January archive

I am George of the Jungle

January 30, 2007

So, this weekend I went on a fantastic backpacking trip to hell and back. Well, not really to hell, it was just EXTREMELY challenging. We went to Lencois for what we thought would be a delightful 3 day trek to see some waterfalls and some mountains in this valley. It was WAY harder than all that. Especially since my backpacking experience amounts to none.

We went to Lencois on an 11:30 pm overnight bus, and got there at 5:30. I, of course, didn't sleep on the way there, so I was dying when we got there at 5:30. Then, the woman at the Pousada told us we were leaving for a trek at 7:30. YIKES! So - off we went, into the wild blue yonder. Or rather, the wild green, purple and brown yonder.

Day 1: Drive 2 1/2 hours to the drop-off point, and then hike up a mountain. This is really rocky and sandy terrain we're talking. Walk across the mountain, and then down an extremely steep cliff to the valley on the other side. I have never felt so weak. I thought my legs had actually turned to jelly. Then, we arrived at a villager's house (there were about 5 houses in the whole valley - probably about 25 miles long) to stay the night. After unpacking and a little bit of rest, we went to a waterfall. This is the george of the Jungle part - the guides told us to wear flip flops. The 40 minute hike to the waterfall included shimmying down rocks and using vines to pull yourself up hills. In flip flops. Oh, I should probably mention that the main guide's only shoes were a pair of ratty teva-like sandals. The other guide's: flip flops. Anyway, the waterfall was beautiful and I passed out for a little while (in the shade, of course). After we went back to the house, we all fell asleep pretty quickly. There were some other guests - typical hippies - They reminded me of Noah Wilson . They played some good guitar and drums, sang some silly american songs (Sugar Ray, Weezer, etc.) and I couldn't keep my eyes or body up any more.

Day 2: Wake up early, eat a delicious breakfast, hike a couple of hours through the valley to the bottom of a mountain. We put our packs down, and started the extremely steep, rocky climb to the top. I got left behind by the main group, and basically scrambled my way up the mountain on all fours out of sheer terror. I am afraid of heights. When I got to the top, this mean american man told me this should be a wake up call, that I should start an exercise plan and "lay off the doughnuts." What a jerk. Anyway, we went through a cave at the top and then to the other side to see the other side of the valley. Gorgeous views. Came down the same way - a little less difficult. Then, 2 more hours of hiking by the river to the next house. That afternoon, we got to go to a little swimming hole. It was quite nice! Again, early to bed.

Day 3: Woke up early, ate breakfast, then hiked for about an hour and a half to this bridge for a break (I fell down on the way there... I have a NICE bruise and cut on my knee.) and to tell us that oh, yeah, you see that mountain beside us? We're going up that to get out of here. So, 2 more hours up a mountain paved with stones at 45 degree angles. It was rough. VERY VERY ROUGH. Then, after we FINALLY got to the top, we had to go across the mountains, then down for another 3 or so hours to get to Andarai. We left the house at about 8 or 8:30, stopped for an hour for lunch, and got to Andarai at 5. You do the math. It's amazing that I didn't get more sunburn!

Overall, the trip was way worth it: It tought me a lot of things about myself and what I am capable of. Like, that I am capable of being the polite person when someone is extremely rude to me. And mom was right when she taught me that saying nothing is better than saying something mean. I had a great time, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the other girls from CCS. Kelly, Emma and Liway. Man, they kept me going. Liway especially - the flip flop guide kept taking her pack and carrying it for her, and then laughing at her when she fell down. Liway doesn't know much Portuguese, and he just kept jabbering on to her. Since he didn't know much English, Liway would often respond with a "Whatever" or "just shut up" and they would laugh it off together. It was HILARIOUS!!!! Or maybe that was just the exaustion? No, still funny.

My body is in serious pain, and going up and down stairs of any kind are super difficult. I hurt in places I didn't even know I used!!! How does this happen!?

Needless to say, this trip included lots of cursing (except from Kelly!).

today was a good day

January 26, 2007

Didn't even have to use my A-K (at least not after 10:30 when we put the little girls down for a nap)! Tonight we (Liway, Kelly, Emma and I) leave for Lencois! Its a little town to the west of Salvador, and we're taking an overnight bus there and then going backpacking for the weekend. We'll be back on Monday afternoon, and I am SOOO excited! I'm not sure what trip we're going to do - either a 3 day trek or maybe a 2 day kayaking trip, and then a day trip somewhere. Apparently the river you go on has some interesting wildlife... Liway really wants to see an anaconda (I kinda do too. even though I'm scared shit-less after seeing Snakes on a Plane...haha)!!! I think we'll probably see some gators. Oh well, should be pretty exciting no matter what! And the lady who owns the Pousada/Tour place is REALLY nice! I'm very excited!!

