Well I made it! I arrived in Guatemala City on Monday and stayed there a couple nights at the CGE House. I am currently in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala where I will be living with a host family. Thew drive here was so amazing! We drove around in the montains and the scenery was sweet! There were so many little communities along the way, and women walking alot the road carrying things on their heads. The culture here is definately different, in the plaza ther were goats where people just go up and fill up their milk bottles straight out of the cow!

Overall Guatemala is gorgeous! There are a ton of mountains and valleys. There is an active volcano right next to the town we are in now-it has smoke coming out of it and it is really sweet. In Guatemala City I met my group that I will be spending the next four months with. Everyone seems supper cool. We also toured the city and heard a coupe speakers. We are learning alot about the history of Guatemala. Guatemala just ended a 36 year civil war ten years aogo. It is interesting learning about the political history of Guatemala and how closely tied it is with US intervention.
I know i use the word amazing alot but it accurately describes this city!

Today is my last day in the states! I can't believe I am actually leaving. It hit me last night at 2 in the morning when I was no where near done packing and frustrated thinking of all the stuff I need to bring. I thought I could go out with my friends then just throw everything in my pack- I was wrong. It would be alot easier if I didnt need all these medications and stuff because of issues that might present themself like malaria and bacterias. But it is definately well worth it!

I've been excited to study abroad since I heard of the concept in junior high, although for years I was set on studying in Ireland. I didn't even think about going to Central America until this year when I kept hearing about it from friends who had been on the trip. Then I went on a week long CGE trip to Mexico and got to see how amazing the CGE programs are. Right when I got back to the U.S. I applied to the program! CGE has alot of great programs- I think that is a huge perk about Augsburg. As students we have opportunities to go on these programs and have once in a lifetime experiences- without having to pay alot. I paid 250$ for my trip to Mexico because of a scholarship! including airfare!! the trip was amazing-- It was a great experience.

I've been at Augsburg all day- my parents dropped me off this morning because they didn't want to drive in the snow storm. So I've had all day to see friends and just chill. My flight leaves tommorrow morning at 5 am! wowsa- thats early-I don't even think I'll sleep tonight. I just looked up the weahter and it is 70 degrees and there is no snow. The snow storm was a nice send off today-I love snow but the sun and surfing easily trump it. The next time I blog I will be Guatemala!!

Only two days till I leave.. wow. I'm going back to campus today to meet with a professor and see some friends before I leave, have coffee with a couple seniors I won't see for a while. I also have a suprise bachlorette party to go too! That should be sweet- we are having it in the Augsburg room- which is a fancy conference room at Augsburg- and were all dressing up so it should be fun! I always feel kinda old going to bachelorette parties and baby showers. I also feel kinda older thinking that when I return to Augsburg I will only have one year left and I will be graduating! On the front page of the Star Tribune today there is an article about seniors who are deciding what college they want to go to.. I feel like I did that just the other day!

This break has gone rather fast... and I have procrastinated on doing anything for my trip. I just started reading two of the recommended books; Rigoberta Menchu and Understanding Central America. Understanding Central America is really interesting- for example I thought Panama was considered part of Central America but because of the pre-Columbian indigenous cultures it is technically part of South America. Lots of interesting historical and political factoids like that. Actually I should problably go read some more right now....

The semester is over!!! Finals week was pretty intense for me. I practically lived in the library for the week before and the week of finals. Once it was all over though it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. Finals is definately a different time on campus. Students walk around in a sleepy daze and consumption of cafinated beverages increases. It is stressfull, but its also kinda challenging which can be exciting, some might call me crazy for that comment but who doesn't like a good challenge? Although I definately don't like having to function with no sleep for days on end.
In addition to all my finals, I had to pack all my stuff to move out since I will not be there next semester. I also said some farewells to those who are graduating this year and will not be at Augsbug next year. Its weird and kinda sad realizing I will not be at Augsburg next semester. I think a big reason I wasn't excited to leave was because this past semester was awsome. I had good classes and just had alot of fun hanging out with people. I just keep thinking about next semester- I am so excited to go! Only three weeks left!