to www.gringologue.com

I’ve been in Guatemala for a little over a year now, and this past weekend for me provided one of the best gauges in terms of how things have changed. My small organization, Community Enterprise Solutions (or Soluciones Comunitarias in Spanish), held our 2nd annual Scojo Asesoras Conference, where a larger, and perhaps more productive, group of men and women arrived in Antigua Guatemala to talk strategy and enjoy themselves.

While there were no cross-dressing skits like last year, the 1 1/2 day conference was filled with some great activities, starting with some basic get-to-know and teamwork exercises, and finishing with some very effective “breakout sessions” all about how to sell more glasses and be more productive in business. We also introduced to the majority-female audience a variety of new products that we are testing out in Guatemala, including energy-saving lightbulbs and water filtration systems. Ideally, these asesoras would sell these products at an affordable cost to their community members all throughout Guatemala.

We were a bigger and better group, having sold more glasses - and thereby having helped more people - than ever before. From a personal perspective, I went from the student to the teacher in a more official capacity, handing out diplomas and leading conversations with a dozen or so people at a time. It was difficult, but very rewarding.

Left, one of the most inspiring women I work with, Juana, at the pool at the conference center. Right, my two bosses,  Bucky and Greg, with Francisca, an asesora from Lake Atitlan

The early era of the Gringologue is nearly over. In only a few days, David heads home to New York for 6 months (at least), while I stay put in Panajachel, enjoying my work with Community Enterprise Solutions. Despite David’s absence, I plan to continue chronicling my experiences in Guatemala through the Gringologue. I have acquired the gringologue.com domain, so from now on this blog can be found at www.gringologue.com.

I don’t see this moment as the end, however: David is tentatively planning on taking part in the Kenyon-Honduras archaeology program as a staff member in 2008, so he might be back in Central America in January. When he has internet access, I have no doubt that he’ll continue posting. He might even do a few from the States in the interim.

I continue with my work in development, working with about 20 entrepreneurs who administer eye exams and sell reading glasses in rural Guatemala. I’m really enjoying my time here, as David did, and again, I will continue posting about the ridiculousness, and splendor, of Guatemala.

The New Gringologue