D5 - 07/20/15

July 20th
1. Today there was something happening at the church and I wanted to see what it was but Mae didn't want to stay. I will just go by myself next time.
2. At the school because there was the church thing I got ice cream and candy
3. I talked a lot with Edwin and Erika (part of family) and they are cool
4. I helped Freddy with homework tonight and with English and it was good.
5. I took a shower and I feel pretty clean which is weird.
6. It actually feels cool and I like it.

D5 - 07/19/15

July 19th
1. I had ice cream twice today and it was so good.
2. Mae and I climbed a mountain/ hill and it was so beautiful and it felt so good.
3. It was sunny and hot today and I got a little sunburned but it feels good.
4. I talked with the family that is in town today and most of them seem nice.
5. I feel so dirty but I am waiting to take a shower when the family leaves (hopefully tomorrow).

D5 - 07/18/15

July 18th
1. We ate at lucilas house today and she has a beautiful river next to her house.
2. I think my hearing is getting worse.
3. Today was daylis' birthday and there was a party and we had cake.
4. I saw the moon tonight walking Mae home and it is weird to me that my family can see the exact same moon at home.
5. My host families whole family is here for the birthday and I feel uncomfortable because it is hard to understand them and I don't want to butt in on their family time, but they are all really nice so it's ok.

D5 - 07/17/15

July 17th
1. Campamentos haven't been the best only because it's hard for us to do them every day.
2. I am so excited for route picnic.
3. I listened to a lot of music today.
4. I danced in the rain today.
5. I am excited for the other fun things that are happening on this trip.

D5 - 07/16/15

July 16th
1. This morning we walked to Jorge's house and he said we would get the roof in about 10 days!
2. Mae and I had ice cream and it was so good.
3. The house we ate at today was super far away and the walk was so hard.
4. A man said he was praying for us and it made me feel so good and appreciated.
5. I have had a great night with the family and we danced and talked and I am really happy going to bed right now:)
Love yall and i am having a great time! Talk to you Tuesday!!

D5 - 07/15/15

July 15th
1. I got about 4 hours of sleep last night and even woke up jasmine because I was having a freak out.
2. The girls and Freddy scared me but popping out from behind the door.
3. The kids didn't have school today because it was a track and field day.
4. The kids climbed in the maranon tree for us and got Mae and I fruits and then we cooked them for the kids and they like them. It was so fun.
5. I ate an amazing meal at Gisele's house and it was noodles and a bunch of sea food.

D5 - 07/14/15

July 14th
1. Today was very long.
2. Mae and I tried to dye our hair and it was a fail.
3. I like talking to Valentina.
4. Jasmine came today and took pictures of me and some kids.
5. I had a mental breakdown with jasmine and I think she thinks I am crazy and I didn't explain myself well but even if she doesn't know what I am truly feeling it's fine because I feel better.
^*1. I told Freddy he could come stay at my house in the United States and he was so excited.

D5 - 07/13/15

July 13th
1. I think I have hit the two week slump. I am always tired.
2. I miss my family.
3. Today Mae and I talked about life and how it if different from here.
4. I have a really bad headache and I think it's because I'm dehydrated.
5. My laundry is outside and I am praying it doesn't rain tonight so it drys.

Daily 5 - 07/12/15

July 12
1. No one does anything on the weekends here.
2. Mae and I made our own breakfast this morning (and it all only cost $1.15).
3. There was a baseball

(WAH!!!  I didn't get the whole message!!)

Daily 5 - 07/11/15

July 11th
1. Today was a very chill day.
2. It rained a lot.
3. I had eggs for breakfast again (mmm)
4. I read a lot in my book.
5. I drank ants because they were in the hot chocolate.

Daily 5 - 07/10/15

July 10
1. Today was frustrating.
2. I stood in the pouring rain waiting for Mae.
3. Jorge stood us up, but here it isn't rude I guess.
4. I got really dirty at the campamentos.
5. I drank good tea with cinnamon today and had great eggs for breakfast.

Daily 5 - 07/09/15

July 9th
1. I accidentally woke up an hour  early and got halfway to the school and realized.
2.  (sorry folks, this one is private.)
3. There was a fiesta at the school for San Juan celebration and all the kids dressed up and danced.
4. Thirty kids came to our campamentos, which was hard but still fun and good.
5. I caught bugs and made bracelets with the kids tonight in my room.

daily 5 - 07/08/15

July 8th

1. Mae and I walked down to the huge greenhouse and met Jorge and the project is coming together.

2. Mae and I had juice here for the first time.

3. I actually felt clean for a little bit of time this morning. 

4. Campamentos was a success today, even though less kids came. 

5. I at a funny fruit today with the girls.

Tumblr Post #2

Another Tumblr post today.
I am thankful for the post, but clearly I am going to need to speak with the social media manager to increase the number of posts and to make sure that my kid is front and center.

I'll let you know how that conversation goes.

daily 5 - 07/07/15

July 7

1. I talked to kids in the school. 

2. I had my first campamentos. 

3. I at with Miguel Martinez and his house and yard is so pretty.

4. We think we figured out

 what our cbi project is!

5. Jasmine came today for her first meeting here and Basillia talked to us for a good 45 mins strait.

 

daily 5 - 07/06/15

July 6

1. I was presented in front of the school today.

2. Mae fell in the river.

3. We had our first meeting for the project. 

4. I think I ate the beak of a chicken.

5. I washed myself in the river, but I still feel dirty.

 

daily 5 - 07/05/15

While Ella was still at headquarters, I texted her and asked her to send me a daily text of 5 things from each day in her community.

Even if the texts didn't go through, she would have them on her phone as a reminder of her adventure.

Shockingly, our first 5 things showed up today.

July 5

1. I ate hot dogs for breakfast.

2. Mae and I went down to the river and had a good talk about life at home.

3. I wrote letters in the hammock.

4. I taught

5. I am sooo dirty.

 

Vaquilla

Ella's community is a small village called Vaquilla.

Now that she is in community, communication with the outside world is very difficult.

We know that she doesn't have a bed.  (Thank goodness she took a cot.)
The bathroom is a latrine.
She is taking bucket baths.

In her very brief texts, she has said that her family is very very nice.
She will be working with the community on health and environmental education.

She is doubting her Spanish and feels very stressed about being able to properly communicate with her family and the people in the community.

Her community partner is a girl named Mae.
I am not 100% sure, but I think Mae could be from the Seattle area.  (I don't know where I got that from)

It is SO weird to not have her here with us for July 4th.

Basilia

Ella got her family assignment today.
I got kinda tickled when I got the text picture of the family description.
Seems she forget that I don't really know or speak Spanish.

Thankfully, my dear friends Terry, Linda and Gracie helped me figure out what this piece of paper says.

She left to go into her community today and her communication will be very limited.

She was very scared.
I could tell the self doubt was creeping in.

I know without question that she is going to do great.

I am excited for her to have this experience.

There is no doubt that she will come back a changed person.

Amigos Tumblr

We saw the first picture of our girl on the Amigos Tumblr today.
I feel like I check every single day 100 times a day.
And finally, she is there.

I wish I knew more.

She is at headquarters.
She is excited.
She is kinda scared.

Here is the link if you wanna read the update.

Plantain

stay away mosquitos!

Well, Ella made it.
With her 100lb back pack.

She is at headquarters for a few days to get additional training and get her family/partner assignment.

She is nervous and excited.
There are lots of volunteers.

And she has learned that she doesn't like plantains.
She isn't really suppose to use her phone, but I am glad to be in contact right now.
Text away my dear daughter!

home for a few days