Long time no talk, I know. This week was by far the most difficult week for me. In the course of five days, I have interviewed clients on the southern Pacific coast, in extremely isolated communities near the Salvadorean border, in northeast Guatemala near the Honduras border, and interviewed clients near the northern Atlantic coast. My favorite day had to be Tuesday when I spent 10 hours in trasportation of some sort, all for two interviews. All of this while being sick (yet again), this time for 4 days straight with a combo of high fever, headache, and some sort of food poisoning. My patience was tested as I interviewed the women, trying to restrain myself from getting angry when they didnt understand the question. My tolerance was also tested on two days in particularly isolated communties (and by isolated, I mean 2 hours away from the base city in a pick up truck and hiking up and down mountains looking for small shacks). In these communities, there was absolutely NOTHING to eat or drink and no bathroom. These areas were also completely mud covered due to some very hard rains recently (more on that some other day). Trekking around covered in mud with a high fever and stomach pains running on no sleep two hours from civilization in the same unwashed clothing Ive been wearing for weeks now: I had reached my limit. Waking up every morning this week at 6 am was an extreme challenge, but alas, I survived and here I am.

I promise that is the last of my whining for today…

A more exciting and positive message to come tomorrow.