26 weeks and counting

I am now nearing the end of my 26th week and feeling fine and hungry and large. Getting out of bed in the morning is increasingly becoming an exercise of pushing and pulling to get the whole business upright. In month eight I may need to invest in my own personal come-along. Heuris affectionately alternates his pet names for me among vaca (cow), ballena (whale), and - my personal favorite - burgado (giant snail or slug - pronounced Dominican style it comes out real pretty: vulgao).

At least the burgado isn't so huge that she can't travel... Until next Sunday I'm in Philadelphia for a pre-Christmas visit with family, and also for the cheese steaks (yum!!). Heuris remains at work in Paraiso.

This past week our good friend Kathryn left Paraiso after 2 years in the Peace Corps. She threw a rockin going away party, even though there was no electricity that night. Never fear! It is difficult to kill the spirit at a party full of Dominicans, even by candlelight. The evening was spent telling Dominican-style cuentos (jokes) and singing along to Maná songs played on a guitar by a local muchacho.

Above are some of the tigueres in attendence at said despedida (going-away party). Katy's the one with the glasses. We will all miss her like crazy.