Baby Girl

Dear Dad,

I hate to admit these things, but in the last couple of days, I’ve done some things that as a child (or even now) you would yell at me for. But I can explain myself, I promise. Here are my confessions:

• I took a candy from a stranger
• I rode on the top of a taxi van for 30 minutes & it was totally my idea
• I talked to a lot of strange men on the street
• I almost died on public transportation (weather related, not because I was on top of it)
• I the pet stray kittens (the ones that didn’t look like they had cancer)
• Have eaten so much sugar in everything it’s possible I’ll get diabetes
• I chopped a girl’s hair off

and my favorite:

• I cut vegetables using my palm as the cutting board (it’s okay the knife was dull, but I do have little cuts)

But Dad, I promise, all these things I’ve done have had their reasons behind it. Okay except the petting of wild animals and holding the tomato while cutting it. So let me explain my actions a bit. The drink I took was a smoothie from the owner (I think) of the fruit smoothie place where I had been relaxing for about 2 hours. He offered it to my friend and I after we paid, (...I paid). And it was so good! It was an avocado, fig, papaya and all sorts of stuff in it; plus he said it would make us strong!

I think I mentioned riding on top of the taxi, but it was so cool- chilly, but really cool. On talking to strangers, frankly it’s impolite here not to say something. Although I don’t really say hello to older men (if that makes you feel a little better!). As for almost dying on the bus. Well, that wasn’t my fault. The engineer genius's here build bridges so that water flows OVER them, and because it was raining heavily, the current was so strong. Our daring bus driver decided to push through the elements and in doing so, we almost flipped over into the river. NOT MY FAULT! If I had been driving in Ella, (for those who don’t know, she was my awesome Jeep), I would never have had her do that.. I don’t think.

On the chopping off a fellow trainee’s hair... well, she wanted to shave her head and a few of us thought it better if she just cut it really short, so... I totally jumped at the chance to cut it all off. I told her that I use to cut my dad’s hair all the time, it was great. However, another friend of mine wouldn’t let me buzz her hair because I made the mistake of mentioning  I gave Conor lightening bolts one time.

As for cutting vegetables and using my hand for a cutting board, umm.. my Aunt was watching and she does it like that, so I couldn’t disappoint. Plus, I don’t believe we own a cutting board.

However, on a different note, there have been some things you’d be proud of me for. Such as these (though I’m sure it’ll take me a while to think of a list):

• Helped one of the local girls pick roses
• Have been drinking copious amounts of hot chocolate when I can
• Taught some friends how to play rummy 500 (thank you Grandma)
• Found some awesome cookies for about 10 cents (6 pack thank you!)
• Learned how to make tea
• Cleaned out the pool at the hotel
• Almost mastered the Turkish toilet
• Helped my sister haul water back to the house
• Ignored the creepier strangers
• Made purchases all by myself in my target language
• Went swimming on Easter
• Didn’t take home the kitten
• I’ve come to realize I know way more Spanish than I thought I did
• I’m still here

So Dad, I hope the good cancel out the bad. One day I’ll get in a run, I promise. I’m just still hesitant about it at the moment. For now it’s just yoga and hikes, which will suffice. But don’t get the spare bedroom ready just yet. For yet another “ahh-haaa” moment came to my on my walk today. This thing’s only for two years and it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Miss you & Love you,

Cait

PS- I told you that you’d like this entry :)