Ready to Go

I can't believe this day has finally come. I'm nervous and excited.

My bags are packed. I managed to fit everything in one big suitcase and one backpack. Have I forgotten anything? Only time will tell.

I'm going to miss my kids. I'm going to miss my friends. I'm going to miss my husband. But, I'm confident that going on my own is the right thing to do - this time! Who knows what I will discover about myself. And really, it's only 11 days.

The forecast in Coban is 25, 26, 26, 20 with a 20% chance of rain each day. Night time lows are around 15. There are no hurricanes in sight and the WHO has no reports of disease outbreaks. A perfect time to go to Guatemala.

I hope to find internet access somewhere so I can fill you in on all the latest while I'm travelling. If not, I've got my old fashioned paper journal so I can post information later.

That's all for now. Talk to you from Guatemala!

A little geography

This is the backdrop of our build site - the department of Alta Verapaz. Wow!

Here's what I've learned about the area:

• a varied terrain ranging from mountains to lowlands
  
• humid forests
• home to orchids, white monkeys and the quetzal - Guatemala's beautiful emerald green national bird
  
• locals grow mostly corn, beans, coffee, and broccoli
• cardamum is an important crop for export
  
• the climate in November is cool and wet

We will be working with the Habitat affiliate out of Coban, a 5 hour scenic bus ride from Quatemala City. Coban is the capital city of Alta Verapaz and is about 1,300 m or 4,290 ft above sea level.

Aidan, my 8 year old science & nature guy, wants to know what kind of bugs & snakes I'll find and if there are any berries to pick. Unless you know, I'll have to get back to him on that.