Four weeks today!

Hello everyone!

I know, I know, it's been a really long time since I've updated this blog. The internet here is hard to come by and I'm doing my best. I'm working on a picasa account so you'll be able to see all my pictures, but for now I'll upload a couple highlights.

Basically, here's what I think about Palau: If I could wake up anywhere and be doing anything, it would be here, doing what I'm doing. The work week is pretty much the same as home, except that here my weekends are all ridiculously amazing. Last weekend it was this man's 70th birthday. He lives on a sailboat, so he had a party on one of the deserted islands (Ulong, which is actually where they filmed survivor). HE looks about 50 years old because he lives on a boat and lives an amazing life. Lesson: try to be happy, you'll look younger.

So this deserted beach was completely beautiful. Every beach here, in fact, looks like you've jumped into a screen saver on a computer screen. Ever wonder where they take the pictures of white sandy beaches and colorful fish? it's here. About 60 people came out for the party, by boat, and what's great about palau is that everyone knows everyone, and for the most part, they all get along, regardless of age, nationality, religion, politics, etc. We spent the day playing frisbee, hiking, snorkeling, grilling and talking.

The picture of everyone coming straight down a cliff is just that. We went on a "hike" which started with a vertical climb up a rope. Being the wuss that I am, I stayed in the water and took pictures as everyone else scaled the cliff. It looked intense, and someday I might be able to do it, but it wasn't that day.

The next day I went to another deserted beach and did all of the above all over again. We ate lunch out of banana leaves, which are huge and make great plates that are recyclable too!

Oh, one last note. I got a kitten. Pets here arent treated well and kittens frequently get eaten. so this one showed up on my friend liz's doorstep and I took her for "a week." Then I took her to the vet, and she needed a month of medication because she had a horrible bladder infection. 3 and 1/2 weeks later, I am in love with this cat. She's mostly better and she's the sweetest kitten in the world. Her name is francis, and I call her baby, after (of course) Dirty Dancing.

Also, I'm getting scuba certified. It's totally scary, but really the most amazing thing I think I've ever done.

Katie: I would like you to know that I'm ROCKIN the ultimate frisbee field. I play 3-4 times a week and I'm planning on being totally awesome by the time I come home. so get excited.

I'll try to write again soon. There's so much more to be said. Like how I ate fish out of a fish carcass last night and how it was really delicious.