Hello everyone, I am in Champoton, Campeche, Mexico -- I arrived here on Tuesday.  I found an internet cafe only a short walk from the house so I should be able to write from time to time.    I love you all and hope everyone is well.  Here are some details of my time in Champoton so far.

The house I'm staying in is great -- I have a hammock in the living room with a ceiling fan so the nights aren't quite as hot... though during the day the sun is SO strong!  People are telling me that it isn't usually this hot, it's just been this week.  But who knows!  They have a TV but I am not really interested in that.  Margarita (a family friend who works for my granddad) and her mother sleep in the next room over where there is a bed and several places for hammocks as well as where we keep our clothes.  Also, Margarita´s aunt lives in another room towards the back, which is basically just her space. Another aunt lives next door.  Margarita's mom runs a little store on the front porch where she sells knick-knack type stuff as well as little treats like tamarind candies, marshmallows, small bags of cold water, and little frozen treats that she makes with milk, sugar, and various flavorings... I can't remember what they are called (something starting with "sabor" which means flavor) but they are GOOD!  There is also a dining area with a sink for washing dishes and a kitchen where there is a stove and refrigerator and all the dishes.

There is a decent toilet in the house but sometimes there isn't running water and we have to flush it manually, which is no big deal.  There is also a shower but the water isn't strong so I take my shower like everyone else in the house -- from a bucket.  Also not a big deal, just makes it a little hard to wash my hair.  My only complaint is there isn't a sink in there and we have to use a sink in the dining area to wash our hands... and since there isn't always running water, there are bowls of clean water in the sink and it's kinda tricky.  Also, you basically just have to brush your teeth in the shower, but since I'm showering in the morning and evening, it works out fine.

They have a washing machine but it isn't what you think.  You pour the water in yourself and then all it does is get the clothes soapy -- it doesn't do the hard part which is to rinse the clothes.  So today I did my laundry by hand and it took me almost 2 hours... and all I had were 2 pairs of capris, 1 pair of pajama pants, 4 shirts, 4 tank tops, and some undergarments.  Pretty light load... can't wait till I have to wash my skirts and dresses -- that will be a little more tricky, and time-consuming!  They also have a dryer but it just makes more sense to hang clothes up so they don't use it and I didn't either.

You might be wondering about the water since we clearly use a lot but there isn't always running water.  What I mean is that there isn't always running water through the faucets in the house.  There is always running water in the spickets in the backyard and the spickets drip so there is always a bucket catching water... and there are tons of buckets in the dining area, bathroom, and backyard... always full of water.  There is also a specific bucket in the dining area where they keep the drinking water.  There is a pitcher of cold drinking water in the fridge and we just refill it whenever we take a drink... which I do quite often!

All day, the two sisters basically maintain the house, clean clothes, and cook the most amazing food.  I tried four new root vegetables yesterday and a fruit juice made from the weirdest looking fruit ever (can't remember the name), but it was SO GOOD!  I am watching carefully to see how things are done.  These women are very methodical in everything they do, it is clear to me that they have done these things and made these foods for many years and have it down to an art.  Margarita leaves for work at 8:00am and doesn't come back until about 5:00pm.

The backyard is very cool -- there are tons of fruit trees and flowers growing there.  Yesterday we needed lime juice for the fish so we went in the backyard and knocked a few limes down and voila!  I also ate my favorite Mexican fruit, guaya, yesterday... I got lucky, they are in season!  There are actually 2 different kinds and I'm still waiting on the other kind to arrive.  Another aunt brings them when they are in season.  I had papaya for breakfast and will have mango for lunch. MMM!!!

Yesterday Margarita's son, Misael, took me downtown so I could go to the bank and the grocery store.  We also went to the marketplace which was pretty cool, though the fresh meats are hard for me to stomach.  Mise coaches a women's soccer team here that practices twice a week and plays games on Saturdays... gonna see if I can sneak my way onto the team somehow.  Even if I can't there is a soccer court around the corner from the house where some people play in the early evening.  Also, Mise told me there is a gym nearby so I need to find that too.

Last night Margarita and I went out walking by the river... there is a huge river where most of the fishing around here is done and there are lit places to sit.  Some fish were leaping out of the water -- you really wouldn't believe how high they jump!  We wandered around a little, near Centro and a little park.  There was a big festival going on celebrating Mother's Day (Dia de las Madres) which was yesterday instead of this Sunday, like in the U.S.  By the way, Happy Mother's Day, to Mom, my Grandmas, and all my friends who are mothers!!

I've gone to the church (the one I helped fundraise for and build about 8 years ago) two times already and a lot of people remember me.  Two fisherman brothers, Moises and Pio, and their families are still in the congregation -- they were very memorable to me when I was first here.  There is also a young girl that I remember who is VERY pregnant now.  Margarita's daughters, Mirma and Neri, have moved away to other places but I think I might get to see Mirma next weekend... she just had a baby in March.

I haven't come across anyone that speaks English here, which is good for me!  I mostly hear Spanish but the sisters also speak to each other in Mayan and Margarita's aunt thinks it is hilarious that I don't know Mayan!  :)  This should be a very good experience for me all in all.  I will start on my writing today... I don't know what will come of it, and I am a little bit nervous, but I have high hopes!

Well, my time is up here so I gotta go.  Write me back if you have time.  Hope you are all doing well.  I love you very much!

-Kelly