Belatedly Updated(ly)

New big things. Found a job, found a team, started working, started playing, girl is leaving (she's not staying) but life is good and goes on, the horse continues forward, galloping rapidly and I'm here, by the river, having the time of my life (and protecting my liver--don't worry parents).

I arrived 15 minutes late to my only class today (Anthropology of Development) on account of the damned #5 bus only to find an empty classroom. Then a straggler (one of the older women--late 50s, I would guess) told me that our professor decided that we should go to the bar instead of having class. Naturally, I was disgusted and offended by this suggestion. So I went to the bar, where I found the rest of the 20 of us, and stood outside drinking beer and talking about important things (none of which were actually important), enjoyed the wonderful weather (20 degrees celsius here during the day, in December!) and then came home for lunch.

First semester's been a blast, and though it doesn't really end until the end of January, most of the kids from my program (all but 5 of us) are leaving before Christmas--about a week. I'll especially miss one. Her leaving is not exactly a small thing. Like I said, life goes on. That's what I'm telling myself, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job believing it. For whatever reason, it seems somehow easier to see the upside of things here. Maybe it's a survival instinct--not much in the way of serious emotional support available--but whatever the case, I'm not complaining. Life is good, and hopefully long, and there are ever more and more adventures making themselves known. Speaking of which, I should get myself out of the house. Chelsea's birthday dinner tonight @ a great vegan restaurant in the Alemeda--should be good times and good wine. Always good company.