Blog posting is hard to do consistently

So, its been a month since the last post...and I feel that owe all my 6 avid readers an apology. Its not that I didnt want to write, but rather that writing under the pressure of my internet usage budget is rather stressful and mych easier to accomplish when I am in the Capital using the Internet for free at the Office, like right now.

I have had a long January to say the least, after my New Years Celebration in Cabarete, I settled into my campo by starting to teach a starting a small business course. We talked about everything from accounting, marketing, pricing, creativity, and even some supply and demand. They seem to understand my examples that i made to fit their specific scenarios, but it could be just the ever-convincing head nod.

I also finished up my community and organazational diagnostics to turn into my boss. I have chosen to focus my efforts of develping further an NGO that is local to the border region where I live. It should be quite the challenge, as the entire world seems to be having financial issues, so soliciting for money for development programs could be quite hard. Either way, it will be well worth it. For instance, we just started a project to build 350 stoves, which will reduce deforestation and improve the health of those whom are cooking everyday, as well as plant 50,000 trees to improve what we have lost due to unawareness in the past about environmental issues. It will be a very comprehensive project and will finish before my two years is up in July of 2010. But I am very lucky and excitied to be able to help with all of this.

I felt a bit lame the last week bc I had unheard amounts of time to just sit and think to myself. Its something we never have to, are able to, or choose to do in the states. Here I have to, choose to, and am able to though. It may seem like a priveledge, but rather it becomes quite revealing how uncomfortable it is to be completly alone and only have yourself to converse with. I hope that I will be able to "find me" during my time here, but as of right now...I often am frustrated with all of the "me time". Development is kinda of like an Oxymoron, it is always seems to be the opposite of what should work, whether developing my community or myself.

Either way, I hosted another couch surfer, named Kathryn. She was awesome. Good looking and she bought the beer! We watched a movie and cooked dinner and even met some other volunteers the next day. I really have enjoyed the couch surfers who have come to the middle of nowhere to visit me and share in my experiece. Remember you are always welcome in my casita.

I also had my 3 month training in the capital this week. We learned all kinds of stuff, some useful, and others not so much...but it was great to have the opportunity to learn it all. Now I have some materials to do a community garden project, make tight bracelets out of plastic fundas, make mentol tiger balm, recycle paper, mistolin, etc...

I will have the next two weeks to prepare for my english class in March and then Zak, Scube, and MM are coming down to visit for a week and some. We are going to see Carnival, Jump off of 27 Waterfalls, visit my site, go to Bararuco for Larimar, beaches, and rivers. I am very excited to have a little bit of home come visit me. I honestly can't wait.

Hope to see you all here soon too!

Love.