I live here

A former Honduras Peace Corps Volunteer once told me it took her about 8 months to feel really comfortable, and at home in Honduras.

Well, over the past week or so, I have been realizing how true that statement really is.

It hit me this week that living in Honduras just feels so incredibly normal. I know that I am living in another country, but it no longer seems unusual or strange.

I live here. 

Simple as that. 

Now, here are a few photos from the sunrise hike this morning. Just to show off what an amazing place I live in.

Never Gets Old

I started my day off today watching a chubby little girl be born.

It was amazing.

Again.

This is the third birth I have seen in the past four days, and I am loving it.

I'm filming all the births for a study they are doing here. My roommate Kathryn normally does this, but she is in the US for six weeks, so I am stepping in.

I love it.

Maybe after twenty of these it gets boring and routine.

But, right now, it is amazing each and every time.

Saturday mornin'

I woke up in a bad mood this morning.

The power went out last night, and when I was awakened this morning, by the sound of a pig screaming, it was still out.

This meant I had to make coffee on the gas stove.

And that the milk I put on my cereal was of questionable safety.

And my plans to work on some application stuff online today were not going to happen.

It all just made me cranky.

Then someone called me to come downstairs,

And I watched a baby girl be born.

It was, in one word, incredible.

 Absolutely. Perfectly. Breathtakingly. Incredible

Cranky = GONE

That, my friends, is how Honduras works.

Out of the crappy moments, will always come the most amazing surprises.

Even when the power is out.

Book Updates

So, I have not been doing very good on book summaries as of late.

However, I have been ROCKING my goal of reading one book a week. I think I have maybe missed two weeks, and the following weeks I read an extra one to make up for it. This has probably ended up being my favorite goal on my 27 things to do in my 27th year list, and something I would like to keep going for many, many years.

Cutting for Stone – Amazing. Amazing. Amazing book. The author also wrote another book called In My Own Country, which I am hoping to read soon but it is not yet on Kindle.

The Glass Castle – A good quick read. It makes you appreciate how sane and normal your own family is.

A Time to Kill – I have decided John Grisham is going to be my new go-to, long distance travel author. I read this while Jill and I were taking nine million bus rides and it was the perfect travel book.

The Coming Plague – If you are interested in public health or infectious disease you will completely nerd out on this book.

Shades of Gray – Not. A. Fan. I’m sorry, but I don’t get what the hype is all about. I think that the author forgot that most good book have a plot. Or a point in general.

There have been others, but those are the most recent ones.

My book this week is The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down. This is another one my mom recommended. She is a smart one, because I can’t put it down. If I had a required book list for all medical and public health students this one would probably be at the top.

Happy. Happy. Day.

Oh. My. Goodness. 

I have had the luckiest week of mail in my entire life.

I got back from vacation to not one but TWO letters. One from the lovely Ms. Eileen and one from my Grandma Smith (who has become, by far, my best pen pal)

Then, today, I found out I had a letter waiting for me at the front desk. 

But, this was no ordinary letter. This was a package containing Sour Patch kids and, wait for it...

PUMPKIN SPICE VIA PACKETS!

The wonderful, and amazing Jennifer Cox (who I worked with at NPH), sent me a care package. 

Jen and I spent a lot of time talking about the joy of Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Lattes at the ranch. Usually over less than amazing coffee, 

I was so touched she sent them to me that I maybe had a little tear. 

Every now and then you are lucky enough to meet truly wonderful human beings. 

Jen Cox, I am so happy I was lucky enough to meet you! 

I miss you so much!