New Home

I am no longer with my home-stay family, but moved last Wednesday into an apartment here in La Antigua.  I was approached by one of the other volunteers who was looking for someone to share an apartment he had found.  The price seemed a little high when he told me about it, but upon seeing decided that it was well worth the price.  It is a two bedroom apartment with two bathrooms.  All utilities are included, which also includes trash pick up, a television with cable (about 70 channels, about 15 from the States, including HBO and Cinemax; regrettable no Sci-Fi channel!) internet access, and a washing machine.  The place is also fully furnished including all dishes and cookware, sheets, and towels.  In order to get it for the price we negotiated, the cleaning lady is not included (we told the owner that we each have hands and can do the cleaning ourselves).  Rather than an apartment, it feels more like a small house.  There is a small enclosed patio in the back where the washing machine is located and there is a nice patio table with two chairs.  I really like the place and in fact living here will save me a little bit of money because I no longer have to go someplace and buy food in order to use their free internet, and I no longer have to pay to have my laundry done.  Although I will no longer have meals provided, a bowl of cereal works well for breakfast, and since lunch is served at the project, instead of bringing my own, I will eat what is served there.  The real food expense then becomes dinner, but rice, beans, avocados and vegetables can go a long way.  I am currently waiting for my frijoles to cook (an all day endeavor!).  The rent was $600/month, but the owner was willing to let us have it for $500, $250 each.  Everything is negotiable in Guatemala!

The place is really nice and quite comfortable, and I also really like having a bathroom and shower that are indoors; no more walking through the cold early morning air to get to the shower.  Now if I want to take a shower at night, there will be light other then moonlight

My room-mate is from New York, and when I leave in May, he will remain in the apartment until he leaves in July.  

Hasta luego from my new digs!