2 Axes to the Face

I've gotten quite used to my neighbors. Even though they are loud, wake up really early and go to the bathroom all over the streets, I have learned to love the 10 cows/bulls next door. I was a little disheartened when my youngest brother informed me that the leader of the pack had taken "2 axes to the face" and was served for dinner this weekend to our town. He no longer turns his head when I open my gate as he grazes underneath the tree in the corner. But life goes on without him...

Tomorrow I wake at 5am to start my first journey, mostly by myself. I have an "immersion weekend" where I will be staying with a volunteer who has been in country for a year or so. We are spending 2 nights in Santa Ana where she is working with a Girls Camp and the last night we travel back east across the country to Usulutan to spend the day/night at her site. I'm excited about it. But definitely nervous about the travels.

I'm also expecting to have my first real daily challenges. I mean, hand-washing clothes on a rock took some practice, and I won't lie, not all my clothes smelled great afterwords...particularly the ones I wore playing soccer in a dirt field in 90 degree weather.....but I've had it pretty easy. Today was the first day we ran at of water. I still couldn't make myself use the latrine but I had to get buckets of water to flush the toilet. I'm saving the first bucket bath for the morning. The chickens in my area stay outside the house (which is not common in other parts). I haven't gotten an amoeba (one volunteer in my town has) and I don't have Dengue, Malaria, Chagas or bacteria...yet. My mosquito net fits over my bed, I have a door to my room and my mom cooks all my meals. The volunteer I'm vising told me to pack sheets...and plates. I have one small backpack so this should be interesting. I have a hammock and there's a table in my room. The rats stay on the roof outside (not inside happily)...except for the one that got in the pila (sink thing) in the kitchen. There's not too many bugs in my room and I now have learned to love the spiders because they hastily eat the other little guys that may get into my net. Well not all spiders, anything furry or thick or crunchy looking gets the shoe.

So I've felt pretty spoiled so far. I have a nice house with a nice host family and have 5 great volunteers living close by in my town. These next 4 days should be a whole new experience so I'm definitely expecting new challenges and excitements. It will be a tiny glimpse into my real life for the next 2 years.

These 3 weeks have gone by sooo fast and the next 4.5 of training I think will go even faster. Next weekend is our first free weekend :D BEACH and then I have to have 5 community projects done and our community Social Service done. We're playing a Movie Night in town with an educational presentation about Trash & Recycling at intermission, will a Garbage Walk the next day and Soccer Tourney too with refrescos. Hopefully it all goes well. We also have plans to meet with the town Health Promoter and visit the fields to watch the Sugar Cane cutting process. Lots and lots of stuff coming up.

Anything new at home I would love to hear some stories. I miss everyone and love you all. Don't take anything for granted. I've seen too many tragedies here already, almost too much to handle... but definitely awakened my sense of appreciation for every moment you have and all the people around you.

xoxoxoxo