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!

Best Friends Give the Best Advice

I have the best friends! Last night they had a surprise bon voyage party for me. Along with some toys and arts and craft supplies for the kids in Coban, they gave me some really great travelling advice. Here are their words of wisdom:

1. Watch out for leeches! (Luckily, there are no huge, blood sucking ground leeches)

2. Goat meat can be yummy if done right.

3. Pedestrians never ever have the right of way.

4. Gravol, gravol and more gravol with a dash of Immodium.

5. Immodium and plenty of it - Quick Dissolve placed under the tongue.

6. Never ever fly on Friday the 13th. (Seeing my flight plan, they quickly crossed this one out!)

Aren't they great!

Weather in Coban, Guatemala

It's 21 C with scattered clouds and the possibility of rain in Coban, Guatemala right now. The forecast is 20-25 C with chance of rain for the next 7 days. The overnight lows are between 15-19 C. Not too bad considering we're at 1 to 8 C here with overnight lows in the minus numbers.

The time is Central Standard Time, so it's the same time there as it is right here in Winnipeg.

I've learned that Coban has a population of 70,000 people - that's slightly bigger than Brandon (Manitoba's 2nd largest city). It's not as touristy as some of the more southern locations like Antigua, Guatemala. Our two days of R and R will be in Antigua where shopping and volcano visiting will be the highlights.

Just over one week to go.

H1N1 Vaccination

Another vaccination? Do I really have to? Isn't it enough that I already got the typhoid, Hep A, Hep B, tetanus, and malaria vaccinations? I'm really not that fond of needles and was not interested in getting any more. So, for a moment I hesitated at getting the H1N1 flu shot. Will I really be at greater risk in Guatemala than I will in Winnipeg? What's the worst that could happen? - Again, don't answer that!

My health professional friends reminded me that it's not just about me. Did I consider the fact that without the shot I might be the infector - the one introducing the virus to a highly vulnerable population? Did I consider the fact that I'd be on a plane for 5-6 hours with limited air circulation? Did I consider what might happen if I did get seriously ill in Guatemala? Uh, no I didn't think about that.

So, today, I got the H1N1 vaccination. Just like with the tetanus shot, the needle didn't hurt, but the lingering ache in my arm reminds me of the times my big brother used to pummel my upper arm - oh what fond memories! I haven't thought of my big brother this much for a long time.

It's hard to know what's right, but in this case - for me, it felt like the right thing to do.

Mis Amigos

I just met my fellow Habitat Guatemala build team - on paper anyway. There are 13 of us from across Canada. We range in age from 15 to 55+. Out of the 13 there are 4 males. Some of us are experienced with Habitat and developing countries and some of us are not. We have a wide range of careers ranging from finances to computers to insurance to raising families and volunteering in the community. None of us are professional home builders, but all of us are willing volunteers eager for the opportunity to share a little of ourselves.

I am thrilled to be part of this amazing team and look forward to meeting everyone in Guatemala.

Twenty five days to go

Time is ticking, in twenty-five days I'll be heading to Guatemala. It's an exciting time for me and my family who are expressing various worries.

• My daughter Melanie is concerned that I might slip and hurt my knee.
• My son Aidan is worried I'll fall into a volcano.
• My parents are just plain worried.
• My husband is worried that I'll worry about my family and not enjoy myself.

As for me, I'm adopting a "no worries" attitude, after all what's the worst that could happen?

Please, don't answer that!!!

Doing the Impossible - Harvesting Grapes in Manitoba

It is possible to do the impossible! I love when people challenge what's always been done and discover new realities. My brother in-law and his brother have done that by challenging the myth that you can't grow grapes for the purpose of wine production in Manitoba, Canada. They've proven that you can and they're doing it. Check out this video for the 2009 Manitoba Grape Harvest at Tobacco Creek Vineyards http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Btrq_SamXX8 or go to You Tube and enter Manitoba Grape Harvest.

The Global Village program challenges the myth that there's nothing we can do to help the world become a better place. If we can make grapes grow in Manitoba, certainly we can make a difference in the world.