Cashews, volcanoes, and an unlicensed pharmisist

Steakhouse flavored Cashews. My mom sent them to me. I looked at the ingredients. #2 is crack, and 3 is MSG, so they are addicting and taste good. But I am out. Christmas presents?

Phil, a monk, a sister and I hiked up a volcano (Ipala). It was great. The scenery was good, the climb was nice and best part- a lake in the top that we could swim in. All the locals said it was dangerous because it was deep. I take that to mean ¨I can´t touch the bottom, so don´t go in.¨

A medical mission came to for a week. It was inexplicable, but here it goes. We traveled to the nearby aldegas and set up a mini hospital in the clinics or schools. By the end of the week we had served 14oo people. Several were people who just needed pain relievers because they work hard. But others seriously needed professional help. One girl´s feet were so disformed she was actually walking on what should be the tops of her feet. But the one that took the cake was while I was at lunch. Sorry about the bad selection of words, it isn´t a contest, but food fits in. So I went to the church to take a break and eat. It was so hot out the three block walk made me feel even more exhausted. I leave and of course get lost- it´s three blocks- wtf? I find my way and go back to the pharmacy. Janet, my surrogate mom for a week, says ¨Did you see it?¨ What am I in for? She takes me out into the hall where 8 people are gathered around a 9 inch long roundworm in a cup. Thank god the kid was 7 and probably didn´t understand everything going on, because I never want people to take pictures of what I throw up. I want to do a project with water quality so that doesn´t happen any more. Seems worthwhile.

Besides that, the mission was great. We went out every night to eat and drink, variety and beer was great. It made me forget my butt hurt from riding in the back of a truck for 2 hours with 6 other people following another truck by 15 feet down dusty roads. But the best part was I felt like I was directly helping people instead of the slow progress that comes with teaching English. I also got to play with kids and hand out glasses to old ladies. The doctors were fun and lively and left us M&M´s. For example, we went back with them to Guatemala City and we got on a Gallo Bus. Gallo is the beer here. They pack people in, the bus cruises around town slowly while you drink and dance. Most of the people were old enough to be my parents. I think I am going to invest in starting this in the US. Again, inexplicable- so I´m done trying.