More about the weekend on Monday - Have a fantastic time all!

drama drama drama

January 24, 2007

The past few days around the CCS house have been quite dramatic - Monday there was an incident I was involved in at CAASAH where a girl picked at a scratch till it bled and then tried to get my attention by grabbing my arm. She also had blood on her hand when she grabbed my arm, so it was a little bit of a fiasco for a second, seeing as how we were walking out the door. The problem isn't that I'm worried I'll get HIV (I had no cuts on my arm) but that there were no saftey precautions taken, and there was no nurse around, and I had NO idea what to do! I washed off my arm (CAASAH doesnt have soap) with water, and put on some hand sanitizer I happened to have been carrying. I was really scared though, because it was such a close call. If I HAD had a cut, I probably would now have HIV. Yikes. Regardless, I still have to get tested for the next 2 years. Anyway, I had several talks with the CCS staff about preparing their volunteers better, and I think in the future they are going to, and we were told some of the procedures around CAASAH. So, I think it will be ok. Oh - and today I saw lice on the heads of one of the babies. Yikes. Now everyone at the house is freaking out about it.

Anyway, apparently some people were not ok with the fact that I was upset about what happened- and were talking about me overreacting and stuff.... I knew living in a house with 20 other girls was going to be dramatic.

Today we went to this lagoon and went to a museum about music. They had an exhibit on this one pop singer who sings at Carnaval - her costumes were AWFUL!!! On one of them the top was actually headlights. Seriously. They worked! I also tried a traditional Salavadorian snack - Acarage. Very tasty. But, they serve it with dried shrimp, and the shrimp still have all their parts. Its kinda strange. Very fishy tasting.

Daddy - Don't read this. Apparently yesterday there were some riots in Salvador - I'm not sure what about but they were close to where we live. Not very close but, close enough. People were driving back and forth around here playing something out of their stereos that was all talking (of course, I understood none of it) and I assume some of it was about the riots. Now they are playing music. A lot of people have huge stereos attached to the tops of cars - its totally not uncommon to see stuff like that just driving around.

Don't worry everyone. I'm being super careful. Buddy system is in place.

Thought I had me a winner picked

January 22, 2007

"I must have chosen the wrong season to come down..." -The Duhks couldn't have said it better. Apparently, this summer is supposed to be in the hundreds here. Yikes. And, I just found out that the sickness almost all of us in the house have is really common when you first get here. Its like a sun-cold or something, I guess its just acclimating to the weather or some strange business. So, I'm not the only one who is still sneezing and coughing and sounds like a thousand year old man. But, the good news is that its only supposed to last a couple weeks. At most. SWEET!

Ok, so some things about Salvador and Brazil in general that I've noticed: There is graffiti EVERYwhere. seriously, everywhere you look there is some graffiti on walls and buildings and everything. But, its different than American graffiti. Its mostly pictures and not so many words - and they are amazing. shading and all sorts of stuff. I wish I could get some pictures, but for the most part I see it on the way to placement (what we call the place we go volunteer at) everyday. Sometimes I want to stop the driver and just walk down the street, all tourist like, and just take a million pictures so you could see. There is also this famous metalworker who does gates and fences for the city, and they are incredible! The fence by the marina has a mermaid, who is also an Orisha in Candomble, Yemanja. They also do a lot of tile work on the gross concrete walls around the city. And, all the sidewalks are made out of white and black stones that are put together in designs. Sometimes its wavy, sometimes it a particular design of something. Its really incredible, because it is everywhere around our house and in Graca.

Brazilians seem to have their own ideas about what and when things will get done. Its just this little taste I've had, but it seems like you never really know what to expect with them... You could get exactly what you ask for, and sometimes its an hour later, and sometimes its five minutes later. Sometimes, you get charged what you think you will, and somtimes its less. Sometimes its more.

