Come one, come all!

So I have a problem with bugs......I have fleas. I have been dealing with those since the beginning. Next there were spiders all over in my shower. I then found that my concerns were correct and there were termites eating the desk in my room. But last night was the straw that broke the camels back. I had heard the rattling near the end of my bed and certainly had my suspicions, early this morning I found out what that was. A giant cockroach. We had each other cornered for about 2 hours before I finally worked up the nerve to escape my bed and run to the door. My host mother was just waking up when she saw me standing oh so awkwardly in the door way. She, being the brave women she is, picked up the blanket it had rested on and walked it out side. It was awful!! I can only hope that there really was only the one. I only heard the one (I think) and I hope I only saw the one and not his twin brother...... So rest easy tonight in your nice cool houses and not hearing the bugs in your room come out at night!

So much, So little

Camera? Check. USB cord? Check. Pictures? You know it!

Have I mentioned how pretty it is here?

This is the petting zoo that walks down my street daily.

This is a Ready Mix plant I stumble upon while hiking with my family. Not going to lie, it almost made me cry!

So much is going on, and yet so little to report. I don't know if I have talked about the turkish toilets yet. They are the equivalent to a portable toilet in smell and yet they are far superior because you cant see into the depths of the toilet, and you don't have to sit on anything. However it is likely that you will pee on your shoe at least a little before you figure out control and placement of your feet. Trust the footing. If you have never used one, roll up your pants and trust the footing.

Thursday is when we find out our permanent site placement followed by a counterpart conference where we meet out counterparts. Sunday we travel with our counterparts somewhere in Bulgaria that we will live for the next two years. On Wednesday we will travel back to where we are training alone! It is very exciting and we are all very anxiously awaiting. I think everyone I have been emailing with is pretty annoyed I keep talking about this. I know I would be if they kept talking about this big thing that is going to happen someday...But it is almost here and then you won't have to hear about it again until we get close to our Swearing in Ceremony.

Have you had chicken skin soup lately?

I have, it was not awesome.

Let me say I am sorry for no photos. I brought my camera and cord yesterday but only had time to skype. Then I took out my camera USB cord at home and there it sits.....

• We have been very busy with language training and keeping up with our other tasks but I think that is the whole point.
• Last night I saw an American movie on TV that had Richard Gere and Bruce Willis in it. It also featured a very young Jack Black. It was BAD!!!! I was embarrassed that this movie was so bad that I had never heard of it and yet it made prime time television internationally.
• No part of an animal goes to waste here! I do wish it would stop showing up on my plate. Luckily my family doesn't expect me to eat it all. If they did their expectation would not be met.
• I think I will switch to a mostly vegetarian diet when I get to my site...
• I met the most awesome man the other night. He is a Bulgarian grandfather and spoke great English. I have connected with a fair amount of people in my village but I hope I run in to him again.
• I have been able to skype a couple times with family. Ivy got to see me for the first time on Skype the other day. She didn't really get it, but she loved when I played peek-a-boo with her. She will get it soon enough but then get scared by the auntie that comes out of the computer in two years! ha! It could scar her for life....
• We are a week and a half away from the reality setting in all over again! Permanent site announcement is rapidly approaching and so are the anxiety, excitement and nerves that come with that.
• I have the most amazing host family! They are so sincere and generous. My host mother is absolutely wonderful. They are both such hard workers. I feel very lucky to have them and look forward to continuing to bond with them and visit them over the years.
• I finished the Alchemist. I had it for a couple years and knew I wanted to bring it, but my cousin Sam told me I had to read it before I left. I wasn't able to do that, but felt so inspired after every chance I got to read it. I have loaned it out to another trainee and feel it may make its rounds.

I will try and get the photos up on my blog next time. I do have some from my host family and other volunteers up on facebook!!!