Beauty pagents, heavy rains, and smiling faces

Today has been a great day.  After getting over a vile stomach illness that started late Sunday night,
I feel 10 lbs lighter and ready for a good week.

I cannot say that I have had a bad week here, only moments of sadness, or a little fear, but not bad.  In moments where I feel less than stupendous all I have to do is join a soccer game, pet an unwanted cat or dog, pick a mangosteen from a tree and eat the most delicious fruit in the world, or just talk to someone. Its a nice feeling.  It is simple.  And although I am very very busy, I still feel relaxed, and void of stress. 

Last week I taught at the school for 4 days, all 8 classrooms, after school for all 5 days I held my English courses which keep growing in popularity, hence the increase in numbers of classes.  I attended 2 beauty pageants, one for younger girls each representing a "valor" and the other for high school girls who competed to be Miss Recycle Queen!  Awesome, right?

I was invited to a birthday party for a 12 year old, and invited to make the cake, which I happily did with the Giradelli chocolate chips I found at Panama's version of Costco.  I am not sure if the family only invited me because they couldn't afford a cake and heard I could bake or if they truly wanted me there (just kidding, I felt very wanted).  After hours of dance lessons, I led the famous game of hide and go seek which lasted till 9pm, when finally, devastated and ready to dream, we all retired to our beds and slept like rocks.

Sunday, the Eco Club (a group of 15 kids ages 7-13) asked to go pick up cans en route to a beautiful river spot, where we swam and jumped off rocks before the thunder and lighting started in the afternoon like it always does.  We filled 2 black trash bags with cans that we will cash in to add to our fund for our next eco-field trip.  I do love the afternoon rains, the lighting that lights up the sky in reds, purples, oranges and greens, lightning like I have never seen.  Its beautiful and yet a little scary, and then the thunder rolls and the waterfall of rain falls for 1-3 hours refreshing the air and filling the water tanks. 

Next week we have a 1 week vacation from school and I will be busy making eco stoves, some other peace corps volunteers will head up to my hood to help and learn how to make them for their communities.  I am excited. 

Also ahead, I will move again, into another house,  we have our regional meeting in the beautiful area of Cerra Punta, and I am volunteering in Panama City for the Special Olympics.

Ciao!  y besos,  Sina