this one has got to be quick, as i think we are going to be eating supper soon.

i've now passed the one week mark here. it's gone by so fast. but i also feel like i've known these people forever. they are some of the most friendly, welcoming people that i have ever met - and i feel so welcome and taken care of here.

they work a 6 day work week here (monday to saturday), which means that sunday is my only real day off during the week. i'll probably only ever work saturday mornings though. for my first sunday, maria & reynaldo (the lovely couple i am living with), myself and alejandro (a guy from FUDEM) spent the day at a park called 'cerro verde'. it's a nice little park, about one hour outside of san salvador, in the mountains. you have an option of a doing a 4-hour hike, down the volcano that you are on, up another one, and then back down and up. i definitely did not want to pass up the opportunity. it was beautiful - but my legs are paying for it today, and my shoulders are more red than i have ever seen them. needless to say, i was exhausted last night - but was glad to have a chance to see some of the countryside. by the sounds of things, we'll probably be doing some other good stuff on my days off - hitting up a beach or two, maybe another volcano, and possibly into guatemala for a day trip. i'm looking forward to all of it.

work continues to be good. i really do enjoy going into work everyday and seeing all the new friends i have made. and of course, the actual work part is good too - but mostly the people are what make it fun! doing exams is EXHAUSTING, as i not only have to think about what i am doing, but also everything i say/attempt to say. as maria says, i can communicate with the patients (telling them where to look, etc.), but the patients can't communicate with me. they start to tell me something, and all i can do is stare blankly at them. i'm starting to get better at picking up on key words, which is really all you need to know - but it is still mentally exhausting. doing an exam in english (or your native language) is not something that i am going to take for granted anymore. it will all seem so easy once i am back in canada, and can communicate easily with the patient once again. with that being said though, i'm going to make the most of this experience, learning as much spanish as i can (it may come in handy in the future). i'm also gaining a ton of experience in optometry skills that i wasn't as experienced in prior to coming, and which will definitely be helpful for the future.

i really wanted to share some pictures now - but the computer or my camera or both were not cooperating. so, it's not going to happen today anyways. i'll try again in the next post.