Day 1- march 25
"Todays traveling was very long and tested my patience! OUr flight was five hours longer than expected within which we had to land in Olklahoma to fill up the plane's tank. Once we got to Dallas our group ran through the airport to our gate but since we were hurrying our suitcases didn't get ont our connecting flight. So kelsey's and I's first night is without anything. Our family is very nice and the spanish will catch on. The house is great! There is a hot shower, bathroom adn we even have our locking bedrooms! We are kinda nervous so we are sleeping together tonight but Im so pumped for tomorrow...even though we will be working in the same clothes we wore all day today. Oh well, life will go on... we will be fine, not comfortable though. Also, I can't wait for the suitcases to arrive so we can give the family their gifts. Goodnight!"
Day 2- march 26
"Today we woke up around 7:30 and had an awesome breakfast waiting for us upstairs. There was tea, papaya, pineapple, banana and canteloupe, along with grogeous pancakes adn sugar. It felt like home already and the spanish barrier isn't too bad! After breakfast we walked to the central park and met with our class. We listened to Wally and Di speak about their journey to where tehy are today. We then split into groups, one went to an all-girls school, one to dig a well, and one to another school. This school group was made of me, Kelsey, Alyssa, Samara, Tyler,Alex, Christian, and Max. We went to a school in St.Lucia. These kids were very excited to see us (gringos!) and from there we met up with Wally, the principal. He let us choose who we were going to work with and I chose the older english students, along with Lyss and Dubs. The big question from the girls is if we have boyfriends, and the chatting with them went quite smoothly considering we hardly know spanish! There were girls straightening their hard in class.. so weird. The kids all thought Dubs was pretty funny looking since he's tall, blue eyed, pale and blonde. The second class was my favourite. The girls were amazing and were helping me with my spanish as I was aiding them in english. I got their email addresses along with many compliments on my various "nice" items from my backpack. The girls were in love with TYler and so they ensured to get many pictures. I am so exstatic to see those girls again. From there I went with the principal, Alex, Kelsey, Christian and Mrs.Perrin to visit a home of some new students who were struggling in english. This man is only 33, he has two beautiful children and GOd changed his heart and life 8 months ago, and he has kept strong even though his wife left the home six months ago. We saw his kids, I greeted his daughter with a smile and she came up to me and kissed my cheek but it touched my heart so much! We prayed together for the family's needs and it was a very amazing and beautiful experience hearing conversation with God in two different languages. Then we all bussed to Antigua and roamed, got some "pina and coco" ice cream and found this crazy big market. I bought a purse and Lyss bought the same one just a bit bigger, for school. This went on for several hours and we finally found a beautiful church, thenwent back to the central square. Kaelen met up with Austin who is here and then we all piled into our "party van" and drove home. Upon arriving we headed to Diagonal Norte 7 and ate a delicious dinner of chicken, rice and fried vegetables. Then we walked (kinda nervously) to central park adn played Haki and soccer, in bare feet. The whole night we proceeded to play soccer and try to speak with the locals. There was a big concert band playing at the church, beautiful background music. After almost allthe locals left we were escorted home by the boys and washed our nasty feet off in a warm.. yes warm.. shower. I want clean clothes, my body smells, and Im dirty. Oh well, hopefully tomorrow. Goodnight!"
Day 3- march 27
"We woke up a tad too late this morning, shoveled our food into our sitll not yet brushed mouths and ran to the central park. Everyone was waiting and then we listened to Samara and Alyssa's devotional about not looking at people's outer beauty, only their inner. Then we piled in our vans and went to St. Lucia school again. I was excited to return to the kids and basically spent the day carrying, hugging and playing games with the little kids. Then we went in a teacher's trunk to her house, which was adorable. We suntanned outside for a bit until all the teachers arrived. We ate chips, salsa, tortillas, curry, casserole, cornbread and pop. Leaving before the cake, we got in our van and headed home. The suitcases sitll weren't there so we went and saw Alex and Chantal's house. It was very open! We went on the roof and tanned. We realized we were supposed to be at c.p at 3:30 but it was already 3:50 so we went but there was noone in sight. Me, Alex, Chantal, Alyssa, and Kelsey all waited and went to people's houses looking for them but just decided after a wihle to head home. Then the most amazing thing happened.. our suitcases had arrived!!!"
