~If one day you wake up and find that you're missin me...~

Well, I just got done taking all the students' names off of their mailboxes. It was a symbolic way for me to say goodbye to each of them, and as I pulled of each name, memories about each one came flooding back to me, and I just took a little time to think good thoughts and send prayers and positivity their way...
One time I heard someone say that relationships never end, they only change. This is how I feel about "goodbyes". Even if you don't see that person ever again, you've still got a relationship with them, it's just different than it was before. So I'm sure I'll talk to you guys again, and hopefully someday we'll have a sweet reunion. Goodbyes don't suck as much as you might think. Really, it's just like an extended "nos vemos." :) It's just the closing of one way of knowing someone, and then new and exciting moments come into your life and you go on living and loving and growing, all the while remembering and cherishing the past good times. This is what i wish for anyone reading this...
and so if any of my LASPers are reading this, I miss you! And I hope you all have a magnificent homecoming and a wonderfully wonderful new year! :) You had the best semester ever (I hope!) so now go and make 2010 the best year ever. :)
Much love.
Laura Intern

This is the day, your life will surely change...

(click on title of blog to see pictures on Facebook)

Well, I have officially returned from CUBA, and the LASP students have all left and will be returning to their homes tomorrow. I was so sad to say goodbye to them all, they were such an amazing group of students and I am so happy that they were my first group as an intern. So if any of you are reading this, THANKS for being awesome! :)

I figured the easiest way to blog about my Cuba trip would be to just type up my short journal entries from the trip. Enjoy!

Nov. 30- Lunes

It's the last day of Nov. and I'm in CUBA! What? :) It was so weird to get off the plane last night, realizing where we are! They are freaking out about swine flue here, so everyone working in the airport was wearing a maks. Crazy. Today began our 1st day in Cuba, and it has been awesome! We went all ove rthis morning- to the Plaza de la Revolucion, Old Habana (where we had mojitos where Ernest Hemingway stayed) and saw a beautiful view from the rooftop. We even saw where daquiris were invented in Habana! Sweet :) This place just has such an elegant, mysterious charm to it, and I can see why it was such a hotspot to travel to before the blockade! No wonder so many tourists come here form other countries: it's beautiful! The Museum de la Revolucion was very interesting today, filled with a LOT of Cuban history, not just of the Revolution. After dinner we went to the largest fort built by Spain in the Americas to see the Canonazo. It's a ceremony they used to do when Habana was surrounded by walls, and at 8pm each night they would call people in by shooting off a canon. Now they re-enact it every night at 9pm. I was surprised by how many people came, but they did turn parts of the fort into museums/galleries/shops/restaurants so it makes a little more sense. :) It was a great day, & we all CRASHED when we got back. So far, totally awesome! Go Cuba!

Dec. 1, Martes

I've said it already, but I'll say it again Cuba is complex. Well, I guess the world is complex, but htis is the first time I just feel lost about politics, economics, culture & how they all interact. Seriously, it's nuts! This morning we went to a bodega, where people go monthly to pick up their ration, which usually includes: chicken, eggs, rice, beans, cooking oil, soap, etc., Ariel (our guide) told us this ration is usually enough to last 12-15 days. When the people use it all up, there are markets where they can use their salaries (in Cuban pesos) to buy food from farmers, as well as other stores where they can buy clothes, appliances, etc. Maybe I should explain a bit about Cuban money. Cuban pesos are the money used by the government (aka NOT hard currency) just inside the country, then there are CUC's (Convertible Currency, also called pesos) which is the money used by tourists and people from outside the country. Basically, 24 Cuban Pesos = 1 CUC and 1 CUC = 1.25 US Dollars. I just can't get over how awesome it is that every person, from the day they're born, receives enough food for 1/2 the month. And ALL healthcare free, AND education (even university!). I mean, I know it isn't a perfect system, but I feel like people in places like Nicaragua would be psyched for that kind of system! So I just feel like Cuba is this amazingly inspiring place that's tuck to their guns and said, "screw you, US government! We're going to live out what we believe in with or without you!" I love the spirit of independence and solidarity here among the Cuban people. Tonight we are going to a house that used to belong ot Batista to see folkloric dancing, & then tomorrow we're going to a hospital and 2 schools,which should be extremely interesting!

