Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another. - Erma Brombeck

Friday, January 20, 2012

Two months in 22 more to go

SO much has happened since i last wrote which would make sense since it has been a month! Wow it had been a two months already. It doesn't feel like that. At times the days drag on and the months fly by. Sort of like college. I guess i will start off with my new year.

Almost all of my group went to the beach for a long weekend. I left that Friday for Leon and stayed overnight at one of the hostels with three other volunteers it was so much fun. We cooked a dinner of spinach stuffed shells and salad and brownies. We dyed others hair and hung out talking for the whole night. It was perfect. We then left for the beach the next day. I liked in a bungalow like cabin with two other girls there was a pool and a bar restaurant area. The beach was right outside the door. The first day we swam in the pool and beach. That afternoon and evening we did a tour of the mangrove forest which was amazing. Well worth the money. We learned about the animals and nature that was in the area. We got to climb the mangroves and act like monkeys. Then there was a beach cove that we could swim in and look for shells. When we were about to leave a turtle came to shore to lay her eggs an amazing experience to watch. There was also a turtle snatcher that went by. We offered to my his eggs but i didn't have any yet.

That night was New Years night we got back had dinner and did a white elephant gift exchange in favor of Christmas. The hung out and talked until New Years where we did a Hindu tradition since one of the volunteers in Hindu of what i could grasp is washing your problems way and your wants for the new year something like that. It was very interesting to do. Then we went skinydipping in the ocean star gazing.

The next day we all just lounged around and I read a book and just hung out that night we had a bonfire and roasted somors. We did some new years resolutions mine is to become confident and to become fluent in Spanish. Both of which i think i will be able to do. I am reading books about over coming shyness and I feel like it is really helping.

In site i feel like i am making process in getting more comfortable with the people. My youth group is going well and are beginning to finish their bags. My adult English class is surprisingly fun and I fell like they are learning. There will be a test next time so we will see what they can do. I am now working in the summer school class with the students that are struggling. It's hard and not as fun as the adult class. I still can't say that teaching is my calling but it is still soon. School starts in two weeks the rumors are that it will be Feb 13th but i have not heard the official date yet. I also want to get in tough with the town leader to start the trash collection program.

That's about it just hanging out and passing the time. Talk to you all later. XOXOXO