...25 days...

Yeah, I´m keeping a daily countdown... what of it?

Hello my lovelies and welcome to another fun-filled wall posting...

So last night there was a huge dance in my town, but as it was hosted by a local political party, I couldn´t. Instead, I spent the night with my host mom´s family in the next town over, which, while fun, was bittersweet for me as I kept thinking about how much I miss my family, and it would be chatting and laughing with them into the wee hours of the morning instead. I know I´m so close to seeing them, but still... 3 weeks, then I´m gone for a year again (with the possible exception of a week and a half at Christmas?)...

Anyway, we (Celinda, Josue and I) came back home at around 7:00 in the morning, our biological clocks set to ring an internal alarm in our brains causing us to wake up every day at 6:00, whether a day of work or day of rest. Upon my return, everyone kept asking me where I was, why I didn´t come to the dance, how the dance fue bonita, fue linda, and other such things that made me a bit envious. To everyone, I had to explain that I couldn´t involve myself in politics, how I was prohibited, and even though the dance was just hosted by a political party, still couldn´t attend.

There´s another dance Thursday. Sigh. At least that´ll get us out classes Fridays (as teachers and students alike will assuredly be chuchaki).

Yesterday was a good day for a break though, I must admit. After having gone to church in the morning (Seventh Day Adventists believe the sabbath to be on Saturday), I spent the afternoon rereading Harry Potter 4 for the oh, 20th? time (and it´s still just as good). After that, I helped a friend with the internet, played in the park for a bit and then walked to the next town to Celi´s parents house. The walk was lovely, as it was evening, the moon was full and the night cool. I was going to wait for the bus, but there were already drunk guys in the park at 6:30, so I decided best to avoid having to beat un hombre borracho unconscious for annoying me, and set off.

Today is a chill day as well. My morning free, I´m here chatting with all of you in la casa communal, jamming out to the sound of the Orishas (Cuban rap group, for those of you who don´t know). This afternoon I´ve got a meeting with my youth group, after which it´s off to a basketball game in the school (as in, I and 9 other kids jump around, hurl a ball at a netless rim, without rules, without a leader, total anarchy). After than, it´s back to my house to shower, dinner, and planning my lessons for tomorrow.

The restful weekend is something I have missed since sophomore year in college, when I took a campus security job that had me working various shifts from Friday to Sunday (especially those exhausting night shifts--still don´t know how I did that). Here, I have regained a system that is more reminiscent of that high school schedule which I haven´t felt in years. Bed at 10/10:30 (with exception of those nights where I stay up reading into the night--yes, I am that guy), wake up 6:00, classes all day (although it´s a lot cooler from the teaching side, I admit), a sport in the afternoon, 3 square meals, and wonderful routine. I like knowing where I have to be, or even just having somewhere I need to be. Maybe my first few months were so hard because I was completely out of my element, as wandering around aimlessly reeks havoc on my organized mind.

I´m really getting into the swing of things here. I can´t help feeling normal. That being said, I wonder how I´ll react in my real home. I wonder how things have changed--new houses, new shops, new traffic lights and stop signs. I marveled at the changes coming back from a 5 month stint in Italy... one year will be insane. I wonder whether my mind will register my reality as this surreal dream state that held me for so long upon arrival in Ecuador. The dream state is extremely dangerous, even though it keeps the homesickness at bay, erases the sense of time, and dulls the sting of cultural shock. In the dream state, there are no rules, and the conscious surrealism lends itself to a false sense of invincibility. The line between right and wrong blurs, and you can lose yourself so completely that even other people can hardly recognize you. The dream state is the ultimate defense mechanism when cast into a new environment because life is just so much easier if you don´t believe it´s real.

I guess we´ll just have to wait and see...

Anyway my loves, I´m off as access to internet means access to world news, and I´m anxious to see what´s happening outside my 700 person town. Mucho amor y cariño del sur del ecuador. Un abrazo fuerte y un besito a su mejia. Chao.