good news.

I am back in the city after six weeks in the jungle. My counterpart and I held a meeting with the village to discuss attaining a rice mill for Malobi, as well as what the community contributions will be. Things move very slowly compared to business in the States. That is no doubt going to be frustrating at times, but I am committed and motivated to help my village find a rice mill. I will continue to post our progress as the project gets started.

All of the PCVs will be in for our All Volunteer Conference beginning on Tuesday. I am excited about catching up with some of my Volunteer friends that I have not see in a while. 

In the last twenty-four hours I have had my hair washed and cut, and I also had a hot stone massage. I think that I forgot my job title if only for a day or two. Needless to say, all of it was worth every SRD spent. 

Now, for the BIG news. My parents are coming to Suriname. Did everyone catch that? KEITH AND BETH ARE COMING TO SURINAME! We talked a lot about them coming to visit before I left and decided over a year ago that my first April would be a good time. I cannot believe the time has really come. I cannot believe I am almost eleven months into my Peace Corps service. I cannot believe they are really going to be here so soon. I have not hugged my parents in 329 days. I cannot believe I can honestly say that I will hug my parents in FIVE days. The next time I jump on a dugout canoe to go home to Malobi, my parents will be with me. The next time I walk into my house in Malobi, my parents will be with me. Parts of my two very different worlds are going to collide very soon. I could not be more excited. 

I don't know what else to say or write at the moment. I am going to hug my parents in less than a week. There's not very much else that matters right now.