Maggots. Machetes. Rum.

My life here in the jungle is just about at the halfway point, which I find very hard to believe. Just yesterday it was October, no? The more I think back on this year, the more I realize how much I did and how amazing it has been...I started off in Jamaica playing trivial pursuit in the rain with my family, spent some time in California with some friends and extended family, then graduated college (i guess thats a big one), spent a few weeks in Israel, worked in Costa Rica--with a quick weekend to Nicaragua thrown in--came home, applied to grad school, packed up my bags, and moved to the jungle. Honestly, is this real life?? How lucky can a girl be..?!

Things here are moving along fine, although it feels much less like a vacation and much more like real life...which is what I wanted in the first place, right? I am officially the teaching coordinator, and for the month of December, I was basically the project manager as well. This included: creating and administering end of term exams for the kids (headache #1), making sure the volunteers were happy (headache #2), planning activities for christmas week and next term (headache #3) and keeping the house standing (headaches #4-243254235). That last one might sound easy, but I promise you, a house in the middle of nowhere in the jungle is a project all on its own. I am learning so much and I feel like I am very self sufficient now, which is awesome. However, things like cleaning maggots out of a fridge (a fun task from last night) do not ever need to be repeated.

The exams for the kiddos went well, and was actually really nice and reaffirmined why I am here. I do NOT want to be a teacher, ever ever ever, but now I know that I can do it, and that with some patience and love, kids can be pretty cool.

Things you should all appreciate/Things I used to take for granted and never will again:
cold milk
olive oil
ice
AAA and jumper cables
bug free ______ (fill in the blank however you wish, i promise it will be accurate)
electricity
hot water
tap water

Things you don´t know that you are missing:
machetes
$2 huge delish meals
beautiful, incredible, amazing nature--everywhere
waking up to a symphony of birds instead of car horns
knowing your community members/hospitality (or is this just the cynical new yorker in me?)

I had a haircut the other day, courtesy of friend and volunteer Sirah. She is a hairdresser back home, so it was totally legit. And she did my nails too, so I sort of resemble a girl again. The jungle has not completely taken over...yet.

Spending Christmas eve at a little fiesta in Puyo tonight...(coincedentally there will be Chinese food there)... and tomorrow I will wake up, open some presents under my first ever christmas tree, eat a small christmas dinner, and relax. This is the first year that I dont get a winter/christmas vacation, but we are happy and healthy, so what more do I really need?
Vacation would be nice though...I have a few tricks up my sleeve, and a few trips planned in my head. Actually, if anyone wants to head south between January and June...or everr... let me know. I´m starting to plan some fun adventures. Come with!

December has not had many volunteers, but we have some new faces coming next week, so things should be busy at the house. There is no school but we are planning some workshops and games, and then hopefully a day or two off for new years. It is very strange being away from home during the holiday season, even with my new family here...and I miss you all more than you know.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a very, very happy new year. Wishing everyone nothing but the best, sending warm thoughts, and hoping for only good things in 2011.


BESOS Y AMOR!!! :)