back for another year..... or so is the plan

Haven't had much of a chance to write since my return to Maturin, but yes, I'm back and am gearing up for another year here. It was a great visit home, nice to see everyone after such a long time, and as always it went by too fast! Since my warm welcome back, the last two weeks have been spent setting up the classroom, preparing orientation materials, and meeting the new "imports" (foreign teachers). Not much news to report on so far.

But, in case you were wondering, the two exotic birds that I wrote about a few months ago are looking much better than they did when we originally got them. Feathers have grown in and they are much more colorful. The big bird has even gotten comfortable enough with a few people that it laughs (just like this: hahahah!). I guess they were looking so good that Cesar decided it was time to expand the bird family. Cesar told me last weekend he had a surprise for me.... turns out it involved four parakeets of all different colors (above photo).

Soooo, who knows what's in store for the next year..... possibly a visit to Angel Falls (tallest waterfall in the world), more time at the farm, hikes in the mountains, relaxing on the beach???
I was avoiding having to do this but I think I will have to send out a password to people so they can access my blog.... hopefully I get the link out to everyone that wants it!