Tremor and Temperatures

It has been really windy here lately. And when I say really windy, I mean REALLY windy. Like I really thought that my building my just shake off the side of the cliff that it is on. So since I live in a corner apartment, now and then when it is really windy, I can feel my apartment shaking a little bit. Not anything really bad, but it is definitely shaking some. I was at home the other night when I felt a shake that was more than just the wind blowing. I mean it wasn't a "things are falling over" kind of shake, but it was definitely a shake. I kind of stood there and thought, hmmm, is this a tremor from an earthquake? Then I felt it again. Each one lasted only about 7 seconds, I would guess, but I felt it twice. Right afterwards, I got a text message from my friend, who is El Salvadorian, that said, did you just feel that tremor?? I was like oh my gosh, I DID!!! It was my first tremor I felt in Guatemala. Apparently we get these a lot, but it was my first one. In fact, we have already had one earthquake drill at school. When we feel a tremor, we all get under our desks and count to 60 and then proceed to walk outside with our hands above our heads to protect us from any falling objects. There has been one tremor here already, but I didn't feel it. It was an early dismissal day, so the kids had just been released and I was standing outside my classroom watching the kids at their lockers with two other teachers. A fifth grade teacher walked by and said, what are you guys doing? Didn't you feel the tremor? We were like, NO! We looked over and we saw all the elementary kids walking out of the classrooms with their hands on their heads. It was pretty funny. Anyway, now I have experienced my first Guatemalan tremor. And I survived!!!

On another note, the weather here is getting a little chillier. Now, may I remind you that Guatemala is known for being the "land of eternal spring." Now, some of my collegues had that confused with the land of the "eternal summer" and think it is really cold here right now. I just checked on the weather website and for the next 10 days (and I'm sure the last 10 days) the highs are all in the mid 70's and the lows are in the 50's. Last time I checked, this is NOT cold. Well, to the Guatemalans it is. My kids are coming to school with scarves and hats and gloves and winter coats. My favorite though, has to be my friend Danielle. (Sorry D, if you are reading this...) She was born in Canada, lived a lot of her life in Colorado, and is now living in Guatemala. She did teach for two years in Honduras, where she claims does not get as cold as here. But let me remind you.....CANADA and COLORADO! She has been wearing her winter pea coat to school for the last several weeks and I even spotted a scarf on her a time or two. She is constantly cold and I just laugh. :) We see guys walking to work in the morning with stocking caps on and everything. I actually really enjoy this weather, even though I will admit it gets a little chilly at night. Since the weather is so nice year round, buildings here don't have heaters or air conditioners. At night, sometimes I wish I had a little heat. But it's nothing a sweatshirt and socks can't fix!