At 3700 meters (about 12,000 feet) Volcan Santa Maria looks down on Xela and offers a tough hike for those willing to take it on. The volcano is inactive but has incredible views from the top. I think the pics from the hike say more than I can write ... especially since I don´t have time today because I have to pick up my laundry and do my homework. Sounds kinda pathetic actually.

My second week of spanish school went pretty well and I am now able to understand more than I can speak. When I first arrived in Mexico, I could say a number of things but could never understand anyone´s response in Spanish. Now I can understand a lot but can say very little it seems. Right now, I am in my 3rd week of spanish school trying to figure out the difference between the preterit and imperfect tenses and all the damn irregular verbs. Last week, I switched to a new home stay family. They have a fairly nice house for Guatemalan standards and the food is repetitive but good, the shower nice and hot, and 10 year old Eric is able to correct my homework.