Who surprised you? - 26 December

My friend and co-hort, Josue Cruz.  It's hard to say that he really surprised me.  I'd rather say that our very strong friendship has surprised me ... I'm surprised that after meeting him in 2009 that we'd be as close as we are.  I'm surprised at how lucky I am to continue working with him.  I'm surprised by his amount of energy.

I write this post in the most platonic manner possible.  While during my first trip to El Salvador in 2009 I may have had a slight crush on Josue, said crush dissipated as quickly as it came, and has blossomed into a strong friendship and deep (platonic) love for him.

And if he gets another job somewhere else and stops working at the church, I might lose my mind.  But that's a whole other story.

Where did you spend the most time? - 25 December

In my little office that I share with Josue in the Youth Center.  In my apartment.  Actually, likely in the very chair I'm sitting, in the same "writing on the computer" position.

Close seconds:  On buses, in church, teaching at the school, traipsing around downtown San Salvador.

What did you make? - 24 December

Friends, community, dice, cookies, chicken, turkey, a kitchen counter, a home away from home, a lot of copies, mango rice (don't ever make mango rice in Latin America, they will laugh at you for a year or more ... they're still laughing), hot chocolate, bread ...

What sunrise / sunset was most vivid? - 23 December

I admit I'm rarely awake early enough to see a sunrise ... I'm not sure I've actually seen one this entire year.

However, I've seen some great sunsets.  Unfortunately, I haven't yet experienced a sunset on the beach, but I hope that in the last days of 2011 or sometime in 2012 I get to experience one.

Just recently I was hanging out with some friends in a favorite spot: La Puerta del Diablo, or Devil's Gate.  Here are some photos from that excursion ... as well as a beautiful sunset.  (It was a friend's birthday, I'd cooked a turkey earlier in the day and we'd shared lunch in my apartment, and then shared the "contraband" microbrews I'd smuggled down from Indiana and PA ... a good day.)

Mad Anthony's IPA (IN), a leftover Mexican Indio, and Otto's Slab Cabin (PA)

The Mad Anthony's IPA unfortunately somehow skunked between when I bought it and when we drank it, but Chamba (in the green) didn't mind at all.

What gifts did you give? What gifts did you receive? - 22 December

Given:  Tshirts, company, microbrewed beer, food, books, positive energy, thoughts, prayers, more food.

Received:  Grace, patience, counsel, community, love, friendship, food, a trip to the beach, hugs, sense of security, prayers, thoughts, positive energy, good conversation.

What did you learn? - 21 December

Spanish.  The fact that I'm a very impatient person, even though I don't necessarily think I am.  That I need to manage my finances more responsibly.  How to fry a whole fish.  How to take care of and respond to needs of delegation members from the northern region.  That in order to sustain one's self, one need not buy fancy cheese or expensive wine.  Sometimes beans and eggs and some cheddar are enough.  That Christmas doesn't come from a store ... Christmas, indeed, means a little bit more.

Who came into your life in 2011? - 20 December

A lot of people.  Anyone special?  Still discerning ...