So, we went to the beach today, and we took the bus. Should have been an easy adventure, right? Oh my. The busses here are not like they are in Chapel Hill. OR in Durham. They are confusing. And not just because I don't speak portuguese or really know where I am. They are ridiclous. They have tiny signs and huge signs, and neither of them make any sense. Anyway, we finally got there, after some help from several locals. On the way back this guy we thought was trying to help us was really trying to get us to get on a bus to another part of town with him... eh, not gonna happen sir.

John, I brought the mase with me for the first time, and I seriously felt so much more secure than I have ever. I thought this creepy guy was going to try and rob us or kidnap us, so i got the mase out and started messing with it, and soon enough, creep-o disappeared. Thanks!

Ok, its time to shower. My shoulders are peeling from last weekend's sunburn. Everyone comes home every weekend burnt to a crisp, its kinda funny. Not me this weekend! No burn at all! heck yea!

Daddy - pictures soon.

The things we do for love

January 20, 2007

Oh my, yesterday was quite eventful. In the morning, we took the kids to the park to play around. I took some adorable pictures, check them out in the picture galleries. The park was really cool, they had a lot of really interesting places to play - some castles and some little circular walls that made for some interesting chasing. Anyway, the kids loved it, even though it was really hot - they had so much fun! The new kid, Enrique (I think), fell in love with these little pigs that they had all over this hill. He kept running and jumping all over them; it was adorable, and he kept talking about a mile a minute. It was pretty sweet to see him warm up to me so quickly - Before we went on the trip, when we were waiting on the bus, he was silent. I taught him to play slaps (the hand game where you hit each other) and he LOVED it! He was enjoying it so much he was just falling over giggling. It was adorable! After that, he wouldn't stop talking - I couldn't understand hardly any of what he was saying, but it was wonderful.

Yesterday afternoon, we did a little yoga - one of the other volunteers is a professional yoga instructor in NYC, so she gave us a lesson. It was really nice. Since a bunch of the volunteers are leaving this weekend, we went out last night to a club. There were 2 bands there, I think both of them from Salvador, and they were pretty good. It wasn't like the clubs or bars in America- they give out cards and you pay for you drinks and the cover charge at the end of the night. Regardless, we met a few really nice people - my friend Liway met the tamborine man from one of the bands - he was quite smitten with her, he even gave her a ring and asked her to marry him. Anyway, it ended up being quite a night, after quite a day. Good times all around, and I hope that the people who are leaving now had a good time while they were here!

Now- its nap time!

Grande Bomba

January 18, 2007

Wow. We just had an incredible speaker come talk to us about his company. He connects people from much lower classes with the resources for them to form skill sets and get some education, so that they can get jobs. He was so touched by what he sees and by how much our volunteers help here he was crying!!! So, if anyone feels like they have any desire to teach english, or to volunteer at all, there is a lot of need here. Its amazing how much you can help someone by doing so little. It really is the little things you do every day that make the biggest difference in people's lives. Sometimes, just making them smile and giving them some entertainment for a little while helps more than we know.

This afternoon, we went to the afro-brazilian museum and learned about some of the Candomble religion. Its quite cool. There are a bunch of different Gods and Goddesses.

gotta go work out. urgently, apparently!

Domino's for dinner

January 18, 2007

Last night I ate domino's for dinner (needed a tiny change of pace), and today I woke up feeling like a champion. I'm pretty sure the two have nothing to do with each other, but I do feel much much better today than I have the past couple days! I got to acutally sleep, and dreamt some very strange things... I think that one of the guys from Everybody Loves Raymond was in my dream. Hrm.... Regardless, I am excited about today because as soon as I woke up I took a shower and painted my toenails (everyone else was at placement, they just let me sleep so I could get better) and very soon I will be eating a delicious meal, and then we are having our Portuguese lesson at the Afro-Brasilian museum. I'm really excited - I wonder why they don't do language classes like this in the states. Every week we have a class in a classroom (the basement really), and then the next class is somewhere outside the house. It's very cool.

Unfortunatley, last night I learned a lesson about the house. I had never used the phone before, except when I got here to let the rent's know I was ok, so I had no idea how many people use it. Well, actually, how much the same few people use it. There are about 4 or 5 girls who are either getting phone calls or making phone calls every day, and I had no idea that they do that around 9 pm our time. Well, I made a date a couple of days ago to finally talk to my parents and catch up with them (sorry about it again Mom and Dad), and there was a huge ordeal about who got to use the phone first that involved some jerky-ness and some unneeded stress. Stupid girl who is always on the phone leaped in front of me even though she knew I was expecting call. Its ok though, because I learned that 9 pm is a terrible time for me to use the phone unless I tell everyone in the whole house at least 2 days in advance. And, I learned that I don't really need the phone as much as the other girls do apparently. So, mom and dad, looks like we should have a phone call every week and a half or 2 weeks, so we don't mess up the schedule anymore. haha.

