Bailes, Cabalgatas and more

First off, my appologies for missing a whole month without a blog.  I have been super busy, and with slow internet in site its been difficult.  But I am back, my priorities in order and ready to tell all.

The month of June was incredible.  I survived my community analysis, a forty page paper for the US government, which they will probably never read all about San Andrès.  I moved into my new house.  Not the dream home I first had my heart set on but a modest, more Peace Corps like place in the center of town.  I adopted a cat and her 3 day old kitten. San Juan was celebrated in my pueblo with a cabalgata (a dangerously exciting run of horses where the men hold onto eachothers backs while galuping at full speed bien borracho)

My new tent, had to make sure it worked!  It cost me a whole $3!

 Boys hard at work at the schools chicken farm, and my new kitten Simba!

This lasted for 3 days right outside my house.  The men line up with thier horses on both sides of the street and call eachother with a salomar (I can't even begin to explain, but sounds somewhere between a Xena Warrior Princess call and a high pitche pig squeal).  They then ride up, place their hands on each other backs and gallup extremely close together.  Dios mio es muy peligroso!

After each night is celebrated with a dance (baile).  Sometimes a discoteca, with a series of music, but mostly Tipico Bachata y Merengue.  I love these social events, they are going to make living in this pueblo so much better!

My adopted daughter, just kidding!  Everyone thinks shes mine because she is light in color.....

She calls me mama too, but really she is the niece of my friend Bercelio.

All in all, life is good.  I feel good, and am very happy here.  I have friends, a social life, am working extemely hard, but have a blast while doing it. I spend my days in the school, and my afternoons working with community groups and giving english classes.  My weekends are filled with sporting events and local parties, which celebrate religious themes through the excessive drinking of men, which I find ironic but entertaining. The people are amazing, the food is amazing and the fiestas are amazing.  These next two years are going to fly.  Next week I will take some photos of the new house so you guys can all prepare for where you'll stay when you come visit.

Hope you all are well, miss you and love you,

Sina