5: Preparations

We were very busy and a bit crazy before leaving on our trip. There was so much to finish at our jobs and to prepare for the trip. We had to pick the few right clothes and things to take with us for 10 months that would fit in our not-so-big backpacks! We're taking 2 cameras and a small portable computer, which adds both bulk and weight. We also had to pack up our house and had our friends over to help us a bit and join us in a send-off party.

In the middle of it all, we found out that a big hurricane - Hurricane Stan - had hit Guatemala. Much of the country was now flooded and several landslides had left many families without a home. We had thought we would start our big trip with a big of relaxation in Guatemala, but now we are much more concerned about helping the people affected by the hurricane. Will we be able to find a way to help? What will things be like when we got there? We are full of questions as we finally packed our bags and headed for the airport.