On that note, if anyone wants to get in contact with me here, there are 3 ways. Email me: harrisej@email.unc.edu or elizajharris@gmail.com Call me: 011-55-71-3237-8724 or Write me: Eliza Harris Rua Barao de Loreto 39 Graca, Salvador-Bahia 40.150-270, Brazil.

I would love mail of any type or phone calls!!!

Next order of business is... its snowing in NC!!! Holy crap!!! That is insane, I can't even imagine snow because I am in shorts and a t-shirt and the wind is blowing on me and I am sweating up a storm! It is supposed to be like, over a hundred degrees here next month. I think I'm going to come back emaciated just from losing that much water weight. However, I guess it will just prepare me for the scorching summer I'm sure we'll have in Chapel Hill when I get back. Hooray! Nine months of humid, hot weather.

Also, the other night in Pelourhino we were talking about how much we all miss Mexican food. Why is it that here they sell every other ethnic food but Mexican? There is Italian, too much American, Chinese, Japanese, Mediterranean, etc. but no MEXICAN!!! I want Armadillo Grill so bad, its insanity. And its only been 2 weeks! How will I live for the next 14?! I am just hungry right now, that's all. Ok, now its lunch time.

seriously

January 17, 2007

You would think that after being sick for such a long time, and having surgery to alleviate the problem, I would either a) be more careful around sick children or b) have some sort of preventative method already laid out, including bringing medicine that I know works to foreign countries where it is both difficult and expensive to get said medicine. However, I am supremely silly sometimes, and I didn't think I would be getting sick. Oh how stupid I can be. Therefore, I am now sick. It is very poopy because I want to be well, and I don't like feeling lazy and tired and in pain. Also, I think that I like to eat more when I'm sick, not less like normal people, so the past few days I've had an insatiable appetite. Where are these huge words coming from? Wow, I should be thinking in very small sentences because I've been lying down all day doing nothing productive and before that trying to learn Portuguese.

So - last night (even though I was feeling sick and knew I should have just gone to bed super super early) I went to Pelourhino and listened to the drummers and musicians and watched people for a couple hours. They have a huge party there every Tuesday night, with all these amazing drum corps who do these incredible performances. I've never seen people move like that while they are drumming and keep the beat, it was just....wow. Bon- you would have been in heaven. Seriously, heaven. And I heard that last night was a pretty low-key night, not too much going on. Surprising, considering there were several hundred people out there including almost everyone from my house. But, I guess it will just get bigger and better because that is where the bands that perform at Carnaval practice. Apparently, as February approaches, things get more and more hectic and complicated and expensive. Haha. As a result, my friends and I are trying to get a lot of traveling out of the way before then. Next weekend we're planning on going on a 3-day backpacking trip to this place south of here called Lencois. Tomorrow we're going to the Afro-Brasilian museum for our Portuguese lesson - hopefully I'll feel better by then. I think I might go up the street and get some medicine a little later.

More later.

Lesson learned

January 14, 2007

Thursday: Fantastic festival of Bom Fim or Bonfim, basically Jesus Christ. Spent the day watching people in white and driving in traffic.

Friday: FIELD TRIP TO THE ZOO!!!!!!!!!!!! See pictures for more details!

Friday - Sunday: Well, as weekends go, mine could have been worse, but only if I wasn't in Brazil on an island. We went to this fantastic little island off the coast of Salvador, and everyone told us not to worry, the trip would be very easy and wouldn't require any planning. Oh how wrong they were....

