No entiendo tanto como pienso hago

Okay, so I thought the plan for Saturday was that mama Lupita was going to take me to a supermarket that had more variety and cheaper prices than the one in zona 1. I also thought that a bunch of little kids were going to visit mi familia guatemalteca in the morning. And that Carlito was playing a xylophone-like instrument called a lira here,  in a performance in the afternoon. Of course this is what I divined from all the rapid updates from Lupita and Ilse.  And of course, they had no reason to suspect that I didn’t know what was going on because when I’m not saying “sí“, I’m nodding my head affirmatively.  I picked up this winning technique in Hungary 20 years ago and it’s got about a 60% success rate, más o menos.

First off, there were no children coming to visit. But I was apparently going to visit a bunch of children. Sort of. There was a parade, un desfile, of niños from schools around Xela and that was what Lupita was describing to me about sabado.  And after breakfast I was rushed out the door to go view the parade.  I don’t love a parade like most people do, but this one was really quite colorful, interesting and bizarre.  It seems whenever there’s even a slight congregation of people, everyone brings everything in their house to sell.  And they carry these things on their heads, in push carts, coolers, on wire display racks with wheels, some even carry a few things in their hands.  One teenager had a bottle of conditioner in one hand and a few tubes of toothpaste in the other.  I was uploading a great pic of a guy selling hats and poof, couldn’t upload anymore.  Very, very frustrating. 

Anyway, one of my favorite parts of the parade was when a bunch of Domino’s delivery guys just showed up with some pizzas in those oven bags and attempted to sell them.  I’m pretty sure no one ordered them.  At least I don’t think anyone did. I guess it could have gone something like this:

Dominos? I need a delivery, I’m at the parade, cerca el teatro, I’m wearing a traje from Momostenango and I’m standing next to the really tall gringa…yeah, that’s the one, the one that always looks lost.¨ 

I probably watched the parade for about an hour, following the procession down to the park.  I got pretty choked up and cried a little (okay, a lot) when groups of sick children and disabled children passed in the procession.  Muy triste, pero muy inspiradora y triunfante at the same time. This isn’t a country known for acceptance or celebration of diversity.  I was truly moved.  I’m getting a little weepy again just thinking about it.

Next, there was no leisurely walk to a local supermercado.  After lunch (which were delicious crispy tortillas with ground beef, onion, queso fresco and salsa…la comida de la feria, festival food, is what Lupita called it), I was summoned downstairs because we were going to get a ride to “Hiper” (I should have known just by the name) from Jimena and her husband.  Jimena is my pregnant Guatemalan sister that I just met yesterday morning.  The car was tiny and we all crammed in, me, Ilse, Lupita, abuelita, Carlito, Jimena and her husband. Some part of the bottom of the car kept dragging along the cobblestones whenever we went up a hill and everyone seemed to be in a bit of a panic. I wasn’t even trying to understand what was going on.  Carlito and abuelita got out of the car first and we drove a little further and got out at what looked like a highway intersection.  And there it was.  HIPER. The mall. Centro Commercial en español.  Huge speakers blaring Guatemalan pop welcomed us to the megastore.  I just wanted to pick up some cheap cheese and some corn flakes.  I really wish I needed to do more shopping (bras only cost $2.00!) I did end up buying chicken for the dinner I was cooking, some limes because lemons don’t exist here, garlic, some yogurt, tea, cucumbers and corn flakes. After hitting another adjacent mall, I thought we were going to see Carlito perform, but was scared to ask. Who knows what I misunderstood about what was next on the agenda.  But I was right, we were off to see Carlito and his lira. 

I did think the performance was in his school. Instead, they brought me to a Greek temple that looked exactly like a replica of the Parthenon, right outside the Minerva bus terminal, a real dodgy part of town.  And what an architectural oddity to say the least.  Anyway, boys of all ages from Carlito’s school were lined up with instruments getting ready to start their parade.  It was cute to see 5-year olds playing instruments that were too big for them, but two parades in one day.  Ay dios mio! 

On our way home, we walked Ilse to her boyfriend’s job and Lupita asked me if I could do her a favor. At least I thought that’s what she asked me.  She wanted me to invite Orlando over for dinner that night.  Not really sure why, but I bet they wanted to show him how awful my Spanish is.  “¿Quisiera venir para la cena con nosotros esta noche?” I didn’t really understand why Ilse couldn’t ask her own boyfriend over for dinner, but what the heck. It made them giggle a lot. And he looked absolutely terrified when I told him I had to ask him something, so it was kinda fun for me too. Making dinner was really nice, it was a new dish for Lupita and she was so excited to learn a Greek recipe.  I like picking things out of gardens and using them and they grow their own rosemary (romero), and basil (albahaca).  I made garlic bread with basil and olive oil as well and they never had that either.  Even though I roast this kind of chicken all the time, I never made Greek chicken with lime before and was afraid it would be more Caribbean than Greek, but it was pretty similar to the original dish and really tasty.  Everyone loved it and Lupita said she’s going to make it again. It was a really nice cultural exchange and Lupita was so thankful and so giddy about learning something new.  She told me she loves having different people from different countries in her house because not only does she find different cultures interesting, she feels like she actually visits those places. At least I think she said that.

I said goodbye to my family this morning, big hugs and lots of buena suertes.  Lupita insisted I come over for dinner the following week and Gordo kept jumping on me trying to block me from leaving.  Before I left, Lupita shoved a huge green calabaza at me.  I wonder if all her students get a squash as a parting gift. I miss them already. 

Well I’m all moved in to my new digs, ready to start another week!  Just finished cooking a lovely meal in my lovely new kitchen.

Hasta mañana, hope everyone had a great weekend!