Dia Cultural and painting the school

Field Based Training!

Last week a group from the next cycle of trainees came out

to my site for 3 jam-packed days of AIDS worhshops, English class, organic composting and a hike out to an NGO-run farm with the 4th grade class and some high school volunteers, evening runs with the track team, Cultural Day where they sat as judges, painting the school with some local youth and finally making recycled paper, leaf rubbings and countless games of tag and limbo with some 40 kids in my house. More than any sane person would ever do in a week, but I definitely couldn't have done it without them...

Observing just how freaking gorgeous El Carrizal can be with Emma's fourth graders.

finished product

Perquin Vacation

Fatima, Petrona and I decided it was time for a vacation and time to check out Perquin, the site of the war museum and some gorgeous hikes. We picked up Louise along the way, splurged for a cozy Cedar wood cabin and well, I wish the trip had been longer.

Its been raining and raining here to the point where people don't leave their houses and work all but doesn't happen. But when its not dumping, the Carrizal track team outfitted with brand new shoes still goes out for a run.

Papusa dinner after the inaugural run of the Spiderman light up shoes.

Baile de los Viejos

Realized I could upload movies!

So here's an older one of the Viejos, who are in reality masked drunken youth which arrive at the prayer services practically every afternoon in May to celebrate la Fiesta de las Flores y Frutas by beating one another with sticks.

Some boys from my art class showed up to watch the construction, read Jorge el Curioso and make sure I had someone to play with.

its actually happening!

Started and finished the renovations on the computer lab last Saturday!

The computers arrive next Tuesday.

Woot.

Independance Day

This was one of those events that I like better now that its (finally!) over and there will be no more all day marching band practice in the schools tiny courtyard. The event was huge though and another chance to sit at that mesa de honor alongside the priest and the Alcaldesa for a couple hours feeling important and wondering what exactly I was doing there.

X-Country!

In the last couple weeks my former neighbors have started running with me. We run pretty much every day for 20-30 minutes and they are fast. And into it. As is Ginger, my old dog and bff, even if she was a little less willing to take part in our photo shoot.

Art school

pollo campero and dance party with the jovenes!

Noche de los tortugueros

Full moon hike at Ryan and Jason's! The original goal was to patrol the beach at night, collect sea turtle eggs and take them to a nursery before the tortugueros (poachers) got to them. In reality there were a lot of us and it was a bit too much of a party to outdo the professionals, but it was an amazing night. My friends surprised me with cake and singing at midnight!! (birthday!) and I snuck in a few more almost successful attempts to surf.