Updates (I promise to post photos when I have fast internet)

Well I have a lot of great stories to share with some awesome photos but unfortunately I have been trying to upload some photos for the past hour and have had no luck at all because of the extremely slow internet in Huallanca.

So even though I currently cannot share any photos, I just wanted to share a few updates. I promise to post photos as soon as I return to the modern world (a.k.a a bigger city) in a few weeks :-)

• Rainy season is still currently in full force in Huallanca and it rains every day almost ALL DAY. Every day that I leave the house I wear my rain coat, rain pants, and rain boots. It's now my signature outfit! Our once half empty rivers is filled to the brim and certain parts of the river have been flooding houses. A few weeks ago the rain totally washed away a section of our main highway that leads to Huallanca. And countless landslides have been occurring on the main roads. I am currently training for a marathon and to be honest doing long runs isn't very safe right now because there have been so many landslides. Having clean clothes is impossible because they can never get dry because of all the rain! In a world where you hand wash and air dry your clothes, rain can make that task impossible! So let's just say that lately I have been more smelly than usually ;-) 
• One of my good friends just had a baby and so I have been visiting her and her family a lot and enjoying cuddling her cute, tiny little baby girl. She is so precious-I wish I could post photos! 
• Classes have started and are finally into full swing. I trained the teachers how to use the library that I was able to create and everyone loves it. I have been very busy teaching classes at the 3 schools where I work (a high school, elementary, and a kindergarten school). 
• Yesterday I started up another group of Pasos Adelante (my youth sex ed/leadership group) and I am excited to see what this group will bring to the table. This is my third and final group of Pasos in Huallanca and while it is a lot of work to recruit youth and get them to actually show up each week, it is worth it!
• My boss came last week evaluated me and I for sure will be getting a replacement volunteer to continue the work that I have started in Huallanca! 
• A few weeks ago my neighborhood celebrated the tradition of Yunsa in which they cut down a tree, adorn the branches with balloons and simple gifts and then put the tree up in the middle of the road, dance around it for hours, cut it down again, and hand out the gifts. It was very interesting! Photos to come!

Like I said, I will post photos as soon as I have faster internet! Have a great week!