Ze Germans

Yo...

I hope the week has been kind to you and that the impending summertime is giving you more energy to get through the days.  For my teacher friends, you're almost there- keep gutting it out.

The "grind" (cliche city) is really getting heavy now.  We're in the middle of week 5 (or so, I've lost count) of extended period days and I'm still surprised how one extra class to teach can drain you that much.  I suppose that it could be worse and we only have one more week of them left, but it's tough.

Other than that, it's a slow roll to the finish.

This past weekend a group of us left Valencia (thank God) to go to a small mountainous town called Bejuma.  It's maybe an hour and a half away (it felt like 20 mins for me as I fell asleep in Jon and Randi's car- haha).

The place, Casa Maria, was pretty cool.  It was run by a wealthy German couple, Norbert and Gaby, who have lived in Venezuela for 44 years.  Their compound/facility/grounds is one part tree nursery, one part wildlife preserve, and one part posada (motel). It was literally cut into a huge tropical forest and he built nearly all of it himself.

The deck/social area.

People paying for things. 

He designed nearly all of the buildings, laid the tile, and made the entire complex almost self-sufficient.  His buildings catch and distribute water, the grounds are full of fruit trees, and the living quarters were really well done.  This guy had some crazy vehicles too.  A Mercedes-Bens land rover type thing, several trucks, boats, campers, and other toys were found all over the grounds.  All in good condition, a little too good of condition...

Dahhhgs? Ya, I like doogs? Jon and Rexin, lovers of animals.

Taking in all of these aspects of his place, his obvious wealth, yearly trips to the fatherland, his engineering background, and intelligence Jon and I had our suspicions.  We figured spy, possible descendant of a German who fled the country, or just a really eclectic dude.  Regardless, I watched him pretty close.

Creep indigenous people painting. 

The digs. Those are spears to the left.

The crazy thing about Norbert was that he wasn't afraid to talk about his treks to the States and the tours he's taken there.  Especially the one in Idaho that showcased a US Government prototype nuclear jet engine.  he was pretty interested in it... a little too interested.

Elephant beetle.

Future dinner.

Mono recordings only. 

Peacocks just hanging out.

I may or may not have eaten their older brother. 

The weekend basically was just eat, sit around/read, eat, nap, read, eat, relax, and sleep.  I can't speak for the others that went with, but I feel most are nearing burnt out.  Some are a little more down than others and the challenges of teaching where we teach and living in this country are wearing on everyone.  Luckily, we have only 13 school days until Final Exams.

Ryan Robinson's (who has a big birthday Friday) Links of Knowledge 

Non-Silicone enhanced women are falling from the norm.  

U.S sanctions could hurt the opposition.  

Venezuelan mail stopping international service.  

More airlines stopping service to Venezuela.  

Danny Glover vs. Jared Leto over Venezuelan politics. Does Jared know that Mr. Glover killed a predator?

Wrong battle Jared.

Not much else going on down here.  Everyone is hoping and praying the flight situations stay positive until we can all leave to return home.  Otherwise, it could be a very long bus ride home.  Next year, it may be almost impossible for my friends still working here to get home if things continue.

While the days are dull here, the impending World Cup trip will provide some better material to share.  Morris and I have a special project going along with the WC so keep an eye open for that.

If you can spare them, my Grama could use some more positive vibes and prayers as she is going through radiation and chemo.  She's a tough cookie, but any support is huge.

Just got word that my favorite band of all-time, Pearl Jam is coming to Moline, IL.  I cannot believe it.  If anyone has any contacts in ways to go about getting backstage passes or anything like that please let me know.  I'm willing to pay whatever it would take to meet the band and/or watch from the side of the stage.

With graduation ceremony and the senior graduation party looming, I'm sure I'll be able to entertain you for a few more weeks.  

Enjoy the rest of the week.

Until Next Time,

KRS