Simplify your life.

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain.
It's not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything." - Muhammad Ali.

It's funny how some things in your life you can remember so clearly. And other things, like what I did yesterday, just seem to slip away from you. One of those memories is receiving a quote book from my 4th grade boyfriend, at the rollerskating rink at my 10th birthday party. That Muhammad Ali quote still remains with me to this day.

15 months... I'm saying wow "Que rapido! This time is sure flying!" , but instead I'm really thinking... "Wow, is that it? 15 months?! Really?" All of those emotions, those moments, those thoughts, this incredible journey I am having with myself just couldn't possibly add up to 15 months.

So to some of you , this blog may come off alittle strange. For those of you PCVs who have experienced at least 15 months in a devloping country.... You may relate. I'm slowly getting back in touch with myself and appearing "normal" again. I felt for awhile there i was spending so much energy trying to fit in, impress the people and force relationships upon them. I've been trying to be someone other then myself. I've even picked up some of their habits that once drove me nuts; such as pointing with my lips, asking how much EVERYTHING costs, that "chchch" noise, not being specific at all, eating pan dulce before and after dinner, and yelling at dogs, "chucho afuela, ahhh!" How can I put this, other then, I've got back in touch with myself. I am myself. I do what I enjoy. I don't care what other people think. I'm strange. I'm different. And I love that. I love being the different guy on the street. Everyone knows me, and a good chunk about me (due to how fast gossip spreads when it is something regarding the gringa- Everyone knew I was sick with amoebas within 1 day, or when I got stitches, getting back from the hospital that night with many "Oh, we've heard") I've gotten past the annoyances of being the only gringa, and have grown to absolute love it. I'm a rockstar.

I'm really begin to open myself up to the people and let them in to my life. There are still some things that are better left unsaid; like how much money I have saved up in the States, or how much I love laying on the couch and being big spoon with my parent's dog. Living here is just a game of figuring things out. I'm still trying to figure things out here, but I do know one thing for sure is that the people adore me for just being myself. So that is who I will give them. "Yeimy LinBacher" They comment on how happy and content I am. I may tell them the occasional lie about how much something costs, or of a headache I have, just because I want some time alone, However when I tell them how much I love it here, it is the truth. (even with those "oh my gosh, this is quite possible the lowest I have ever felt in my entire life" moments).

As I spend every single night with a group of my Salvadorean friends, I think, "these people hardly have anything, but yet they don't really complain." Their education may not go beyond 4th grade, but they have been some of the best teachers I have ever had.

Out of all the reasons I joined Peace Corps, "to make friends" was not on that list, I'm not even sure if it was a thought at all. I wanted to do development work in a country with people who are less off. I wanted to better myself. I wanted to live like the people in a developing country. Making friends is an added Peace Corps bonus, and now that it happened, I feel like the friends and the great relationships I have with the people are the best part of my peace corps experience.

I still have almost a year to go, but the thought about leaving here pops into my head at least one time a day, sometimes 5. I know when the day comes it will be bittersweet, but just thinking of that day, kind of tares me apart inside.

Read another blog below if you haven't already! (Yes I know, 2 blogs in a week! A new record.)