Things you don't know now...

...but you will know once reading this. Not too much has happened in the last few weeks, outside of a mandatory cholera training (oh boy!) and a tropical storm/hurricane. So I've decided to share some things that are interesting about here.

You know the cocoa plant, that they use to make chocolate and hot cocoa and other assorted cocoa products? (In spanish, "cacao"). Well, did you know that when you crack open the cocoa pod, there are seeds (the part you dry and mash up to make the powder) covered by a white sticky substance that tastes like a sour patch kid, that you can suck? Well, it's there and it's a really interesting flavor, if you ever get ahold of a ripe cocoa pod. But don't eat too much because it will give you a cold. Or so they say.

Sometimes, people talk about "motor-taxis." I remember reading a friend's blog (she was volunteering in Cambodia), and she kept talking about them, and in my mind, I pictured a motorcycle pulling a little cart behind it where people sat. If that's what you're picturing in your head when you think motor-taxi, then you're wrong. It is a motorcycle, yes, but the taxi part is cramming yourself and usually one or sometimes 4 more people (yes, one motorcycle) and assorted bags and objects behind the "chofer". The other day I put my full-sized keyboard and myself on the motor-taxi. It's pretty impressive how well they balance stuff and also how many people die in motorcycle accidents here.

Did you know that here, lunch is the biggest meal? I like it a lot like that; a little breakfast to get you going (like coffee and toast), a big lunch because you've been working hard and will work hard (like a mountain of beans, rice, and a little chicken), and then a little dinner (hot chocolate and fried platains). Also usually there's a little rest associated with lunch time. I like that too.

Did you know that termites can and will eat holes in your clothes? Because they do. They have. And it's really annoying. Especially when you go to school and your principle, a nun, tells you to pull down your shirt in the back because your pants are broken and you wore bright blue underwear to school that day. Wonderful. God bless all creatures, great and small, right?

Did you know that men can say and do whatever they want here?
Did you know that lime juice is supposed to help you lose weight, according to women in my campo?
Did you know that if you have dengue the best remedy is a smoothie of peppers and guava (also according to my neighbors)?
Did you know that if you dance with the same guy twice in one night it means you want to be his girlfriend, even if you've never spoken with him before?
Did you know it's possible to deep fry a scrambled egg?
Did you know if you see a white toad it means someone has passed away?
Did you know that if you walk in the rain or have cold foods with hot foods you'll catch a cold?
Did you know that cow poop is a big blob and horse poo is a bunch of large pebble-sized blobs in a straight line because they're usually walking when they poo?
Do you know how many meat products they put in the cheap salami here? Becuase I don't, and I don't want to.

Anywho, the last couple of days I've been consolidated in the capital because of the weather. It's been really great to get to see the volunteers who are close. A few days before that, we were consolidated to talk about cholera. And a few days before that, I updated last, so I think that brings us up to speed. Going to try to actually spend a couple of days in my community, si dios quiere.

stay classy,
alicia