Life: Una Montaña Rusa (A Roller Coaster)

     Over the months, I've taken many notes about what I might write about on my blog, but none of them seem to fit when I get down to writing.  It's more about what's happening at the time and how I'm feeling when I sit down to write.
     So while April was the month of surprises, May was the month of the Roller Coaster, or La Montaña Rusa (literally, the Russian Mountain).
     We experienced our first high on La Montaña Rusa, early in May when we took our first trip to the States since we've been in PC.  We flew to Georgia where Chad's folks live.  They picked us up, treated us to good 'ole fashion Southern hospitality including black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread. The next day we drove onto Asheville together for Hannah's graduation.  Hannah now has her MS degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner.  Since her graduation, she has not only passed her licensing exam, but also was offered a job at what she describes as her "Dream Job"!  It's at a Community Clinic, near Asheville, where she will get to serve the Spanish speaking population, as well as all others.  She's quite excited!

Ken and Alice Romano, Hannah, Chad and us      

   The rest of the family came the following week; thus the celebrations continued for Birthdays, beautiful Spring days, Summit Dog days, Lazy days on the river, opening of New Belgium Brewery, Biltmore Mansion tour, Bent Creek hikes and anything else we could think of to celebrate!

Noah and Allie in front of their Dream Home.  The Biltmore Mansion.

Inside a tunnel on the Biltmore grounds; just jumping 'cause we can

Floating on the French Broad, just 5 minutes from Hannah and Chad's house

Emilee only fell 3x from the Paddle Board!  Francis didn't fall at all.

Enjoying some of the fresh brews at New Belgium after a hard day on the river. Felt like we were back in the Fort!

Emilee and her Niece Dog, Summit

Outside time at Hannah and Chad's

We returned to our classes at the school, where I'm teaching 2nd graders Mindfulness activities, to strengthen their Corteza Prefrontal, or La Parte Intelligente (the smart part of the brain), by learning to calm themselves and pay attention better.  We have fun with Mindful Movement, listening and breathing activities.

All the while this has been going on, Francis had been suffering with significant joint pain for months and juggling work with waiting for appointments to see specialists.  After returning from Asheville, he was finally diagnosed w/ Polymyalgia Rheumatica (which Hannah first diagnosed correctly when we were there), and he was put on steroids with immediate relief.  So while he's feeling much better, he just learned from PC/US that he can't be "in country" while on steroids.  Also PC, wants to make sure that he has the correct diagnosis.  And for that reason, Francis will be returning early to the states, first to Wash.DC for an unknown period of time, before going back to Colorado.  So some of you will be seeing Francis sooner than later.  Our Close of Service conference is the 2nd week of July and I don't want to miss that.  We'll talk about how to wrap up projects and transition back to the US.  For most, it's about finding jobs or going to grad school, etc.  For me, it will be a time of saying goodbye and reflecting on the last 2 years.  If Peace Corps has taught us anything, it's how to be flexible, so we are managing just fine with the news.  Mostly we're grateful for Francis' newfound health!

On the extreme low part of the Roller Coaster this month, was the death of my nephew, Austin Pieper.  Austin was taken way too soon, by the illness called depression and anxiety.  He had another side though, and that was his smiling self that most of us knew better.  He  left his legacy in being the laughter in the room and a good friend to many.  Austin was a really good listener,  one in a million and will be sorely missed.  My brother Jim's family could use many healing thoughts and prayers.  

Our last huge event of the month, which was honestly very difficult to carry out after hearing the news of Austin's death and coming down with a cold, was hosting 12 boys from an Asheville school like we did last year.  We had found host families for all of them and organized and participated in 5 days worth of activities.  Here are some of the things we planned for them:

 Cole, and his host family, the Leandro's.

The boys helped in an elementary and high school English class for a day.

Along with the Girl and Boy Scouts of our town, the boys helped us with a ceramic mural at a park.  It's a project that I hope to finish before I leave.

They helped Adolfo with a Trapiche; making syrup and sweets from sugar cane. This is something I had been wanting to be part of since I was first introduced to Tapa de Dulce.  Adolfo was extremely generous to spend his entire day doing this, just for us!  He gave us each a chunk of the "tapa de caña" the hardened sugar, to make either syrup or "Aqua Sapo", a sweet drink, that's made w/ some of the sugar, hot water and a squeeze of fresh limon.

And during the day at Adolfo's, the boys got to play in the "barro".  What a day!

And finally, we tried to wear them out on a hike up to the cross. Guess who got worn out?

Hosting the boys from Asheville, fulfills PC Goal 3, sharing the culture of CR with others from our own country.  I was happy to be involved with it and it was a lot of fun, but given the timing, it was also draining and I'm very relieved it's over.

  I'm feeling like I want to get off the roller coaster.

 Like I said in my last blog, we have gotten used to surprises during our PC service, and surprises come in good and bad forms.  They are part of the Roller Coaster of Life that we are all on.

Bendiciones a todo. 

Blessings to all.