Well, I am back at Busintana and have made it through the hurricane rains that nearly doubled the river and brought down a few tree branches by my house in the jungle. The rain was great for the first day – super peaceful. But I have to say that after 4 days of wet clothes steeped in jungle stink, I was ready for it to stop.

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View from my porch. Mochilla is about 80% complete! 

Always, the first days when I arrive I always feel a bit weird – Pueblo Bello is a frontier town. There are donkeys, horses, motorcycles, goats, the odd duck, and Land Rovers blazing up and down main street. In the four times and few weeks/months I´ve spent here, I have met only 6 other non-locals. So when I show up there is a bit more attention than I like, especially when walking past the open-air pool bars. After a few days I blend back into the proverbial wallpaper, and I remember why I love it here. The community is fantastic, the kids have tons of patience with my Spanish, the old ladies stop to chat, and older gents always want to know where I am from and what the heck I´m doing here.

Those of you who are wondering how can I possibly STILL not have a job or roots, you might be pleased to know that I´ve picked up work and a family! Sure, the job doesn´t really pay, and I don´t exactly match the family, but those are just details… After I´ve woken up, meditated, done my yoga, sorted out my little hut, and put a few stitches into my mochilla, I move onto other pressing matters like planting mango trees, picking oranges, or teaching english to the Mamo´s daughters (he has 4 of them). I never thought I would enjoy the English part so much, but I am having more fun with them than I ever could have imagined. There is next to zero English exposure here, so we are starting with the basics. The most fun game we have made so far is “Sit, Stand, Jump”. I tell you, things get crazy, when Sama (4), gets her jump on. Today there was a little fiesta at the house with about 10 kids. “Sit, Stand, Jump” literally rocked the house.

Two of my best students: Sama (4) and Kwey (10)
Mi hermanita

T-7 weeks until I am back at a more traditional concept of work. It will be great, but right now, right here in Pueblo Bello, I am so ridiculously happy I feel a little bit sorry for everyone else.