1. Guatemala La Gringa

    The heat rising from the pavement was visible as I made my way along the winding road. The smell of kerosene hung like a cloud around my head in the stagnant air. Breathe in, breathe out. One, two, one, two; all of my efforts focused on the common goal of putting one foot down in front of the other as I made my way up a rise. At the top, salvation awaited me in purple shorts and a dingy Comunicaciones fútbol jersey. Don’t stop now. Almost there. The muscles in my calves winced as I begged the...

  2. Guatemala Hogtied Crock

    While eating breakfast one morning my host dad, Fernando, asked me, "Lisa, were you frightened?" I had no idea what he was talking about. "No. Why?" I replied. "I thought maybe you saw the crocodile outside when you went to the bathroom this morning." "Crocodile?" I thought, "Am I translating this right?" So, I peered outside and sure enough there was a hogtied crocodile laying 5 feet from the front door. The crocodile had been terrorizing the...

  3. Guatemala Feria Blues... and Pinks, and Yellows and...

    Guatemalan feria worker patiently awaiting passengers for his colorful carousel.

  4. Guatemala Styrofoam Wedding

    As the young Guatemalan bride sits down with her groom to eat their reception lunch, the "girl bride" is busy playing with styrofoam flakes that showered the newlyweds after they exchanged their vows.

  5. Belize puppy love

    in a rare moment of stillness, my host sister cuddles her new puppy

  6. Belize puzzling

    in the Belizean village of San Jose Palmar, a soon-to-be preschool student tinkers with one of many puzzles while his mother looks on

  7. Guatemala Sparkly.

    Some of the boys making flowers to decorate a car for the Parade. What you don't know from this picture is that about 30 seconds after I took it, a major Glittler-throwing war began and ended with about 10 sparkly 13 year old boys. It was quite hillarious. 

  8. Guatemala Flowers.

    Some of the girls making flowers out of plastic bottle to decorate a car with for the Parade. I was impressed with their creativity!

  9. Guatemala The Masses.

    Feria, Day #1. Early in the morning, the Premaria (elementary school) students had a parade throughout town (which I encountered while out running errands). The parade ended up here at this futbol field directly in front of my house where the announcer gave the statistics for the school and the kids got to do their dance in front of everyone. But what you can't hear in Michael Jackson playing in the background which makes this scene truly magical...

  10. Guatemala Conservative?

    As conservative as Guatemalan culture is, especailly in my site where the majority of the population is indigenous and wear their traditional "Traje," It was amazing for me to see the outfits my kids wore for the Feria - or the town Fair, as in this picture. But they were so proud as they were dancing down the streets of our town. I couldn't help but be proud!

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“Sunset at the Railroad” by PCV Nicholas Baylor Hall. Namibia, 2011.