Bleh

I'm sick again for the second time in four weeks. This time it's a stomach infection. Very gross. I won't get into it.

I managed to pull off my first community-wide English class on Saturday. It went well. I hope to get a core group of very dedicated students. Maybe there will be more students next week, maybe not. I'm kinda sick of teaching English, so I honestly wouldn't mind if the whole thing just falls apart.

We're starting Semana Santa and the place is shutting down. No one wants to work during Semana Santa. They think it's crazy that most Americans have work and school this week. I have a meeting tomorrow with some women interested in starting a women's group, but other than that I'm wide open. Luckily, my community has a tendency to throw meetings at me, so I'm not that worried.

And if not, that's ok too. I have clothes to wash and seder with PCVs on Thursday. I'm actually super excited for seder. I feel too integrated into the Salvadoran culture now- nothings new or exciting. Spanish and tamales and hora salvadorena are pretty typical now. I find myself feeling "bleh" and I think a good seder will shake up this funk.

I'm going all in, full kosher on this seder. I'm even making these organic, homemade toasted coconut macaroons. (I add organic in there just because technically everything's organic that grows in my yard.) The internet tells me that macaroons are a good Passover desert because they don't use flour. They sound yummy to me.

I hate being sick. Sickness has a very poignant way of reminding me that I live in a developing nation. Oi ve.

I'd cry if I wasn't so tired

Peace Corps has a funny way of making me cry. I cried during a health session when the doctor was describing a clean, white porcelain toilet. I really miss toilets. I cried when I heard Phil Collins. I don't miss 80's music, but I miss my mom. I also cried when I was telling my new friends about my favorite bar. I really miss going out. 

Yesterday I found out that my recent stomach issues are the result of an acute intestinal infection. Well, that made me cry too. I'm not in extreme pain, I'm just tired. But getting sick- really sick, not just a cold- is making this whole Peace Corps thing real. 

I called my family last night and they were celebrating my cousin/best friend's birthday. They were eating cheesecake. Cheeeeeeesecake. The king of all cakes. I would have cried myself to sleep if I wasn't so exhausted. 

I question if I can do this all the time. The ups and downs come every minute, every hour, every day. 

Today I got my first wave of letters, and it felt amazing. Thank you mom, dad, Tate, grandma and Ben! Eventhough the Internet is faster it still feels good to hold a letter. 

I'll keep you updated on my intestines! I'm surviving and getting better! 

My letters!