Rapids and Rapido French Toast

El rio that ate my shoe.

A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer sent along an excerpt from a book titled "Callings" by Gregg Levoy. I read the three pages over breakfast and realized the importance of viewing my Peace Corps experience as a fluid one- there will be moments of distress, pain, failure etc. but the important thing is to remember that when each fourth step is a fall, I know why I am here, and get back up again.

Chile Dulce! Ready to plant in the next few days...

So, after watering my Chile Dulce, I set out on an adventure to climb la piedra mona. My first challenge came with the river corssing, where recent rains had amde the once easy to cross river...not so easy to cross. But I was feeling like this was my calling for the day, to be more adventurous, so I removed both shoes, and decided to chuck them to the other side of the river. My right shoe fell on the opposide shore, and rolled until it was half-way in the water, lodged between a rock and the "rapids". I laughed but proceed to throw my left shoe saftely across. Then I realized my shoe might be completly pushed away. Looking at the jump I had to make a second too long, I fell to the other side just as my right shoe got whisked down the river. Laughing and calling out to my shoe (yes, I was taking to my shoe), I tried to trample down river to save it. Alas, the vegetation was too overgrown and my shoe way too fast for me to save it. My first jump across the river and I loose a shoe- but instead of getting upset I relaxed (barefoot) and made it home with just one shoe.

Made it home with just one shoe!

Shoes aside, and on the positive side of things, My Tarbaca host family (who I lived with the first three months) came to visit over the weekend. Along with my current host family, we went trout fishing at the local trout farm and played some soccer. The Tarbaca family has a new Community Economic Development Volunteer, which is exciting to meet the next PC generation.

The Tarbaca kids getting goofy in San Cristobal Norte.

In other news, the youth group (Ventanilla Unica) has elected a junta or board, and are becoming more serious about taking leadership in the community. We are now in the second half of the course and each participant has to develop their own business idea. I have really been enjoying this section, as the youth often stop by or call for my help on their ideas. One student is working on a Security Guard business- he came up with some very convincing reasons why his business was important for himself, his family, the community and the country. He was also surprised to realize how large his possible market could be, and how low his overhead costs are (his father is already trained and with 30 years of experience under his belt). Lisbeth, another participant, is putting together her artisan goods and thinking aboutnew ways to market them to more tourists, exploring the possibility of an environmental spin and opening a small shop. Friday each student has to give a three minute pitch accompained by a poster board that I am really looking forward to.

In English class news, Tuesday was fashion focused, so I dressed up in one of my primas quincinera dresses to help spark interest. We ended up debated youth wearing piercings- the opinions were evenly split between the students.

Excercise class numbers are back up! Thanks to the break in the rain- if anyone has any old aerobics/excercise DVDs they would be much appreciated to add variety to the routine.

Lastly, I made some Rapido French Toast con Amor:

4 eggs

3/4 cup milk

Vanilla to your liking

Pinch of salt

Teaspoon of sugar

Bread of choice (my host uncle is now making whole wheat bread!!!)

Mix all the ingredients together with lots of amor, then add the bread to soak. Super soaked bread tastes better.

Serve with Guayaba jam.