marta's instruments fell into the pool and so with Mariah's help, we hurriedly disinfected them and I went and cut the little one's umbilical cord.
We managed to get Amber and the baby dry, dressed and resting in our bedroom. We breathed for a bit together and we named the sweet girl: Acadia Juliette Robichaud. Then I drove Doña Marta and Seño Mariah home at around 12:15 AM.
When I got back, I was able to spend a little time with my daughter.
We prayed and then went to sleep, a family of 4.
This morning was very exciting too.
I set up the video camera on a tripod and we introduced Blaise to his new sister. He squealed and exclaimed over and over.
We sat together on the couch and I let him hold his baby sister
and kiss his baby sister.
The midwife didn't laugh when I joked about feeding the placenta to the stray dogs. So this morning I planted it in our backyard underneath our orange tree.
I wish to thank and acknowledge all the well wishers from the phone calls and visits to the 30 emails we received. I wish to acknowledge all the wonderful women who brought me treats last night at the shower (I have jello to last me a couple weeks!) and bless with with so many great baby things. I also wish to acknowledge Mariah's huge help last night and also her help this morning - she cleaned our house while we zoned. I also wish to acknowledge Walter and Ruth, our wonderful neighbours, who cared for Blaise this morning and made us a sumptuous meal for lunch (we had enough leftovers for supper).
Congratulations to all Acadia's grandparents, aunties, and uncle Dean.
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