Toto, I don't think we're in Upstate NY anymore

No, ANN is not some new central-american terrorist group or terrible free trade agreement- it’s just one of the several political parties participating in the upcoming Guatemalan elections.  Unfortunately, ANN has their central office right across the street from the Foundation.  I say unfortunately because, in order to sway the votes of the electorate, ANN’s main method of persuasion is serenading the neighborhood with marimba music at full-volume from a sub-par speaker.  I’m not sure if this is an effective technique and only us gringos are supremely put out by it, but it doesn’t seem like a good tactic to me.  Imagine if Hillary Clinton’s campaign set up shop next door and played banjo music all the live-long day to win your support.  So over the past few months we have been subjected on a regular basis to what we are convinced is the same marimba songs over and over and over again.  It becomes a bit abrasive when you’re trying to listen to other music, watch a movie, talk to someone else, or just hear yourself think. 

As voting is taking place tomorrow, for the presidential and mayoral elections, all campaigning and propoganda was supposed to end at noon yesterday.  We had been looking forward to this blissful tranquility for weeks.  And yet, what blasphemy greeted our ears late yesterday afternoon??  More marimba music, interspersed with strange seemingly-drunken announcements from Sakal Ixim, the ANN candidate for mayor.  It should also be noted that aforementioned Sakal Ixim is well-known in the pueblo for having stolen a large quantity of money from bank patrons while he worked there.  Perhaps he thinks high-intensity marimba music will blast this memory out of people’s minds.  His reputation as a patron of the arts will far supercede his infamy as a thief.

Taking matters into there own hands, in response to the continuing noise pollution, Chat, Angie and Paul marched down to the cede, where they are registering voters to report this violation.  (I stayed home to continue nursing my infirm lungs.)  A very helpful municipal worker returned to the ANN den to inform Sakal and his henchmen that they MUST stop the music.  In a tipsy and staggering manner, these gentlemen assured everyone that they would indeed shut it off.  Incidentally, liquor sales are supposed to be prohibited throughout all of Guatemala for this entire weekend in order to assure a tranquil state of mind for the voters.

Anyways, a happy conclusion to this sordid tale- the music got shut off yesterday and we were not further plagued by it for the rest of the afternoon.  However, I regret to inform you, that even as I sit here typing this morning, I hear the slightly-muted strains of the all-too-familiar marimba son.  Those wiley scoundrels….they continue to play the music, but have now brought their speaker slightly inside the doorway.  Please, join our cause!  Write to your senator!  Demonstrate in the streets!  Down with ANN!!!!