Dang

So once again computers and time have escaped me. So the update. After that last post I fell really ill. My head hurt so bad for like a week so after 3 days of not functioning I ended up in the doctors office. He wanted to admit me but my bosses were coming to visit the next day so I had to get back to my site. They met with the mayor and with my health post we ate lunch with my host mom and then they told me to pack my bags so that I could get checked out by a different doctor in Lima. So hurriedly I packed up and got on a bus to Lima. In lima I got a cat scan and then headed to a neurologist. Turns out everything appears to be fine. He told me it was a migrane but I doubt it. Anyways now it is all gravy I got to see a picture of my brain and the pain went away. So strange. I felt so overwhelmed though in lima so much traffic and technology and options. I got starbucks for the first time in 5 months. It was great so I did it for all the days I was in lima. I went exploring and ran into some old friends. Took second place in a dance contest in a night club but only won condoms. Then I had to go to the most northern department of Peru for a week worth of training. Got to see all the other volunteers play on the beach, tan my stomach, give presentations listen to power points and power points and power points. I learned a bunch got some new ideas remembered about old ideas. Played like a mermaid in the ocean. Learned about aids education and that I would like to have youth health promoters. Afterwards we returned to piura to see another volunteers site. Learned about improved cooking stove repairs, latrines, funding, and early childhood stimulation. It was super refreshing talking with the other volunteers and realizing that I am doing well. I saw a lunar eclipse. It was great. Ate vegetarian for the two weeks lost some more weight. Returned to my site definately missed it and the people. but had a crazy week of work organizing a trash event, starting a recycling program, teaching sex ed, presenting my community diagnostic, etc. I have more to say but not more time. Loves I will try to be better about this but busy...

VACATION

So I thought I was going on a vacation with my gynocologist but she blew me off at the last minute. That of course did not stop me. I took my travel book of peru plotted out a plan and got to Trujillo by myself. I thought I would be vacationing alone but randomly I ran into a group of other volunteers and got to live it up on the beach with them. The hostel I stayed at was amazing filled with hippie goodness, hammocks, and my room was beautiful with green towels, green curtains, and hardword floors. I spent the first day on the beach, and partied with the other gringos. The next day I woke up early and went to explore the beach town. I visited a church, hung out in a cemetary, checked out the market. Then headed for a day at the beach played in the sand got some ceviche went back to the beach. Ironically the only time I have ever traveled with only one pair of shoes is the time that my 5 year old sandals, worn down, and actually repaired twice with super glue got stolen. I would not have been so bothered if I thought is was worthwhile for someone to steal them. Oh well they got screwed and I got a sweet new pair of sandals.I spent the whole time grubbing at this fantastic vegetarian restaurant. That night played some pool and connect four at a bar. The next day chilled in a hammock did some journaling, checked out some chimu ruins made some friends from lima headed to a museum and some other ruins. Went back to the beach played in some killer waves and watched the best sunset of the trip went to bed early so I could rise early the next day and catch up on some rest. Left for the city, went to morning mass in the cathedral, followed by lunch in a local neighborhood restaurant. Went to some moche ruins by far the best nothing of restoration only preservation. Ran into some guy I met the day before and decided that I would check out another Grupo 5 concert with him and his friends before leaving on a night bus. It has been a great trip full of by chance experiences and encounters. I really think that being spontaneous and traveling alone has its benefits. You get to meet so many more people, take more local advice, and get more stuff at discount or for free in the hospatality department. Thanks mom for my eyes they truely work magic for me. I definately needed a vacation and loved seeing more of peru. It is really an incredible life I lead. Tonight I head back to my reality and start right back into all my work tomorrow at 8 a.m.