HAPPY NEW YEAR  !! 
YES, WE ALL MADE IT TO 2013

Well, the world didn't end on 21 December 2012 -- as those of us paying attention to the Maya elders and archeologists - predicted.  So was all that hype for naught ??  Actually, a lot of good came from all that publicity. It shone a new light of positive focus on the Maya culture.  Many people learned just how astonishingly advanced that ancient civilization was, and how the Maya continue to be a living culture today. (Kathy Thompson with Lidia, Dona Felica and Sarita at December despedida) 
        
 
        
 To be honest, mostly I feel badly for Guatemala's tourist economy.  They expected, and prepared for, a lot of tourism because of all the 'End of the World' hype.  And it just didn't pan out. At least the times I was in Guatemala - it was quiet, very quiet.  'Silencio' as they say. For the first time in years I could find a place to park my car. The travel agency we work with let drivers go.  I walked by many empty restaurants. I hope 2103 brings more visitors for all our friends in Guatemala who depend on tourism. 
        

        
          
We had a good year, not great, but good, and wrapped it up in December with the Wajshakib B'atz (Mayan New Year for the 260 day sacred calendar) trip.  It    was VERY interesting!!  We traveled to Tikal, learned about ancient Mayan history and its calendars from archeologist Ernesto Arredondo, met with a Mayan spiritualist and each learned about our own Nauhal (Mayan day sign) in Chichicastenango.  Juana was amazingly right on about each one of us. It was uncanny.  She was so insightful I'm wondering how I can manage to go study with her. (Liza with new friends in Chichi) We also traveled to Momostenango - and for those few willing to haul out of bed at 4:30 am, the dawn ceremonies were inspirational and beautiful. Truly something amazing to see.  And an experience I will definitely offer again.

So here's the latest on our friends:  Lidia and her family, mother, sisters and daughters are all doing well.  Sindy is still happily teaching school in her village.  She was pregnant with twins, and unfortunately lost them in October, but after a short hospital stay is back home and feeling well.  Jacqueline is the one in school now.  She's at a cooking school in Jocotenango and loves it !!  (Image of Jacqueline by Cidne Hart)  She gets some financial help from one of our participants, David Forgay, but could use a little more ... if anyone is so inclined, please let me know.
          
 
          
Edith and Ceci still help me out - which is GREAT !! Edith moved from the city to Antigua with her two children, mother and brother.  So it is nice that she is close by, and for those of you on facebook know, she is a very active facebook user.  So is Ceci, so best to see photos of them and kids on facebook. 
          
 
          
Dona Filo and her family - all healthy and happy - Gracias a Dios, as they say, Calixta lead a Mayan ceremony on 21 December in Mexico and Magna and the women in her natural dye and weaving coop in Xenacoj - are also doing well. No news is good news. It's always reassuring to me how things just don't seem to change much in Guatemala.

        
        
   As for business, it seems I'm heading more in the direction of offering fewer art and photo 'learning' workshops, and more Maya cultural trips - learning a bit about Mayan history, the calendar, archeology and of course, meeting with our local indigenous friends and experiencing how the 'living Maya' live.

 I'm getting feedback that sometimes people just want to visit, or revisit, Guatemala at a slower pace, with some familiar stops, but also a few new places - like the animal market in San Francisco el Alto we went to in July.  It was so cool !!! This picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me, I know you'd love it. 

I am working more with art or photo centers, who will offer trips to their own members, so I can do what I do best - provide the experience in Guatemala - and spend less time trying to figure out how to market w social media. It's just not my strong suit.  And I haven't forgotten about Cuba and Ecuador.  I just haven't gotten to it quite yet - am focusing my attention on my kids and their academic success right now. Which brings me to....
        

Jessenia is FINALLY into the high school homestretch and will graduate this June.  The next step for her is a transition program that may include some college, but also emphasizes job training and independent living skills. She had jaw surgery in October - a long term process to correct her underbite and improve her speech, that started over 4 years ago with braces.  Hopefully it will all be wrapped up by spring so she'll be free to return to Guatemala. She hasn't been there in quite a while and she wants to reconnect with her Mayan heritage, maybe live with her birthmom for a while and get her Spanish language skills back.   
          

  

          Then there is my Tommy boy.  I swear his voice dropped an octave in a week!!  No squeaks, just all of a sudden, people started asking me who was the guy answering the phone at our house.  He still my way into sports - put in the first goal in last night's hockey game, and also plays soccer when the ice and cold go away here in Minnesota. 

Academics are still a struggle for him. He's dyslexic and since Minneapolis public schools doesn't recognize that as a specific learning disability, we've worked a ton to overcome that on our own. (Tommy with Alejandro and Crocker - our housemates in Guatemala)  He makes most progress when I'm working with him one on one - and I'd love to be able to home school him. I dream of selling either my house or duplex - or both - moving full time to Guatemala and doing just that. Maybe this will be the year, but meanwhile .......

        
 We think of you all fondly  and send our best regards and warm thoughts to all of you who have joined us, and become friends, over these past 18 years. 

