new faces

My first days at the casa were bitter sweet. Each kid asked me if I remembered their names, and I think I only messed up on one (Jairo). They were impressed still. Their are quite a lot of new faces at the casa this year. The cook, Estella, my good friend and kitchen companion here, has gone to live with her mother and daughter in Mante. This was unbearibly sad news for me. I spent so many afternoons making tortillas with her in the kitchen. She was the kind of person who could always communicate with me, even in my first year when I knew so little of the language. However, I am glad that the new cook is working here. She is the mother of seven, five of which are in the casa right now. I think that living with five of her kids has been the most she has ever lived with at one time.

I cannot help but miss my American friends who have accompanied me in these summer weeks here in the previous summers. Although there are two American girls here right now, and both are very nice, I have a room to myself. It is different than any Mexico experience I've had so far. But I'm getting used to it. I think that this month is turning into something great, just like my two prior summers.

Leaving my new puppy, Violet, was hard. I forgot to say goodbye to her the morning we drove to the airport because I was so nervous about making the flight. I do miss Violet, a lot, but I was so relieved to see a puppy at the casa this year. Taico is Yadira's new Rotwieller. He looks about three or four months old. He's not the same as Violet, he's a little more wild (a little more Mexican).

I happen to come to Mexico when the days' tempuratures climb every day. Tomorrow will inevitably be hotter than today. I forgot hard it is to stay dry here. If you don't shower at a specific time in the evening, you won't stay dry. No matter how dry my towel is, right after I wipe myself down a thin film of perspiration covers my body in seconds. It's incredible.

Also- I want to give a shout out to my mom, who shoved a bag of prunes in my bag just before I left. Thank you mom, they came in handy.