This week I found out just how much I can take. And it's a lot.

(My little set-up)

Per usual, this has been an enlightening week. Right now I am thoroughly enjoying the moment, typing on my laptop in front of a breezy window, listening to music and drinking some ice cold water. Truly, my life is about enjoying rich little moments like these and many others like it.

I should add that soon after I typed that I had to run to the restroom due to yet another episode of explosive *ahem* gastrointestinal upset. Wow. You would think that after two months of drinking the water here that my body would be use to it, but no… not at all. Yeah, sorry if that was too graphic but this is a travel blog, people. Let’s get real about this, I live in a third world country. You are going to hear a lot about my bowels. You will only get the truth from this girl; the harsh, stinky truth.

Fortunately, when I returned to Santa Cruz last Saturday I found that the town had not suffered any major damage from Hurricane Gustav. There were only a few roofs in need of repair and there was some flooding up in the mountains around us, but other than that everyone is safe and sound. The Red Cross tends to be very busy during hurricane season, and something tells me this one may be a doozey (there are already three more storms currently floating around in the ocean as we speak!). I have been helping the Red Cross distribute items like tarpaulins, clothes, food, and other home items to people who badly need them, and taking names of those who come in needing housing and home repair. I typically talk to about 10 to 15 people a day who are in need of something /anything due to storm damage or just pure poverty. The Red Cross does the best they can (and trust me, they help A LOT of people), but the reality is that resources are scarce, many people are in need, and corruption is a reality. I surprise myself daily with my own level of naiveté when it comes to the lack of honesty in others and my ignorance to how struggling nonprofit organizations are run. I am doing my best to gain as much street smarts as I can, and it seems like I am doing so with each little encounter. Who knew my suburban Michigan street smarts wouldn’t cut it here? Weird!

I definitely struggled to make it through this week. There were a couple of intense days where I didn't know if I could possibly go on... but I did. I was on survival mode, that is for SURE. Basically, I have found new temporary housing in town and am still on the lookout for a suitable place to stay for the next two years. Will and Andrea, an amazing married PCV couple living in Santa Cruz, deserve a huge BIG OP! for helping me tremendously in helping me find this housing. They are my gaurdian angels in Santa Cruz! Thank you all for your emails of concern and encouragement this week. I appreciate every single one!

But the week is over now, and I am looking forward to simply enjoying spending time in Negril with my dear friends, enjoying the sun and the company. The stress of the week is behind me now and I'm moving on.

This week has taught me how capable we are as human beings at taking on too much physically, mentally, and emotionally—more than we think we can, more than we think we should—and somehow…some way… we don’t crumble under the weight of it. Somehow we get through. It’s incredible. I am so glad to finally know that I am capable of that too. I am with the rest of you in the “I suffered through something extremely uncomfortable and seemingly impossible and made it out alive” catergory.

Well, I have a citronella candle burning and I’m covered in Deet but the skeeters are STILL biting (wish I were exaggerating), so I will be off for the night. Much, much love to all.