HOMESCHOOLING, VEGGIES AND OTHER STUFF

"pan dulce" - typical Guatemalan bread

Carrying a fever and sore throat. Plus ear ache. Can't concentrate much on my work because of the nagging headache. Find myself impatient with others. In short, I get cranky and full of bitchfulness.

View of Historic Center Street

Decided, in my feverish fog, to read blogs and some interesting discussions in Guatemalan expats blogs on different topics. One of interest was on home-schooling--there are 2 expats who home-school that I read of, but the expat I know in person send their kids to private English-speaking schools, at least in the city.

I am not for or against homeschooling in itself. To each his or her own and as long as an education is conscientious and of good quality, whatever works!

Problem is, in Guatemala public education is terrible and private education is better academically, but as one blogger argues--correctly I think--they don't do much for teaching critical thinking skills. Plus, I would add, they are very expensive and quite unaffordable for a lot of people, expats or not, especially if several kids are involved.

Central or Main Plaza facing Cathedral

I happen to know (as probably you do too) that critical thinking skills aren't taught in public schools in the US either, except in some advanced programs or private schools, and I wonder if it just isn't a generalized problem in all of the Americas. Europe and Asia seem to have a jump start on us, at least in secondary level academics.

Oh well. My kids are grown and gone and turned out all right, but we always supplemented their education with more at home. That's the problem with having a nerd mom who teaches college.

Facade, Las Gardenias

I don't know what I would recommend to expats in Guatemala re the education of their kids though. Mine were educated in the US. Don't blame anybody for choosing home-schooling, that's for sure. But it isn't for everybody.

However, people do get quite sanctimonious about the topic, no matter what side they are arguing for. Tag me as one of those people who see shades of gray instead of black and white! And who, admittedly, can be wrong on occasion. (I'm afraid I don't really believe the latter)

Las Gardenias

Damn, I'm SO glad we're at the stage where we can now actually enjoy ourselves without having to worry about kids! And that we do. Living here is, in many ways, like a bit of a honeymoon vacation.

Anyhow.

This week went to lunch with a friend to yet another vegetarian restaurant, the type where they don't use sugar, cook everything fresh and from scratch, etc. I went because I have to write a review of the place (for another blog), which is housed in a beautiful little building which is probably around 100 years old.

The place is called Las Gardenias, located in 7a Ave. in the Historic Center

My veggie dish

The food is good and well-seasoned but frankly, to me a plate full of veggies and no meat or pasta is like ... well, like a plate full of veggies with no meat nor pasta! People must like it though, because it is crowded every day, mostly by the trendy young professional crowd around.

They have 2 or 3 selections a day for around US$3, includes soup and salad, and a sugarfree fruit drink. Really pretty place, but I don't think I'm going back anytime soon.

THE curtains

I had to order curtains for a very large room which was re-designed as a conference and meeting room (several frequent clients have requested one). It used to be a loft. Now we have a nice conference room as well. But curtains and stuff were required. This is what my mom used to do. She was retired here and she managed the hotel's housekeeping stuff.

I visited several amazingly huge fabric stores--some bigger than Jo-Ann's back home in the US--and found one that makes the curtains for free if one buys the fabric there. Choosing fabric, getting measures, ordering a style--I selected the simplest possible--was excruciating. I had no idea how to go about it. But finally managed to get them all done for fabric that went for about US$2 a yard. This was for many windows. Again, the making of the curtains was free and they turned them in exactly on the date they said they would. WOW! Amazing.

The place is a few blocks from our inn, so it worked well, down to their punctuality. Small miracles.

Damn, but I miss my mother. Not a day goes by I don't.

www.QualityGuate.com
Hotel - Lofts - Parking
In the Historic Center of Guatemala