Happy Holidays 2022!

Much to the surprise of the former embassy employee turned visa consultant we were successful in the pursuit of a US visa for Diego. We used his volunteer time with Mundo Posible to justify requesting an emergency appointment so that he might do some hands on training with World Possible in southern California. That visa made it possible for both of us to return from a university research trip to Spain via Washington, DC using my United Airlines travel benefits. It also means that Diego will be able to travel back and forth to Spain for university for free. And yes, two weeks in Spain convinced him that is where he would like to go for university. His first choice is IE University in Madrid, an international business school. Here is a link to the video he made as part of the application process.  https://youtu.be/kUJ4IuTmLAY

Before Spain I went to London to visit friends where I was on hand for the death of Queen Elizabeth. 

Buckingham Palace

Then I flew to Barcelona where I met Diego who had flown solo from Guatemala City to Panama then onto Madrid and Barcelona. This flight was booked before he acquired the US visa thus he had to circumvent the United States. We spent a week in Barcelona and a week in Madrid with a side trip to Pamplona visiting four different universities with a little tourism thrown in along with three days in Washington, DC.

Diego at a Mexican restaurant in Madrid.

Shortly after our return it was off to the west coast for the two weeks promised to the embassy in the visa application. Diego did spend a few days working in the World Possible office in southern California. 

Diego earning his visa at the offices of World Possible.

Astrid has finished her first (of five years) of law school with remarkably high grades and a "diploma for excellence." She works full-time for a call center, attends university classes all day on Saturdays and looks after her son, Beyker, who is now six. 

Beyker (l) and Liam (r) reading their fortunes at Panda Express

Jackie's son, Liam, is nine. Hard to believe. Jackie is finishing up her university studies and will graduate as a secondary school teacher early next year. She has applied to several private schools in their village of San Antonio Aguas Calientes and hopes to be gainfully employed soon. 

Denis who is almost twenty-four remains somewhat elusive. He works full-time for an architect and when he is not working he parents his nephews and goes to the gym. My wish is that he would realize that he could be an architect and not just do menial work for one. 

Cristofer is back playing soccer after after losing almost two years due to the pandemic. He will start the tenth grade in January and has expressed a wish to play professional soccer. He is quite good. We are searching for contacts in the world of professional soccer and he has been showing off his skills in a couple of different venues. 

Cristofer and his winning soccer shoes.

Mishell is fourteen. 

Diego, Cris and Mishell continue to live with me as their mother is unable or unwilling to provide for them. They do spend time with the rest of the family which gives me some occasional moments of solitude which I treasure. 

Mishell and Cristofer (the wine is mine) at a Thanksgiving dinner

But there are two more. Isaac is Beyker's best friend. His mom works in the school cafeteria. Isaac used to accompany her to work and she would cry when she saw Beyker attending classes which she could not afford for her son. "So, what is one more?" I said to myself. Isaac and his (intact) family live in a rural village about thirty minutes by car or forty-five minutes by chicken bus from Antigua. Isaac loves cornflakes which I give him now and then along with powdered milk as the family does not have a refrigerator. 

Beyker and his pal, Isaac.

Carlitos, also known as Charlie, lives in a lamina house with a dirt floor behind the horse barn at the coffee farm where I keep my miniature horse and goat. He is the youngest of six kids and has two lovely parents. Carlitos is ten and is being sponsored (not by me) to attend the Green School with all the other kids and he just loves it. He is determined to master English, which is how he became known as Charlie, and spends his spare time on Duolingo. He loves the Cuban musical group, Buena Fe, and intends to become a surgeon. I sponsor him for chess, swimming classes and Buena Fe concerts. 

Charlie at a Buena Fe concert

My brother and his wife came for Christmas and thirteen of us spent a few days at the beach in a rather idyllic spot.

Charlie taking in the ocean for the first time.

Then it was back to Antigua and Guatemalan Christmas. While visiting a toy store a few weeks back I had asked Beyker to show me what he wanted Santa to bring so that I could relay the message. He asked me, "how are you going to do that?' I told him, "I have his WhatsApp." "Oh, OK," was the response. When Santa did show up Beyker wanted to know where he had left his sleigh. Mrs. Claus was quick to say that he had left his sleigh at central park. 

Christmas chaos.

And then of course we took the annual photo in front of the Christmas tree. In the interest in seeing how things change I am including the photo from 2014.

2014

2022

Diego and I are off to Cuba for New Years' Eve along with some friends. We will attend a Buena Fe concert in Matanzas on December 30th and will spend New Years' Eve in Havana. Happy Holidays to all and let's hope the world gains a measure of sanity in 2023.