Trip to the East and bad news

You can see the waterfall in this picture (above)
pretty view from the mountains

Waterfall in El Yunque

This weekend all of the American teachers and Manny, the P.E. teacher took a road trip to the East. We went to Luquillo, which has a really nice beach and we also went to the South end of the rainforest. The Mudd's took us to a waterfall that they had been to before. It was so awesome. As soon as we got there it started raining really hard. I didn't mind though. The only setback was that we could not climb the waterfall to the top because of the rain. I will have to go back. There were rocks that we could jump off of, which I did and it was so fun. Then there was a flat rock that you could slide down into the water. It was a blast. After that we left and got some really good pictures of the view from up in the mountains. Then we drove down to the beach. I snorkled and swam until it started pouring down rain.

The day was really great until I got home. I found my new turtle pretty much dead. It got out of the cooler it was staying in and I think it overheated in the house. It was still moving but I knew it would die. I was really sad and I felt so bad.

I got a new pet!

My new pet turtle. It is so small compared to my big turtle Marley.
Swimming in its makeshift home for now, the cooler.

Haha. I loved the way the pineapple was looking. It was all wet and shiny looking, and I thought I just had to take a picture. We also made some really good guacamole with an avacado we got from school. Also rum, Don Q, the best PR rum.

So I never thought that I would get a pet in PR, but this weekend I did. I got a turtle. I already have a turtle at home that my dad is taking care of, but I could not bring that one here. I am actually excited that I found this turtle because I love it. Barb was walking on the beach and found it. I am thinking that it came from a pond near the beach because we have had a lot of rain lately. It is a freshwater turtle not a sea turtle. It actually looks just like my red-eared slider, Marley. Now I have to get something to keep it in. Also I am not sure if it is a boy or girl yet, but we came up with the name Papi or Mami. We chose those names because Puerto Ricans always call each other that. Barb has been calling it Swai or something that means water in Chinese. Uhhh no not so much...sorry.

Back to PR!!!!!

Some of the new people and Mandi and I

This year we have three couples: Jodi and Deric, Lyndsey and Joey, and Jason and Kim. Jason and Kim have two children, Audrey and Ethan. It is really fun having all of these new people to hangout with and share our adventures with.

Wow! I cannot believe that I am beginning my second year here in PR. The first year flew by. I had so much fun last year, and I am really looking forward to another fun filled year here. I really missed the beach this summer while I was home. The beach was one of the first places I went to when I returned.



Mandi and I were waiting for everyone to get to the beach. While we waited we were using the self timer on my camera to take pics.
"Cheers"

One of my first nights back with some of the teachers having a bonfire on the beach

Out at a local bar, Paseo Rustico, with Mandi, Mariella, and Lyndsey

My new class. So far they are angels. We will have to see how long that lasts! This year I have 22 students in my homeroom. They are really cute. The fifth graders that I have this year are so small too. They still look young and innocent. I did not think that I would miss my class from last year, but I actually do a little bit. It is nice that I still get to see them in the hallway.

Last weekend a new bar opened in town so of course we had to check it out. The place is called Midnight Roots and the band that was playing was Gomba Jahbari. They were a reggae band that is popular here in PR. I had a fun time dancing and hanging out with all the teachers that came.

All of the American teachers with the band