Monday, January 29

Well, the day started out rocky. Went to the bank to deposit money for our account, in the form of two $1000 travelers checks. I didn't notice that on the receipt they had only credited me for $200. So I went back and after about 1/2 hour in line and 1/2 hour of the clerk fidgeting, he told me the change had to go through Mexico City and I should come back again later. Fortunately, when I came back in the early afternoon they had fixed the problem.

Meanwhile I am waiting for our co-director, Rita, to arrive. She is hours late. When she finally comes, she explains that only half of her luggage had arrived and she had been waiting at the airport to see if the rest would come on the next flight. It didn't. Big hassle for her which is not over.

RIta has problems with asthma, so a fire in her bedroom is not going to help warm her, and instead we went out to the big mall at the edge of town so she could buy an electric heater. We think that a fire in the living room will be ok, which is lucky because I've just gone in on the order for a big load of firewood. We also bought a tea-kettle and some fruit. Rita had not seen mamey before so I can't wait until she has some.

Rita came with me to supper at Casa del Pan #2. We ended up sharing orders of vegetable soup and tamales and filled up for half the price. Rita is being great about speaking to me in Spanish, which is good because for three days I haven't spoken a word except for "la cuenta por favor."

In Casa del Pan a singer with an accordion started performing while her male companion strummed absent-mindedly on the guitar. The Spanish songs were enjoyable but she lost my tip when she did a horrendous version of La Vie en Rose. Besides, the children from Amatenango del Valle were crowding around showing us their ceramic figurines. Rita got a beautiful one showing a turkey with a small turkey on its back. Only 10 pesos (one dollar). We hope to visit some of the potters' workshops in Amatenango in April.