some back logs

Here are a few things that I haven´t had a chance to post yet...

From July 12th
Thursday 4:50 pm
So it seems like things here are as confusing as ever. I get back from America for my mid-service medical stuff and am supposed to go back to Maio on Friday with some trainees who are coming to see what we do in Maio. Unfortunately, the medical people and the others that work in the office assumed that the other has booked my ticket. So, no ticket. I learn today that the flight is booked which means I may not be able to go back until Monday. In the meantime, I learn there is a new boat to Maio that only takes 45 minutes and suggest we look at that. The schedule says they have a boat on Fridays so that should work but when they called for me, the boat place says there's a problem with Maio's pier so we don't know if the boat is going or not. So tomorrow I find out if/when I am going to Maio. If I am staying, I also have to switch hotels because the hotel I am staying at now will be full because of a basketball tournament. (Maio's team arrived at the hotel yesterday). Anyways, thats the excitement for now...

So the saga continues... I'm going to the airport in a few minutes to see if I can get on the plane to Maio. I have an open ticket but not a ticket on the flight so we'll see what happens. I just got a call from our acting country director saying that they are still in Assomada which is over an hour away and I was told to be at the airport at 12:30 to see if I can get on the flight. (its currently 12:12). This means they probably wont get to the airport until 2 ish and the flight leaves at 2:20. This is really good...

On top of that, the hotel I was staying in was pretty awful. There are a bunch of basketball teams staying there which equals urine all over the bathroom, load talking and music all night, and no towel to take a shower. So I'm in a pretty annoyed mood right now.

Back to reality. I´m in Assomada now. Dymistification went well once I finally got to Maio on Monday and I had a lot of fun hanging out with the new trainees. Stephanie´s birthday was Tuesday and there was a big grilhada at her house with plenty of pinchu, wine and beer to satisfy everyone. It was a good time.

Yesterday we had the first technical training session and I am really excited to be working with the new mobilizers. I went on a hike today with part of the group from one Ribeira to another, basically from a high up point to the beach where we ate grilled fish for lunch, swam in the ocean and hung out. So that´s life in ´ssomada for now. Ti logo...

America and back

Wow, its been awhile since I've written and I'm going to be better. I just got back from a great vacation in America. It was too short and packed full but I had a great time and it was so nice to see everyone.

Mike picked me up from the airport in Boston and it was so so so good to see him. We drove out to Connecticut to visit my grandmother, aunts, uncle, cousins, mom and dad. We spent a lot of time shopping, indulging in steak and Starbucks and visiting.

Next on the trip was a stop in PA to visit Mike's dad and puppy and his friends. We spent one night in the woods by an abandoned railroad track where we drank Mike-aritas and made smores over a bonfire.

We spent the 3rd driving down to NC to my parent's house and spent the next few days with them and my friends, potlucking, watching fireworks, touring a vineyard and having a good time. It was so good to see Ler and Betsy and Becky. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings on kareokee night where Mike and Betsy sang some Journey. Mike also did his best Whitney Houston impersonation trying to outdo some guy who sang Macy Gray. It was hilarious.

My brother arrived on Friday and we all went to temple. It was nice getting to go to services after being away from anything Jewish in a year. Afterwards, Mike and Daniel proceeded to drink a lot of beer during our "movie night."

On the way back to Boston we stopped off in DC and had dinner with Lindsay and Grace at Loriel Plaza- yum! Before heading back to the hotel we stopped by Mechum's and Lindsay's.

When we finally made it to Boston we went and saw Anne and Justin and then went over to Kathryn's for the night. We spent the next day relaxing and wandering around Boston. We took a swan boat around a pond and enjoyed the beautiful view. Before I had to go, we made dinner at Kat's (salad with portobello mushrooms, avocado, red bell peppers; chicken parmasean, and cornbread) and sat on the roof of her apartment while we watched the sunset.

So now I'm back in Praia for another day and then off to Maio with some of the new trainees. It should be an interesting summer living in Assomada but I'm looking forward to it. Keep me posted on life back in the states.