PCVs are weird. I like that.

So as the end of our pre-service training is coming to an end, my mind is all over the place. This training screwed with my head alittle bit. We've been spoiled these past few weeks. Nice hotels, hot showers (successfully getting the layers of dirt off my skin), air conditioning, people in business suits, saunas, computer access, a real bed- no mosquito net needed, swimming pools, great food, other gringos, grass that was actually cut with a lawn mower & not a machete, dogs on leashes, sushi, talking lots of english, dogs you can actually pet, and many "holy cow, where am i?" moments. I guess it's safe to say, I'm already finding a great appreciation for things. However, as nice as these past 3 weeks were, I am looking forward to going back to my community and the simple life I have there. The place where all you really have is each other. I miss that.

Some other moments from these past few weeks:
- Seeing my first dead person in El Salvador. We aren't really sure what exactly happened, but I think it's safe to say he was probably shot and it was probably gang related. After all, it was in San Salvador
-- Finally seeing more of this beautiful country. We traveled west to Ahuachapan (the department closest to the Guatemalan border) & Sonsonate. This country truely is beautiful. Bottom line is: mountains and funky colors sure make me happy :) Some of the towns that we went to were just so bright, funky, and fun. (street posts painted in flowers, peoples houses painted funky colors with cool illustrations. As we drove through these towns, the song "magical mystery tour" by the Beatles, kept playing over and over in my head.

So it's a bit strange with Thanksgiving approaching, being in a country where they don't celebrate the holiday. Fortunately, the workers of the US embassy opened their homes to host all the volunteers. So I'll be spending the holiday with 2 other volunteer friends & a random family. It'll be nice, maybe a bit weird as well? The holiday of giving thanks and appreciation for your closest friends and family, and spending it with a family I haven't met yet, and with friends that I met 4 months ago. But either way, I hope she can make a mean pumpkin pie, and that her house has carpet that I can walk around barefoot on. If I'm really lucky maybe she'll invite us back, and say "feel free to use my washer and dryer any time you'd like.."

Happy Thanksgiving everyone