Monday, December 16, 2013

Fixed my camera

Okay, no I didn't. I just put a different memory card in and downloaded some sketchy recovery program and now it's working. Still. Chelsea:1, Camera:0.

Remember the amateur bullfighting? This is my host brother and me in the rickety 3 story shack.

That kid was probably about 16. Better view of the shacks.

That time our bitch won the shitzu show.

Purple drank and baby bread for Day of the Dead. (I threw that up later.)

My lovely teachers and their jolly blue giant volunteer.

My new room! (Note the dolphin blanket, same one I used during training. Sonia let me borrow it.)

I decorated a wall with love from home and here.

So much more room for activities!

This is where the magic happens. (Food is my boyfriend.)

The bathroom has a skylight. Yes, you read that right. When the landlords are upstairs doing laundry, they can see me on the toilet. Gotta love Ecua construction.

This is sort of the living room, but mostly the "gym" and "the only place the internet works".

Currently in many mismatched sweaters

Felt like I had to update because a lot has happened, but I have just not felt the writing itch. Or maybe it's more like when you have an itch, but you're already super comfy and don't want to move your arm out of the comfy zone to scratch it. Yeah, kinda like that.

Just had to search for my last real update because I couldn't even remember when was the last time. Over a month ago. Shame shame, Chelsea.

Since then, I went on a really awesome trip to visit some of my favorite volunteers in a coastal city called Arenillas in celebration of Thanksgiving. We spent 2 days on an island, drinking cold beer, eating seafood, and falling asleep in the sand. (Okay, I'll admit I was the only one who did that last part, but you can't imagine how much I missed the warm comfort of a custom sculpted sand bed.) We met a shrimp farmer who insisted on buying us all a crab dinner and thus, insisted on further heightening my faith in humanity. We shopped for and cooked a pretty authentically American feast like the little Peace Corps family we are and generally just relaxed and drank in the good life.

After the trip, I got back to the cold mountains, packed up my things, shed a few too many tears, and moved out on my own. Yep, Chelsea's got a big girl apartment! I got extremely lucky because the apartment was unfurnished and I don't make enough money to buy a ton of furniture to use for a year and then get rid of it, doesn't make much sense either. But, my beloved Coordinator for the Ministry of Education let me borrow pretty much everything! I've got a bed, plus BUNKBEDS!, night stand, refrigerator, dining room table, stove, everything! Plus some other volunteers and teachers at my school pitched in some stuff and now I'm completely set.

I'm ready to spend the rest of my service walking around in either my underwear or a lot of mismatched sweaters and leggings (depending on the weather), doing my "indoor cardio crusher" routine on the daily, experimenting with new, healthy recipes, and drinking a glass (or bottle) of wine occasionally. Oh yeah! And working.

Lately, I've been getting more done on the weekends and afternoons than during the "workday". Several people have started asking for either tutoring sessions or English lessons starting from the basic and I've been obliging, for their sake, and mine. Staying busy keeps me sane. Plus, guess what, guys?! They've been bringing chocolate to the sessions. Do you know what this means?! I'm finally fulfilling my DREAM... of getting paid in chocolate!

Keep shooting for your dreams, friends.

Now I'm dreaming of...

Love, peace, and burrito grease because I'LL BE HOME IN LESS THAN 7 DAYS! Do you know what happens then? This:
http://youtu.be/WIhiHeQ3kEQ
(The world exploded into love all around me)

See you soon!

p.s. if you're ever feeling down, check this out:
www.1000awesomethings.com
There is so much more awesome in the world than you think. You just have to learn to revel in it.