Recently...

Now that I have Internet at my house, I feel like I should be keeping up with the blog more. I'm hoping that doesn't mean my posts will become mind-numbingly boring (see previous post).

Speaking of the previous post, this week we've been experiencing the hottest heat wave since I arrived in country. And mercifully, there's been a break in the rain, but I don't kid myself that it will last for long. Okay, that's enough about the weather.

In other news, I am very proud of myself for correctly installing my new electric water heater in the shower (I may have gotten a tip or two from Juan José, but I did almost all of it myself). My old one went on the fritz and after realizing I was supremely unqualified to fix it, I decided to drop the Q150 to buy a new one. I increased my Peace Corps cred by taking bucket baths for a week before I found the time to install the heater, but am now back to my original status as a pampered Club Med PCV.

We turned in another application for funds for the kitchen last week. The representative of the organization is very enthusiastic, but it sounds like his higher-ups need some convincing about the durability of these kind of constructions, so I may be making a trip to the capital with a university professor who is doing studies on buildings made with "eco-bricks" to plead our case. I'm planning to get another two applications turned in next week to increase our chances.

I held another workshop for my teachers today. I did it with both schools at once, which I thought might be overwhelming but I really think it was the best workshop yet. First, my teachers from the big school in Buxup came to Taj Buxup to observe all the classrooms and see how the teachers there are managing the Healthy Schools program. Then we all went to Buxup to see their classrooms and afterward I facilitated a discussion about all the new ideas they took away from the experience. It was also a chance for them to discuss problems and/or challenges they have within the program and then talk about solutions to said difficulties.

Also, I developed a bacterial infection in my throat this week. When I came back from school Tuesday, the sore throat I'd been dealing with for the previous two days became seriously painful, accompanied by a headache and lowgrade fever. Juan José came over to check on me and made me go to urgent care at the hospital, where his finaceé Sara is finishing her dental internship. Sara got me in almost right away and the doctor looked at my throat for all of about 1.5 seconds before telling me, "Oh, sí! Tienes amigdalitis!" I'm on the antibiotics now though and feeling much better. All thanks to my contacts in the dental industry. Mom, try not to bombard them with overly emotional thank you calls and emails. Maybe just include something for them in the next package?

Dana, Katie and our friend Jessica are coming up tomorrow and a bunch of my Jacal friends are coming over for dinner. If everyone shows it'll be about 12 people, which is the most people I've ever had over at once. I'll probably borrow the front room of the house and we'll have dinner there. I'm planning on making pizzas.

And that means I have to go clean now. Hope everyone is well. Love and miss you all!

Peace out,
Kristina