Dec. 2, Miercoles

To say that today has been awesomely informative would be an understatement! First we visited an elementary school, which was interesting. In Cuba, all classes are 20 students or less, due to the great number of teachers. Awesome! And we saw this 6 yr. old named Braulio who could recite poetry/speeches like nobody's business. It was crazy impressive! Then we visited a cardiovascular hospital for children, which was very impressive as far as achievements go: Sophisticated machinery, no waiting list (often an argument against this type of healthcare system). Did you know that Cuba has the largest number of doctors working in a country other than the one they are from? Cuban doctors are volunteering their services all over, especially in Latin America and Africa. I still can't get over the fact that healthcare is free, as well as all the education! Nuts. Our last trip took us to a school for mentally & physically handicapped children that is a partial boarding school during the week, & that provides hands-on training for those who can't learn academically beyond a certain level. The people working there are so inspiring to me- all these people are! They live real, concrete solidarity every day! I guess you could say they were/are "forced" to do so in some ways, but I just feel like after 50 years of the revolution, it has now become a key element of the culture in Cuba, more of a mentality. I don't know, its' just so different than any other place i've been. I think there are many positive things Fidel and the revolution have brought to Cuba, and we are only doing ourselves a disservice by ignoring that.

Dec 5, Sabado

A LOT has happene din these last 3 days! Thursday for lunch we were all given 20 Cuban pesos (aka less than $1) to go out near the U of Habana & buy lunch. Basically, this is the same (or slightly more) than what some Cubans make in a whole day from their work. We were able to find hamburgers and juice for 11 pesos (the hamburger and drink) for each person, and they filled us up pretty well, but that means we spent half a day's salary eating out at just one meal. Crazy. Also, we tried getting ice cream later in the day, but it was a nicer place that didn't accept Cuban pesos, only CUC's, and we didn't even have half a CUC. So it was interesting to wonder how Cubans feel compared to tourists (and Cubans who have access to hard currency) who can eat wherever they want, while the Cubans themselves are then basically excluded from those places. Hmm. Thursday night we went to Gregory Bini's house, who is a Canadian that lives in Cuba. It was interesting to hear his story, as he was very interesting and inspiring as he told us about his belief in the Cuban model, how he studied and then taught at the U of Habana, married a Cuban, and now lives in Cuba working in consulting with different government agencies. He was just so candid, yet knowledgeable and passionate, which was very inspiring. That night we had our first free night, so a bunch of us went to a Jazz club called El Cuervo y La Zorra, where they had some GREAT live music and, oddly, a bunch of people from the states! They were mostly there illegally (some for the 5th time), but then some had musicians' visas. Yesterday (friday) we spent our day driving from Habana to Matanzas, stopping along the way to see some sights. We ate lunch at a seminary, where we heard THE best chamber choir I've heard in my life. They gave me goosebumps and filled my eyes with tears. When we got to Varadero (aka the BEACH!) we immediately changed and ran to the sand, and then after dinner headed to a place called Calle 62. It's basiclaly a big open dance area & bar on a stree. Tons of people showed up, and we had a great time with our Cuba Libres and dancing with Cubans and even talking with some Canadian guys who were shocked to see people from the states in Cuba! So now today (Saturday) is beach day, which I'm psyched about! Bring on the sun! :)

Dec 7, Lunes

Today we left Cuba. How sad! But it was a marvelous trip and I enjoyed it to the fullest! Saturday night we went dancing again at Calle 62, and it was very fun to spend the last night at the beach dancing! :) Yesterday morning (Sunday) we went to a Presbriterian church, and afterwards we returned to Habana to stay in the MLK Center for our last night. We ate in Ariel's (our guide's) house, because his wonderful mother cooked some GREAT food for us, and afterwards we spent a few hours dancing at the house of someone who is part of a group that plays Cuban music and teaches Cuban dances. It was awesome to share the last night with the whole group, as well as with Javier, Ariel (guide) and Alberto (the translator). I still can hardly believe I was actually in CUBA. It seems strange to me how I felt there. I have never felt the way I did there on any other trip. I think it's because many people from the states have strong opinions about Cuba, even though they don't know anything about the country, and now I have a perspective that is different from that of many of those people. I am very excited to share what I saw, learned, and what I felt in Cuba. It's a country that is relaly very impressive and it inspired me to think about how we could make other economic systems work better for the PEOPLE of those countries. I was to use my voice to give a new perspective on Cuba, I also want to use my voice to try and show those working in the US government that it is finally time to let Cuba be Cuba, not a place under blockade. They need to recognize (as does much of the rest of the world!) the good that is in Cuba: the healthcare system, the educational system, and Cuban solidarity. For too long we have been told lies about Cuba, and it is now time to respect the country and the way that it wants to govern itself. Cubans deserve the opportunity to live as they wish.

