LIfe Update

Let's hit the highlights...

-Manchitas, the cat formerly known as Lady Sadie Pickles is doing very well. she's growing a lot and learning that not all humans were put on this planet to terrorize her. In fact whenever I'm home she enjoys spending most of her time at my side, perching on my shoulder or on top of the computer and getting her paws on anything she shouldn't. It's really cute if I do say so myself. She does have a strange fascination with the toilet... It's gross. Betty suggested I litter train her to use it. vamos a ver?

-The other day I accidentally put the chair on Maria's foot. She squawked like crazy and still can't put weight on it. I think this happened Sunday. Now her poor foot is all black and disgusting. I feel bad but she still tries to attack my toesies so I guess now she knows how it feels to have an injured foot. DP and DM have assured me that they have done this many times themselves and that I shouldn't feel bad.

-This upcoming Friday the new volunteers swear in. It's pretty exciting. First of 6 groups to pass through before I COS (close of service). I can't believe that much time has passed already and I find myself feeling like such a vet when it comes to the life of a PCV in Guatemala. Still got lots to learn and more to see/do. Next week our training group will be reunited for RECONNECT, which is after the first 3 months of service and we all come back together for more training and language classes. Fun times!

-I've recently had some "breakthroughs" at work. It really is amazing how going to a school and seeing some little 4th graders wash their hands will really turn around your day. The same difference when you are sitting outside the school bathroom and the kids come out to wash their hands but there isn't any water. It's pretty heartbreaking. All for the sake of washing your hands a habit that I think even lots of Americans are lacking. Today I also made about 20 new friends. Man do I miss the 4th grade. They all keep asking me words in English which is usually pretty annoying but for some reason it was so precious. Cause I would say a word and then they would try to repeat it with completely the wrong emphasis. It was interesting to hear the English words how they heard them. They also loved my hair which has gotten kind of long and pretty blondeish... I made the mistake of wearing my hair down so I was getting lots of great hair dos... Hopefully my next blog won't be about lice infestation but it actually felt worth it. Feeling a connection to these kids even for like an hour was really nice but it made me have second thoughts about how my job is supposed to work. I love the hands on interaction with children but I really don't get that now. But it's all still beginning and we'll see how many more friends I make.

-LOVE THE MAIL!!!! I have been receiving lots of mail recently and it really makes my day. So sweet of everyone to send me anything. It is so nice to walk into the post office and have Don Luis tell me there is something for me. So I just want to say thanks and that slowly my confidence in the mail system is growing and I'll try to send some snail mail home.

Anywho, I think that is the highlight for now. Love and miss you all so much and love hearing from you. love love love

Happy 4th

Obviously the best dressed award goes to me and Evan


Alrighty, so it has finally come and gone... the 4th of July passed with a big bang and was probably one of my favorite memories so far here in Guate. The build up was pretty huge. A big party with 220+ of your closest "american" friends, how could you not be excited? It was a weekend of reuniting and it helped me realize how much my life has changed these first 3 months of service. I've been feeling like things are going well and life seemed pretty normal. I had forgotten about the tourist haven that is Antigua and how much fun it is to go there with 220+ of your closest friends. It made me realize how much I love a lot of my training group and how much I miss them. We will be reunited again soon but until then it's back to work. I've moved upstairs into my apartment so it's time to organize and get that taken care of. Also this little kitten of mine goes through separation anxiety every time I leave hence right now she is sitting on my lap. Overall things are good. I feel like I really celebrated the 4th well this year and I'm excited for the upcoming weeks.

Also Happy 6 months in country!!!