Slideshow

Wow, I just wasted about...hmmm lets see...maybe only one hour, no probably more like two. In the end it is worth it. I found a great slideshow website that makes great fun picture slide shows, and then it even gives you the web lingo you need to post it on your webpage. Once I found the website and put my pictures in it was simple. Now I have a fun slide show on the top of this page. There are many other fun options. So now instead of being boring and pasting a list of pictures I will post a slideshow that displays them much more interestingly.

Now I will go and vacuum like I planned on two hours ago.

Recently someone asked me which I thought was more important to put on a blog, words or pictures? Right now I feel that pictures are enough. I am out of energy to write many words, so I will leave you with more pictures from the mural.

Lesson of the day: Always check on your flight a few days before you are supposed to leave.

I have never done this regularly, and typically trust the system too much. Yesterday I brought the last team member to the airport and found out her flight no longer existed. The travel agent forgot to notify her of this change, and we forgot to check.

So I had company last night. We watched the movie my mom sent me with this team (Along Came Polly) and I enjoyed having company for dinner. I love to cook, but I do not like cooking for myself. Besides that I faded in and out of sleep all afternoon and evening, truly worn out and in need of rest.

Now its back to teaching and trying to work out that schedule.

Mural pictures

I finally have some more pictures of the mural work for you. After the sketch was on the wall the students started applying color. These are a few pictures of the work throughout the week.









And the final product:


Ta Da...doesn't it look great. I was pretty impressed.


This is what I spent most of my days doing, since I am not a painter:

Drinking coffee

Talking with soldiers

Driving (usually my hands were on the wheel. I think I had just killed a fly and was trying to wipe it off my hands.)

Mural update

Yea, I am happy, I got 9 hours of sleep last night. It was so nice to be able to go to bed knowing I could sleep a long time. Although I thought I would get so much accomplished being home this morning it looks like I will have time to update this blog, run to the post office to pick up a package, make and eat lunch, and head out to the mural site. At least I got caught up on some much needed sleep. I believe my tiredness was causing me to be a bit emotional yesterday, and that wasn't a good combination with the guys harassing me. Thankfully after I hid in a corner for awhile and read my bible I had a better attitude and just started joking about my new boyfriend. I will try to find some pictures later, you all will be impressed.

As for an update on the mural, its coming along great. My co-worker took the team out to the site this morning to do some final touch-ups. I will be heading there a bit later with the translators. This afternoon we will have a small dedication ceremony for the mural and then a fun (hopefully) party. The US military band is even coming to play for our party. It should be a good time for all.

The last couple days went very well. The students who helped paint the mural have bonded well with the team and it looks like they are working hard, but also having fun. We also offered some art classes this week to give the rest of the kids hanging around something to do. The first few days of those there was not much interest, then it became chaotic so many people were there, and finally yesterday, the last day of classes, it was down to a nice orderly fashion.

The highlight of my day - knowing that I get to sleep in tomorrow.

The worst part of my day - being cornered by two annoying guys, one telling me "I love you." (the only English words he knows. He asked me to marry him the other day. I don't think he understands "no" even in his own language.) Why can't I be this popular with American guys?

I am exhausted, but finally have a few more pictures (thanks Mary) so I will post a couple from this past Saturday when we went up into the mountains for my birthday.

After a busy weekend of kids club and sightseeing its nice to be back to the mural. Now I just need to see if I can find a place to take a nap during the day, since I do not seem to find enough time to sleep at night. Where do the hours go? But I think I remember the not so distant days when I complained I had too much free time. I sure won't do that again.

Really, overall the mural is coming along great. This week we have had warm sun every day. The mural is coming together and starting to look good. Its especially fun to realize that its the local high school students who have done almost all the painting. The team from America has just directed and supervised the mural.

Another fun part about this mural is that I have gotten to know some of the American military here in this country. For the past three years I have been trying to get on to the American base, with no success. Now I have some friends and I think I will be able to get on with no problem - at least until they leave in December...and by then maybe I will make some more military friends. Today I even got some chow hall Mexican food. It was a bit cold and mushy, but still Mexican. And one guy said he would bring me diet Dr. Pepper tomorrow if I would give him some water today - we'll see if he follows through on that one. (Yes I know, I am working hard over here.)