The boat ride there was not direct, because the direct boat was full, so we got put on a "connection" which means we took a boat to an island, then drove across the whole island, then took another boat to Morro de Sao Paulo. We got there after 4 or so hours, and it was sunset, so it was beautiful. BUT, we hadn't booked a place to stay, and there were 7 of us. YIKES. We walked around for about 2 more hours trying to find somewhere to stay that was in our budget (everyone told us not to bring a lot, everything is very cheap) and eventually settled on a place that would work. The next day (saturday) was awesome, got up early, went on the beach, walked, etc. Kelly, Erin and I found this guy who wanted to take us horseback riding, so we went to a waterfall on horseback. It was fantastic and very surreal. The rest of saturday was pretty chill, nothing tooo big happened (the power went out on the island and Ashley got shocked in the shower), and it was good. I got pretty bad sunburn on my shoulderblades, and in a few random spots i missed, and so did a few other girls, so we decided to leave on the early boat back. SUNDAY is where the real adventure begins. We got up at 8, to leave, and found out that there was no money in the ATM machine, so we all had just enough to get back home. We went to go buy boat tickets so that we wouldn't get stuck on a connection, and went to the dock to buy them. Well, they only sell the tax slips you need to use the dock on the dock, not tickets. After a quick fiasco regarding money, tickets and a lack of portuguese, we found out we had to walk all the way back into town with our luggage (up a huge hill) to find the place where we buy tickets. SOOO, we find the place, and the guy says that all the boats are full until Monday at 2:30 pm. OH SHIT!!!!!! so, we were freaking out about money and how to get off the damn island when we found another tourism place that sold boat tickets. They told us we could take a connection boad at 4:30, that would take another 4-5 hours. And then, this other guy said we could take a direct boat at 1, and as soon as we agreed to that, the guy from the other store said that he had 4 places on an 11:30 direct boat. So we took that one. BUT, it was a very rocky ride, and lots or people got seasick. Unfortunatley, I was around those seasick people, so I had to leave and go outside. Going outside in the front = getting really really wet. I was soaked when I got off the boat, and I had pruny hands and toes. It was quite uncomfortable, especially because I was out there for about 3 hours. I still feel a little wobbly. But, to top it all off, when we got off, I was waiting against a wall for a friend, and a bird pooped on my head. Yep, runny, brown poop on my head. Supposedly, its good luck, so hopefully that is a sign. Overall the lesson we learned was DON'T ASSUME THAT IT WILL BE EASY IF IT IS SUMMER! Everyone and their brother is on vacation right now trying to go all over the country.

The horse I rode was named Bob Dylan. ha.

More later

It's never as bad as it seems

January 9, 2007

Today, early early early this morning, we went to our volunteer placements. It was quite exciting and nerve racking, I had no idea what it was going to look like, or how the kids were going to act, or what I would be asked to do. Since I'm working with people (adults and kids) who all have HIV or AIDS, I was a little nervous about what safety precautions there would be, and how the people would act. All of the previous volunteers wrote things about how little structure there is and how difficult it is to get to know the kids... etc. But upon arrival, I found that it wasn''t all that difficult after all. The building is heavily guarded, with high walls and several security guards (we were told that those were so the kids wouldn't run away...I think it might have something to do with the reason a few of the people there have AIDS), but all the building is mostly open around a covered courtyard type area. There are really two covered areas, one for the adults, and one for the kids. There are bedrooms and facilities going off from all around the courtyard. The kids are sort of separated from the adults; there is no real block, but I don't think they like the kids to hang out with the adults. The kids are also divided mainly into groups. The toddlers and babies stay in one room, there are about 4 of them, all girls, and then there are about 15 other kids between the ages of like, 3-4 to about 9ish. Then there are like, 3 teenage girls. Then I'd say there are somewhere between 15 and 20 adults... I didn't really talk to them, or hang out with them. Some of them are very sick, and some are angry. But the kids, the kids are fantastic. They have so much energy and they are so cute. The babies especially. ADORABLE! We aren't allowed to take pictures of the kids while they are at CAASAH (prounounced Casa), but on Fridays we take them on field trips, and we can take pictures there. I can't wait to show you all how adorable they are! There is one little girl who is about 4 but looks about 2. She is very small, and has lots and lots of scars on her arms and legs, I'm not sure from what, but she has the greatest smile. And she adores hugs and playing. There is another little girl who loves to play too, but she is rather agressive, and has tantrums if you don''t do exactly what she likes. There is also a little boy with huge eyes who loves to make origami frogs, and has about a million of them all over the place. He is enchanting and sits and watches TV. The kids today were all very receptive of the new volunteers, there were 5 of us in addition to the 2 already working there. I think everyone working got some serious hugs and play time. It was a lot more fun than I expected, and I want to find some good activities to do with the kids to keep them busy... they are very active and get bored quickly, but they love to be engaged, you can see it on their faces when talking to them or playing with them, they just get so excited! I really enjoyed today, even though it really tuckered me out. I am so tired, I'm not even going out to the old city (which, by the way, I've been spelling wrong. its Pelourinho, not Pelhournio.) to watch drumming and see the big party...

but no worries... there is a party every tuesday here. LOVELY!!!

