Enter Stage 1 of Culture Shock

This place is great. We have settled into our house, city and school with ease. Xela is the perfect town to learn Spanish as this city exudes real life Guatemala. I am the first one to admit though that I, as well as Sam, are smack dab in the first stage of culture shock: everything is so new and exciting, nothing can ever go wrong, we want to live here forever. While I understand that our emotions will oscillate over the coming weeks between elation and down right frustration, so far so good. I think a lot factors into us feeling so comfortable from the get go. The most salient factor has to be that I can passably speak Spanish. Also, as much as I struggled with India, getting around presents much less of a challenge. Now, our bus ride from Guatemala City to Xela mirrored our travels in India: inexplicable stops that could be classified as a vacation for some, people hawking food, drinks and other services, and the picking up of people in random areas. But, in general, there was no headache. Also, looking around the city, there is an air of familiarity to the stores, services and other buildings, allowing for a sense of comfort. However, I am trying not to get ahead of myself, because I know things could ( and probably will) turn somewhat sour over the coming weeks. Yet I am reaping the benefits of traveling through India just two months ago; the level of patience coming from me is awe inspiring.
The sleepy city of Xela (Sam asked her teacher where do people go out on Friday and her teacher responded, home) sits in a valley surrounded by hulking hills and mountains. The air is always fresh and the low lying clouds seem to gravitate towards you as you walk. We are currently at 7,000 feet, but we have felt no ill effects of altitude sickness. Just like India, there are explosions of color everywhere mostly emanating from the people who walk around. Buildings shine with pastel colors that would make any fraternity brother envious. The sidewalks are tiny little steps of elevated cement that offer the slightest bit of protection from the oncoming traffic. The streets themselves, some cobbled, some level, are just wide enough to fit a mouse on a moped yet cars whiz by you with absolute indifference to the situation.
We think of ourselves as worldly travelers, but I feel we missed the memo on the temperature- or just made a gross oversight. The mornings and nights are chilly and I packed only one sweatshirt. I was under the impression that Guatemala was hot; the images of steamy jungles were my preconceived notion. It is anything but steamy here. Luckily, I have spied some cheap discount clothing stores to buy some more warmth. As we have learned, there are only two seasons here: The rainy season is here or it has past. There is no division of seasons really. One is really warm the one, which we are in, is extremely cold. Apparently defies all hemispheric laws and is actually in the winter season. Northern hemisphere, next to boiling Mexico, yet the only thing boiling here is the tea to keep me warm. 
Guatemala current situation is not unlike the rest of the world right now. The government is immensely preoccupied with the flu. Only in the airport have we seen masks, but the population on the streets is quite devoid of them. According to Prensa Libre, the main newspaper of Guate, even though there has been one reported case in Guatemala, the government has taken advance action and suspended all public gatherings until June. There are concerns over public transportation as this is one of the main areas- due to overcrowding- where the flu can spread. The government has rebuked any ideas of shutting down services since they do not want to paralyze the city any further. They are only asking people to take precautions while traveling: if someone is sneezing, the government is imploring people to be a good citizen and avoid public transport.
Here in Xela, the precautions are no different. All gatherings have been suspended until June. There was a scare over the flu when three children went to a hospital showing signs of the flu, but were immediately released without receiving the proper attention- some drunk woman trumped their situation. Realizing the gravity of the whole situation, the doctors rethought their decision to let the boys be walking angels of death and spent the entire afternoon looking for the boys. They eventually found them and I am happy to report they are not carriers. Pandemic avoided.
This is us so far, living the surreal life in Xela, exit stage two of culture shock.