Hilarity ensues...

I start my adventure in Antigua by going to the tourist office and checking out some language schools with a helfpul guide. There are about 40 language schools in Antigua alone, so many to choose from and I wanted to check a couple of out before making a decision.

Marco, owner of GuateBueno language school, talked with me and I felt pretty good about his attitude about the school and his friendliness, so I signed up for 3 weeks. Yesterday, I met my home stay family and had my first 5 hours with Pedro, my instructor.

Let me paint you a little picture...I am living with Maria (Marco´s ex-wife), Marco Jr. (Marco´s son) and several other of Marco´s adult children, from different mothers: Julia, Julio, Luis, Juan...um, there are 10 in total, and I´m not sure who lives there or who just eats there and comes by. In addition, there is Alejandra. I believe she is Maria´s daughter, she is 17 and pregnant (but she´s not sure who the father is). In addition, there are at least 7 children also in the house: Anna, Dominique, Bruno, Adriana, Diana, Valentin, a little comedian whose name I can´t remember right now and some others that come and go.

I have my own room, and there are two other American´s (both from Cali) who live there as well. We have our own rooms, and the children seem to sleep on the couch.

My Spanish teacher is Pedro, an ex-freebase addict and ex-manic depressive (he showed me the scar on his wrist from attempted suicide). He used to live in East-LA and was beat up by a gang and lost his front two teeth (he has replacements, not to worry). Strangely, he also happens to be the nicest guy, easy to talk to and I think (hope beyond hope) a good teacher. Several of Marco´s children also teach at the school. Incestuous, to say the least. Pedro was telling me that Marco´s situation is very strange and rare in Guatemala...how lucky of me to have stumbled into it.

So, I have to admit, I didn´t exactly land on my feet. It´s not exactly terrible either. The family is really nice and the kids are friendly (Anna is the Spanish nazi, and we have to pay 10 dollars if we speak English). And today is Marco Jr.´s day to get drunk (I kid you not). I really have no other choice but to stick it out and make the most of it. It´s cheap; classes, food and room included. I just hope that the money helps the ninos. Normally, I wouldn´t want to live with other Americans either, but in this case, they make me feel a little safer with half the town coming in and out of the house. I imagine this sounds worse than it actually is...I have giggled a few times just writing it all down. But I swear to you, it´s true!

It´s hard to know the lesson learned here...all the language schools seem the same, and I did check some out before deciding. I´m wishing I had taken the recommendation for Tecun Uman school, but perhaps I´ll move there after my first 3 weeks, or go to Quetzaltenango (also known as Xela) for more classes. I´m also concerned about if what I´m doing is helping this family or not. I certainly don´t want to have a negative impact or enable Marco´s little empire.

I´m going to Lago de Atitlan this weekend, to get a little r&r before my classes start and also explore this country and bit and get a better feel for it. I feel like my Spanish has a long way to go.

My mantra, today, tomorrow, forever: one day at a time.