11 Days...?!?!?!

The past few days have been marked by inexplicable (or explicable by such a multiplicity of things that it is rendered inexplicable :) ) stress. It was partially cured yesterday when I went paragliding. I know, poor me, so stressed out. It was so sweet! Basically it's a couple of guys that have a truck and a parachute that drive us to the top of a huge hill, strap us on with them, and ride the wind over the canyon. I'm sure people will have pictures on facebook soon. It was awesome and only cost $25 a ride. In the States it would be a big, annoying, expensive endeavor involving training and signing things and scared to death with all the potential risks. Here it was more like driving up a tiny dirt road at 40 miles an hour and jumping off a mountain without any idea of how it was supposed to work. But it was still totally safe; the guy new what he was doing. I think I might have to devote my life to that too. If the wind is good, you can just use it as free, environmentally- friendly transportation.

In other news, my camera is M.I.A. and therefore every picture that I have taken this trip is also M.I.A. It will be really unfortunate if it doesn't turn up, but I'm trying not to freak.

Also, apparently there was another miscommunication (or lies...hard to tell) between Martha and the people who asked her about moving up the closing ceremony. She is now saying that we can't change it, even though only two people can go because everyone else has changed their flights and will be gone. :-/ oh well

It is really bizarre to be leaving. I'm realizing that I'm a pretty different person from when I left and going home is going to be wonderful and difficult. Also, I need to make money/find money that people want to give to me for doing the stuff that I want to do. I have been researching grants and scholarships for research or travel writing or something. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Also, I'm really sorry that people haven't gotten letters or post cards. I have some, but any that I have sent haven't made it and I have just been hording them here. I think about you all a lot and I am really grateful for the letters I've gotten!

Lovely quote that I have thanks to Fran's sending a book along with Dad (Thanks so much Fran! I love you!):
"Sometimes happiness is a blessing, but, generally it is a conquest." - Paulo Coelho