She will always keep her cards close to her heart

This month has gone by fast. I didn't even notice, I was too busy with co-teaching, preparing workshops, getting thing done for the Resource library project, and working on projects with Katie.

Well let's see, what did we do this month. . .

El Oro Cluster. Omnibus 105, 106, 107!

Well we had our second cluster (El Oro PCVs) meeting with volunteers from omnibus 105, 106, and 107. We ended up going to an Island off of a town called Huaquillas (bordering Peru). The island is called Isla de San Gregorio and it is a deserted island with a beautiful beach. We spent all day on the beach reading, playing Frisbee, and chasing crabs. We had a great time. I got wicked tanned.

We spent the next day in Arenillas hanging out with Renee, Nate, and Maria. I like Arenillas, it is such a cute little town and it is greener than Machala. I also LOVE both Renee's and Maria's apartments, they have hammocks! We all had a blast.

In other news I failed at both my 21 days of happiness and 30 day challenge. I guess I stopped the 21 days because I got busy with teaching and the cluster meeting kinda of messed it up. As for my 30 day challenge, well it turned sour, I got bored reading about Linux and I did not really apply it. I felt like an ass not completing any of the challenges I set my self up to do. So, I decided I will redo the 21 days of happiness starting July. I hope this time I don't give up!

This month I started Cross fit. I love it and I hate it. I love that I workout my body to the point of exhaustion, no pain no gain right? And I hate it because I am so freaking sore some days I can barely move my legs. Yesterday, I was being an idiot and over did it. So today I woke up in agony, I strained my back. I feel better now that I got some helpful tips from Katie. But holy hell that was painful couldn't even bend down and touch my toes. I am not complaining I did it to myself being an idiot and all. I am happy to say I lost 6 pounds since I started, bonus I have better muscle definition!

Ben's girlfriend is here visiting him. They are so adorable together, plus she is pretty cool. We had a few nights of playing rummy and just chilling on the balcony. She will be leaving next week  :(  oh well I think she will be coming back December so it's all good. I wish her loads of luck in the job search department. God only knows I will need it too next year. 

I got great news today. We have a space for our Resource library and I got contacted by the Lincoln Library (the American Embassy library) director for a seminar in July!!!!! There are so many possibilities here, I am wicked excited. I am overflowing with excitement. I am just thrilled!

So I can't wait for next month.

Bring it on July. I am so ready.

Also I am in love with this band. These two songs are 100% AWESOME! Plus the guy that sings is such a hottie. 

Perfect song

Now this song well lets just say it hits close to home. I have felt that guy's pain many times. 

Here are the lyrics, Bring it on song lyrics

June 2 marks our one year anniversary - Omnibus 106 Ecuador!!!!

A year ago we left our families, homes, friends, pets, and comforts of the US to embark on the hardest and most rewarding of our journeys. We are giving up two years of our life to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers in Ecuador - in places where we are needed, sometimes wanted, and overall welcomed. When we left everything behind we had to create a new family from a group of strangers, rebuild our support system from scratch. Our Omnibus, our fellow volunteers from 106, are now our family, our support system, and some have become our best friends. We understand each other better than anyone else could.  Some days we are faced with homesickness, frustration, and some times depression, but other days we are faced with the most rewarding of feelings - love.  This love comes in many different forms - your students surrounding you with hugs because they have missed you, your English teacher excited to talk to you about improving their English, and another volunteer showing their support for you by giving you a swag prep-talk. All of that has happened to me and I am grateful for all of these amazing experiences.

Omnibus 106 Ecuador - TEFL, Health, Youth and Families programs. 2011 - 2013

So without further ranting, Congratulations Omnibus 106! - with a better perspective of our Peace Corps life and a year gone by we are still strong, still here, and still in good spirits.  

On to other news: 

"90 percent of your long-term happiness is predicted not by the external world, but by the way your brain processes the world. And if we change it, if we change our formula for happiness and success, what we can do is change the way that we can then affect reality. "

Katie and I have decided to start our 21 days of Happiness.  So the 21 days of happiness concept suggests that you can rewire the brain to think positive, be come more productive, and work harder by doing the following steps below for the next 21 days. By doing this you are training your brain to look for the positive in the world. 

So for the next 21 days we are going to: 

1. Write three things we are grateful for each day.
2. Send one letter of thanks, gratitude, or appreciation to someone a day.
3. Journaling about one positive thing every 24 hours.
4. Meditate everyday.
5. Exercise everyday.

Yes folks we are really doing this, we are not unhappy we just want test this concept. What better way to test then by doing it! 

And here are my three things I am grateful for:

1. I am grateful that Katie made granola, that is all I eat for breakfast these days. With fruit off course.

2. I am grateful for spell check, I could never have survived college, grad school, and Peace Corps without it. 

3. I am sooo grateful for leftovers. This chicken curry is to die for. So delicious. yummy in my tummy!

And I have decided to do the 30 day challenge as well.  I know another TED talk link, but man do I love learning new things and tedtalks are amazing. Anyway, so the 30 day challenge suggests that 30 days is the right amount of time to add or substract a new habit from your life. Don't go around doing big challenges do something small like- adding a new technological skill set in the next 30 days. That is what I will be doing. I will be learning how Linux works and how to navigate/do shit on Linux.  

So wish me luck. 

<3 <3 <3