*Extra note: Cuba's government is Communist (meaning only one political party is allowed by the constitution) but the people still VOTE, and only 10% of the population is a member of the Communist party. AKA: people have a choice, they have elected Fidel for the last 50 years, and they do not have to elect representatives that are members of the communist party. It's still a democracy, just a different one than ours. The economy is socialist, not communist.*

CUBA CUBA here I come!

Today, I go to CUBA!
....and I will be friends with Fidel when I come back. ;)

Totally Tuesday

Well, the students will officially be back here in San Jose TOMORROW! And then begins the insanity of running around (and heading to CUBA!) until they all return to the states on the 8th of December. Whew. How crazy that the whole semester is almost over! Every time I think about it, my mind spins a little. 3 months have gone by like 3 minutes. literally. So I'm sad to think about saying goodbye to them, but excited for the possibilities of the coming year. :)
It's hard not to miss home, with Thanksgiving on Thursday and all, but I am excited to celebrate here with the staff at Laura & Trevor's and to celebrate even more with a trip to Cuba. :) And then my family will be here on the 17th of December, which makes me REALLY happy! Basically right now I just want to listen to Christmas music, make cookies (or maybe just eat them ;) ) and watch ELF. Because, that's Christmas, combined of course with family and friends, who I miss like crazy! But I am having such a wonderful experience here that I wouldn't trade it for the world!! Or for cozy slippers and hot chocolate on a cold winter night. Nope. This holiday season will definitely be different, but that's nothing negative. I'm smiling at the thought of new experiences for this month of celebration. :) Thanks God for that chance!!!

Funny the way it is, if you think about it...

So I've officially decided that life goes by way too fast. We just realized the other day that in TWO MONTHS a whole new group of students will be here. And saturday I just realized I've already been here for three months. Which means there are only 7 left. Which may seem like a lot, but really, it's not much.
So needless to say, I'm freaking out about time. The future. Changing everything again. I know life is about change, and normally, I'm cool with that. But I think I've just had SO much change in the past year (going to CR, leaving CR, graduating from college, leaving home to come back to CR, etc etc) that I'm going a little nuts. :) Haha this is not to worry anyone, just to say it out loud: I'm having a small freakout time about what is to come. But just as I was really starting to freak out in the past month, lots of good things have been happening. For example, I had an interview with MVS that went really well, and got me excited about that possibility for the next year. Very positive. And this weekend I had a great, great, GREAt time in Naranjo, which was really calming and made me happier than I've been in quite a while, actually. Friday night at the prayer service we were in groups of 2 and prayed for each other, and it was something I really, really needed. I kneeled on the ground and just cried to God, praising and worshipping and loving ina way that I haven't done for a long time. Most definitely refreshing spiritually for me, and a good chance to reconnect with God.
We had a surprise party sunday night for one of the girls of the church, and it was a total, total, BLAST! For the first time since I've been back, it was like we were all great friends again, just like the old days without all the awkwardness of Andres being weird and grumpy and none of us really talking or hanging out. Nope. We all hung out, talked, and had just a totally awesome time.
So while I'm freaking out a little bit about what's next (Even though I kknow i've got plenty of time and can chill a little bit!) I'm still living in the moment. I'm still enjoying the beautiful view I have each day, the wonderful chances I have to share with new and old friends, and the breath of God's spirit living in me. Life is good, even in the middle of chaos. :)
OH: officially ONE MONTH until my family is here!!!!!!!! :) and officially 12 days until CUBA!!!! :) see? life rocks after all. ;)

Just because everything's changing, doesn't mean it's never been this way before...

Wow, I've gotten bad at this!! I'll work on keepin up with the Jones' and blogging a little more often. For my own sanity and yours. :)

Life is still going well, the students have all headed off on their internships/homestays throughout Costa Rica (and some are even back in Nicaragua!). So it's been quiet around the office, which is strange, but not too bad! Starting tomorrow, Javier and I will be going around and visiting the LASC students for the next week, all over Costa Rica! So we will have some long days ahead of us!

