We now have two Andrea volunteers working in Cabrican: Andrea Pérez, our Art Corps volunteer living in Rio Blanco, and Andrea Stanaway, our new Peace Corps volunteer working with the healthy schools program.
Although their names are pronounced differently, (Andrea Pérez is from Ecuador, so you pronounce her name with a long soft a, and soft e) this doesn’t really make much difference to anyone except to us four volunteers because every Cabricáneco pronounces them the same way (we are in a Spanish speaking country after all).
I can already see the confusion setting in across the town. First, because there are now two extranjeras named Andrea. Secondly, because Andrea S. looks exactly like me in the perspective of Guatemalans (we are both “tall,” with blonde hair and blue eyes, which clearly makes us twins). I can see all three of us being confused with the other.
I have been showing Andrea S. around Cabricán and the novelty of having two gringas wandering around is practically causing hysterics. I think the town was just beginning to get used to the idea of having me around, but TWO gringas? Crazy. The stares have set in again.
After looking at a couple places, Andrea S. has decided to live with Reina, at least for the first couple of months. This is great because she’ll be right across the street from me, and perhaps occupy a little of Roberto’s time. I’m very relieved that she has turned out to be such a sweet, down to earth person, because I was slightly concerned we would get a volunteer we didn’t get along with.
She returns to Santa Lucia tomorrow to finish up training, will swear in on March 27, and officially moves here at the end of the month.
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