everybody has a story: Quick update!

Everything here is going well. I’m not going to cake anything over, but I’m so glad September is over. September was tough. Kids back in school, establishing more of a concrete routine, and just getting over the highs and lows of it. It’s been stressful, a lot of work, but I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be. Even through the thick of it, even when the down is really down, I still get up the next day, ready for the challenge and it feels good. Just feels really good.

My boys are good. Last weekend we had a movie night, pulled out their matresses, got really comfy, made popcorn, and watched The Hunger Games. They were SO into it. They kept on telling me how ‘bacana’ (super cool) the movie was. We had dinner, did nightly prayer, everyone was on board, no fighting and it was fun to be all snuggled up and have a night in with the family.

Can't get this one to rotate, but it's of us watching the movie!

Tía Melida and some of the boys snuggled up watching the movie

I’ve also taught my boys some key catch phrases. Working with 20 boys, the poop topic comes up quite a bit, normally I wouldn’t be publicly sharing this, but I’m going to. Right, well, it’s lunch time, kids getting back from school, and they are STARVING, they’re boys. One of them, in fact, is so hungry that he chooses to ignore the fact that he has to go to the bathroom and instead poops his pants. Well, of course the house then starts to smell of stanky stank fecal material, I finish my lunch and go outside to hang with some of the boys before heading back to school. Sitting there, a couple of them just come in and start passing gas! Tooting! SURE. well, I look at one of them, and say an O’brien catch phrase, “You shootin’ bunnies?” Magdalena, what does you shootin’ bunnies mean?? I explain to them it’s what you guys have been doing for the past HOUR. Of course, my little Esteban, ran up to all of the English Speaking volunteers screaming, “YOU SHOOTIN’ BUNNIES?”

Some Randoms of the DR:

1. Avacado 4/ $1 How CRAZY is that? And they are much better.

2. I have never been proposed to without knowing the person, or ever in my life. Standing in the doctor’s office, Americana, Americana! Come here!

“Yes?”

Will you marry me? I need a Visa.

Madelon turns around and walks away. Although the proposal was super romantic and against all of my will, I chose to say no.

3. Church on public transportation. Someone stands up, bus is packed, literally, packed, and starts preaching the Bible.

4. So, you think you know what a tight squish is when there are 3 seats in the back of the SUV and 3 people are sitting in those seats? WRONG. that is not squished. try seating 5 grown people, no air conditioning, hot & humid weather, and venturing on a 30 minute stop & go bus ride. As uncomfortable as that sounds, I have surprisingly gotten used to it.

5. Loud, what is loud? Here, loud is feeling the music to the point you think your heart is going to blow up out of your chest through the musical soundwaves and vibrations. Big speakers set in the back of old, beat up, pick up trucks, and they are either blasting with music or blasting with the person’s voice in the front seat trying to sell something, example, bananas.

That’s all I got for this one. Enjoy! xo