In other news, this past Monday and Tuesday I was in La Fortuna with the International Business Concentration students (IBC). We first visited EARTH University in Limon, which was amazing! Students from all over the world come there, and all leave with a degree in egronomics (i think that's what it is, basically some kind of agricultural degree), so they all do the same program. The university was partially funded by USAID and other world organizations, to bring together people who are interested in sustainable business/agricultural practices. Many of the students are on at least a 50% scholarship (the school is $30,000 a year, which for most of the people would be at least twice of what their families make in a year) up to %100 scholarships. But then there are suuuuper rich students who also go there and pay the full price (rich as in, they arrive sometimes in helicopters. yup). It must be a fascinating school to attend! But anyway, all the students follow the same program, in which they divide up into groups of 6 people, and have to start their own business that puts into practice what they've learned in the university. The university gives each group a $3,000 loan, and then they actually make the business. It's so awesome, because it's not just theory, they really DO what they're learning! And some have made large profits off their businessess. It's just a really cool place! They even have a banana paper-making center, where they take leftover banana stalks, grind them into the pulp, and make paper out of it! Super cool. :)

After EARTH, we headed to La Fortuna, where Arenal Volcano is located. Unfortunately we didn't get a good view of the Volcano, since it's rainy season and all, so I have no pictures. But dont' worry, I'll be sure to go back. :) But we stayed in these great cabinas, and went to Eco Termales that night (AKA Hot springs!!!). The guy who owns it is a graduate of EARTH, so that was a really cool tie-together! They make their own natural cleaner from microorganisms that eat bacteria, they process all the waste to make fertilizers, and use the methane gas to cook the food in their gas stoves, i mean, it's unbelievable! They waste nothing there, it's just really astounding and inspiring! (Not to mention the hot springs are BEAUTIFUL and awesome to relax in!!! :) So all in all it was a great time, and then I got to return on my own on Tuesday, taking random busses and figuring out how to get back to San jose. So that was an adventure all its own! :)

Last night my host sister Maria Fernanda and I went over to the neighbor lady's house to hang out with her son and his girlfriend, which was fun! We had some wine, and then he taught us how to dance a little (since he used to be a dance instructor!) It was a lot of fun, especially to spend time with my host sister outside of the house! :) Very relaxing, and very fun! :)

All in all, life is great here, I am loving the independence I have, although at times it still can get lonely not having people who I've been friends with for a long time. But the students are amazing, and the staff..well, I just love them all! And I know they're all here for me no matter what! :) So thanks for your amazing prayers, and I am very excited to hear how you all are doing as well!! Much love my friends and family!!!

Paz

LA PLAYA!

Well I suppose it's time for another update from the world of la Pura Vida. This past weekend (10-12) I traveled to Manuel Antonio, in the province of Puntarenas, with two of the students, Rachel Brown and Lauren Drake. I had never been there before, so it was a new experience for all of us, which was exciting to share! Trevor (one of the staff members here) drew me what came to be called "The Magic Trevor Map" which was basically one of the most detailed, well-drawn maps I've ever seen. Haha. But seriously! He told us lots of good places to stay, good beaches to go to, and good places to eat. And boy, was he right! We basically just followed the map around for all the things we wanted to do. It was a life saver, because none of us knew anything about Manuel Antonio before we arrived!

Saturday morning we left early from San Jose, for the 4 hour bus ride. Once we got to Manuel Antonio/Quepos area, we began the 2 hours of walking around looking for somewhere to stay. The first place we walked in offered us $60 a night, but we had no view, so we thought we could find something better. Thus, we wandered up and down this road for a while, finding places from $85-185 a night (and this is the low travel season). Eventually we were hot, tired, and wanted to be at the beach. So we wandered back to the first place, who then told us they now had a room with a view available (it was always available, they just weren't going to give it to us in the first place unless we haggled a little). We took it, done deal, with a pool and breakfast included. Awesome. So we wandered around after dropping off our stuff, and spent most of the afternoon at this very secluded beach called Playa Biesanz, which was nice. That night we hit up a Tapas bar called Salsipuedes, then headed back to relax in the AC of our room. Awesome.
Sunday we got up early for a delicious breakfast, then headed to el Parque de Manuel Antonio, which basically is jungle/beach area all in one. The first beach we got to was awwweeesome (see picture) and we stayed there most of the day before heading to the other side of the peninsula to the other beach, where we had fun exploring on the rocks. Then we hit up this place called Barba Roja (Red Beard's) for a yummy supper and dessert. Loved it.

