Back in the Loop

Soooooooooo, we meet again. Sorry its been so long. For a while there I just didn't really have anything to say, then I didn't really have anything positive to say, then I got a little wrapped up in my personal life. But now I'm back. I'm going to try to get back on schedule. Really, you didn't miss too much. Apart from me getting engaged and going on vacation back to America for two weeks then on to Brazil for two more weeks to meet my future in-laws. I'm actually on my way back to Tanzania right now.

I definately believe that the vacation served its purpose. I feel rested and recharged and remotivated and ready to get back in there and try to do some productive things. I was kind of in a slump for a while there. I was starting to let my village's overall feelings of apathy get to me. I was thinking that if they didn't care about anything that I was trying to do, then why should I even try? But trying is the whole point. I'm supposed to give them the opportunities and the people that want to take them will. I'm supposed to show them what could be and those that want it to be will make it happen. I'm supposed to be the spark that gets the fire going, but the have to be the one to fuel it to keep it burning.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy, this whole experience, but I thought it would get easier. I thought I may work on an exponential curve, very slow at first then all of the sudden be so busy and accomplished. But I guess that old tortoise was right, slow and steady. I see now that I've just got to keep chipping at it piece by piece. Some of the ideas and concepts I bring to them are things that they've never really considered. Life has always been a certain way, for hundreds of years, and I am just now brining some new things to them that they have to digest. I know that I don't have to take my little village with no electricity or plumbing and turn it into a industrial metropolis in the two year period I've been given. All I have to do is be a resource for those that want to try to make their lives and the lives of their families and neighbors a little bit better. Step by step. Day by day.

So basically I plan on just doing what I was doing. Go to teach that English class and the kids that want to learn, will. Go to have that widow's group meeting and the women that want to participate, will. Have a nutritious cooking class for mothers and those that want to come, will. And that's all I can expect. And that's just fine.

So that's me making my peace with my challenging work situation. And my personal life is going great. My wedding planning is on track and my fiance's family is so nice and welcoming. Despite them not speaking English and me not speaking Portuguese, I didn't feel at all excluded. I immediately felt like a part of the family. Brazil is a great place to be. Not only are the people great, but it is so beautiful! My fiance, Joao Paulo, and I, along with his oldest brother and his brother's wife went for a drive in the mountains near his house a couple of days ago and went way up to a spot where paragliders launch and it was such an amazing view. A little scary since we were standing right on the edge of a mountain with no guardrails or anything like that, but still, so beautiful. Everything was so lush and green. There was even a waterfall in the distance. And the breeze up there was fabulous especially considering that it was 100 degrees down below.

That oppressive heat with no AC was a great contrast to the 20 degree weather that I came back into when I landed back in Florida. I actually even got to see a little snow flurry when we stopped for gas at 5 in the morning. It hasn't snowed in Florida since I was about 2. I think that's a good sign. I think that means 2010 is going to be a good year....