Something in the way she moves

January 7, 2007

Everyone who knows Brazil says "Oh, Salvador, it's sooo beautiful." I didn't really know why until today. Today we took a tour of the old city, Pelhorino, and went on a little beach excursion. All 21 girls that arrived yesterday... it is quite a full house! There is something about Brazil that makes you want to be a part of it. Everyone is so warm and has such a wonderful smile on their face. Of course, I am the whitest person around. I think probably the whitest person in the whole of Brazil. I'm even whiter than the folks who came from ENGLAND and we all know they are supposed to be pale as all get out. Everything is colorful here, the houses, the trees, the people, the sunset, the scenery... its all fantastic, and quite dream-like. There is always music playing... sometimes its coming from the TV, sometimes blasting from cars, sometimes people singing in drumming.

alright, its dinner time so I'm out for now. I'll post pictures soon.

I'm Here

January 6, 2007

Alright everyone, you can stop worrying about whether or not I am alive. I am. Not that anyone was really worried, but hey... Brazil is crazy. And hot. not too hot though. Just hot enough to make you want to sleep and take nice cool showers. Its very breezy, and I am soooo surprised about how many trees there are! Its not like they fake planted them like they do in the states, they really built around some of them. It is a very big city, Salvador, and there is a lot of english in strange places. They have a Sam's Club! How odd. But in other ways, its a lot like the rest of latin america, very small cars, people with not much clothing. After I get a nap and a shower I'm going to go explore a little. Should be pretty cool!

Talk to all of you soon...

Tomorrow

January 4, 2007

I leave tomorrow, and I''ve not been this stressed out in a long time! I appreciate everyone wanting to hang out with me, its been really awesome and sweet, but at the same time, I feel like I keep letting people down because I can''t fit them in! I''ve hardly seen my parents the past few days and things have just been so stressful! But, it will all be over soon, and I guess having too much to do and too many people to see is a good thing to be stressed out about! I can''t complain about the wonderful friends I have and my fantastic family. Alright, enough with the boring part. ^M ^M TOP FIVE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS: (in the past 6 months)

5. Where are you going? - Salvador, Brazil from January 6 to March 31- 12 weeks. Then, from March 31 to May 1, who knows? I have an idea of going down the coast into the amazons, then to Argentina and Chile, then from Chile back to Salvador to fly home, but who knows. I need a travelling companion!!! anyone up for the job?

4. Why/When did you decide this? - I was really sick of school and wanted to take a break to get my head in the right place before I spend any more money at school. Don't worry, I know I have to go back and finish, and I will, just be patient with me. I decided over the summer that I wasn't going to go back, and then that I was, but I was going to take second semester off. That''s my story and I'm sticking to it.

3. Are you excited? - Yes! I am very very excited and also very nervous. But, I know it will be the experience of a lifetime and I am so grateful for that I get to do this! I never would have been able to without sooo much help from all of those people who generously donated money! THANK YOU!

2. Where are you living? I'm living in a house with all the other volunteers that are from Cross Cultural Solutions, a non-profit volunteer organization. We will have 3 meals cooked at the house and be provided with in-country transportation, which will take us back and forth from our volunteer placements. The point is to not use up local resources by staying in hotels and eating at restaurants and stuff. I'm allowed to do that, but I probably won't that often.

and last but not least, the most asked question is...

1. What are you going to be doing? I am volunteering at a local NGO house for people who have HIV or AIDS. The ages range from 3 months to very adult, and I will mostly be playing with the kids and entertaining them. I am very very excited, and don't worry, I will be extra safe, I promise! I took first aid and CPR, and I know the dangers associated with this type of work. Just think about all the great hugs I'm going to be getting!

Ok, that''s all folks... Next time I write I'll be IN BRASIL!! whooooooohoooooo!

4 days left!

January 2, 2007

Today is Monday, January 1. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! I hope you all had a fantastic, fun and safe New Year's eve celebration! I leave for Brazil in 4 days, and I am still not ready to go. Surprised? of course not, especially if you know how fond I am of procrastination.

My brother made me this blog for christmas and I just figured out how to use it... we'll be making some changes in the future, so don't get scared off if it looks a little different next time you get here.

Don't forget to keep in touch!