(Friday, January 7 Day 200)

"The contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. Government or the Peace Corps."

Phrase of the day: Adios cabana madera; Bienvendios a mi casa nueva... Goodbye wood-hut; Welcome to my new home.

Sorry I haven't emailed many of you back in quite some time. I've been pretty busy moving in to my new place, a small apartment below the home of my previous host family.

So far I've only moved in all my things, put things in order, and had the place painted. I haven't fixed it up completely just yet, but that will happen little by little each time I get paid. I'm hoping to make picture frames and put those up in the next few weeks.

The living room before (looking in from the outside door):

The living room after (looking at the door from the kitchen):

The bathroom before/after (it still needs work, like a door perhaps?):

The kitchen before (yeah, chose those colors??):

The kitchen after (don't mind the messy table, I'm still in the process of fixing things):

The bedroom/shower before:

The bedroom/shower after:

Next to my bed I put in some hooks, a plastic shelf, and my "closet". I'm working on a wooden bookshelf for my bedroom too.

And by "room" always, I just meant space. Really there is only one door in the place, the front door.

I did get to use my wood-working skills (or lack there of) to make a frame for my window to keep the mosquitoes out.

So far it's working pretty well.

Speaking of mosquitoes, I put mosquito netting on all of the windows and cracks in this place. You know me and bugs; no gracias.

Some of the highlights, besides my future picture frames, are my dish drying rack with lid (to keep the bugs out):

And all of my food! I have Nestle Fitness cereal, granola, pasta, pretzels, nutri-grain bars, and an entire tupperware container filled with oreos, skittles, starburst, and chocolate. (Actually, the chocolate is in my little fridge). Ridiculous. No one send me anymore candy, please. I'm going to have so many cavities when I leave here, ha.

Who ever thought living on your own would be a good idea? I don't think I've been more lonely in my life... but that will be a good thing. I will start working out again, and I will get my projects on track! If not, I'll see you home sooner than two years, haha. Oh my, cannot wait to be home!