All the best in 2013 and abracos fuertes de Liza, Jessenia and Tommy

 ******************************************************************************************************** 
      
                      
        
HAPPY NEW YEAR  !! 
YES, WE ALL MADE IT TO 2013

Well, the world didn't end on 21 December 2012 -- as those of us paying attention to the Maya elders and archeologists - predicted.  So was all that hype for naught ??  Actually, a lot of good came from all that publicity. It shone a new light of positive focus on the Maya culture.  Many people learned just how astonishingly advanced that ancient civilization was, and how the Maya continue to be a living culture today. (Kathy Thompson with Lidia, Dona Felica and Sarita at December despedida) 
        
 
        
 To be honest, mostly I feel badly for Guatemala's tourist economy.  They expected, and prepared for, a lot of tourism because of all the 'End of the World' hype.  And it just didn't pan out. At least the times I was in Guatemala - it was quiet, very quiet.  'Silencio' as they say. For the first time in years I could find a place to park my car. The travel agency we work with let drivers go.  I walked by many empty restaurants. I hope 2103 brings more visitors for all our friends in Guatemala who depend on tourism. 
        

        
          
We had a good year, not great, but good, and wrapped it up in December with the Wajshakib B'atz (Mayan New Year for the 260 day sacred calendar) trip.  It    was VERY interesting!!  We traveled to Tikal, learned about ancient Mayan history and its calendars from archeologist Ernesto Arredondo, met with a Mayan spiritualist and each learned about our own Nauhal (Mayan day sign) in Chichicastenango.  Juana was amazingly right on about each one of us. It was uncanny.  She was so insightful I'm wondering how I can manage to go study with her. (Liza with new friends in Chichi) We also traveled to Momostenango - and for those few willing to haul out of bed at 4:30 am, the dawn ceremonies were inspirational and beautiful. Truly something amazing to see.  And an experience I will definitely offer again.

So here's the latest on our friends:  Lidia and her family, mother, sisters and daughters are all doing well.  Sindy is still happily teaching school in her village.  She was pregnant with twins, and unfortunately lost them in October, but after a short hospital stay is back home and feeling well.  Jacqueline is the one in school now.  She's at a cooking school in Jocotenango and loves it !!  (Image of Jacqueline by Cidne Hart)  She gets some financial help from one of our participants, David Forgay, but could use a little more ... if anyone is so inclined, please let me know.
          
 
          
Edith and Ceci still help me out - which is GREAT !! Edith moved from the city to Antigua with her two children, mother and brother.  So it is nice that she is close by, and for those of you on facebook know, she is a very active facebook user.  So is Ceci, so best to see photos of them and kids on facebook. 
          
 
          
Dona Filo and her family - all healthy and happy - Gracias a Dios, as they say, Calixta lead a Mayan ceremony on 21 December in Mexico and Magna and the women in her natural dye and weaving coop in Xenacoj - are also doing well. No news is good news. It's always reassuring to me how things just don't seem to change much in Guatemala.

        
        
   As for business, it seems I'm heading more in the direction of offering fewer art and photo 'learning' workshops, and more Maya cultural trips - learning a bit about Mayan history, the calendar, archeology and of course, meeting with our local indigenous friends and experiencing how the 'living Maya' live.

 I'm getting feedback that sometimes people just want to visit, or revisit, Guatemala at a slower pace, with some familiar stops, but also a few new places - like the animal market in San Francisco el Alto we went to in July.  It was so cool !!! This picture doesn't do it justice, but trust me, I know you'd love it. 

I am working more with art or photo centers, who will offer trips to their own members, so I can do what I do best - provide the experience in Guatemala - and spend less time trying to figure out how to market w social media. It's just not my strong suit.  And I haven't forgotten about Cuba and Ecuador.  I just haven't gotten to it quite yet - am focusing my attention on my kids and their academic success right now. Which brings me to....
        

Jessenia is FINALLY into the high school homestretch and will graduate this June.  The next step for her is a transition program that may include some college, but also emphasizes job training and independent living skills. She had jaw surgery in October - a long term process to correct her underbite and improve her speech, that started over 4 years ago with braces.  Hopefully it will all be wrapped up by spring so she'll be free to return to Guatemala. She hasn't been there in quite a while and she wants to reconnect with her Mayan heritage, maybe live with her birthmom for a while and get her Spanish language skills back.   
          

  

          Then there is my Tommy boy.  I swear his voice dropped an octave in a week!!  No squeaks, just all of a sudden, people started asking me who was the guy answering the phone at our house.  He still my way into sports - put in the first goal in last night's hockey game, and also plays soccer when the ice and cold go away here in Minnesota. 

Academics are still a struggle for him. He's dyslexic and since Minneapolis public schools doesn't recognize that as a specific learning disability, we've worked a ton to overcome that on our own. (Tommy with Alejandro and Crocker - our housemates in Guatemala)  He makes most progress when I'm working with him one on one - and I'd love to be able to home school him. I dream of selling either my house or duplex - or both - moving full time to Guatemala and doing just that. Maybe this will be the year, but meanwhile .......

        
 We think of you all fondly  and send our best regards and warm thoughts to all of you who have joined us, and become friends, over these past 18 years. 

All the best in 2013 and abracos fuertes de Liza, Jessenia and Tommy

 ********************************************************************************************************