Li Hix

Since I returned to my village after Christmas in the states, I have been hearing a lot of stories about a Jaguar in my village. At first I kind of thought they were being silly and that it was probably out by the farms cause my village is on the main road. It has really forested areas and is not all right on the road, but usually animals stay towards the back of the village because of people and noises. Not like there is really that much traffic.

The stories are mostly about disappearing ducks, chickens and a dog or two. The other day a few men in my village went to the mennonite village down the road and picked up the jaguar trap they had built and set it up in our village. So I went over to see it and you can see giant paw prints all over around it (from prior to setting it up, of course) and where the jaguar tried to break into the pig pen. It was crazy! So we are down a few animals, and are apparently now trying to catch a jaguar...

Tyo se k'al! :)

I have been waiting a while to be able to go to the plantation with some of the women in my village. It just isn't really okay for me to go with the men, and my trip with the ladies just kept getting canceled or postponed. Finally, it came time for us to go :) The women had little faith in my ability to not be completely exhausted by the end of the day. I am pretty sure they thought I would quit, but honestly what am I going to do, sleep in the jungle alone? It was a tiring but awesome day.

I went with Safaria (my eldest host-sister), Maria and her sister Amelia, and several of their children. Two of the children loaded themselves up on the horse and set off walking with the three other boys following them. A little while later the ladies and I set off on the 6 mile journey to the farm. Amelia has a daughter that is a month and a half old and she carried her the whole way in her lepob' on her head. It took about two hours to get to plantation. We ate a bit of breakfast (flour tortillas made by safaria, and I brought "peanuts butter") and then set to work.

We spent from about 9-2 peeling corn, and then shelling and bagging it. By the middle (let alone the end) of the day we were so tired of sitting down on the little stumps and/or just on a pile of corn that Maria took to laying down on the job. We worked hard but had plenty of time for jokes. The boys went running around and found some pumpkins, and sweet potatoes for us to take back as well. About 2 we decided to pack it all up and start the journey back. Me being an incredibly tall girl (hehe :) was the only one tall enough to get the sacks of corn on the back of the horse and tie them on. So they managed to trust me with that job. I think someday I will miss feeling tall...

The trip back was Amelia carrying her daughter on her head, Ms. Maria hauling a bag of corn with the strap on her head, me carrying two pumpkins, Safaria had the bag of something and was rallying the kids on the long walk back. The end of the day I got my complement from the Mayan ladies that they believed I could do just about anything now :) The men were all laughing at how muddy, and dirty I was but it was a fun day all in all.