Buses

First I will further elaborate about the bus last weekend.
The bus is an old American greyhound like bus the driver purchased and drove here from Washington State. Yes, the bus is on its last leg in the US but here it is spry and young with a bright future. During the weekend trip, it indeed broke down 1 time during the second night, and 2 times during the trip home, at which point we abandon 'old reliable' for public transportation. This bus, however, is a first class privately hired bus for our school. My spanish teacher tells me there are bus problems every year when the school takes the country tour. Tis life in Guatemala.

Today the school activity began on a chicken bus bound for Zunil, a small town-pueblo nearby Xela, the large city I study in. First we saw a large Catholic church, then a fair trade cooperative of Mayans who sell Mayan textiles all over the world, and finally a home housing Saint Simon. This requires explanation.

Saint Simon moves to a different house in the city every year on Oct. 28. He is physically a statute who changes clothes everyday and is seated for people to pray to. Additionally, people feed Saint Simon alcohol and offer cigarettes, actually lit, to keep Saint Simon satisfied. When he is satisfied he can fulfill the wishes of visitors. People visit him and ask for miracles. Actually, these are smaller miracles, for example, asking that a good looking person you know falls for you, or for your restaurant to succeed. In asking, people wave a towel to cleanse themselves, light candles of different colors and put the Saint's sombrero on for safety. If you want a larger miracle, you have to go upstairs and burn various offerings. For examples, waive an egg in front of you to soak up bad spirit then burn the egg and the bad spirits in it. Or, today, I witnessed a live chicken being offered. First it was slaughtered and the blood dripped into the fire. Then piece by piece, burned with sugar, seeds, candles, cigars and cigarrettes. If I were Saint Simon I would fulfill this wish for such a grand offering!