Hoy, estoy interno internacional

More like this entire weekend, I've felt like a typical international com. dev. intern. Here's why:
1. I had to go to Starbucks to get internet. Not quite like an internet cafe, but close enough.

2. I had Latino fast food. Which is NOTHING like American fast food. We went to a place called "La Palacia de Jugos" (the fruit palace). The building itself had 2 complete walls, the other two had open archways and windows without glass in them. It was like one of the chinese food places at a mall where you stood in line and pointed at what you wanted. We got Plantains, chicken, and yummy rice with every kind of green vegetable possible in it.

3. I went to a pentecostal church that was predominantly Haitian. The building itself was a LOT like EPC (my church in Cape Coral). but the worship was like New City Fellowship on steroids. We sang songs that I learned at NCF, but they had dancers, trumpets, flags, everything! It wasn't just a culturally diverse congregation, it was culturally diverse worship. It was incredible (and it made me REALLY want to go to Haiti). Oh, and the church was celebrating it's 90 year anniversary. NINETY YEARS!

4. I didn't celebrate Memorial Day. I mean, I had the day off and everything, but we didn't do anything special. It made me kind of homesick (mom, don't cry). Normally, I'd have gone over to my Grandparents house, played a few games of Scum or Skip-bo with my Aunt, Grandparents, and immediate family. My Grandfather would have grilled some form of beef while my Grandmother prepared potatoes, and my Aunt a delicious salad. We would have squeezed around the table, all cooing over 2 year old Ruthee and throwing sarcastic comments to each other here and there (only when things got dull). We would enjoy dessert while my Grandfather read their daily devotions and have said a prayer for all the veterans and their families. Instead, I was kept from any downtown/beach area because of Hip Hop weekend, and I went to Starbucks, and wrote papers.

5. The airconditioning isn't working in the office this week (something with the roof being fixed, I really don't understand). And it's raining outside, so The office is a bit warm and humid. And when I came in today, all the conversations that were being held were in Espanol. Shoot, I don't need to go over seas for a cross-cultural experience!

So, those are the reasons why I don't feel like I'm in America any more. But I love the diversity in Miami. There are people who sell stuff at every stoplight (mostly cold water, fresh fruit or the most beautiful flowers).Yvonne informed me that they're most likely illegal immigrants, I asked her if she ever bought stuff from them. She said that she had on numerous occasion because they sell them for really cheap. She said it just came down to survival. No one asks to see the store clerks papers, they're just going to go to whoever sells it for the cheapest.

It makes me excited about where I'll be living from Thursday on. The house I'm living in is a few blocks West of Little Havana. I've been through it twice or so since being in Miami and it's WONDERFUL! I don't understand it's bad reputation, I mean, yeah, don't go out there at night, but that's no different than MLK blvd in Ft. Myers or Alton Park in Chattanooga.

Anyways, this week I'll be starting to call other mentoring programs (probably not today because it's extremely loud in the office with all the fans going on), I'll be helping with the Women's RE: Conference run by the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association. aka- COOLEST PEOPLE EVER!!!), And I will have completed two out of five of my short paper requirements for the internship class.

sus oraciones son muy apreciadas!
Sus amo muy mucho, amigos y mi familia!

Vaya con Dios