Mareada

Last night was the first time I felt a little sick. I think I'm doing pretty well since by this time last year in Honduras I had thrown up at least twice. No puking yet! I just feel a little dizzy - I think it might be the heat. We've had some respite from it in the evenings with some absolutely spectacular thunderstorms. I love the sound of the rain on the roof. It rains way harder here than in Washington, believe it or not!!

I've decided I must have had a deprived childhood or something. ;) Because it wasn't until I arrived in El Salvador that I learned to play jacks. I can't believe I'd never done it before. And I'm completely terrible at it but getting better with practice. I was also jumping rope with the girls yesterday afternoon. Come to think of it, that may be why I didn't feel good. You know I hate to exert myself.

So, I ended up visiting all the classrooms and then meeting with the director for discipline (kind of like the assistant principal) yesterday. We discussed my observations and suggestions, and she said it was a big help. I think she was just being nice because it was hard to give all my ideas in Spanish! But the school really doesn't need that much help. Except waking up the kids who sleep during class!

For those of you from Rogers, I heard from Desta Taylor, Jim Taylor's widow. I didn't realize she was involved with Friends of the Orphans, but she has donated 2,000 books to NPH. There's a little library in the girls' house that bears her name. Small world!

There's no school today because the teachers are on some kind of spiritual retreat. So I have three days of just hanging out. We have mass tomorrow with Father Ron, who I am looking forward to meeting. While my trip here has gone by quickly, sometimes the days seem to go by slowly. Life is just slower paced here. Kind of nice to not be running around all the time, but then again that's sort of my comfort zone.

Apparently, I'm not eating enough because one of the year of service girls brought me cereal, milk, and fruit for my room. I've been eating breakfast in my room because the kids get up at 4:00 on school days and eat breakfast in the comedor at 5:30, and as my sister would say when we were little, "There ain't no way."

I leave for Honduras on Monday! Can't wait to see Axel! E-mail me if you're bored...I miss you!!!!