First since

I’ve enjoyed the past two weeks of new experiences. I’d never been to Venezuela, so much was very new to me! (Culture, food etc.) However, by way of the distinct experiences at the school where we spent most of our time and at the guest house in Caracas on the way in and out of the country, I had many “first since” experiences. “The first ________ since I left the US” (ironically less than a month before my return to the US!)

Within the past two weeks, here are some of the things I’ve had that I haven’t since I left the States:

• Hot shower – the water was not cold at the school, but in the guest house it was HOT. What a feeling!
• Major schedule change – I’ve been waking up at 5:15 for more than a year.  The past few weeks I’ve thoroughly enjoyed very early mornings – between 4:15 and 4:45.
• Gringos – Amazingly, my first Americans to encounter since January were at the guest house in Caracas. A little culture shock.
• Cold night – I’m never cold in Monteria (well, except occasionally in the shower!) but the nights with a blanket in Bogota and Caracas were refreshing.
• Day of English – I realized at the end of the day yesterday here in the guest house it was all English yesterday with the other guests. I didn’t have one conversation in Spanish.
• Grass – We don’t have grass in Monteria. Walking through the tall grass at the school was a delight.
• Beautiful sunrise  – We can’t see the sunrise from our house in the city. I saw lots of amazing sunrises over the mountains!
• Tupperware – Go ahead, laugh. I just haven’t seen so many Tupperware containers or dishes for a long time.
• Foot problems – No worries! I haven’t had foot problems since God healed my feet last summer. I was a little startled when I stepped off a curb and twisted my ankle.  Once again, God’s faithful healing hand touched my foot and I was just fine after a day or two!
• No greetings – In Colombia,  it’s very impolite to not greet. Here in Venezuela, greetings are given much less priority. You can pass someone walking and not even make eye contact.
• Baked goods –  We have no oven. I enjoyed cakes and sweet breads a few times.
• Home foods – We enjoyed a few meals in the home of an English couple who works at the school. The flavors of that house were flavors of home for me.

These two weeks have been a fun and refreshing time and a great experience. I look forward to the next few weeks in Colombia before returning to the States at the end of May!