Life's a Roller Coaster Ride

So as you all likely know by now, I have been presented with the housing issue again -- I have to move out of my set-up with Doña Angelica. The plan was to rent my own house -- an adorable two-story yellow wooden house -- get a puppy (her name's Cacao; she's a mutt) and be content. Well, sometimes things change. I've been hitting quite a few lows lately on the Peace Corps roller coaster and decided that it is best to not head out on my own. If I'm already lonely, why make myself lonelier? I tried to rationalize that I'll enjoy having the freedom to do what I want in my own house, but really, I didn't come to Guatemala to live like I live in the States. Living with a family integrates me more into the culture, makes me speak Spanish more often, plus it's cheaper and safer (there have been countless robberies and a few shootings lately).

Thus, my plan: I'm going to move next door with Mingo, the son of Doña Angelica, and his wife Clelia and their baby. I already hang out there all the time and Clelia is my best friend here in Chahal. We'll see how it works. Perhaps when Doña Angelica returns I can move back in with her. But for the time being, I'm moving next door. I like my neighborhood -- playing in the street with the kids always lifts my spirits. I imagine that these lows will pass. I've been here for 10 months, what do I expect?

As far as my puppy goes, I've brought her over to the house a couple times. I fed her scrambled eggs because she is starving where she's at. She slept in my room, but first pooped and peed in there, as well as in the living room (I don't think Doña Angelica was too happy). Now the problem of what am I going to do with her. I can't bring her into Mingo's house; they don't even let their own dog inside. And his property's not fenced in. But if I leave her with Nuri (the little girl who gave her to me) she may die! My thought is to feed her, but keep her at Nuri's house.

So that's where I'm at right now. I have been a bit in the dumps, but it can't last forever, and I still have my highs as well. But as always, letters help :) My address otra vez:

Audrey Squires
San Fernando, Chahal
Alta Verapaz, Guatemala
Centro América

Hope to hear from you soon!