So the last few weeks have been defined through getting ready for my vacation to Guatemala (who ever thought going on vacation was going to be so stressful?). I will be in Guatemala for 11 days, which is quite a long time to be away from site. As luck would have it (I’m being sarcastic here), March is really when my classes are getting off to a start--so it was essential that I plan well so my classes don’t fall apart! March is also a time when many grants are due, so last week I ran to the capital for 15 hours (12 hour journey roundtrip) to turn in grants, pick up papers to sign, etc. I will be missing two weeks of nutrition classes, but I have coordinated with a nearby volunteer to come teach one week, and the local doctor the next week. However, this all means that I was writing lesson plans/drawing presentations/creating games for 3 weeks all at once (I’m not going to leave the substitute teachers without lesson plans!).

To further my stress, the rain here is non-stop, halting my trips to the nearby town to fax my taxes, print necessary lesson plans and have class (with rain, no one leaves there house). This means that my lesson plans are now thrown off because one nutrition class is very ahead of the next. Oh, bother..

But, you learn quickly to roll with the punches. I do have some fun updates though, that include my English class graduation (22 students graduated!). We celebrated with a pineapple cake I made (see photo), music, soda and certificates. While the cake took about 1.5 hours to bake (we were using a huge wood oven with no controls), it turned out to be delicious and fed about 30 people!

Also, this past week was the inauguration of a yucca production plant that my next-door-neighbor/good friend was heading up. This plant was about 3 years in the making and heavily funded by about 6 dominican/international organizations, principally USAID. What was once a little thatched hut that produced casabe (yucca bread) by hand, is now a beautiful open-air building with high-tech machines and sanitary facilities. This plant was first dreamed of by the local cooperative in hopes to help regulate local yucca prices (that is the principal crop of the region). All the yucca that will be used, and all the employees employed, will be associates of the co-op (and thus, will be local farmers). This new plant is an income-generation project to diversify work in the area and benefit the local people. It was so exciting to go to the inauguration and see the plant at work (they demonstrated all the steps of the casabe process). Among the invited were the co-op associates, Peace Corps, the Sub-Director of USAID, a catholic bishop, government representatives, etc. Lots of important people! I guess the most exciting thing about the inauguration was to see how a project, that was once a dream for the local people, became a reality with the help and collaboration of many different development agencies. I’ve learned that while rural development is slow, the final products are worth the wait! Finally, it was great to see the success of my neighbor who had headed up the construction of the plant (after more than 6 months of running around like a madwoman).

Also, my new puppy came and spent the afternoon with me for the first time yesterday, playing in my little house (which will shortly be her home) and she met all the neighbors. Everyone loves her, and its easy to see why (see photo)! While she definitely no longer looks like a chihuahua, she is still adorable with soft, fluffy fur and chubby little legs. In about another month, I will take her to move in permanently.

A last thought: My mind is boggled by the fact that tomorrow, after a flight of only 1.5 hours, I will be in Miami (layover to Guatemala)! Back to the richest, most powerful country so quickly and easily…lets see how I react to “civilization”.

Post note: I will not have my computer with me on vacation (a true vacation!), so look for an update in about 2 weeks!