Friday, May 14

We woke up at around 5:20 to leave by 5:45 for Habitat this morning! Yuck :) It took us 3 hours to get there and they put all of us gringos on one plot—probably so we wouldn’t mess more things up for them haha just kidding, we’re getting pretty good. After shoveling for a few hours again, I was able to switch jobs and start helping make cement molds for the foundation! It was nice to be in the shade under an overhanging. I spent the whole rest of the day scooping cement up and patting it into a cylinder mold and putting a wire in, repeat. As I washed the cement off my hands, I have NEVER seen more pruney hands in my life!! The cement must have just sucked all moisture in my hands possible haha. It was worth it, though. My hands had like crazy labyrinth designs on them (as seen in the picture)

We then were able to take a “special” bus home: it had air conditioning, played a movie, had like stewardesses and was MUCH better than a public transport bus going home. Although, I’m sure we were a sight to see—covered in dirt and sweat on this “luxury” bus haha.

We all had to quickly shower and rush to dinner at Estela’s, which was delicious by the way! She made chicken, arroz, guacamole, and boudin—some kind of banana dessert.

We had been up for 15 hours at that point and then took taxis to the Multi Stake dance! Our taxi made this huge, grand entrance (making the guards open the gate and honking the whole way in—we were devastatingly embarrassed haha). As we were walking in, I immediately was greeted by Zicri, Daniel, Pamela, Vane, and Melvin successively! I was SO excited as each person kept coming up to me, giving me a huge hug and kisses and just asking all about me, my family, my trip, etc. It was SO good to see them! I felt right at home with those people. Also, it was way weird. I can’t describe why, but it’s like I only spent a week (some only an hour) with these people and I’ve been keeping in touch with them through email or facebook or text but now I’m here—with them—in their home. Weird that I’m in their home like no big deal and just doing stuff with these wonderful people! It’s way surreal. My group kept commenting on how crazy it was how many people greeted me like their long lost best friend and how good it must make me feel. As my group member Brian said, “It’s gotta make you feel good!” They also commented on how crazy it was that we are like so close after I was only even there for a week—and some I only saw for like an hour or two! That’s the Latin way, though and I love it because I’m kind of like that too!

So—the dance was way different than I had expected! It was all basically Latin dancing (which I am SO good at…..not). I wish I had more Latina ability to shake my hips and learn these crazy cool dance moves! Anyway, there were also no slow songs but the songs required a partner. I was partners with Melvin the whole night and Daniel danced with Kassandra and some of their other friends stayed with some of my group members. It was fun, WAY sweaty (like seriously people were just dripping sweat. I have never touched someone that wet from sweat before! It was kinda disgusting but they didn’t really care—which is cool haha) Melvin was a seriously amazing dancer and I felt kinda retarded but the good thing is that I have the ability to just laugh at myself -- I did make Esther come home and start giving me lessons on how to move my hips, though (so I’m prepared for next month’s dance!) It was sad to say goodbye to them all afterwards—I wish we could all do stuff together all the time! But, it’s cool to know I’ll see some of them at English classes, etc. Crazy long day but way fun as well. I love my group—don’t know if I can say it enough!