Life is going pretty good here. I have survived two "typhoons", a week of oral tests which I was given no instructions on how to grade, three lessons I made up off the top of my head because I was given the wrong pages, and the Father has given me an amazing friendship! Yes, teaching is hard, but I love the people here so much that it is worth it. I know the Father is with me and He is going to do something special this year!
I have an amazing friend who lives in my apartment complex. She is an older woman that I exercise with every morning at 6am, has been a blessing to me from the Father. She helps me do everything! We go out at night and walk around the city...literally! We walk for hours and talk. I didn't expect to find a friend who would open up to me as fast as she has. She is so fun to be around and I don't feel like I have to try hard to make conversation with her. I have even got to share with her some of my beliefs. Like most people here, she is especially interested in dating relationships and marriage. It was a really good conversation. I hope that there are many more to come! She is already asking me if I am going to live in the same apartment next year, saying she has connections to get me a job. I just giggled cause I have no idea what is going to happen next year.
Some funny stories:
After a hard morning of kids classes, we went to eat rice. We tried to order rice and shrimp in the local language and we got freshly squeezed orange juice instead. Not exactly the same, but it was tasty.
We went "hiking" with some of our students. Turns out there was not a trail at all. We should have brought machetes because there was no way we were getting through the underbrush. I got over 30 mosquito bites on my legs. Got some mystery soap from a friend that cleared them up nicely!