First Impressions #2
August 11, 2011
Claudia Binet

We left Comitancillo on Monday afternoon, after moving all our stuff out of the house where we had lived for the last 4 months. We said goodbye to the staff and drove to San Marcos with Jorge, our supervisor, where we spent the night. I had this strange feeling of excitement and anxiousness for what was coming next. Next morning, we got up early and had to experience the effects of cyclical time once again (in other words, we had to wait for 2 hours in the hotel lobby to be picked up!) After a whole day of driving and stopping for a couple of hours at the garage (and at Wendy’s… shame on us!), we made it to Todos Santos, where we will spend the last 4 months of the internship. I was excited about getting here because everybody seemed to say that it was a gorgeous place. I was thrilled to see what this place had to offer.

Todos Santos is a very unique place. It’s surrounded by the picturesque Cuchumatanes mountains. The village is set up in a valley and there are very steep slopes to get pretty much everywhere. With the altitude, at about 2400 meters, walking in the village is a great exercise! Men and women, no matter what their age is, wear wonderful traditional clothing. The men’s outfit is extremely eye catching and it is so special to see them, in groups, all dressed up the same way. The women’s outfit is more beautiful than in any other village, according to my taste. Everybody seems to be really open and friendly.

This morning, our first day in Todos Santos, we went to a comedor for breakfast, and I was a little disappointed to see that the breakfast menu wasn’t any different from the lunch and dinner menu: Beef or chicken with rice, tortillas and chili sauce. We made a special request for eggs and, thank God, they had some! Then we went to the CAUSE office to meet the staff. We met Don Plásido and Doña Sonia, the two business promoters, and Don Pedro, the supervisor. They all seem very nice and I can’t wait to know them more!

So far, one of the best things about Todos Santos is my accommodation. It’s fabulous! I live about 10 minutes away from the center, in an incredibly pretty wooden house. For the moment, I have the whole property to myself! I have a large courtyard full of flowers, plants and fruit trees (apples, peaches and figs!) and a small corn field. I’ve been told I could help myself with all these delicious fruits and veggies! There’s also a porch at the front of the house with a hammock where I can hang out. And last but not least, a chuj, which is a traditional sauna, that I can use.  In the morning, the place is incredibly beautiful, with the view of the mountains in the background.

But there is one thing I allow myself to complain about: the cold. When the sun disappears, it’s freezing. Outside, inside the house, everywhere, and apart from drinking hot chocolate and wearing a lot of layers, there’s not much you can do about it. My toilet and shower are outdoors, so it can be pretty painful.

I am thrilled to be here and feel really spoiled. I can’t wait to visit the communities. I think I will really like this place!