I blinked...

and there went another 3 months! Seriously, time goes by soooo fast!!! Well, with exception of the hours between 11am and 4pm when it´s 105 and humid....those 5 hours last eons. hehehe

Things are fantastic here!!! I can´t believe I only have 5 months left ;( Computer classes continue to go well, but I´m tired of repeating ¨no, we don´t have internet yet¨50 times a day ;) We´re working on it...it´s just expensive - $19 a month is the cheapest we can find and so far they don´t want to give it to us free just because we´re a community foundation...we haven´t given up yet though. Still teaching english and reading, writing and math. A few of the kids didn´t pass their grade so we´re getting ready for next year.

It´s summer here, which means varying levels of hot all day long. We´ve been lucky to have more rain this year than last, but it´s still not uncommon for it to cool off to no more than to 85 at night. Wow, que refrescante ;) This, my friends, is why we drink ridiculous amounts of ice cold tereré. Although I readily admit, to the dismay of many, that I still drink my steaming hot mate every morning, regardless of how hot it is. And in fact, get up earlier than I need to (5:30 generally) to do so. I do love my yuyos (natural remedies) and honestly can´t remember the last time I put medicine into my body. Why bother when there´s a yuyo for it? :)

I´m pretty sure I had mild dengue fever last week...having a fever of 103 when it´s 100 outside (and at least 110 in my bedroom) combined with body aches, headaches and a sore throat is not what I consider a good time. Thank goodness my dad sent me a shammy type cooling towell that holds it´s coolness for hours - it´s the only reason I got any sleep at all for those few days. Thanks Dad! Happy to report that I´m back to healthy and sweating instead of shivering in the heat :)

Didn´t walk to Ca´acupe this year...last year was enough. But I´m told it was just as crazy. Looks like I´ll be spending xmas in the new asentemiento (shanty town) that my contact has been working so hard on. I took two representatives from PC out there to check it out and see if it would be a good fit for a volunteer. They´ve decided to consider the location for a couple who will be coming in April. I´m sooooo excited!!! It´s a great spot full of people who are motivated to improve their situation, life, future for their children...I can´t imagine a more inviting place for a volunteer to be (even if it looks a little rough around the edges). Then New Years I have committed to spending with a friend of mine at her family´s house in a more country side/rustic area. Should be pretty chill. The people in my community are a little mad at me because they think I should be there and no where else, but I told them I´d definately be there for Dia de Reyes on January 6. I can´t be EVERYWHERE at the same time after all, but it´s nice to be wanted.

Hope you all are doing great! If there´s snow, please toss a snowball, make an angel, or just admire it for me. I have a pang in my heart, a longing for snow if you can believe it. I know, call me crazy, many do, ;) but it´s true. Enjoy your holidays, whatever they may be, and take time to love the people around you - after all, they are what matter.

In the meantime, I´ll be here...melting...sending you all a ton of love!
En Paz,
Lor