September 21st - "IF I COULD JUST"

Saying goodbye is just never easy.  Saying goodbye to the Tugs was brutal.  She was super supportive and caring.  As much of an adjustment it was to give up my independence and privacy, Tuga was pretty much the ultimo.  

It was also hard to say goodbye to the other volunteers.  What am I going to do without people like Brett and Andrew to say the most inappropriate and offhanded comments possible?  I loved that training was so much fun, and I know it was the people I was with more than anything.  I have a feeling I'll be racking up the saldos trying to stay in touch.

The volunteers threw us a going away party.  The only thing that could have made the night better was if all the trainees were there.  Unfortunately the Santiago crew had to go to site right away.  What a night.  I couldn't stop dancing.  I'm pretty sure I should be highly embarrassed and blush for eternity, but no way in hell.  

It's about to be Mindelo time!!!

September 18th - "OPEN ROAD"

Nelson and the Chan da Tanque crew invited the Education volunteers over for dinner and drinks to celebrate the end of model school.  We ended up having to stay in the "city" pretty late so we decided to kill some time at Bar Z's.  Shocker.  Brian and David, two going on second year, volunteers ended up coming out also.  We had meant to leave at 7, but ended up not leaving until closer to 8.  Falling right into the laid back culture that Cabo Verde represents.  After nearly being stranded in Assomada since the Hiace stops around 7, we ended up hitching a ride on the back of a water truck.  I could not stop laughing the whole way.  Andrew, Brett, and Adeyemi standing on the back of the truck, all of us holding on for dear life.  And that was just the beginning of the night.  Dinner was really fun.  Who are we?  Sitting around eating food, drinking wine, and just passeaing (definitely not spelled correctly). I definitely sat and talked to Nelson's "Mom" and "brother" for about an hour while just about everyone else was up on the roof.  It was really fulfilling to be able to somewhat hold a conversation in Portuguese.   

In response to Mike's question, "So tell me, how hairy are your pits?"  I feel I should let you all know, so you can rest easy, as of now I'm still keeping em' smooth and clean shaven.

PORTO WATERFALL

September 13th - "NOT A RAINBOW SHOWER."

Today we went out to Ribera de Barca a.k.a. "Porto".  We left in the morning from the Plaza.  Brett and I thought it might be nice to bring a bottle of wine, but couldn't pass up the chance to bring grog that was sold in a beer bottle for a cool 100 escudos.  I didn't realize what a trek the SED's have to get to Assomada.  It was really crazy how good the timing worked out in that as we were riding along we ended up coincidentally picking up all of the other volunteers that were going.   We were lucky enough to have Chase as our guide, because there was no way we would have found the waterfall otherwise.  I for one didn't realize how far from town it was.  The waterfall was incredible.  Walking underneath it was like taking a shower.  At least it was the closest most of us have come to a real shower in a very long time.  The walk to and from the waterfall was equally amazing.  The valley was very green and it looked a little reminisce of an oasis.  Afterwards we all went to Jaqueline's house and met her family.  We went by the water and had some food, and ended up staying out a lot later than I think any of us even realized.  At about 7 when we asked about catching an hiace back, we were told that there would be no more.  Oh man, I though Tuga was going to be pissed.  Luckily some of the LCF's were there, and Jacqueline was able to get her brother to bring us back to Assomada.  All in all another good road trip.

September 6th - "SHENANIGANS AND A PUPPY"

September 6th - "BRETT SANDWICH WITH A SIDE OF GROG"

September 6th- "THE TREE"