First Day of School

My first day of school... How can I put it? Well, this week we are celebrating the school's 45th birthday. There are different festivities all week, and I have to wear clothing to walk in tomorrow. I believe we are doing a parade around Chone. That's pretty exciting.

Everything feels dirty here. The heat, the dust, the difference. I love it, but I just only feel clean when I'm drenched in water. And even then, I know it's not entirely true. I brush my teeth with the water, wash veggies with it, but never drink it, and always rinse the veggies off with clean water after being washed.

I'm hot. We sleep with a sheet on top of us, and I have a fan blowing around me. I believe I have been comfortable once. I was in the ocean... The ocean... It's so beautiful here! The clear water, the sun shining on everything. I love it!

Last night, I got THREE bug bites! All on my right leg! My sister told me to put alcohol (the stuff for cuts and such) on them, and the redness has gone down on one of them. I also killed a mosquito in the principles office today. I REFUSE to get malaria! (Don't worry mother, I won't. I promise!)

The food here is some of the best I've ever tasted! We eat this soup stuff called crema. It's basically like vegetables mashed up. You would think it would be gross, but it's not! It's like a taste of home without the chewing! Even the meat tastes better. Yesterday, I had lasagna con carne, and though the texture of the carne wasn't my favorite, it was really good! The way they prepare it is so natural tasting, but at the same time, masks the taste of it--for the most part.

So, I haven't really done any chores since I came here. I have made my bed on the days that the maid doesn't come. And put some left overs in the refrigerator, but really, all I do is talk to my sister. I really really enjoy talking to her. She is a sweetie, and always stops to explain things when I don't understand.

I believe my host sister was just denied her visa... The sadness I feel is one of the worst things I have felt since I got here. I'm not sure what happened, or why, but when they get home from Guayaquil, I'm going to ask. They did everything they needed. I even helped her with some English!

Some of my sisters friends should be arriving soon. I look forward to meeting them!