So I thought I was doing so good because I had thus far managed to avoid any weird illnesses, the intestinal complications I was told were inevitable, sunburn, bites, rashes, etc. Yesterday I got fried and eaten alive. The sun here is so strong that I was outside for like 10 minutes and my neck and chest are SO red. All I did was walk from the children's home to the preschool to pick up kids. Que fuerte! It doesn't really rain here but it sprinkled a bit yesterday and the misquitos came out to play. Yup, so I have lots of bites too! Oh well, at least it's not food poisoning :) It got me thinking though, I really am never outside here for more than a couple minutes. Americans and Europeans are targets for robbery is a country as poor as this, so we take a lot of extra precautions. Doors are always locked, we rarely walk places, and we're always together (so you don't have to worry mom!). Still, I can't imagine living in a place like this for an extended period of time. It definitely makes me appreciate the freedom I have in the US. And no matter how long I am here, I will never blend. Yesterday, I went with Mama Meche and Montse to the store and EVERYONE on the street actually left their houses to come out and stare at me. Makes me never want to be famous. That much attention is kind of unnerving. Maruja tried to tell me it's because I'm so pretty, but I know they've never seen a woman even close to my height. I have to find a pic of Wally and my dad and I :)