Gettin' Into My Guatemalan Groove

I spent the first few days in Guatemala slowly getting acquainted with the rhythm of things. Now that nearly two weeks have passed, I've gotten into my Guatemalan groove.

A wandering jew grows in the courtyard where I am staying.

I'm spending three months this winter in Quetzaltenango. Also known by the Maya name Xela (pronounced "shell-ah"), the city is located 7,640 feet above sea level and is surrounded by a dramatic panorama of volcanoes. With a quarter of a million people, a majority of them indigenous, the city is the second largest in Guatemala. Xela is quite possibly the ideal Guatemalan city. As Goldilocks would say, the city is not too big and not too small; it's just right.

Marrying Passions: Bicycles & Teaching

I wear my passion for bicycling on my sleeve. But, my passion for teaching is lesser-known. For me, marrying these passions is bliss. Biking + Teaching = <3.

And so it goes without saying that I am super-duper pumped to be teaching a class on bicycle touring!

When I was a little kid, I wanted to be a teacher. Like many other girls, I taught a class of invisible students. I'd make handouts, discipline the unruly children, and keep a grade book. I loved teaching.

What I've Been Up To

I've had a handful of inquiries in the last few months asking what I've been up to. In my last post, I wrote about guarding my intentions. And so it may come as no surprise that I've been somewhat aloof in responding to the inquiries.

Here's what I've been up to (read as "here's what I'm willing to share at this point in time"):

• I've been housesitting.
• I've been working on a teaching gig.
• I've been volunteering.
• I've been working a fun job.
• I've been vetting some opportunities that I've decided not to pursue.
• I've been absorbing inspiration.
• I've been scheming up my next bicycle adventure.

In the forthcoming posts, I'll share more about each of the above.