Tuesday was a big day. Wow. 7 years in contact with someone via letters, cards and drawings makes for a pretty emotional final meeting. I had been strangely nervous about this visit ever since I tentatively contacted World Vision to ask what the process was. The main reason for my apprehension was this image in my head of some obnoxious BIG WHITE SPONSOR arriving, waving their hand regally to accept the gratitude that they thought they deserved. I am not quite su...

Another border crossing. As I head back towards Nicaragua for my last 2 weeks in this amazing part of the world I decided to break up the trip with a little stay in San Salvador. Not that the 4 hour sleep I had here in between two 10 hour bus rides was brief or anything... Anyway, what do you do in San Salvador in 2 days? Visit the massive shopping malls? Museums (I did actually try, but it was closed, still a point from Mum)? Walk around the old town with the da...

Guatemala is my Tanzania of Central America. Not so much because of their shared obsession with fried chicken (which is massive). Nor because everyone here also assumes that New Zealand is part of Europe (which they do until, grudgingly I point out our proximity to Australia, which, shudder, is usually taken as ´part of Australia´). Nor because you get addressed as "Hello banana!" or "Hello taxi!" (which mankes me feel as if I could be strol...

Guatemala is my Tanzania of Central America. Not so much because of their shared obsession with fried chicken (which is massive). Nor because everyone here also assumes that New Zealand is part of Europe (which they do until, grudgingly I point out our proximity to Australia, which, shudder, is usually taken as ´part of Australia´). Nor because you get addressed as "Hello banana!" or "Hello taxi!" (which mankes me feel as if I could be strol...

Ever ride a moonhopper when you were little? I think that is what they are called. Usually a kind of hideous peachy-pink colour, with 2 ear-like things to hold on to while you sit on them and bounce around. Well, I got to relive this thrilling activity at my latest gym class. Yes, I realise I should rename my blog something like "10 reasons to join foreign gyms" and its probably not the usual "I woke up at 7am, ate 2 pieces of toast with penutbutte...