Thanks to our neighbors in the north

Having just thanked Naphtali for new postings on her blog, I am inspired to post on mine.

The big news today is that we are experiencing what is called here a norte meaning cool weather from our neighbors to the north. Today was the first day in a very long time that, when I opened my front door to leave, I was not met with a wall of heat and humidity. There was actually a breeze that was energizing rather than enervating. I walked for slightly more than hour this morning and recently returned from another hour-long walk. I pray to the weather gods that this norte marks the beginning of our "winter" weather and I thank you one and all for sending some of your unseasonably cold weather south.

In other news, the semester is speeding along. Students are returning today from a 5 day Fall Break. Most went to the Caribbean while others went to a small island near where the Gulf of Mexico meets the Caribbean. Three students hosted family members. It was great to see the surprise, astonishment and pride on the looks of the family members as their student became the tour guide. It was also a boost for the students' morale to realize how far they have come in a short while both language and culture-wise.

We have two major field trips remaining. One is to the state of Chiapas where we will spend the weekend of Dia de los Muertos and where some serious shopping is planned. Place your orders now for amber! The final field trip will be to a Mayan village where we will spend 3 days/2 nights living with Mayan families. Both of these trips are normally the highlights of the semester. I hope this group feels the same as they wrap up their semester abroad. Departure is December 5.

I am then off until a small group of students arrive on Jan. 3 for a three week January program...the first one we have ever had. Basically, I am providing the intensive summer program in January so there is not a lot of new work required.

I am almost done pouting about November's cancelled directors' meeting in Paris. Almost, not quite.

Spring 2010 students arrive January 24. I will be at a conference in Nicaragua in February, have the first program evaluation in more than 10 years in early March, will be in Iowa for directors' week in April and the semester ends on May 8.

I will stop here. I am also camera shopping as mine died which explains why there are no photos with this post. I am open to suggestions as to what I should buy.

Thanks again for el norte.