Happy Birthday to ME!

July 23, 2013 

I am finally moved into my new house and let me tell YOU it is awesome. Today I did not eat a single fried thing nor was my food covered in salt or mayo, nor did it resemble a hot dog or a slice of fried spam. I could not be happier. Because of my lovely tick infestation in my room I was given permission to move into my new house early, well that and because my host mother kindly and a bit awkwardly asked me if I could move out early.... I am still not entirely sure why she said something about it getting cramped especially when other family members come to visit, and it would give me my own privacy and blah blah blah... I won't take offense as I have been counting down the days until move out since I got here, but all the same it was a bit of an awkward interaction. Also getting to have my own house as a birthday present is a pretty rad gift, so I can't complain.

 This weekend was awesome a bunch of my friends from other provinces came down to the Azuero to celebrate with me and rage the way only Peace Corps Volunteers can do. Las Tablas was having a huge celebration of miracles where people from all over the province walk all day to the church in Las Tablas in order to pay tribute to God, and in turn he will perform a miracle for them or something like that. I however, did not really want to walk to a city in another province that is an hour and twenty minutes via bus soooooo I took the bus, I guess I won't get any miracles. However, a bunch of us did end up going to celebration afterwards for the discotecas, I was taken aback, even at 10:30 when we left there were people walking to the city. When we got there the place was packed with people on every street trying to get into the church while others were trying to leave, it was insanity, we had to push through the sea of Christians to get to the club, but it was worth it! The club was awesome we danced until the early morning, it was just nice to get out and move around and see everyone in one place. 

This weekend was also the Despedida of our Regional Leader, aka her going away party. It is weird to be on totally opposite ends of the spectrum, myself just beginning my service while our RL is getting ready to go back to the U.S. after working in Panama for three years! It's wild... it does put things into perspective as to how fast things go by. She said she finally feels ready to leave after being here for so long but right now I can't even imagine leaving my friends and the student's that I am forming such close bonds with... so strange.