My first trip in Guatemala: Xela bound!

My parents decided that I was strong enough to make my first trip in Guatemala: destination Xela to meet my Guatemalan family! So on Thursday morning I was surprised when my mum dressed me instead of putting me back to sleep after my 3 am breastfeed. Something unusual was happening for sure as it was still dark and cold! We left the house and took a minivan with lots of people inside to go to Guatemala City. Then we took another minivan to go to Xela. I fell asleep as soon as we left so I don’t remember much. I only woke up to drink my bottle and men it was hard! Have you ever tried to drink a bottle in a car going a full speed in curves? But my mum did a good job and I drank it all. Then before I knew we arrived to my grand parents’ house.

I spent the next 4 days going from place to place to meet new people and going from someone’s arm to another. Tiring I tell you but my mum was so happy that I couldn’t tell her… enough! And it was cold!!! To sleep my mum was putting me my pajamas, my sleeping bag, a hat and two blankets. I was warm enough for sure and started sleeping better, only waking up my mum twice a night to eat. I know she’s hopping I will sleep through the night soon but I’m still young!

My grand ma and grand dad from Guatemala are speaking a weird language named K’iche. I don’t understand anything but I just smile. They have customs very different than my mum, like they carry the kids in the back. My dad tried one night but I didn’t like it and showed it to them by vomiting on his pullover. I love the way mum is carrying me, wrapped on her belly.

The first night I was very tired after traveling plus spending the afternoon in a restaurant with lot of noise around and people touching me. So I was very agitated and crying a lot. My mum knew that it was because I was too tired but my grand ma said it was because of the “mal de ojo” or evil’s eye! It’s a hex caused by someone from outside the family looking at the child (me) with envy, or a stare from a powerful person who is admiring the child. That cause frequent crying and no other symptoms are thought to be similar to colic. So my grand ma went to pick up some herbs and put them on me while speaking in her language. My mum didn’t say anything but I felt she didn’t believe in it and carried me to our room where I fell asleep in her arms.

On the way back to Antigua, we took a comfy bus (called Pullman) and a crazy bus (named chicken bus or camioneta). All Guatemalan are traveling on chicken buses but for me it was the first time and It didn’t bother me to be shake in all direction with loud music in my hears. I just slept! So I’m ready for more trips!

like a Guatemalan