Our last morning (Monday) we got up, ate breakfast, then spent an hour in the pool, since we had to check out early and head back to Quepos to catch a bus to San Jose. We just had a great time wandering all around and getting to know the place. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend, and I finally worked on my tan a little. :) It's nice to break up the monotony of life once in a while with these trips! :)

Yesterday (Friday) was the students' last day at ICADS (spanish classes) and so we went over in the afternoon for their graduation, which was fun! :) Then I went out with Trevor and Laura for a little snack time and relaxation after a crazy couple of weeks.

I also have been going to the gym now, which is awesome! I just signed up on the 9th, it's a brand new gym just a little up the hill from LASP, so I usually walk there from work most days. It has been great to work out, and since I paid for it, I really make myself go all the time. I am liking it, and looking forward to see how my "training plan" will help me out! :)

Basically, life is going really well here! I am truly feeling comfortable now, and really enjoying what I am doing and especially the people that I am working with! The only cruddy part is that I know I'm only here until May..and so now I've got to start applying to different things I may want to do after this experience..but I really have no clue at all what I would like to do. Bah. Asi es life, right? We'll see how that goes in the coming weeks. :)

Well, I love you all and miss you like crazy! I can't wait to hear from you!!!
Peace.

Nicaragua: Lots of food. Lots of love.

Well, we just returned from a 12 day trip to the beautiful country of Nicaragua. As usual, it has opened my eyes anew to love and hospitality. In Nicaragua, food = love. Well, maybe it's more accurate to say that food is a Nicaraguan love language. They show us their love and hospitality with plates filled with gallo pinto, eggs, and the infamously salty strong-smelling Nicaraguan cheese. They sit and watch us eat, as we smile and shove the food down our already-full throats, our stomaches literally expanding minute by minute. They kill one of their chickens, just to feed us chicken. They run to the pulperia for Coke, just so we can drink it. Nicaraguan food is not just sustenense, it's a labor of love for the visitor; a hallmark of great Nicaraguan hospitality.

We were welcomed into this world of hospitality for one week during our Nicaraguan trip, when we all lived near/around the capital city of Managua with different host families. I lived with a pastor and his wife outside of the city of Masaya, sharing time with them and their 5 year old daughter Genesis. It was a week of being: sitting in a chair with a fan pointed on me (more hospitality) while my host sister and I colored and drew pictures. A week of sharing with my host mom, when she was less shy and talked to me more, a week of riding in the back of pickups, a week of drinking more Coke than I have in the last 4 years (literally) and loving it, a week of processing and thinking about what life looks like here. I had a great time sharing with my family and learning from them, as well as learning from the other students in my group and their families.

One girl lived with a family who makes hammocks and sells them for a living. Basically the whole family works together to make hammocks/bracelets, and they make a total of about 10 hammocks a month. When we were at the border I saw people selling hammocks for $5 each. So, if this family sells theirs for $5 each, and they actually sell all 10, that would be $50. For a large family. For a month. Yeah. They were just the sweetest, most awesome people ever. So happy, always laughing and smiling, and always happy to share with us. Hermana Marta (the woman who makes the hammocks) even was paid by our host families to make one for each of us. How awesome is that, to have a hammock from the woman I know made it? And how challenging to look at it everyday and realize the reality that her family lives in. Now that's a gift.

This is the Nicaraguan adventure: sharing with people, making comparisons, trying not to rush to judgements about culture/poverty/etc, feeling lost, frustrated, and confused. And at the same time, feeling loved in ways we never imagined we would feel. This is why we do it, this is why we love it: Nicaragua.

On a side note that isn't so deeply reflective, I also celebrated my 23 birthday in Nicaragua! So that was really exciting! We were in Granada, and on my birthday we took a tour of the little islands that are along the shore in Lake Nicaragua (one of the largest freshwater lakes in the entire world, where a canal was originally supposed to have been built instead of in Panama, but that's another story entirely) and it was GORGEOUS and so fun! :) I had a great time just relaxing with the students as we all worked to process our week in Nicaragua, and just enjoyed living life together in a new place. We had some awesome lunch on an island, had a monkey commandeer our boat, and ended the night with some great pizza and cheesecake! (I know, I could hardly believe it either!) :)

All in all, it was a great 12 days that I wouldn't trade for anything. Glory to God for all the relationships formed and lessons only begun to be learned from this trip. What a blessing we all have been given through these opportunities. :)

Amor to you all. I miss you mucho mucho. :)

PS: If you don't have facebook and would like to see fotos, check out this link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2014222&id=137900097&l=1cb2fc74fb

It's supposedly supposed to allow you to see pictures on facebook even if you don't have facebook. test it out and let me know. :) LOVE!

