playing once again catch up

Elmer had to play soccer that Thursday and we got very late to Lago since the chicken bus takes forever. Was nice to hear your voice though Sweety even if the connection wasn't all that great in the end. We had some guy in the bus that was talking on and on very annoying but he only shut up after 30 minutes and looked for another audience. I got to meet more of his family once we had made it to the town. By car it would have been like 40 minutes with the chicken buses it took us 1.5 hours. His aunt, cousins and all the kids that were running around were very nice and friendly. They were making lots of jokes but I got most of it. His grandmother is lovely. He was looking forward to this visit forever since it meant for him fresh fish. I wasn't too impressed with the fish since it was whole and I had to work my way into the fish which those of you who know me well know how disgusting that is for me. It was therefore slow going for me and I was given two little one’s! Elmer watched me for a while and than said it looks as if I take forever and swaped our plates. I ended up with a bigger fish but I really didn’t like that taste so in the end it was take away for some parts of the family. We got as a gift tamales. I was told that is a very normal dish for birthdays, Christmas etc. It is like potato puree, tomato sauce and a chicken leg wrapped in palm leaves, tied up and cooked in hot water. I was given as a present a tortilla towel which we use to keep our pancakes hot o,))) I feel very much at home with his family. Elmer told me later that I also made a good impression and that his cousins were envious of my figure o,))) It was a nice day and we went back to Antigua with his parents and his little brother. I was beat and so was he and we called it an earl night at 11pm.

The temperature here is dropping extremely at night and I was cold for some nights and by now I think that what I have is a cold. I got home one night and went to bed in my thermal underwear and was still shivering. Oh well, that will pass as well but that means at the moment I sleep a lot and don't do much except work. Today e.g. the sun light hurt my eyes. I was in deep sleep still around 10.30h and didn’t hear Rosa coming in the house. Of course, she called out for me before hand but I was gone and once she saw that I was still sleeping she left again. Usually we bar the door from the inside as well but Elmer had left very early for his reunion.

Today Rosa's husband fixed our windows which is great but it was at a time when I was so ready for my nap ... and no chance for that. I was like oh great than I can at least get to bed early tonight. I walk into Funky and who sits there. Alex. Of course I promised to go with him tonight for a drink since he is leaving soon to Chile and you never know when someone has time and it is always like manana something else might come up etc.

Being Melissa's last week we girls started out with a lunch in the market and had some really good food. Elmer was just looking at us the other night when we made the date that we were both out of our minds to be eating there since we would be sick afterwards. I don't eat from the street vendors but market is different and where else can you have a meal for that price. Melissa and I went shopping afterwards and I bought a nice thick sweater in the market for 90Q and saw one for inferior quality for 210Q in a store. I also bought a blouse for work since at night working in a T-Shirt tends to get a bit cold. I will be looking though for a nice looking sweater trying to find a female long sleeve that doesn't say Army Girl or something like that which really isn't my style I am kind of out of luck. I guess I will have to go clothes hunting once again. I say some nice boots as well and after checking with Marcela what good brands here are I think that I will buy them although for the standard here they cost a fortune like a weeks' wage.

Spoke to Ema last week and will have to come by for a chat soon but no mail has arrived for either me or Chelsea. I am now here longer than 4 months and nothing which is kind of frustrating to think about.

Last week Saturday I worked a double first Funky and than Flor and this week same thing but at least I had a day off so that is okay. I get along fine with Cesar although the whole world tells me he can be such an ass. I think I understand him because part of it is a front he uses when dealing with certain people but he is different with people he likes and respects. I can see things in him that I respect and I think that is mutual we don't have to love each other since he is only my boss just get along. The one's that stick together here are Marcela, Lea and I. Cesar and I both had a good chat today and are trying to gauge each other. Funky still has to pay my wages but it looks as if all the new parts are more costly and we have to wait to get paid. It is doing okay but not fab! I am not worried about my job though since there are more possibilities here …