(Tuesday, March 22, Day 274)

"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: Despues de dos semanas: un fuego, un mural, y la clasura del programa vacional... Two weeks later: a fire, a mural, and the conclusion of the vacation program.

Things have been going as usual. Well maybe not completely as usual, but they have been going. The other day there was a fire in one of the houses near the center of town. Needless to say, these bamboo houses don't stand a chance against fires.

The family who lived there are friends of Susana, my host-cousin and the president of the local youth group. She rounded up the kids, and we all went out to collect money, food, and clothing for the family. It was a great.

Aerobics has been continuing as usual. More and more women have been coming lately. It's by far the most succesful project in San Isidro. I will hopefully post a video in a few days to show you our skills. Soccer after aerobics has become a regular. (Yeah, just imagine it less blury).

The vacation program has come to an end; the kids will be starting school in two weeks. The other day I went to Bahia to give the students names to the municipiality so that they could print certificates.

As I was traveling in the Costa Norte, I thought how cool it would be to work as one of the guys who collects the money. They're always on the outside of the car, having a great time. No worries Bubs, I won't apply for their job.

The closing ceremony itself went well. I made a video of my students saying different phrases in English and Spanish.

Kasie had hers speak in front of the extremely large crowd. There were over 120 students and family members.

We passed out the certificates and took lots of pictures.

Kasie and the youth group had a mural painted in the center of town. They spoke to an artist and he said he'd do it for free if they provided the paint. It looks really nice and it has a great message.

The phrase above the mural says: Cuando hayas talado el ultimo arbol, Cuando hayas matado el ultimo animal, Cuando hayas contaminado el ultimo rio, Te daras cuenta de que el dinero no se come... When you've cut down the last tree, When you've killed the last animal, When you've contaminated the last river, you will realize that you cannot eat money.