We departed Guatemala on December 7, on Spirit Air, winging our way northeast to Ft. Lauderdale on "the umbilical cord of privilege" that allowed us to leave those difficult conditions whenever we wanted, simply because of the fortunate circumstance of our American birth. We left behind a little part of ourselves - and los ninos, to soldier on without us, scraping their way through a tough life in a very tough neighborhood in a nation filled with danger. And they are much luckier than the kids who live all around them - because someone in their family, probably their mom, cared enough about them to get them into Safe Passage. In Safe Passage, they have access to lots of good stuff, like 4 meals a day, health care, tooth-brushing, a safe place to play and learn, a steady flow of first world volunteer helpers, as well as local teachers, who try to teach them right from wrong, English, academic skills, and that there's a world out there that they can join - with their heads held high. How many will escape the centrifugal force of the dump and the drugs and the violence and hopelessness and mistrust that conspire to hold them in its grip? Will Hanley's love be strong enough to find its way through all of us to all of them - to support them in staying focused on their dreams? Please keep them in your prayers.
Our last evening in Antigua, Guatemala - with Andrea
We arrived back in Ft. Lauderdale to the comparative luxury of the Fairfield Inn. Our lovely room was outfitted with a flat screen tv, a toilet where we could deposit toilet tissue, HOT water in the faucets, water that we could drink straight from the tap, a WARM bed with no lumps or wayward springs poking up, a computer in the lobby without sticky keys and in English, sun streaming through the window next morning. Ahh!
Our first meal was my long-awaited salad (with blackened chicken) and a glass of Pinot and for Bruce, a fajita and a Guinness beer. The setting was a large, bright, noisy sports bar, ringed with many tv's on the walls. Very American and a bit of a culture shock. (You don't have much choice of venue when you are at the mercy of the hotel van for transportation.) It was a stark contrast to our dinner the previous evening in Antiqua, spent with our friend Andrea in the quiet, beautiful courtyard of a 17th century home-turned restaurant.
In the Miami area, we got a taste of the free-wheeling lifestyle and colorful art deco area of South Beach. As we ate lunch at a sidewalk cafe, we saw a parade of ladies in skin-tight jeans and high-rise heels, a German-speaking Santa in sandals, young couples in shorts and flip-flops, wobbly old folks, skateboarders, motor-scooters, a convertible overflowing with sexy young women, tour busses with open sides, bicyclists - they were all there, except for people in suits! South Beach is definitely a place for consumption and fun!
Art deco in South Beach, Miami
Seeing and being seen in South Beach
Since we were in the neighborhood, we made a slight detour to Grand Cayman and spent 8 days on that beautiful island with friends Sharon, Richard, and Ryan, and then Lem and Marcia, friends met during our last big adventure 6 years ago. They shared their homes and time with us, treating us to such elegant generosity and rekindling our friendship. I am happy to report that the water is still as turquoise and the sand as warm and smooth as it was before! The island is looking better than ever, with nary a sign of terrible Hurricane Ivan now. Thanks to these friends, we enjoyed a decadent time of total relaxation and indulgence. One of my favorite experiences (aside from the beach at Rum Point) was attending Ryan's Christmas concert, where we heard bits of the Christmas story read in all manner of English accents from around the world and listened to songs that I'd heard on the BBC Christmas Eve service from London, which is a mainstay at home on the morning of the 24th.
Rum Point in Grand Cayman, the place to chill
Eventually we made our way north to Maine, where the weather is considerably colder but the welcome was as warm as could be. We are spending the holidays at the home of Jane Andrews and Don Bouchard, for which we are very grateful. We've seen Matt and Izik, who were home from Chicago for 3 days, and Sam, at whose home we spent a delightful Christmas morning. It's been fun reconnecting with the rest of our family and a few friends. Unfortunately, Bruce brought home a mild case of pneumonia from Guatemala, which is definitely slowing us down. We're trying to get him rested and cured before we head out again on January 6 for Thailand.
Sam on Christmas morning, 2011
The first leg of our year-long adventure has opened our eyes to another culture, introduced us to some wonderful people, allowed us to give a little of ourselves to a few kids in need, humbled us as we tried to learn another language, and left us with amazing memories. In another week, we will be heading out on another adventure that will, undoubtedly prove as interesting and exciting as the last.
We arrived back in Ft. Lauderdale to the comparative luxury of the Fairfield Inn. Our lovely room was outfitted with a flat screen tv, a toilet where we could deposit toilet tissue, HOT water in the faucets, water that we could drink straight from the tap, a WARM bed with no lumps or wayward springs poking up, a computer in the lobby without sticky keys and in English, sun streaming through the window next morning. Ahh!
Our first meal was my long-awaited salad (with blackened chicken) and a glass of Pinot and for Bruce, a fajita and a Guinness beer. The setting was a large, bright, noisy sports bar, ringed with many tv's on the walls. Very American and a bit of a culture shock. (You don't have much choice of venue when you are at the mercy of the hotel van for transportation.) It was a stark contrast to our dinner the previous evening in Antiqua, spent with our friend Andrea in the quiet, beautiful courtyard of a 17th century home-turned restaurant.
In the Miami area, we got a taste of the free-wheeling lifestyle and colorful art deco area of South Beach. As we ate lunch at a sidewalk cafe, we saw a parade of ladies in skin-tight jeans and high-rise heels, a German-speaking Santa in sandals, young couples in shorts and flip-flops, wobbly old folks, skateboarders, motor-scooters, a convertible overflowing with sexy young women, tour busses with open sides, bicyclists - they were all there, except for people in suits! South Beach is definitely a place for consumption and fun!
Since we were in the neighborhood, we made a slight detour to Grand Cayman and spent 8 days on that beautiful island with friends Sharon, Richard, and Ryan, and then Lem and Marcia, friends met during our last big adventure 6 years ago. They shared their homes and time with us, treating us to such elegant generosity and rekindling our friendship. I am happy to report that the water is still as turquoise and the sand as warm and smooth as it was before! The island is looking better than ever, with nary a sign of terrible Hurricane Ivan now. Thanks to these friends, we enjoyed a decadent time of total relaxation and indulgence. One of my favorite experiences (aside from the beach at Rum Point) was attending Ryan's Christmas concert, where we heard bits of the Christmas story read in all manner of English accents from around the world and listened to songs that I'd heard on the BBC Christmas Eve service from London, which is a mainstay at home on the morning of the 24th.
Eventually we made our way north to Maine, where the weather is considerably colder but the welcome was as warm as could be. We are spending the holidays at the home of Jane Andrews and Don Bouchard, for which we are very grateful. We've seen Matt and Izik, who were home from Chicago for 3 days, and Sam, at whose home we spent a delightful Christmas morning. It's been fun reconnecting with the rest of our family and a few friends. Unfortunately, Bruce brought home a mild case of pneumonia from Guatemala, which is definitely slowing us down. We're trying to get him rested and cured before we head out again on January 6 for Thailand.
The first leg of our year-long adventure has opened our eyes to another culture, introduced us to some wonderful people, allowed us to give a little of ourselves to a few kids in need, humbled us as we tried to learn another language, and left us with amazing memories. In another week, we will be heading out on another adventure that will, undoubtedly prove as interesting and exciting as the last.
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