~1/2 Way to Honduras

I left Dickinson today after a nostalgic week of spending time with family and friends saying goodbyes. If I missed saying bye to you, then I probably don't care that much about you. E/B!

So, yes Mom, the title of this blog means "just kidding," and since that's probably my most commonly spoken phrase, I figured the best way to memorize it en Espanol was to write it someplace where I'd see it regularly. I don't think anyone uses E/B in place of J/K, but I didn't bring my "pocket" Oxford dictionary that has the text translations.

Here are my brief plans: 1) arrive in Houston (check) for staging. 2) accompany 57 other PC volunteers who will be serving in Honduras for a brief orientation 6/22. 3) wake up at 2:30 AM to catch the bus to the airport for Honduras on 6/23. 4) arrive in Honduras. 5) meet host family and go to sleep 6) wake up early to get to my first day of Pre-service training. I'll be in Zarabanda, Honduras living with a host family for my first few days, and I'll tell you their names (with pictures?) soon.

But as for now, I'm already missing home, so no exotic pictures yet!

This was a perfect napping spot for my cousin Jace and I on one last badlands hike. This was on the Summit Trail (thank you National Forest Service!) in ND. --photo credit Becky Hamann.

I will miss the smell of sweet clover this time of year; it is hard to leave ND in June!

And then of course, I have to add pictures that I took with the Canon. Eli was bummed about his tumbled bike, but I don't think he realized what it meant when I said I'd be gone for a long time. Right after I told him what I was doing, including explaining WHY I'm going to Honduras, he goes, "Oh, and then we can come here [Patterson Lake] an go swimming when you go home? Like tomorrow when you come home you can take me swimming." I have to admit, though I've dreamed of doing something like the Peace Corps since high school, those darn cute kids made it tougher than I'd ever have imagined to leave home! And while I'm thinking of my nietos, I better be fair and include Cain and Ally's second child, Roscoe Jr.

Goodnight!