Cassandra la Sapita en Guatemala

Hello beautiful people

allready 1 week in guatemala and sooo much to say ....

Left the US with a strong fear of the unknown... add to that the horrible stories I had heard just prior to departure ... but the first seconds proved me wrong. Mind you I am not saying this place is 100 % safe, there have even been a few murders around the places I visited, but NOTHING like what I had feared it would be.

Arriving in Antigua and falling allready in love with Norberta, an old woman owning an hotel who offered me o stay with her next time, I will teach her grandkids some english and she will teach me how to cook...

Bus then boat to Santa Cruz La Laguna , one of the villages near the Atitlan lake. No electricity, hardly any running water and lots of happiness. Tony and Sol, two Clowns from the prject have welcomed me with open arms and hearts.

They have made everthing also much easier for me o meet people from teh Kakchiquel pueblo here rather than tourists. I even got my first Tu'ch, like the local sauna... Moment of total bliss... so were the moments I have spent with kids here playing and teaching them poi or them shouting my name all over teh village wihile I was washing my clothes in the place where women wash their stuff here . Trying to learn a few words of Kachiquel ... but damnit ... tis soooo difficult !!!

Sunday we left to Xela (aka Quetzaltenango) to meet with all the clowns and left monday around 7 am to ravvel to villaes in the pacific coast : Flores Costa Cuca and Villa Hermosa. Arriving there was quite amazing, we were living in the Centro de Salud,

The project s called Proyecto Payaso aka Atzanem k'oj in Kaqchikel. mayan and foreigner clowns and jugglers doign shows in small villages throughout the country in order to promote education about AIDS. The show itself explains how you get or don t get aids and what you can do do avoid it in a clown and visual way.We also do CHarlas, like wokshops with either men or women to educate about AIDS in a more serious way. We also walk around the village nailaing educative posters and talking to the people ...

I cannnot even begin to explain the feeling of playing and at the same time doing something meaningfull... I am completely blown away in a constant state of exhilarating excitement happiness and beautiful emotions.

Shows are very very well perceived and people s reactions amaze me. I will rty and show you all pictures when I am closter to a computer for more than one hour every week... they always need support, help or material (fire poi, staff, flags, balls, clubs , clowning shoes or any material...)... think about it and email proyectopayaso@yahoo.com THANK YOU

I can only tell you that the hugs, smiles, kisses, laughter, surprised or amazed faces we have received during the show have been the most beautiful presents I ever receibved.... and as if that was not enough we have encountered such welcom ing people, offering food or water to drink or shower, kids following us around or holding our hands with a smiles... night spent with clowns from Spain, germany, australia and mayans, laughing hysterically atogether discovering each otehr s cultures (whil desperately trying to avoid nasty mosquitos).

Life is bautiful...

I am going back to SAnta Cruz tomorrow for our big clown fiesta on friday, other party for Sol s birthday . I will probably be spending most of next week relaxing and practicing on the beach in Monterrico. then more adventure everywhere...

Oh ... and by the way ... everyone has a clown name ... and it did not take them long to decidee on mine .... I am SAPITA ... littl froggie... what a surprise

With all my love and tenderness
SHINE ON
Sapita

[ 12. December 2002, 11:06: Message edited by: Cassandra ]

"I want brown bread... no, that is diesel oil..."
"So I was raised in Europe, where History comes from ..."
"NON !!! La Plume de mon oncle n est pas Bingibangibungi !!!"

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