A Day in the Life of Delia

On Wednesday Delia, the first grade teacher at Los Gozosos, invited me to go to her home after school so that I could get a glimpse of “real-life” Guatemala and enjoy some traditional food. Christina, one of the girls from the world race, joined us as well. After school we waited for Delia’s sister to come pick us up and all 4 of us squeezed into her father’s old Isuzu pick-up truck. We rumbled and bumped down the road, passing through Chimaltenango and stopping about 10 minutes just outside of it. We pulled up to a large gate and were instructed to get out of the pick-up but leave our belongings behind. Doing as we were told, we followed Delia and lined up outside a small chamber. She explained that her dad works on a large chicken farm which has provided housing to her parents; in order to enter the property all persons and vehicles must first be disinfected so as not to transfer any diseases to the chickens. We passed single file through what looked like a gas chamber with small spouts  lining the sides and top and a square fluid-filled floor. It was odd, but I laughed and am just secretly hoping they don’t someday find this disinfectant to cause mutations haha. After being fully disinfected, we finally arrived at her parent’s home. They have 9 children, most of whom live with them in this small 2-bedroom home. They are a stone’s throw away from the large chicken sheds. Cats come and go through the door as they please, and the 2 new little puppies are trotting around the table. Her mom cooked us a beautiful spread of food: chicken (I found it difficult listening to the chickens out the door while attempting to eat one of them which had been fried. I know it’s good to know where your food comes from, but this was a little too close for me haha), salad, rice and the delicious tomato sauce which accompanies many entrées in Guatemala. We washed all of it down with fresh lemonade (which I later found out was not made with agua pura—cheers to amoebas!). From the state of their home, it is obvious that Delia’s family does not live in over-abundance. However, they were so happy to entertain and share their home and food with us. I continue to find that Guatemalan’s are so giving despite having so little themselves. Yet another wonderful lesson for me. 

After lunch we sat around chatting, most of which I understood or could at least piece together. Delia then gave us a tour around her neighborhood. We made a stop at their family’s original home where they lived before her father began working at the chicken farm. It’s empty now, but her brothers run a small welding and metal business out of the side shed. The back shed houses their few animals. They asked me if I wanted to go into the shed with the animals… I declined haha.

 In true Guatemalan style, my tour that was supposed to end at 4 lasted until 5:30. I saw her brothers, neighbors, grandfather, future brother-in-law, and even the “crazy lady from the street” (her words, not mine.) They dropped me off on a corner in Chimal so that I could catch a bus back to Antigua. We said our quick good-byes and muchas gracias. So thankful to them for giving me a glimpse into another aspect of Guatemalan life. The Guatemalan culture is so rich because of its people. People who continue to impress me with their kindness, generosity, hospitality and grace.  

At her future brother-in-law's house. It was so beautiful. He lived in the states for 5 years to make enough money to return to Guatemala and build it.

Delia's gorgeous little sister.