The good, bad and the funny….

I hope it hasn’t been too long since I last wrote. I have no concept of time anymore!

I don’t remember when this happened but one night I heard a noise outside my back door. It was late but not super late. I wasn’t scared because whatever the noise was I knew it couldn’t be a person; it was a weird sound like something being rummaged through. My cats were outside that night so I thought the noise might be coming from them. The noise continue for several minutes so I got curious what they were up to or maybe to see if it was some other animal. To feed my curiosity, I opened my back door and look around with my flash light. I didn’t see anything at first and then I saw something, but I wasn’t sure quite what it was. When my eyes focused, I realized it was a furry little cat with a can on his head!! This cat was the one making all that noise because he was trying to get his head unstuck. Note: the can came from me unfortunately….I had bought a can of cat food for my cats and I normally set the can outside so it wouldn’t attract ants inside my house before I had time to wash it out. The cute little guy must have tried to lick what was left inside the can and then got stuck!! It was the funniest, oddest, and kind of sad to see this cat so helpless and scared. He was just sitting there upright, looking at me (or actually in my direction, since he couldn’t see cuz his head was stuck in a can). I don’t know why but I looked around as if someone else was going to be around in my backyard at night to help me, but there was just me and the ‘cat in the can’. For a moment I pondered what to do and how to help him…he looked pretty stuck. After a short moment, I walked over to him, and he back away because he didn’t know what I was and couldn’t run away (because he couldn’t see). I got closer to him and grab the can. It took some good pulls and maneuvering but I finally got the can off the little guys head and he ran away. Then I went back to bed.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
So you know what I am not a big fan of?? Running. But regardless, my training is going well. I am still going to do the Mt Kilimanjaro half marathon and I am doing my best to train for it. Thus far, I’ve been progressing well. It’s a slow process and it is definitely not my favorite thing to do in the village because everybody stares at me like I’m crazy because I am running to nowhere in particular. I also had a minor slip-up when my mom visited and when I went to my Mid-Service Conference…I don’t know how it happened but I kept confusing going for a run with eating homemade cookies?!?! But now I have taken’ the confusion out of things….by eating all the cookies.

Biology it going as it always does. Sometimes I like teaching and I like my students and other days it’s like they all stopped at Starbucks on the way to school and I want to punch them all in the face…too harsh?? Oh well haha. But really school is going great. I do have this week off because there is no school for the week before mid-terms. It was perfect timing too, because I have a lot of work to do with my other projects. And I still have meetings with my health group and my Headmaster/Board of Education. Busy bee.

As for my health group, we are still going strong and I have gotten a lot of compliments from my Peace Corps staff and other volunteer about our group so I really proud of that. Right now, I am planning a 10 day Business Seminar to begin an IGA (income generating activity). They will learn about business management skills, marketing skills, bookkeeping, etc….and also about how to make foods like jam, garlic paste, chili paste, etc. I really excited about it because then we can sell our products to make a profit for the group to sustain on their own and to continue our health education events without outside funding.

It’s raining right now and it reminds of Washington :)

My mom came to visit!! We had the best time!! I won’tgo into detail because I am sure most of you have heard from her already and maybe even seen some pictures too, but we had a great time everywhere we went!! The trip went really smoothly; it was perfect!

However, this brings me to my not so good news….I hate to do this to you guys again, but I have decided not to come home for Christmas. I know, I’m sad too but it’s the right thing for me now. With not that much time left to go here, I feel that coming home and then having to come back here would be more trouble than its worth. As much as I would love to see you all (all my favorite people in the world) I think it is best that I stick it out here for the deration. It was a tough decision but I had to make it. Then when I come home, I will be coming home for good!! PARTY TIME!! WAYNE’S WORLD!! ROCK ON!!

Good news to smooth out the bad news….I have only 10.5 months left!! Then I will be home!! Whoo Hoo!

Graduate School. So with the end of my Peace Corps Service in sight, I have been thinking about grad school. I have decided to apply to only one program because it is the only one I want to attend. It is a new field of psychology so there are not many schools that offer the program. I’m going to take my chances and apply to just the one program and hope that I get in….and if I don’t, I’ll make a new plan for the coming year and apply again. FYI: the program is a MA in International Disaster Psychology at the University of Denver…if you want to check it out; I couldn’t be more excited about it!! The only things that sucks is that I have to apply right now, they deadline is coming up, and I’m in Africa!! Man, this is going to be A LOT of work!

Kittens to cats to they are driving me crazy!! I still love them, I really do… but they are driving me insane!! 2 boys, 1 girl, and I am pretty sure they are all going through heat. The meow all the time, want to go inside, then outside, then inside again, they fight with other cats, fight with each other, and keep my up at night. In the coolest place ever (aka America), we have our pets get neutered, hormone shots, and all that cool stuff so they are more mellowed out. My cats are not mellowed out. Originally, I was thinking of bringing them home with me when I am done, but I now think they need the wide open spaces of Africa to roam.

THANK YOU for all of you who sent me stuff with my mom!! I got so many goodies it was insane!! You guys are wonderful!! I had so much fun opening and going through all my gifts…I can’t even explain how cool it was! Seriously, right now, I have things that I never thought I would have here….godiva chocolate, brie cheese, gouda crackers, home cookies (ok…well, those are actually gone like I said...but they were really REALLY good while they lasted :)….and I’m in Africa haha. I can’t thank you guys enough for thinking of me, still even after all this time, and sending so much stuff with my mom. I APPRECIATE IT SO MUCH!! However….I never thought I would say this…but there is NO NEED to send me anything right now. With all the stuff I just got, I have more floss, toothbrushes, stickers, candy, spices, soap, lotions, food, candles, etc than I know what to do with HAHA. Everyone has been so wonderful at sending me packages, I think I have enough stuff to last me the next 10 months…but I will let you know if I think of something else I can’t live without! I love you all very much, thank you again. XOXOX.

Facts, figures, and stats:
- I have read 34 books since arriving in country…I have really slowed down lately.
- MY DAD IS COMING TO VISIT IN JANUARY…T – 4 MONTHS!!
- I’m also going to be 26 years old in 4 months and 4 days…WEIRD!
- I have only 10.5 months left!! (it’s so cool…I had to say it again)