So things have finally slowed down some over the past week. It has been raining a lot and it has been kind of nice to not have a lot to do that involves being out and about. This past weekend I did get invited to go to a local’s house for a party. I’m not really sure of the name for the celebration but I think it is basically for having all of the wheat harvested and all of the corn planted and having a lot of free time. So what better to do with all the free time than cook a lot of food and have everyone over. It was actually the family that I stayed with my first week out in the village, who are also related to the family I stayed with my second week. It was good to get to see everyone again and I think it was great for my language. I’m finally getting to where I can understand the point of conversations as long as I know the topic. Mainly it is trying to put words together that I know. And I can usually answer back with one-word answers. So basically I sound like a three year old, but it is better than nothing. The baby over there is about a year and a half and he has started walking around everywhere and saying a few words. It is humbling to have a kid who barely speaks saying things better than I can. The party was a lot of fun. The food wasn’t too weird considering that they usually bring out all of the really strange things for celebrations. We even had some things that I figured we would have somewhere back in the States (I mean, why haven’t I seen mashed potatoes that are deep fried into little balls back home?!?). While I was there it kind of struck me how much alike people are. Basically all of the women were in the kitchen cooking and getting everything ready and all of the guys were outside sitting around playing checkers or just sitting around drinking and talking. Except for everyone being shorter and speaking a different language I could have sworn I was at a holiday back in the States.
So this next month is going to be a little crazy again, but in a good way. I’m finally getting to take a little vacation, and I’m looking forward to it. Don’t get me wrong, I love it here and it is a beautiful place to live, but after having been here for almost four months I’m kind of wanting to get out of town for a while. So we’re going to take a trip in the middle of August down to an island to the south that is out in the ocean. We’ll spend about four days on the beach and then head over to Hong Kong for a few days. One of the girls is dying to go to Disneyland while we’re there and so I think we’re going to do that, see some sights, do some shopping, and eat some really good food. I’m also going to have some friends come down to visit me in September and we’re looking at going and climbing a 5,500 meter mountain out here. I’ve actually got to talk to a few more people about that one and make sure that we aren’t going to be getting in way over our heads. Information on things like that is usually kind of spotty when you talk to locals, but from everything I hear it should be doable. I’ll make sure and take lots of pictures!
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