Day 4- march 28
"This morning we woke up on time and by ourselves! We had a fried egg, sausage and bean paste for breakfast along with my usual Manazilla Tea. We also had our fruit which was delicious as every day. We hurried to central park and met everyone along with some random, but really cute dog. There was some devotions then we seperated to work groups. Also, there was a puff of smoke given off by Fuego! So cool! I was a digger along with Parker, Tyler, Andrew, Max, Kaelen, Alex & Chantal. Dubs was really sick last night so he stayed home and slept. St.Maria is very different than San Juan & ANtigua. The clothing is very bright and the area is poorer. We dug in a house, a huge well and pretty much transported heavy bucks of dirt all day. The family kindly made us lunch so I gave my sandwich to a little boy outside. Then we picked up another group of our students at the all-girls school a couple blocks away and walked to our bus. We returned home and changed into a dress for going downtown. We went on a tour with Jane who knew alot about absolutely everything! In the ruins of the old Antiguan cathedral, we had a mini-photoshoot with Wally! We asked him to do photography for our grad! THen we bought bracelets and watched a children's procession for easter. Agagin loosing Alex and Chantal! There was a wedding in the Cathedral as we passed back through, the bride was stunning! Outside of it, Tiffany and I bought some of these tubes made from a fortune cookie-type stuff...it was delicious! Then we all went and toured a hotel which used to be a wealthy family's home. We had free time and booked it to the market, and bargained for the ponchos for about 8 of us. I got my raggae one to match the bracelet I got. Quickly and painfully we ran through the streets, stopping only to buy a purse. We made it to central park with 6 minutes to spare. We piled on the buses and were so excited to get home and eat! We had chicken, brocolli and carrots. Then when she usually brings us white rbea, we got Banana Bread! It was so so good. We changed and headed to C.P, got some cupcake things and sat in teh tree with Kaelen, Sam and Andy. Then Dubs came, and he looked absolutely dead. He said he's feeling better but veryweak and dizzy. I sat and chatted with him till everyone headed home. Sam walked me home and Laurdes visited us in our room, creating a super awkward15 minutes or so. But we managed to get some good spanish convo in there. Kels and I piled into our P.J's, planning clothing for tomorrow and brushed our teeth. I wanna email my mom, I bet she's dying to hear from me.. oh well, maybe tomorrow. We are going to church then to climb Pacaya! Hope fully Dubs is feeling better in the morning. Goodnight!"
Day 5-march 29"Today Kels and I woke up on time, got in the shoewr, ate breakfast and were at c.p early.. yes I said EARLY! We were dressed up since it was church and the trip to get there wasnt too long. the music was so energetic and even though I could only understand a few words, it was a great experience. We changed into hiking clothes and drove about an hour to Pacaya. The drive was fun because we went grocery shopping in Antigua and got break, jam, peanut butter, honey, cookies and chips. Then Jen and I sat in the front, taking orders to make while we drove. My hands were sucha mess but it ws entertaining. Then all of us started a guys.vs girls competition, turning into a game of h-o-r-s-e all about body tricks. I pretty much owned it up! Then we arrived and rented our horses, well some of us, and started the trek. The way up took us an hour, then we got off hte horses and hiked. There was a huge hill of ash rocks and dirt we had to run down, of course I was the only one to bail and roll down a volcano! I was so dirty but it didnt matter. The hike was so hard and it was hot but finally we made it and walked on all hard lava which slid a week ago! Then we saw it.. red, bubbling, hot, sizzling, lava. It was just like I imagined it and the walk down was just slippery. The hike was worth it, but I wouldn't do it again! Then we drove through alot of traffic, showered and got ready in 40 moinutes, ran back to c.p, got in the van and headed to Antigua. The school gave us 100Q for a pair, and we got dinner. I went to McDonalds with Kaelen, Tyler, Parker, Sam, Christian, Alex & Max. I had a mcchicken and off we ewnt to find an buy machetes. After tying to get around the procession, it turns out the shop was closed! I didn't feel well so Alex and I and Parker went to find an internet cafe and a bathroom. Everyone caught up later. I emailed my mom a huge long thing and quickly fb messaged Aaron and Erik. Then Parker kindly piggy-backed me back to c.p since I wasn't feeling well from the McDonalds, then we got on the van. Heading back to San Juan I felt a bit bettter and then we walked with Parker to see Emma & Sam, Adrienne & Jen's houses. We arrived at home to find a new brother here! His name is Darin and he is from Toronto. I chatted with him for a bit, now Kels and I are just chit chattin ourselves to sleep. We are going to St.Lucia tomorrow for a retreat with the school and we are going swimming! Im so excited and can't wait to see the kids again. Goodnight!"
Day 6- march 30
" Ugh. This morning I woke up to check the clock and it was only 5:45 so I went back to bed for fourty-five minutes. Kels & I got ready, leisurely ate our breakfast and then walked to c.p. Christian and Max were late so Lyss and I ran to their house but just missed them. So then we ran back to the van and started our long ride. ONce we got there we played some games with the kids on the camp`s field. It was very hot and they didnt need us too much. Then we went inside for some chapel type thing. Instead we took buckets and buckets of water to make mud at various stations soon to be used. We went and hid upstairs and ate snacks cause we were so tired. Then we had lunch and headed to a pool because the camp`s pool looked like it had green paint poured in it! Same thing with the lake. It took 5 minutes to get there and the pool wasn`t much better. The children have no shame changing absolutely anywhere. We ate ice cream and tanned pretty much the whole time and then piled back in the van with bee-stung Samara. Kels, me, Samara, Chantal and Lyss sang the whole way home while Dubs and Max did not enjoy it! We arrived in Antigua and had a bit of time to hit up the internet and get food. Then we rode tuk-tuks home! We played this one game all day where you can`t say "mine" otherwise you drop and do 2 push ups while screaming it. I did it at c.p then walked home with Kelsey for dinner. But they are eating and we didnt want to disturb them so we just wrote in here for a bit then Eduarda came to get us for our dinner. I went to the internet cafe for a bit after and chatted then I came home to get some sleep. Goodnight!"
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