NEW! Photos posted at Yahoo Photos.
go to http://photos.yahoo.com/swimmersara
And watch the slideshow in the New! Autumn 2006 album.
Peace and love.

Thanksgiving diary...Thursday. Dear Diary, today, after a full day of teaching English, Cene, our school’s “house maistor” slaughtered one of his turkeys for me. Everything I cook here, I cook from A to Z. There’s no conserved pumpkin, frozen turkeys, pre-made pie crusts or canned soup. So we stuffed the turkey and I made a bunch of other stuff. I wish they had cranberries here. I used to love cranberry juice. I haven’t tasted it in over a year now… And what’s Thanksgiving dinner without the cranberry sauce. I mean, at least the canned stuff.

Friday. Dear Diary, today, after a full day of teaching English, I brought 3 pumpkin pies to work and after school until 3:30 we peeled potatoes and made some killer mashed potatoes and warmed up the casseroles in the village. Then a bunch of people helped carry it over to the school. I even put tablecloths on the tables. And we had us a big feast. About 25 teachers came to try all my food. And the gravy was the best. Made from the turkey drippings! At night all my best girl friends and Douglas came over and we feasted again! And then finally I called my family. I hope I’ll make it back next year before Thanksgiving…

Saturday. Dear Diary, today Douglas and I hiked up to the monastery in my town. It’s up in the mountains and the air is so clean. It was so crisp and cold and I felt so alive with nature. We drank tea at the monastery and after it got dark we went to feast with some friends of mine on some wild pig that one of the local hunting groups had killed and shared. It was so tasty. I think I’ll pop from all the feasting I’m doing this weekend. The best thing is being with people you love, with your friends, and just sharing yourself with them. That makes me so happy. I just couldn’t be any happier. Oh, we also went to the outdoor market in the morning and I bought new slippers for both me and Doug.