I know that I don’t always necessarily have a flair for the narrative, but sometimes it isn’t the ill-constructed story that is the problem, it’s trying to fit all the things that actually happen in my life into an acceptable, semi-coherent form.

Since this months events do not allow for a thoughtful, well-chronicled, detailed version of events, I think they might work a little better in list format.

1. We have a new president-elect. Historical. You’d be hard pressed to find a McCain supporter amongst the crowd-though there was one kid who voted for the convicted felon Ted Stevens, with a hilarious, but unconvincing argument as to why.
2. A good friend of mine got married, and I wasn’t there to see it. Since there is a chapter of AA that meets below my room (AA is HUGE in El Salvador), a friend of mine had the brilliant, if incriminating, idea to take some photos of me “at the wedding”. This included stealing some empty liquor bottles that the AA homies threw out and photograph me with the bottles “celebrating” at the wedding. I’m aware that there are far too many “quotation” marks.
3. I saw a decapitated body in the street in the city closest to where I live. It was disturbing. Under what I would consider normal circumstances, a headless man might be covered up under a sheet, but this one wasn’t. His neck was covered, but that was about it. Stuff was all over the street. It made me super reflective about life, its importance, and about how I do not want to die.
4. I was sort of assaulted by not one, but two beggars in the city. A lady was asking for money in the bus terminal pinched me because I didn’t give her money. I’m not exactly Miss Moneybags these days, but I had the sneaking suspicion she didn’t care to listen to my explanation. I’ve got my “I’m a poor volunteer” speech down, but no, she just pinched me and got on to her next victim.

The second beggar did not assault me physically, but I was emotionally distressed nonetheless. He was a mentally challenged beggar and obviously that situation in life is difficult, especially in a country with few resources to help people in his condition. However, he was mean, to the point of irate, when people didn’t give him money. For example, he pinched a 6-year-old kid when he didn’t give him money. The kicker though, was when he stood in front of the white girl (me), and demanded money and pointed for around thirty seconds, which is a long time when everyone is looking at you on the bus. When I still didn’t give him money, he flipped me the bird- apparently a universal gesture. The bird lasted for about 5 seconds.

5. I met a six foot eight inch French Canadian police officer. I also met a 4-foot something Guatemalan woman. I’ve included the photo.
6. People go quiet when I walk by, you might mistake me for a famous person. But I’m not, I’m a Peace Corps volunteer who showers everyday, but never quite looks fresh. I’m Lila, who doesn’t drink and is a Puritan angel. I’m Linsey, who doesn’t have a husband or children in the States. I’m a daughter, whose parents do not speak Spanish, but she does (some people don’t understand how that could be, haha). Though, I’ll give them credit, Pops can say “open the window”, “how are you”, and “close your mouth”. Mom can say “hola”. It’s good to have people stare at you though, it’s a very interesting feeling. I’m still glad I’m not 6 foot eight.
7. I saw a turtle laying its eggs during the celebration of the birthdays of two of my greatest friends in the country.