It's easter, I'm going to go buy me some chocolate.

helllllllllo everyone.
it's easter:). happy easter. since my mother's easter package (containing what I hope to be many a mini egg) has gotten heldup somewhere in south america, I will walk to the tienda later and buy horrible chocolate to try and make up for it.
But nothing will make up for my mother's paska. sigh.
Anyways, hello all. It's been forever. Really, life has just been busy! And other than travelling, lots of the same, so. I didn't have too much to write a blog about.
Anyways, here I am now.
I just came back from a great weekend trip to Samaipata. I'm really going to miss that place. It's a really cute town up in the mountains.. very touristy, close to ruins and waterfalls, but just gorgeous and a lot of fun.
Four of us SALTer's went (toni, sita, heidi and i), and then 3 volunteers from my work came along too.
It was a little bulky travelling with all 7 of us sometimes.. like our taxi ride up and back (2 in the front, 4 in the middle, one in the back trunk area), or trying to find room in holy week at a hostel, or places at restaurants..
but other than that, it was so great to travel all of us together. and a great weekend was had, swimming in waterfalls, and generally just bumming around in the sun. Oh, and in the coldness at night! ughh, it was so nice to put on sweaters, and wake up with my nose cold. sigh.
Going back to santa cruz was like an overwhelming hit in the face of humid and hot. Maybe it's just me, but it is HOT today. I hope it rains soon.
Anyways, I'm posting pictures on my facebook as I speak of travels.. if they decide to work. The internet connection has frankly been crap today.
So feel free to check those out.. or if you're a bit older.. check them out on a younger relatives account (coughmomcough) :).
Ohk, moving on from travels. I think the last time I blogged was before I left to La Paz with Heidi? Or maybe it was right after?
Anyways, the pictures will show you all that trip. A lovely time had as well.
And since then, I have really just been working my trasero off.
The kids all came back in the beginning of February, and we've been doing things very differently. New programs for them, including computer classes, arts and crafts type classes, farming, and a lunch program for some. Those programs, coupled with a higher student enrollment have just really equalled a ton more work for all of us.
We've all settled now, but it was just a lot of figuring stuff out.. getting into a rhythm.. getting used to the pace.. etc.
But for the most part, we've all gotten there now. Oh, yes. The old Bolivian volunteers left as well in December (their year ended then), and so we've had a new Bolivian named Natanial join as, as well as two Canadian girls from Morden. All of us have become really close, and that is awesome. It's so great to have a good Bolivian guy friend here, and nicole and sharmayne (they'll be in my newest pictures) are fantastic, and it's maybe a little bit of a selfish treat but such a good one to be able to speak and joke around in english a bit throughout the days. Although our kids keep us in check, because they hate when they can't understand us lol.
Oh yes, and speaking of that. It's been so great to get new kids.. I've gotten so attached to all of them. They are quite hilarious, and my morning class especially is quite cute.
I'm teaching the grade 1 and 2 kids in the morning, and they are all just fantastic. Some of them are a little off the wall, but you know. That's fine. I was too.
My afternoon class I have some older students. Although I have less, they are alot more challenging. They are great kids, however they just often come in with a lot of baggage from home that they have to work out with us. But once they get it out of their system, they're great. And my girl, Arasmelly (Araseli) is in my class, and she just brightens my mood everyday. She is literally the most hilarious kid I have ever met. I'll get some videos of her (and the rest of my kids) hopefully up soon.. if my internet decides to cooperate.
Anyways, what else has been new. This past week there was 'dia del nino,' and I was in charge of food along with Sharmayne and Nicole, so we came up with the idea of doing make your own pizzas. It was great, and turned out super well and the kids loved it. But holy hannah, it was a little stressful.. just getting all the ingredients for 70 people.. doing quotes on prices.. getting everything prepared.. it was just lots of work. But the kids loved it, and were so excited about all the shapes of their pizzas. Basically, if they couldnt make a circle we'd just make it into something else and be like 'look! it's better!' .. before they cried and got upset lol.
So we had a few butterflies.. some hearts.. some dinosaurs.. you know. It was great. But I was so exhausted that it was just silly.
Oh, yah, we also had games and stuff with them that the other profe's planned. It all was just fantastic.
Other than that.. man it's been a long time.
I had dengue fever for my 21st birthday. That was not very fun at all. But at least I'm certain that for my 22nd birthday in February in Manitoba, I will be certain not to have a mosquito airbourn desease. Thank the Lord.
Life is moving really great out here now though. Month 7 (February) was a little crappy.. but judging to the 'culture shock chart' that we saw before coming, it was going to be. Just coming off the high of the half way point.. realizing that theres still alot to go.. that you would actually really like to go home for a bath and a home cooked meal.. that kind of stuff.
The dengue didn't help for me. I'm sure glad that phase is over. But now.. goodness, we have 3 months left here. Three months. That's just silly.
And so now we are really just enjoying ourselves. Soaking everything in. We have such a tight group at work now.. and with all my kids.. and Carla (my sister) and the rest of my family..
I'm just really loving my days. I'm really going to miss it here.
I'm glad it's that way though, and didn't stay in the 7 month phase.. or the 2 month phase.
I'm glad I love my life here now. I think I'm just going through an early mourning phase of leaving.
However, on the flip side, I think things are so much more fun for all of us.. because we know that in before long, we'll be home. And there is such a weightlessness that comes with that feeling, that it just really lets you enjoy your time.. no holds barred? For lack of a better term.
In 3 months (and a few days), I'll be getting myself a tim hortons mocha and having dinner on the deck with my family. That thought makes me silly happy.
I think just in general however, i'm really seeing more and more the fruits of my time here, and more of who God is. I have gone through times where I've questioned why I'm here.. what I'm doing.. how I'm going to get through a bad week alone.. and I just feel like I'm truly coming out the other side of those times. That God is showing me why I came, what I was meant to learn, and is filling me up with all these thoughts and lessons to take back with me.
Coming here was the perfect thing for me to do this year, and it really is just a great feeling to come out of some hardships, and see the payoffs of endurance and faith. It has me smiling/singing my days away.
Anyways, on that note. It's getting late, and facebook will just not let me upload pictures.
I'm going to go home, take a shower, and crawl into bed.
Hopefully, however this time I'm not making any promises, I will write in a little bit.
Either way, I will see you everyone shortly. I hope spring finally done teasing everyone, and will make an apparence soon. I wont lie, I am QUITE glad I missed this spring. lol.
Ohk, oh, and if a few of the Schellenberg gang are reading this tonight.. happy easter! I love you all. Stop Adam from quoting Will Ferrel all night long, and freeze a piece of paska for me please. I miss you all alot. That John Denver's full of shit eh?
On that note.
Big gulps eh?
See you later,
Kathleen