{prairie girl in the tropics}

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we started school on monday and so far it's going well.  I'm still trying to find the right rhythm but am confident that i will.  all the kids i'm teaching are super sweet and live a simple and beautiful lifestyle here in matapalo.  one of the little girls' mamas did a foreign exchange program in high school and studied in... kansas.  at olathe east.  very close to where patrick and i grew up.  small world!

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i'm definitely missing home a little bit.  i miss my own community and have a new found appreciation for the 'independence' of lawrence.  granted, with that independence definitely comes more struggle and responsibility.  life here is much more interdependent and simple.  everyone in the community helps each other out.  we haven't been out of sueno verde much at all so we're planning a trip to town this weekend to get a little cultural exposure... and some random life supplies:)
i'm finding myself pining over seasonal changes and the festivities, traditions, and foods that accompany them.  one goal i had for this fall was to learn how to can veggies from our garden... but that'll have to wait until next year.  fall is my favorite season and i always find the change from summer to be such a relief. 

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here are some pictures from the last few days...

 delicious tamales hand made by a local family~such a treat!

 howler monkeys!

 p&a off to pan dulce~the swimming beach

 we said goodbye to our new friends, Jake and Akua, yesterday.  they are from the east coast.  we shared some stories, laughs, and beers with them...

Talon and Cayenne

 

{{some projects the kids have been working on}}

 

making butterflies out of seashells~activity for the letter 'b'

 

leaf prints

 

making candles from crayons