Casa sweet casa...

There is nothing sweeter than coming home at the end of the day and walking into a place where your puppy is waiting to greet you and you can relax, rest and feel comfortable. I was so blessed to find this little house for rent in December because it is located in the same part of town (San Cristobal - sort of a suburb of Guatemala City) where I have lived since I came to Guatemala two and a half years ago. (By the way, the blue gate is where I pull my car into the garage, and the blue roof is my house! You can see the front door through the opening in the gate.) All of the other North American families that I know live in the same area, plus San Cristobal has lots of trees, not too much traffic and is close to my church and the orphanage where I am working. Over the last few years, I have had lots of living experiences - living with Guatemalan families, living with North American families, living with a North American roommate - but I must definitely say that having my own space is a luxury I took for granted in the States! It's nice to be able to cook my own meals (I only have to eat tortillas and beans if I really want to!) and take a shower without having to coordinate times! Plus the area where I live has lots of birds so when I wake up in the morning I feel like I am in the middle of a jungle! My parents have also been a blessing to me - when they came down in December to lend a hand with the move, they helped me find some great furniture, hang curtains and put up mirrors and lights. Of course, not everything about renting my own place is great...for example, I usually spend the first couple of days every month paying bills that in the States we can just pop in the mail. For example, rent, electricity, water and the phone bill have to paid at the actual company, where of course, the rest of the city is waiting to pay as well... It's definitely a cultural experience! But, on the whole, I am extremely grateful for a home where I can recharge my batteries and be myself, and for the people who support me so I can live here. Plus, I have a guest room and a pull-out couch, so there is plenty of room if anyone wants to come for a visit! =)