It's my birthday! And what a birthday it's been! I've been sick with a post-Nicaragua throat infection, and the medicine has been making me so stupid. (Example: Yesterday, I was trying to get a ride to school on the bus, and I started reading during the drive. I looked up and didn't recognize the scenery, so I realized I'd gone too far past the school and got off at the next stop. I hardly had any money, so I had to wait for the next bus going the opposite direction to head back to el colegio. Twenty minutes later, when one finally showed up, I asked to be dropped off at the school. The bus driver looked at my funny and told me I was headed in the opposite direction. It turned out I hadn't passed the school in the first place and had to cross the road to wait for yet another bus to take me the rest of the way. Wow.) So last night when practically everyone I've met in Neily were filing into the house, I didn´t get the hint until they whipped out a cake and started singing to me. It was a wonderful, cozy early birthday party with delicious almond carmel cake and home made chili cheese fries. Although I didn't think it possible because of the sweltering heat, now that we have our Christmas tree set up, it is starting to feel like the holidays.
School has let out for "summer," but for the past three mornings, I've been waking up at 6a.m. to go to Madre del Divino Pastor to continue the recycling campaign. With the kinder teacher, Doña Alejandra, and my two exchange student friends, I've been sorting all the recycled plastic bottles by color. We finished today, but when we began, there were about 50 giant trash bags filled with bottles (some filled with rancid drink), trash, ancient food, cockroaches, giant spiders and mold mold mold. Fortunately, we had plastic gloves and wills of steel, and it felt really good to see the project through. You should see my legs though! There are these insects that I have yet to see, but they bite you without hurting, and you get these nasty welts on site. It looks like I have a terminal case of chicken pox. Today was our last day, and when we got off our sweaty, smelly shift (covered in sweat and smell) Hermana Bernarda told me to wash my hands really well in the teachers' lounge. I did so, and when I turned around, there was a beautiful birthday cake covered in icing roses on the table from the staff! It was such a thoughtful surprise and delicious cake.
Well now I´ve showered and feel much more sanitary. I have been invited to coffee at my liason's house with some friends and it's sure to be a good time.
Pura Vida,
Elaine
