Chapter 1

HOLA AMIGOS Y FAMILIAS!

We are all having so much fun with our new Carpe Diem family, whom it seems like we have known for much more than just one week! We started our adventure in Antigua staying at the beautiful Earth Lodge, and exploring the city. The food at the Earth Lodge was AMAZING, we were spoiled compared to what we are sure is to come during the rest of our trip. The views from the Earth Lodge were incredible, as you can see from our group picture we took just before we left Antigua for our journey to Pasaq.

Pasaq is a small remote village with a close community of 1300 people. On our first night in Pasaq, we were welcomed by many community members with a dance where we popped, locked, and dropped it with many of the younger children. (For those who don´t know, those are all dance moves) We have all transitioned into our first homestays, some cushy, and others quite rustic.

We have all been working hard to improve our spanish, but it has been difficult to do so in Pasaq, because they speak Q´iche, their native language, not Spanish. We have been spending our time getting to know our individual families, having play dates at each others houses, hiking, swimming, exfoliating with mud, learning about the history of Guatemala, teaching and playing games at the local school, and this morning we made traditional bread. The bread was really good!

Our Carpe family has been passing around a cold, not helped by the rainy season, and daily rain showers. Despite our stuffy noses, our spirits and mental health remain strong as we get continue to get to bond with each other.

Some more pictures of our adventure so far!

Rooftop yoga in Pasaq

Learning about a coffee coopertive in Pasaq

Our delicious bread (Jealous yet??)

We are having so much fun and can´t wait for all of the experiences that are yet to come!

Happy 15th birthday to Rachel´s sister Anna! She loves and misses you very much!

And a happy early birthday to Alaina´s mommy, she also loves and misses you very much!

Special thanks to Kristin for the pictures!

LOVE AND MISS EVERYONE BACK AT HOME!

LOVE,

ABBIE AND MARIYA!