We went to Limon!!! Now....Nicaragua!!!

Sooo...we went to the beach! Playa Cahuita, to be exact, in the Limon province. It was great!! So let's just do this day-by-day :)
-Friday: We headed towards the Atlantic coast on Friday morning after a charla with Alex Grant about race/diversity in Costa Rica, specifically in the Limon province. It was a great thought-provoking charla, that allowed us to be honest about some previously held ideas about race and racial interactions in our own context. On our 3 hour drive to Limon (yes, that means Lemon), we stopped at coffee, pineapple, and banana plantations. Did you know pineapples grow on the ground and not in a tree? True story. And a banana "tree" is actually a banana PLANT. Keep 'em straight. Anyway, at the banana plantation it was so weird to be there (for my 2nd time) and to just see again all the people that work everyday packaging bananas for the US and Europe. We wanted to go out and walk among the banana plants like we did my semester, but they had just sprayed pesticides, and so we weren't allowed to go into the field. Hm. But there were workers out there, and we EAT the bananas out there, but we couldn't walk among them? I don't know, that's just weird to me. People always ask, but isn't it better that these people are being given "good" jobs instead of just left alone? I don't know, is it really better to work in a job where you don't get paid a fair wage, where you're exposed to pesticides that can cause sicknesses? Complicated.
So the rest of Friday was spent getting to Limon, and then I went out with the staff for a good supper at the Black Star Line Restaurante, where we had some good rice and beans (they say it in english in limon!) and then we headed to TCBY for some yummy desert! :)
-Saturday: We traveled from the center of Limon to the Kekoldi BriBri reservation, where for the first time I translated (!!!) that was so exciting! It went a lot better than I had thought, the time flew by, it felt like 2 minutes to me but really she talked to us for 2 hours! Crazy! :) We went to the beach, which was beautiful, and it only rained just a lil bit! :) Haha then we saw some monkeys, who got really close to us and tried to steal all our delicious fruits! Jerks. But they were cute (minus when they were hissing at us and showing their sharp little teeth!) Then that night we all ate together at the same Black Star restaurant, and we danced the night away, sweating our butts off in the hot humid weather, and we even had an impromptu limbo contest, which was awesome!! :) Then we headed back to the hotel and I chilled on the porch with a bunch of students, talking about deep stuff and not so deep stuff, and just sharing life together. It was great! :)
-Sunday: We headed to a Methodist church in the morning, where they sang hymns (totally awesome!) and the people were sooo amazing, they made us feel totally and completely welcome! :) On the drive back we watched Monsters inc, which was a great bonding experience as usual! :) Then we all finally arrived back in San Jose and headed back to our host families after a great weekend of activity and yet, relaxation. :)
So now things are in a bit of a whirlwind at the office as we prepare to head to nicaragua at 6:30 am monday morning! :) I am very excited, and not as anxious about it as the first time around, I think now I'm a little more able to do this "one day at a time" thing, and not worry about anything until it's actually happening to me. :) So pray for open hearts, and for us to see how God is working through us and in us. Pray for our host families, that we will not too badly disrupt their lives, and that we can show them hospitality and compassion like they are going to show us. :)
Thanks for reading, know that you are all daily in my thoughts and always in my prayers!!!
Con Amor.

Vamos a la playa!

We are going to the beach!
Well, okay, not right now, but on Saturday we will be in Limon ("we" meaning the whole group) and at the BEACH. Ahh. I'm psyched, obviously. :) But in other news...
So, I talked to Andres on Monday night, and it was actually a really good convo. I confronted him about ignoring us, and he told me that if I hadn't been with the other girls (who his gf doesn't like, and vice versa) that they would've come to say hi, but his gf feels really weird around them. So, I guess I could partly accept that, but not totally. Whatever. And I apologized for also not taking the initiative and going up to greet them, but I didn't really feel like it was my place. Sort of awkward. But we talked it through, which was good. And then he told me that he and his gf are thinking about going to another church, where they can make some mutual friends and she won't have to feel so awkward, which sounds like it would probably be the best situation. So anyways, it's over for good, but I think that at least some friendship remains, which is what I hoped most for. Whew. Complication-over.
Laura Frey is completely back on the market, folks. Tell your friends.
Haha okay well don't get that extreme. ;)
Thanks again for reading and praying! Know that I am missing you all and praying for you as well!! Much love and peace to you all!!! HUGS!