Oops. Still a gringa.

So almost 10 months later, I am still very much a "gringa".  I still make stupid American girl mistakes.  I still come across as ignorant sometimes. 
Tonight for example.
I have to make a "snack" for our staff meeting on Wednesday and tonight I asked my host mom for suggestions of what I should make.  She, being the sweet, always wanting to help, wonderful lady that she is, suggested I make a mango pie.  Wonderful!  Except I would need to buy some of the ingredients tonight.  One being unflavored gelatin, which she says is hard to find here.  She, once again full of generosity, offers to take me to a few tiendas (little stores) to see if we can find it.  She has purchased it before and knows where to go.  I would usually just go to the Dispensa, which is the neighborhood grocery store (which happens to be owned by Wal-mart...) but she told me they don't sell it. 
Slight explanation on things of economy (which I know little about).  Tiendas are small little stores where one goes to buy everyday needs.  They are run and owned by Guatemalans.  They are convenient and I buy things from them regularly.
The Dispensa, as I mentioned, is the local grocery store.  It is much cheaper, because, as I mentioned before, it is a chain owned by good ole Wal-mart.  I'm guessing that doesn't do much to support the locals.
Anyway, back to the story of tonight.  Its about 7:00 and its dark.  We start walking around to nearby tiendas.  When the power goes out and it becomes frighteningly black.  And the tiendas have to light candles.  And my host mom and I walk around holding hands.  Because its scary.  Which has nothing to do with the story, but is just another thing that goes along with living in Guatemala.  Anyway, we go into our second tienda and they have the gelatin.  Success.  But then, she also says we need to buy butter.  I being the ignorant, foolish gringa ask my host mom out loud (albeit, quietly) something to affect of "is the butter cheaper here than at the Dispensa?"  To which her eyes immediately get huge and she looks all around.  I'm pretty sure I've done something wrong.  Oops.  We buy the butter.
When I get outside I ask her if I said something wrong.  Yup, she says.  You aren't supposed to mention the Dispensa while in a tienda.  The Dispensa is like this giant monopoly that takes all the business, or something.  She said that if you talk about the Dispensa and the owner of the tienda hears you, they won't be kind to you anymore.  Like if you walk in a tienda and ask for something, they will intentionally say they are out of it.  Great.  I hope I didn't ruin my host mom's reputation with that tienda owner.  American ignorance.
In other news, not only am I an idiot, but I also feel like a chicken running around with its head cut off.  There is SO much to do in the next month.  Less than a month of school left.  Finishing up all the material I need to, awards ceremonies, high school graduation, writing samples, end of the year forms and the list goes on.  I won't bore you or stress myself out with all the details.   But that's only school.   Believe it or not, social lives also liven up tremendously at the end of the year.  Wedding showers, birthday parties, barbecues...
And, I need to line up an apartment for next year with some other girls, which in Guatemala is much easier said than done.  There is just so much I want to get done before the year is over, especially since some good friends aren't returning next year.
Its a weird state.  Bittersweet, as are most transitions in life.   I'm terribly sad to say goodbye to my students.  Terribly sad to say goodbye to good friends.  Yet ready to be home for the summer and see friends and family that I haven't for a while.   And just to be in the States.  And yet another factor-- I'm simply lacking motivation in all sense of the word.  Its been referred to as "teacheritis". But wanting to finish well. 
June 1st is the day I will be headed home.   If, of course, no hurricanes or a variety of other natural disasters hinder the journey.  Which is a big "if".  I've heard horror stories.  Pray for me friends, if you think of it.  Pray that I finish well.  And that I make it home safely.  I look forward to seeing everyone this summer!
In the mean time, expect a few more posts!  As I mentioned,  there is a LOT going on these next few weeks :)