Thunder and Lightening and Memories

Pacaya Volcano

The other night there was a fantastic thunder and lightening storm. And this evening there was another one. I love these storms and got to stand on our 11th floor balcony and watch the neighbor buildings get struck by lightening again. It was so loud and bright. It's such a magnificent demonstration of what nature is capable of. And the rain was warm. It reminded me of one specific storm on one of my adventures abroad.

I was sitting near a central courtyard in the place I was staying because the power had gone out due to a crazy thunder and lightening storm. I had just arrived in Guatemala City that evening and was still a little confounded that I had made it there; my first solo trip abroad for three weeks! As soon as the storm started I came out to sit and watch it. Eventually, the power went out and the storm only became more awesome. I ended up hanging out there in the pitch dark for many hours while the storm raged on, despite being exhausted and in awe of the adventure I was embarking on.

Market at Chichicastenango

I went to Guatemala during my winter break from college in 1994. It's possible it was in 1995. It was my first trip abroad on my own. At this point I had actually been to many foreign countries for a variety of reasons (with my family, with a school trip, with a medical outreach program) but never completely on my own. I remember starting to get a little nervous as the plane touched down in the late evening. I hadn't even worked out where I was staying yet.

That storm and the more recent storms are so much alike. The temperature, the sounds, the lightening, the humidity. It just helps make these moments feel even more like an adventure abroad. And living here still is, but then again it's not so much anymore. I've been here half a year already and I have to say things have become "normal." I know the places I like, and I find something new here about as often as I did back home. It's just not that different, except for some details.